Sec. 7. Access, study, and support

455 words·~2 min read·/bill/118/hr/10248/ih/section-7

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Any expungement of an individual’s official record for an expungable event or any related sealing, sequester, and redaction of relevant official records pertaining to that individual, may be made available only— to that individual or to such individual’s designated agent; to the Director (including for support under subsection (c)(1)); to the Comptroller General of the United States (including for support under subsection (c)(2)) for purposes of conducting the study described in subsection (b); with regard to an official record for a felony or for a misdemeanor unrelated to an expungable event, and where such record has appropriate redactions of any reference to official records expunged pursuant to this Act, to a criminal justice agency (as defined by paragraph

(1)of section 3) or intelligence community member (as defined by paragraph

(10)of section 3), for the exclusive purpose of— maintaining accurate official records; investigating or prosecuting an individual; or for conducting a background check on an individual who has applied for employment by such criminal justice agency or intelligence community member; to the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (and its units or subunits); and to qualified academic researchers from relevant schools and centers at accredited non- profit universities and colleges, for purpose of research, evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to an agreement with the Director that specifically authorizes access to the information, limits the use of the information to research, evaluative, or statistical purposes, and ensures the confidentiality and security of the information consistent with this Act and with Federal law, including but not limited to, the redaction of personally identifiable information. The Comptroller General of the United States, in consultation with the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall conduct a study of investigation, arrests, legal proceedings, and any legal results or consequences, as defined by paragraphs (2)(A)(i) through

(iii)of section 3, for Federal misdemeanors, petty offenses, infractions, and civil penalties. Such study shall include information about the age, race, ethnicity, sex, and gender identity of those individuals with an official record for an expungable event, as well as information about the type of community such individuals dwell in and such other demographic information as the Comptroller General determines should be included. Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall report to Congress the results of the study conducted under this subsection. In consultation with the Director, the Comptroller General of the United States shall also report to Congress on the implementation of this Act, including issues relevant to future expungement efforts (e.g., expungement of Federal felonies, expungement of Federal offenses for other controlled substances, models for automatic record-clearing and for general expungement).