Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement Act of 2021 or the HOPE Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to states and local governments to reduce the financial and administrative burden of expunging convictions for state cannabis offenses.
The bill also requires DOJ to study and report on (1) the effects on an individual of a criminal record report of a conviction for a criminal offense related to cannabis, and (2) the costs incurred for incarcerating an individual for a criminal offense related to cannabis.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6129 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6129
To authorize the Attorney General to make grants to States and units of
local government to reduce the financial and administrative burden of
expunging convictions for cannabis offenses, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 2, 2021
Mr. Joyce of Ohio (for himself and Ms. Ocasio-Cortez) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Attorney General to make grants to States and units of
local government to reduce the financial and administrative burden of
expunging convictions for cannabis offenses, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing
Expungement Act of 2021'' or the ``HOPE Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. STATE EXPUNGEMENT OPPORTUNITY GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Name of Program.--The grant program established under this
section shall be known as the ``State Expungement Opportunity Grant
Program''.
(b) Authorization.--The Attorney General is authorized to make
grants to States and units of local government to reduce the financial
and administrative burden of expunging convictions for cannabis
offenses that are available to individuals who have been convicted of
such offenses under the laws of the State.
(c) Application.--The chief executive of a State or unit of local
government seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the
Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably
require.
(d) Use of Funds.--Grants under this section shall be used--
(1) for technology to provide cost-effective legal relief
at scale;
(2) to automate the process of expunging convictions for
cannabis offenses;
(3) for clinics, including legal clinics, that assist
individuals through the expungement process;
(4) to implement the notice requirement described in
subsection (e);
(5) to seal records of conviction for cannabis offenses, if
appropriate; and
(6) for other innovative partnerships to provide wide-scale
relief to individuals who are eligible for the expungement of a
conviction for a cannabis offense under the laws of the State.
(e) Notice Requirement.--A jurisdiction that receives a grant under
this section shall--
(1) publish on a publicly accessible website information
about the availability and process of expunging convictions for
cannabis offenses, including information for individuals living
in a different jurisdiction who were convicted of a cannabis
offense in that jurisdiction;
(2) implement a process to notify each individual convicted
of a cannabis offense when--
(A) the expungement process has begun; and
(B) when the expungement is complete, which shall,
if applicable, include an official certificate of
expungement (including any other similar document used
by the jurisdiction).
(f) Report.--A jurisdiction that receives a grant under this
section shall submit to the Attorney General a report describing the
uses of such funds, and how many convictions for cannabis offenses have
been expunged using such funds.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $2,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal
years 2023 through 2032.
SEC. 3. STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES RELATED TO CANNABIS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall conduct a study and
submit to Congress and make publicly available on the website of the
Department of Justice a report on--
(1) the effects of the appearance on an individual's
criminal record report of a conviction for a criminal offense
related to cannabis, including--
(A) disqualifying him or her from future
opportunities in housing and employment;
(B) increasing the likelihood that the individual
will have future involvement with the criminal justice
system;
(C) how any such effects differ based on
demographics, including race; and
(D) any other matters determined appropriate by the
Attorney General; and
(2) the costs incurred by States for incarcerating an
individual convicted for a criminal offense related to
cannabis.
(b) Clarification.--The report under subsection (a) may not include
any personally identifiable information.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``cannabis'' means either marijuana or
cannabis as defined under the State law authorizing the sale or
use of cannabis in which the individual or entity is located.
(2) The term ``cannabis offense'' means a criminal offense
related to cannabis that, under State law, is no longer an
offense or that was designated a lesser offense or for which
the penalty was reduced under State law pursuant to or
following the adoption of a State law authorizing the sale or
use of cannabis.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
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