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2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 286
BY REPRESENTATIVES BOYD, KNOX, AND LAFLEUR
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CRIMINAL/RECORDS: Provides relative to expungements for certain amounts of
possession of marijuana
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Article 986(A) and (C) and to enact
3 Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 977(D), 983(M), and 998, relative to
4 expungement; to provide relative to the motion to expunge a record of arrest and
5 conviction of a misdemeanor offense; to provide relative to when a person may file
6 an expungement for certain convictions of possession of marijuana; to provide
7 relative to the fees for an expungement of a record; to provide for fees in certain
8 expungement cases; to provide relative to the expungement form for misdemeanor
9 marijuana convictions; and to provide for related matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Code of Criminal Procedure Article 986(A) and (C) are hereby amended
12and reenacted and Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 977(D), 983(M), and 998 are hereby
13enacted to read as follows:
14 Art. 977. Motion to expunge a record of arrest and conviction of a misdemeanor
15 offense
16 * * *
17 D. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a person may file
18 a motion to expunge his record of arrest and conviction of a misdemeanor first
19 offense involving the possession of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or chemical
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1 derivatives thereof pursuant to R.S. 40:966(C)(2)(a) after ninety days from the date
2 of conviction.
3 * * *
4 Art. 983. Costs of expungement of a record; fees; collection; exemptions;
5 disbursements
6 * * *
7 M.(1) Notwithstanding Paragraph B of this Article, the total cost to obtain
8 a court order expunging a record of a misdemeanor first offense involving the
9 possession of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or chemical derivatives thereof
10 pursuant to R.S. 40:966(C)(2)(a) shall not exceed three hundred dollars. The
11 nonrefundable processing fees for a court order expunging such record shall be as
12 follows:
13 (a) The Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information may
14 charge a processing fee of fifty dollars for the expungement of the record when
15 ordered to do so by the court in compliance with the provisions of this Title.
16 (b) The sheriff may charge a processing fee of fifty dollars for the
17 expungement of the record when ordered to do so by the court in compliance with
18 the provisions of this Title.
19 (c) The district attorney may charge a processing fee of fifty dollars for the
20 expungement of the record when ordered to do so by the court in compliance with
21 the provisions of this Title.
22 (d) The clerk of court may charge a processing fee of one hundred fifty
23 dollars to cover the clerk's costs of the expungement.
24 (2) The clerk of court shall collect all processing fees at the time the motion
25 for expungement is filed.
26 (3) The clerk shall immediately direct the collected processing fee provided
27 for in Subsubpragraph (1)(a) of this Paragraph to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal
28 Identification and Information, and the processing fee amount shall be deposited
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1 immediately upon receipt into the Criminal Identification and Information Dedicated
2 Fund Account.
3 (4) The clerk shall immediately direct the collected processing fees provided
4 for in Subsubparagraphs (1)(b) and (c) of this Paragraph to the sheriff and the district
5 attorney, and the processing fee amount shall be remitted immediately upon receipt
6 in equal proportions to the office of the district attorney and the sheriff's general
7 fund.
8 (5) The provisions of this Paragraph shall be null, void, and without effect
9 and shall terminate on August 1, 2026.
10 * * *
11 Art. 986. Forms for the expungement of records
12 A. Only the forms provided for in Articles 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993,
13 994, and 995, and 998 of this Code shall be used for filing motions to expunge a
14 record of an arrest which did not result in a conviction, for the expungement of a
15 record of arrest and conviction of a misdemeanor or felony offense, or for an interim
16 motion to expunge a felony offense which resulted in a misdemeanor conviction.
17 * * *
18 C. The clerk of court for any court in the state of Louisiana having criminal
19 jurisdiction may amend any of the forms provided for in Articles 987, 988, 989, 990,
20 991, 992, 993, 994, and 995, and 998 to provide the appropriate name of the court
21 ordering an expungement of records.
22 * * *
23 Art. 998. Motion for expungement form to be used for certain misdemeanor
24 convictions
25 STATE OF LOUISIANA
26 JUDICIAL DISTRICT FOR THE PARISH OF
27 ______________________________
28 No.: _____________ Division: "_______"
29 State of Louisiana
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1 vs.
2 _______________________________________________________
3MOTION FOR EXPUNGEMENT FOR MISDEMEANOR F IRST CONVICTION
4 FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA PURSUANT TO R.S. 40:966(C)(2)(a)
5 NOW INTO COURT comes mover, who provides the court with the following
6 information in connection with this request:
7 I. DEFENDANT INFORMATION
8 NAME: ___________________________________________________________
9 (Last, First, MI)
10 DOB: ________/______/_______ (MM/DD/YYYY)
11 GENDER _____ Female _____Male
12 SSN (last 4 digits): XXX-XX-________
13 RACE: _________________
14 DRIVER LIC.# _________________
15 ARRESTING AGENCY: __________________________________________
16 SID# (if available): _________________
17 ARREST NUMBER (ATN):_________________
18 AGENCY ITEM NO. _________________
19 Mover is entitled to expunge the record of his arrest/conviction pursuant to Louisiana
20 Code of Criminal Procedure Article 971 et seq. and states the following in support:
21 II. MISDEMEANOR FIRST CONVICTION FOR POSSESSION OF
22 MARIJUANA PURSUANT TO R.S. 40:966(C)(2)(a)
23 1. Mover was convicted on _______/______/_______ (MM/DD/YYYY)
24 The Mover prays that if there is no objection timely filed by the arresting law
25 enforcement agency, the district attorney's office, or the Louisiana Bureau of
26 Criminal Identification and Information, that an order be issued herein ordering the
27 expungement of the record of arrest and/or conviction set forth above, including all
28 photographs, fingerprints, disposition, or any other such information, which record
29 shall be confidential and no longer considered a public record, nor be made available
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1 to other persons, except a prosecutor, member of a law enforcement agency, or a
2 judge who may request such information in writing, certifying that such request is
3 for the purpose of prosecuting, investigating, or enforcing the criminal law, for the
4 purpose of any other statutorily defined law enforcement or administrative duties,
5 or for the purpose of the requirements of sex offender registration and notification
6 pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 15:541 et seq. or as an order of this court to any
7 other person for good cause shown, or as otherwise authorized by law.
8 If an "Affidavit of No Opposition" by each agency named herein is attached hereto
9 and made a part hereof, defendant requests that no contradictory hearing be required
10 and the motion be granted ex parte.
11 Respectfully submitted,
12 ____________________________________
13 Signature of Attorney for Mover/Defendant
14 ____________________________________
15 Attorney for Mover/Defendant Name
16 ____________________________________
17 Attorney's Bar Roll No.
18 ____________________________________
19 Address
20 ____________________________________
21 City, State, ZIP Code
22 ____________________________________
23 Telephone Number
24 If not represented by counsel:
25 ____________________________________
26 Signature of Mover/Defendant
27 ____________________________________
28 Mover/Defendant Name
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1 ____________________________________
2 Address
3 ____________________________________
4 City, State, ZIP Code
5 ____________________________________
6 Telephone Number
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 286 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Boyd
Abstract: Relative to the expungement of records, provides relative to when a person may
file an expungement for certain convictions of possession of marijuana.
Present law provides for the expungement of certain arrest and conviction records under
certain circumstances.
Present law further provides that a person may file a motion to expunge his record of arrest
and conviction of a misdemeanor offense if either of the following apply:
(1)The conviction was set aside and prosecution was dismissed.
(2)More than five years have elapsed since the person completed any sentence, deferred
adjudication, or period of probation and parole, and the person has not been
convicted of any felony offense during such period, and has no felony charge
pending against him.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that a person may file a motion to expunge
his record of arrest and conviction of a misdemeanor offense involving the possession of
marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or chemical derivatives thereof pursuant to present law
(R.S. 40:966(C)(2)(a)) after 90 days from the date of conviction.
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 983) provides relative to the fees for an expungement of a record
and also exempts certain applicants from paying any fees.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that the total cost for a person who has been
convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving the possession of marijuana pursuant to
present law (R.S. 40:966(C)(2)(a)) shall not exceed $300.
Proposed law further provides that the nonrefundable processing fees for a court order
expunging such record shall be as follows:
(1)The La. Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information may charge a processing
fee of $50.
(2)The sheriff may charge a processing fee of $50.
(3)The district attorney may charge a processing fee of $50.
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(4)The clerk of court may charge a processing free of $150.
Proposed law provides that the $300 fee shall be null, void, and without effect and shall
terminate on Aug. 1, 2026.
Present law provides for the forms used for the expungement of records.
Proposed law adds an additional form for misdemeanor convictions for possession of
marijuana pursuant to present law (R.S. 40:966(C)(2)(a)).
(Amends C.Cr.P. Art. 986(A) and (C); Adds C.Cr.P. Arts. 977(D), 983(M), and 998)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Remove proposed law relative to misdemeanor first offenses of possession of
marijuana over 14 grams.
2. Provide that proposed law only applies to misdemeanor first offenses of
possession of marijuana of 14 grams or less, pursuant to present law (R.S.
40:966(C)(2)(a)).
3. Remove proposed law relative to the exemption of processing fees for persons
convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses for possession of marijuana.
4. Provide for a fee not to exceed $300 for persons convicted of certain
misdemeanor offenses for possession of marijuana.
5. Provide relative to the distribution of the $300 fee to the La. Bureau of Criminal
Identification and Information, the sheriffs, the district attorneys, and the clerks
of court.
6. Provide that the $300 fee shall be null, void, and without effect on Aug. 1, 2026.
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