Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Adverse Actions and Removal From Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) System

SB 315 clarifies that individuals with expunged criminal charges cannot be denied employment, education, or government services solely because they refuse to disclose those expunged charges. The bill specifically prohibits the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system from referencing certain cannabis possession cases (where it was the only charge and disposed before July 1, 2023) and requires the Department of Public Safety to remove all references to these cases from MDEC by July 1, 2024. It also prohibits employers, educational institutions, and state agencies from using expunged cannabis charges as the sole basis for adverse actions. The law applies directly to people with expunged cannabis cases meeting the specified criteria. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.