State House votes to expand Clean Slate, end mileage-limit for ambulances

Jun. 6—HARRISBURG — An expansion of Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law cruised through the House on Monday.

House Bill 689, a bipartisan measure introduced by Democratic Rep. Jordan Harris of Philadelphia and Republican Rep. Sheryl Delozier of Cumberland County expands the court records eligible to be sealed and reduces the wait period for sealing of certain records.

Clean Slate, as currently constituted, seals court records after 10 years of certain, not all, non-violent misdemeanor and summary offense convictions as well as criminal cases that don't lead to a conviction. Eligibility includes not having another conviction within that time frame.

Once a record is sealed, an arrest and conviction can be treated as if it had never occurred.

Under the legislative proposal, eligibility would expand to include third-degree felony convictions of drug offenses such as distribution or possession. Also included are theft, forgery and fraud including for public assistance, criminal mischief and criminal trespass.

The waiting period would drop to seven years to seal a misdemeanor offense and five years for a summary offense.

The bill advanced to the Senate by a count of 189-14. The upper chamber must also pass it before it would move to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro for his signature.

Supporters include the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry as the measure not only offers a second chance but aids the economy in broadening the labor pool. Harris said he had heard no opposition to the expansion proposal.

"This bill reduces recidivism. It helps individuals to get jobs allowing them to earn more so they don't need access to social services. It gives people a second chance after individuals worked for a decade to turn their life around who had 10 years without a new offense," Delozier said during floor debate Monday.

Felonies of the second- and first-degree would remain ineligible as would certain crimes like indecent exposure, failure to comply with Megan's Law requirements and inmates found in possession of weapons or items for escape.

"It doesn't let people out early. It doesn't affect release decisions. It doesn't affect what our law enforcement officials have access to or can use during investigations," Delozier said.

Ambulance mileage change

The House voted 203-0 to adopt a mileage change for ambulance providers that, if ultimately passed into law, would be welcomed in the emergency services community.

House Bill 479, introduced by Rep. Lisa Borowski, D-Delaware, would eliminate a mileage restriction on ambulance transports, allowing Medicaid to reimburse providers $4 for each mile a patient is transported.

As it stands, reimbursement isn't permitted for the first 20 miles. The rule is opposed by first responders working in urban and rural communities since providers are left without reimbursement for all loaded miles traveled.

The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.