An Act to remove collateral consequences and protect the presumption of innocence

This bill aims to protect individuals' rights by automatically sealing criminal records for charges that did not result in a conviction or a guilty plea, thereby reducing long-term barriers to employment and housing. It specifically requires the sealing of records for adults and juveniles who are not found guilty or who have completed their court-ordered conditions, removing the need for them to file separate petitions to clear their names. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that a "continuation without a finding" does not count as a conviction and mandates that background check providers inform requestors that the presumption of innocence applies to pending or non-convicted cases. These changes directly affect people with criminal records by limiting the collateral consequences of charges that were not proven in court.