COLUMBUS—State
Representative Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville) today announced that the
Ohio House has passed House Bill 164, legislation that strengthens
Ohio’s Conviction
Record Sealing Law. Rep. Pelanda was a joint sponsor of the bill.
House
Bill 164 alters the Conviction Record Sealing Law to allow a person who
is convicted of an offense to apply to have the conviction sealed if
the penalty for the
offense has been changed so that convictions for that offense can now
be sealed since the date of conviction.
By
making this change, the law coincides with other recent actions taken
by the General Assembly to make the state’s justice system more
rehabilitative. Oftentimes,
the sealing of a record can provide assistance with employment and can
allow those who may not have previously been eligible for such
opportunities because of their records to be fairly considered.
“For
many, the sealing of a record or its expungement can provide assistance
with employment opportunities and enhance the likelihood of personal
success which might
otherwise be denied,” Rep. Pelanda stated.
The bipartisan legislation passed with a vote of 93-1 and will now be under consideration by the Ohio Senate.
