Nonviolent former felons seeking to delete low-level Class D felonies from their record might get that chance under a bill that cleared state House of Representatives Friday, but the legislation will likely come under closer scrutiny in the Senate.
For many supporters, House Bill 40 is a matter of redemption and giving second chances to deserving felons who have served their time and turned over a new leaf. In a House committee hearing earlier this week, Rebecca Collett, a mother and former felon turned Master’s degree candidate, gave reporters an upbeat assessment of the bill’s chances.
"We have so many people on our side that it's going to pass," she said, fighting back tears.
But the legislation has long enjoyed a favorable environment in the Democratic House and the more serious test will come in the opposing chamber, where Republicans are taking a more cautious approach. Senate President Robert Stivers says he can get behind the idea of giving rehabilitated felons who have stayed crime-free for five years or more a fresh start, but "it's the method and manner of how you do it, so you don't open Pandora's Box to more problems than you already have."
Questions also linger about whether the records can be truly wiped clean in the age of the internet and social media.
While the bill already bars those with sexual offenses , crimes against children, or adult abuse from having their records erased, a floor amendment passed on Friday carves out other exemptions for crimes related to prostitution, child pornography, or abuse of public office.
