Felony expungement bill clears House

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House voted 78-18 to approve a bill that would give people convicted of Class D felonies a chance to expunge the crime from their record.

House Bill 47 would allow people to expunge non-violent felonies if they do not have any new convictions for five years after they complete their sentence, said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville.

Proponents of the bill argue that those who commit one felony are often doomed because a criminal record can make it difficult to get a job or an education. The Democratic-led House has passed similar bills for several years, but the proposal has never passed the Republican-led Senate.

Filed Under: KY Courts • KY General Assembly • State Government