Senate Bill No. 384

Introduced by Senator Gaines

February 20, 2013

An act to amend Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code, relating to convictions.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 384, as introduced, Gaines. Convictions: expungement.

Existing law allows for the release from all penalties and disabilities resulting from an offense for which the person was convicted if specified criteria are met, including that all the conditions of probation have been fulfilled. Existing law excludes certain sex offenses from these provisions.

This bill would additionally exclude specified offenses relating to obscene matter involving minors from these provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code is amended to
read:

1203.4.  

(a) (1) In any case in which a defendant has fulfilled
the conditions of probation for the entire period of probation, or
has been discharged prior to the termination of the period of
probation, or in any other case in which a court, in its discretion
and the interests of justice, determines that a defendant should be
granted the relief available under this section, the defendant shall,
at any time after the termination of the period of probation, if he
or she is not then serving a sentence for any offense, on probation
for any offense, or charged with the commission of any offense,
be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or
plea of nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; or, if he or
she has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall
set aside the verdict of guilty; and, in either case, the court shall
thereupon dismiss the accusations or information against the
defendant and except as noted below, he or she shall thereafter be
released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the
offense of which he or she has been convicted, except as provided
in Section 13555 of the Vehicle Code. The probationer shall be
informed, in his or her probation papers, of this right and privilege
and his or her right, if any, to petition for a certificate of
rehabilitation and pardon. The probationer may make the
application and change of plea in person or by attorney, or by the
probation officer authorized in writing. However, in any subsequent
prosecution of the defendant for any other offense, the prior
conviction may be pleaded and proved and shall have the same
effect as if probation had not been granted or the accusation or
information dismissed. The order shall state, and the probationer
shall be informed, that the order does not relieve him or her of the
obligation to disclose the conviction in response to any direct
question contained in any questionnaire or application for public
office, for licensure by any state or local agency, or for contracting
with the California State Lottery Commission.

(2) Dismissal of an accusation or information pursuant to this
section does not permit a person to own, possess, or have in his or
her custody or control any firearm or prevent his or her conviction
under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) of Division 9
of Title 4 of Part 6.

(3) Dismissal of an accusation or information underlying a
conviction pursuant to this section does not permit a person
prohibited from holding public office as a result of that conviction
to hold public office.

(4) This subdivision shall apply to all applications for relief
under this section which are filed on or after November 23, 1970.

(b) Subdivision (a) of this section does not apply to any
misdemeanor that is within the provisions of Section 42002.1 of
the Vehicle Code, to any violation of subdivision (c) of Section
286, Section 288, subdivision (c) of Section 288a, Section 288.5,
begin delete or end delete subdivision (j) of Section 289, begin insert Section 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, or
311.11, or end insert any felony conviction pursuant to subdivision (d) of
Section 261.5, or to any infraction.

(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), subdivision (a)
does not apply to a person who receives a notice to appear or is
otherwise charged with a violation of an offense described in
subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, of Section 12810 of the Vehicle
Code.

(2) If a defendant who was convicted of a violation listed in
paragraph (1) petitions the court, the court in its discretion and in
the interests of justice, may order the relief provided pursuant to
subdivision (a) to that defendant.

(d) A person who petitions for a change of plea or setting aside
of a verdict under this section may be required to reimburse the
court for the actual costs of services rendered, whether or not the
petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate
to be determined by the court not to exceed one hundred fifty
dollars ($150), and to reimburse the county for the actual costs of
services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the
records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the
county board of supervisors not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars
($150), and to reimburse any city for the actual costs of services
rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are
sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the city council
not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Ability to make
this reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the
standards set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section
987.8 and shall not be a prerequisite to a person’s eligibility under
this section. The court may order reimbursement in any case in
which the petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without
undue hardship, all or any portion of the costs for services
established pursuant to this subdivision.

(e) (1) Relief shall not be granted under this section unless the
prosecuting attorney has been given 15 days’ notice of the petition
for relief. The probation officer shall notify the prosecuting attorney
when a petition is filed, pursuant to this section.

(2) It shall be presumed that the prosecuting attorney has
received notice if proof of service is filed with the court.

(f) If, after receiving notice pursuant to subdivision (e), the
prosecuting attorney fails to appear and object to a petition for
dismissal, the prosecuting attorney may not move to set aside or
otherwise appeal the grant of that petition.

(g) Notwithstanding the above provisions or any other provision
of law, the Governor shall have the right to pardon a person
convicted of a violation of subdivision (c) of Section 286, Section
288, subdivision (c) of Section 288a, Section 288.5, or subdivision
(j) of Section 289, if there are extraordinary circumstances.