Rep. Hicks-Hudson's bipartisan criminal justice reform bill passes unanimously out of Senate Judiciary Committee

HB 1 prioritizes rehabilitation by expanding access to drug treatments, allowing more opportunities for a fresh start

December 9, 2020

COLUMBUS– State Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) announced today that House Bill (HB) 1, her bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, was passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. HB 1 prioritizes rehabilitation by expanding access to drug treatments, and it allows record-sealing of convictions for low-level, non-violent, non-sex offense felonies.

“I am grateful for the unanimous vote today by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee as we continue our promise to give Ohioans a second chance at turning their lives around. This bill is truly one of the pillars for criminal justice reform as we look to address the link between drug addiction and the criminal justice system, ” said Rep. Hicks-Hudson.

HB 1 would:

Broaden the scope of continuing law intervention in lieu of conviction (ILC) by requiring an eligibility hearing on an application for intervention in any case in which the offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage was a factor leading to the underlying offense;
Broaden the application of continuing law conviction record sealing by removing the cap, currently based on total felony convictions, on eligibility for fourth or fifth degree felony and misdemeanor offenses, and by raising the caps on restricted felony and misdemeanor offenses;
Modifies the time at which an offender may apply to have a conviction record sealed.

The bill now awaits referral to the Senate floor for a vote.