House committee advances bill to make certain marijuana convictions confidential

Representative David Nelson told the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 26 that House Bill 81 would restrict release of some conviction records and allow certain marijuana possession convictions to be confidential on routine background checks. "House Bill 81, an act restricting the release of certain records of convictions and providing marijuana possession convictions confidential on basic background checks while keeping those convictions available for government agencies and qualified people," Nelson said in his final remarks.

Nelson said the change would apply to individuals who were at least 21 years old at the time of the offense, whose offense involved possession of 1 ounce or less, and who were not convicted of additional crimes in the same incident. He told the committee that hardworking Alaskans face barriers to employment, housing, licensing and volunteer opportunities that the bill is intended to reduce.

Chair Representative Gray expressed support, saying it "just makes sense that folks who are convicted of something that today is not illegal should not be held back for that issue." With no amendments filed by the established deadline, a committee member moved that HB 81 be reported out of the Judiciary Committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note. Hearing no objection, the chair reported the bill out of committee and authorized legislative legal services to make technical and conforming changes.

The action taken was a committee report with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note; the committee did not take a recorded roll-call vote on the motion. The bill remains subject to further action on the House floor and any subsequent committee referrals.

The committee briefly recessed to sign paperwork after reporting the bill out.