Source: https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendment/2019/1/SB1100/Introduced/CA/4-14/3s/
Timestamp: 2019-07-24 09:20:07
Document Index: 297280870

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 18', '§ 19', '§54', '§ 54', '§ 18', '§ 19', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 19', '§18', '§ 19', '§ 19', '§19', '§ 18', '§ 19', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 19', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 19', '§ 19', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 18', '§19', '§ 19', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 37', '§ 18']

4-14#3s (Additional Enactments) Decriminalization of Marijuana. SB1100 - Committee Approved
Decriminalization of Marijuana (language only)
"16. That §§ 18.2-250.1, 18.2-251, 19.2-392.2, 19.2-392.3, and 19.2-392.4 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered 18.2-251.04 and 19.2-387.3 as follows:
Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be confined in jail not more than 30 days and fined not more than $500, either or both; any person, upon a second or subsequent conviction of a violation of this section, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A charge of a violation of this section that has been expunged under subdivision A 4 of § 19.2-392.2 shall be deemed a conviction for purposes of prosecuting a person for a second or subsequent violation of this section.
C. In any prosecution under this section involving marijuana in the form of cannabidiol oil or THC-A oil as those terms are defined in §54.1-3408.3, it shall be an affirmative defense that the individual possessed such oil pursuant to a valid written certification issued by a practitioner in the course of his professional practice pursuant to § 54.1-3408.3 for treatment or to alleviate the symptoms of (i) the individual's intractable epilepsy or (ii) if such individual is the parent or legal guardian of a minor or of an incapacitated adult as defined in § 18.2-369, such minor's or incapacitated adult's intractable epilepsy. If the individual files the valid written certification with the court at least 10 days prior to trial and causes a copy of such written certification to be delivered to the attorney for the Commonwealth, such written certification shall be prima facie evidence that such oil was possessed pursuant to a valid written certification.
Whenever any person who has not previously been convicted of any offense under this article or under any statute of the United States or of any state relating to narcotic drugs, marijuana, or stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic drugs, or has not previously had a proceeding against him for violation of such an offense dismissed as provided in this section or expunged under subdivision A 4 of § 19.2-392.2, pleads guilty to or enters a plea of not guilty to possession of a controlled substance under § 18.2-250 or to possession of marijuana under § 18.2-250.1, the court, upon such plea if the facts found by the court would justify a finding of guilt, without entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the accused, may defer further proceedings and place him on probation upon terms and conditions. Prior to deferring the proceedings under this section and at the time that the case is heard, the attorney for the Commonwealth or law-enforcement officer shall provide to the court, and the court shall review, the criminal history record and any records maintained by the Department of State Police pursuant to § 19.2-387.3 to ensure that the person is eligible for such deferral. The court shall not retain in the case file any such records provided to the court.
§18.2-251.04. Heroin and Prescription Opioid Epidemic Fund.
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Epidemic Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All moneys received from fees imposed under subsection L of § 19.2-392.2 on orders of expungement entered under subdivision A 4 of § 19.2-392.2 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year that are not appropriated by the General Assembly shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. All moneys in the Fund shall be subject to annual appropriation by the General Assembly to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to be used solely for prevention, treatment, and recovery services relating to the use of heroin and prescription opioid drugs. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
§19.2-387.3. Possession of Marijuana Database.
A. The Department of State Police shall keep and maintain a computerized database of charges of violations of § 18.2-250.1 that have been expunged under subdivision A 4 of § 19.2-392.2 separate and apart from all other records maintained by the Department. The Department of State Police shall make database information available, upon request, to criminal justice agencies, including local law-enforcement agencies and the attorney for the Commonwealth, through the Virginia Criminal Information Network. Database information provided under this section shall be used only for the purposes of the administration of criminal justice. Information in the database may be provided to the defendant for the purposes of determining eligibility for a deferred disposition as provided in § 18.2-251. Information contained in the database shall not constitute a criminal record except as otherwise specified in the Code.
B. Use of the information contained in the database or received from the database for purposes not authorized by this section is prohibited, and a willful violation of this section with the intent to harass or intimidate another shall be punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
C. No liability shall be imposed upon any law-enforcement official or attorney for the Commonwealth who disseminates information or fails to disseminate information in good faith compliance with the requirements of this section, but this provision shall not be construed to grant immunity for gross negligence or willful misconduct.
D. Any record, including records maintained by electronic media, by photographic processes, or paper, in the office of the Department shall be admissible in evidence in any proceeding under §§ 18.2-250.1, 18.2-251, and 19.2-392.2. A copy, a machine-produced transcript, or a photograph of the record or paper attested by the Superintendent or his designee may be admitted as evidence in lieu of the original. In any case in which the records are transmitted by electronic means, a machine imprint of the Superintendent's name purporting to authenticate the record shall be the equivalent of attestation or certification by the Superintendent. Any copy, transcript, photograph, or certification purporting to be sealed or sealed and signed by the Superintendent or his designee or imprinted with the Superintendent's name may be admitted as evidence without any proof of the seal or signature or of the official character of the person whose name is signed thereto. If an issue as to the authenticity of any information transmitted by electronic means is raised, the court shall require that a record attested by the Superintendent or his designee be submitted for admission into evidence.
A. If a person is charged with the commission of a crime or any offense defined in Title 18.2, and he may file a petition setting forth the relevant facts and requesting expungement of the police records and court records relating to the charge if:
1. Is Such person is acquitted, or;
2 .A nolle prosequi is taken or the;
3. The charge is otherwise dismissed, including dismissal by accord and satisfaction pursuant to § 19.2-151, he may file a petition setting forth the relevant facts and requesting expungement of the police records and the court records relating to the charge; or
4. The charge is for a first offense violation of § 18.2-250.1 and is deferred and dismissed pursuant to the provisions of § 18.2-251.
F. After receiving the criminal history record information from the CCRE, the court shall conduct a hearing on the petition. If the court finds that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest or charge of the petitioner causes or may cause circumstances which that constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner, it shall enter an order requiring the expungement of the police and court records, including electronic records, relating to the charge. Otherwise, it shall deny the petition. However, if the petitioner has no prior criminal record and the arrest or charge was for a misdemeanor violation, the petitioner shall be entitled, in the absence of good cause shown to the contrary by the Commonwealth, to expungement of the police and court records relating to the arrest or charge, and the court shall enter an order of expungement. If the attorney for the Commonwealth of the county or city in which the petition is filed (i) gives written notice to the court pursuant to subsection D that he does not object to the petition and (ii) when the charge to be expunged is a felony, stipulates in such written notice that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest of the petitioner causes or may cause circumstances which constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner, the court may enter an order of expungement without conducting a hearing.
K1. Except as otherwise specified in the Code, an order of expungement entered under subdivision A 4 does not constitute a criminal record and need not be reported by the person so arrested or charged in response to any inquiries about the person's criminal record, including any inquiries contained in any application for employment, license, or other right or privilege. Except as provided in § 19.2-387.3, all index references shall be deleted, and the court and law-enforcement officers and agencies shall reply and the person may reply to any inquiry that no record exists with respect to such person. Records relating to an order of expungement entered under subdivision A 4 shall be retained by the Department of State Police for the purposes specified in § 19.2-387.3.
L. Costs shall be as provided by § 17.1-275, but shall not be recoverable against the Commonwealth. If the court enters an order of expungement, the clerk of the court shall refund to the petitioner such costs paid by the petitioner. Costs shall not be refunded to the petitioner for an order of expungement entered under subdivision A 4. In addition to the costs provided by § 17.1-275, an additional $300 fee shall be assessed to the petitioner for an order of expungement entered under subdivision A 4, of which $150 shall be paid into the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Epidemic Fund established pursuant to § 18.2-251.04 and $150 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Department of State Police.
§19.2-392.3. Disclosure of expunged records.
A. It Subject to § 19.2-387.3, it shall be unlawful for any person having or acquiring access to an expunged court or police record to open or review it or to disclose to another person any information from it without an order from the court which ordered the record expunged.
B. Agencies, officials, and employees of the state and local governments shall not, in any application, interview, or otherwise, require an applicant for a license, permit, registration, or governmental service to disclose information concerning any arrest or criminal charge against him that has been expunged. An applicant need not, in answer to any question concerning any arrest or criminal charge that has not resulted in a conviction, include a reference to or information concerning arrests or charges that have been expunged. Such an application may not be denied solely because of the applicant's refusal to disclose information concerning any arrest or criminal charge against him that has been expunged.
17. That the provisions of this act amending §§ 18.2-251 and 19.2-392.2 of the Code of Virginia and creating §§ 18.2-251.04 and 19.2-387.3 of the Code of Virginia shall become effective on January 1, 2020.
18. That the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall promulgate regulations pursuant to § 37.2-203 of the Code of Virginia to implement the provisions of this act by January 1, 2020."
Page 632, line 22, strike "16." and insert "19.".
Page 632, line 24, after "fifteenth" insert ", sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth".
(This amendment reduces the penalties for possession of marijuana to a fine of not more than $500 and makes a first offense violation that has been deferred and dismissed under § 18.2-251 eligible for expungement. The amendment provides that any person seeking expungement of such first offense violation shall be assessed a $300 fee, of which $150 shall be paid into the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Epidemic Fund, created by the bill, and $150 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Department of State Police.)