AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT -- JUVENILE RECORDS

HB 5651 allows state agencies to access juvenile criminal records for firearm background checks until the individual turns 21. This affects people who were juveniles (under 18) at the time of an offense and are now under 21 when seeking to purchase a firearm. The bill amends existing law to create a specific exception to the usual sealing of juvenile records, permitting their use in National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) checks for firearms. It maintains standard confidentiality protections for juvenile records in all other contexts, including public access and other legal proceedings.