An Act To Provide for Special Restrictions on Dissemination and Use of Criminal History Record Information for Class E Crimes Committed by an Adult under 21 Years of Age
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0210
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: VALENTINO, WELSH, BURNS, JOHNSON, KATZ, CHENETTE, FREY, HOBBINS, MONAGHAN, RUSSELL
Amends: 16 MRSA §707

Legislative Document 
No. 210 
S.P. 79 
In Senate, February 3, 2015 
An Act To Provide for Special Restrictions on Dissemination and 
Use of Criminal History Record Information for Class E Crimes 
Committed by an Adult under 21 Years of Age 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator VALENTINO of York. 
Cosponsored by Representative WELSH of Rockport and 
Senators: BURNS of Washington, JOHNSON of Lincoln, KATZ of Kennebec, 
Representatives: CHENETTE of Saco, FREY of Bangor, HOBBINS of Saco, MONAGHAN 
of Cape Elizabeth, RUSSELL of Portland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  15 MRSA c. 310 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 310 
POST-JUDGMENT MOTION BY PERSON SEEKING TO SATISFY THE 
PREREQUISITES FOR OBTAINING SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS ON 
DISSEMINATION AND USE OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD 
INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS 
§2251.  Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1.  Administration of criminal justice.  "Administration of criminal justice" has the 
same meaning as in Title 16, section 703, subsection 1. 
2.  Another jurisdiction.  "Another jurisdiction" has the same meaning as in Title 
17-A, section 2, subsection 3-B. 
3.  Criminal history record information.  "Criminal history record information" has 
the same meaning as in Title 16, section 703, subsection 3. 
4.  Criminal justice agency.  "Criminal justice agency" has the same meaning as in 
Title 16, section 703, subsection 4. 
5.  Dissemination.  "Dissemination" has the same meaning as in Title 16, section 
703, subsection 6. 
6.  Eligible criminal conviction.  "Eligible criminal conviction" means a conviction 
for a Class E crime under Title 17-A, chapter 15. 
§2252.  Statutory prerequisites for obtaining special restrictions on dissemination 
and use of criminal history record information for a criminal conviction 
The special restrictions on dissemination and use of criminal history record 
information for a criminal conviction specified in section 2255 apply only if: 
1.  Eligible criminal conviction.  The criminal conviction is an eligible criminal 
conviction; 
2.  Age of person at time of commission.  At the time of the commission of the 
crime underlying the eligible criminal conviction, the person had in fact attained 18 years 
of age but not 21 years of age; 
3.  Time since sentence fully satisfied.  At least 4 years have passed since the person 
has fully satisfied each of the sentencing alternatives imposed for the eligible criminal 
conviction; 
4.  Other state convictions.  The eligible criminal conviction is the only criminal 
conviction of the person in this State, and the person has not had a criminal charge 
dismissed as a result of a deferred disposition pursuant to Title 17-A, chapter 54-F and 
has not been adjudicated as having committed a juvenile crime for which the hearing was 
open to the general public under section 3307; 
5.  Convictions in another jurisdiction.  The person has no criminal convictions 
from another jurisdiction; and 
6.  Pending criminal charges.  The person has no presently pending criminal 
charges in this State or in another jurisdiction. 
§2253.  Motion; persons who may file 
A person may file a written motion in the underlying criminal proceeding seeking a 
court determination that the person satisfies the statutory prerequisites specified in section 
2252 for obtaining the special restrictions on dissemination and use of criminal history 
record information relating to a criminal conviction as specified in section 2255.  The 
written motion must briefly address each of the statutory prerequisites. 
§2254.  Motion and hearing; process 
1.  Filing motion.  A motion filed pursuant to section 2253 must be filed in the 
underlying criminal proceeding.  After a motion has been filed, the clerk shall set the 
motion for hearing. 
2.  Counsel.  The person filing a motion pursuant to section 2253 has the right to 
employ counsel but is not entitled to assignment of counsel at state expense. 
3.  Representation of the State.  The prosecutorial office that represented the State 
in the underlying criminal proceeding shall represent the State for purposes of this 
chapter.  On a case-by-case basis, a different prosecutorial office may represent the State 
on agreement between the 2 prosecutorial offices. 
4.  Evidence.  The Maine Rules of Evidence do not apply to a hearing on a motion 
under this section, and evidence presented at a hearing by the participants may include 
testimony, affidavits and other reliable hearsay evidence as permitted by the court. 
5.  Hearing; certification of results.  The judge or justice shall hold a hearing on the 
motion under this section.  At the conclusion of the hearing, if the court determines that 
the person who filed the motion has established by a preponderance of the evidence each 
of the statutory prerequisites specified in section 2252, the court shall find the person 
entitled to the special restrictions on dissemination and use of the criminal history record 
information relating to the criminal conviction as specified in section 2255 and shall issue 
a written order certifying this determination.  If, at the conclusion of the hearing, the court 
determines that the person has not established one or more of the statutory prerequisites 
specified in section 2252, the court shall deny the motion and issue a written order 
certifying this determination.  The order must contain written findings of fact supporting 
the court's determination.  A copy of the court's written order must be provided to the 
person and the prosecutorial office that represented the State pursuant to subsection 3. 
6.  Notice to State Bureau of Identification; responsibility to inform.  If the court 
determines pursuant to subsection 5 that a person has established by a preponderance of 
the evidence each of the statutory prerequisites specified in section 2252, a copy of the 
court's written order certifying its determination must be provided to the Department of 
Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, State Bureau of Identification.  The State Bureau of 
Identification upon receipt of the order shall promptly alter its records relating to the 
person's eligible criminal conviction to reflect that future dissemination of this criminal 
history record information must be pursuant to section 2255 rather than pursuant to Title 
16, section 704 and shall advise all prior recipients who have received that information 
within the year prior to the court's written order under subsection 5 of the change.  The 
State Bureau of Identification shall also notify the person of compliance with that 
requirement and of the prior recipients notified. 
7.  Subsequent new criminal conviction; automatic loss of eligibility; person's 
duty to notify.  Notwithstanding that a person has been determined by a court pursuant to 
subsection 5 to be entitled to the special restrictions on dissemination and use of criminal 
history record information relating to a criminal conviction specified in section 2255, if at 
any time subsequent to the court's determination the person is convicted of a new crime in 
this State or in another jurisdiction, the new conviction extinguishes that entitlement.  In 
the event of a new criminal conviction, the person shall promptly file a written notice in 
the underlying criminal proceeding of the person's disqualification from entitlement 
identifying the new conviction, including the jurisdiction, court and docket number of the 
criminal proceeding.  If the person fails to file the required written notice and the court 
learns of the existence of the new criminal conviction, the court shall notify the person of 
its apparent existence and offer the person an opportunity at a hearing to contest the fact 
of a new conviction.  If a hearing is requested by the person, the court shall, after giving 
notice to the person and the appropriate prosecutorial office, hold a hearing.  At the 
hearing, the person has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the 
person does not have the new conviction.  At the conclusion of the hearing, if the court 
determines that the person has not satisfied the burden of proof, it shall find that the 
person has been convicted of the new crime and as a consequence is no longer entitled to 
the special restrictions on dissemination and use of the criminal history record 
information relating to the criminal conviction as specified in section 2255 and shall issue 
a written order certifying this determination.  If, at the conclusion of the hearing, the court 
determines that the person has satisfied the burden of proof, it shall find that the person 
has not been convicted of the new crime and issue a written order certifying this 
determination.  The order must contain written findings of fact supporting the court's 
determination.  A copy of the court's written order must be provided to the person and the 
prosecutorial office that represented the State. 
8.  Notice to State Bureau of Identification of new crime; responsibility to 
inform.  If the court determines under subsection 7 that a person has been convicted of a 
new crime and as a consequence is no longer eligible for the special restrictions on 
dissemination and use of the criminal history record information relating to the criminal 
conviction as specified in section 2255, a copy of the court's written order certifying its 
determination must be provided to the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State 
Police, State Bureau of Identification.  The State Bureau of Identification upon receipt of 
the order shall alter its records relating to the person's criminal conviction to reflect that 
dissemination of this criminal history record information is pursuant to Title 16, section 
rather than pursuant to section 2255 and shall advise all prior recipients who have 
received that information within the year prior to the court's written order under 
subsection 5 of the change. It shall also notify the person of compliance with that 
requirement and of the prior recipients notified. 
§2255.  Special restrictions on dissemination and use of criminal history record 
information relating to criminal conviction 
Notwithstanding Title 16, section 704, the criminal history record information 
relating to a criminal conviction for which the court has determined the person is entitled 
to special restrictions on dissemination and use is confidential and may not be 
disseminated by a criminal justice agency, whether directly or through any intermediary, 
except: 
1.  Subject of conviction.  To the person who is the subject of the criminal 
conviction or that person's designee; and 
2.  Criminal justice agency.  To a criminal justice agency for the purpose of the 
administration of criminal justice and criminal justice agency employment. 
For the purposes of this section, dissemination to a criminal justice agency for the 
purpose of the administration of criminal justice includes dissemination and use of the 
criminal history record information relating to the qualifying criminal conviction by an 
attorney for the State or for another jurisdiction as part of a prosecution of the person for 
a new crime, including use in a charging instrument or other public court document and 
in open court. 
§2256.  Limited disclosure of eligible criminal conviction 
A person who has a criminal conviction eligible for the special restrictions on 
dissemination and use of criminal history record information under section 2255 may 
respond to inquiries from other than criminal justice agencies by not disclosing its 
existence without being subject to any sanctions. 
§2257.  Unlawful dissemination 
A person who intentionally disseminates criminal history record information relating 
to a criminal conviction in violation of section 2255 knowing it to be in violation is guilty 
of unlawful dissemination as provided in Title 16, section 707. 
§2258.  Review of determination of eligibility; review of determination of subsequent 
criminal conviction 
A final judgment entered under section 2254, subsection 5 or 7 may be reviewed by 
the Supreme Judicial Court. 
1.  Appeal by the person.  A person aggrieved by the final judgment under section 
2254, subsection 5 or 7 may not appeal as of right.  The time for taking the appeal and the 
manner and any conditions for the taking of the appeal are as the Supreme Judicial Court 
provides by rule. 
2.  Appeal by the State.  If the State is aggrieved by the final judgment under section 
2254, subsection 5 or 7, it may appeal as of right, and a certificate of approval by the 
Attorney General is not required.  The time for taking the appeal and the manner and any 
conditions for the taking of the appeal are as the Supreme Judicial Court provides by rule. 
§2259.  Repeal 
This chapter is repealed October 1, 2019. 
Sec. 2.  16 MRSA §707, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. A, §2, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Offense.  A person is guilty of unlawful dissemination of confidential criminal 
history record information if the person intentionally disseminates confidential criminal 
history record information knowing it to be in violation of any of the provisions of this 
chapter or if the person intentionally disseminates criminal history record information 
relating to a criminal conviction in violation of Title 15, section 2255 knowing it to be in 
violation. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a process to apply special restrictions on the dissemination and 
use of criminal history record information about an eligible criminal conviction.  To be 
eligible for the special restrictions, a person must file a motion with the court in the 
underlying criminal proceeding. 
The Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, State Bureau of 
Identification upon receipt of a court order must promptly alter its records relating to the 
person's qualifying criminal conviction to reflect that future dissemination of this criminal 
history record information must be pursuant to the new procedure and is required to 
notify all prior recipients who have received that information within the year prior to the 
court order of the change. It must also notify the person of compliance with that 
requirement and of the prior recipients notified. 
If the person is convicted of a subsequent crime, the person is required to file a 
written notice in the underlying criminal proceeding. 
The criminal history record information relating to the eligible criminal conviction is 
confidential and may not be disseminated by a criminal justice agency, whether directly 
or through any intermediary, except to the person and to a criminal justice agency for the 
purpose of the administration of criminal justice and criminal justice agency employment.  
Unlawfully releasing the restricted information is a violation of the release of confidential 
information under the criminal history record information laws. 
The provisions establishing the process to apply special restrictions on the 
dissemination and use of criminal history record information about an eligible criminal 
conviction are repealed October 1, 2019.