Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act of 2014
Latest action (8 Jul 2014): Introduced
What this bill does
**Summary of S. 2567 — REDEEM Act (113th Congress)**
This bill would create a federal legal process allowing certain individuals to have records of nonviolent federal offenses sealed or, for juveniles, expunged. Adults who were arrested for or convicted of a "covered nonviolent offense" (excluding violent crimes and sex offenses) could petition a federal district court to seal their records after completing their sentence and waiting a specified period. Courts would hold hearings weighing public-safety interests against the petitioner's rehabilitation and employment needs, with the government bearing the burden of proof to justify keeping records unsealed. Sealed records would generally be treated as if the underlying event never occurred, with limited exceptions for law-enforcement, national-security, or security-clearance background checks. The bill also establishes separate provisions for sealing and expunging juvenile delinquency records, and calls for studies, reports, and reviews related to cost savings, benefits eligibility (TANF/SNAP), state incentives, FBI background-check accuracy, and other restrictions tied to criminal records.
The bill primarily affects people with past federal nonviolent arrests or convictions, juveniles with delinquency records, federal courts and prosecutors who would administer the new petition process, and federal agencies responsible for background checks and benefit programs.
Introduced by Senator Rand Paul (with Senator Booker) on July 8, 2014, the bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 113th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act of 2014 or the REDEEM Act - Amends the federal criminal code to provide a process for the sealing or expungement of records relating to nonviolent or juvenile offenses.
Requires a court considering a petition to seal a nonviolent offense to balance factors including the harm of the protected information to the ability of the petitioner to secure and maintain employment.
Sets forth limitations on involuntary room confinements at juvenile detention facilities.
Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) to remove offenses relating to possession or use of a controlled substance from the categories of drug offenses that result in the convicted individual being ineligible for assistance under: (1) a state program funded with temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) grants under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; or (2) the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly the food stamp program) or any state program carried out under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
Prohibits the denial of such assistance and benefits if the convicted individual: (1) committed an offense related to a substance abuse disorder, (2) participates in a substance abuse treatment program, and (3) complies with all court-imposed obligations. Includes employment services among the categories of federal benefits that are not to be denied under PRWORA. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow the Attorney General, in awarding public safety and community policing grants, to give preferential consideration to an applicant in a state with laws similar to this Act.
Common questions
- What does S. 2567 do?
- **Summary of S. 2567 — REDEEM Act (113th Congress)** This bill would create a federal legal process allowing certain individuals to have records of nonviolent federal offenses sealed or, for juveniles, expunged. Adults who were arrested for or convicted of a "covered nonviolent offense" (excluding violent crimes and sex offenses) could petition a federal district court to seal their records after completing their sentence and waiting a specified period. Courts would hold hearings weighing public-safety interests against the petitioner's rehabilitation and employment needs, with the government bearing the burden of proof to justify keeping records unsealed. Sealed records would generally be treated as if the underlying event never occurred, with limited exceptions for law-enforcement, national-security, or security-clearance background checks. The bill also establishes separate provisions for sealing and expunging juvenile delinquency records, and calls for studies, reports, and reviews related to cost savings, benefits eligibility (TANF/SNAP), state incentives, FBI background-check accuracy, and other restrictions tied to criminal records. The bill primarily affects people with past federal nonviolent arrests or convictions, juveniles with delinquency records, federal courts and prosecutors who would administer the new petition process, and federal agencies responsible for background checks and benefit programs. Introduced by Senator Rand Paul (with Senator Booker) on July 8, 2014, the bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 113th Congress.
- Has S. 2567 become law?
- Not yet. As of 8 Jul 2014, S. 2567 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 2567?
- S. 2567 was sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul [R-KY] (Republican-KY), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 2567?
- Introduced (8 Jul 2014).
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