Chiefs of police and sheriffs authorized to open certain expunged records to determine eligibility to purchase, receive, or carry a firearm.

HF 3762 allows Minnesota chiefs of police and sheriffs to access certain expunged criminal records (those sealed after January 1, 2015) specifically to determine if a person is eligible to purchase, receive, or carry a firearm. This exception applies only during firearm background checks under Minnesota Statutes § 609A.037, not for general law enforcement purposes. The bill amends existing expungement law to permit this limited access while requiring law enforcement to handle these records carefully and restrict their use solely to firearm eligibility determinations. It directly affects individuals with expunged records who apply for firearms and law enforcement agencies conducting background checks.