Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement Act of 2021

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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement Act of 2021 HOPE Act of 2021 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. 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. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term cannabis (2) The term cannabis offense

Summary: 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.