Bill > H2722

This bill establishes a Fresh Start Program within the Executive Office of Public Safety to help individuals mitigate negative online consequences related to past criminal offenses. The program will allow people to request updates, removals, or anonymization of online stories about their past criminal records, with a focus on helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and social mobility. A Fresh Start Coordinating Council of 25 members, appointed by the Governor and including representatives from media, law enforcement, legal services, civil liberties organizations, and individuals with past incarceration experiences, will oversee the program. The Council will develop guidelines for reviewing applications, establish best practices for reporting about young adults under 25, and provide recommendations to media outlets about modifying online stories. The Council will be required to submit an annual report to the Governor detailing application statistics, benchmarks, and the percentage of media outlets that accept the program's recommendations. The bill specifically changes an existing law by raising an unspecified age-related threshold from 18 to 25, likely related to the program's focus on young adults' criminal records.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2722