Senate Judiciary committee reports out miscellaneous judiciary bill, repeals switchblade offense language and creates firearms‑surrender working group

The Senate Judiciary Committee on March 14 voted 5‑0 to report S.109, a miscellaneous judiciary bill that makes a range of technical changes to court procedures, narrows an expungement provision tied to a repealed switchblade offense, and directs the attorney general to convene a working group to recommend uniform procedures for firearms surrendered under various protective orders.

The bill was the subject of a brief committee review before the voice vote. Chair (not specified) opened consideration by saying, “We are taking 1 last look at our miscellaneous judiciary bill, and I'll be voting it out shortly.” Patrick, legislative counsel with the Office of Legislative Counsel, told the committee “there's only a couple of changes between this version and previous ones” and reviewed the changes at a high level.

The committee amendment reported out narrows an expungement instruction so that courts would expunge convictions only for the switchblade portion of a combined statute that also contains a separate “zip gun” provision. Patrick told the committee that the revision was intended…