Colorado Becomes the Seventh State to Enact Clean Slate Legislation
An Estimated 1 Million Coloradans to Get a Second Chance
DENVER - This afternoon, Governor Polis will sign SB22-099 into law, making Colorado the seventh state to enact Clean Slate legislation. The bill passed both legislative chambers by large margins and broad bipartisan support. The signing ceremony will occur at 1:40 p.m. local time at the Governor's Office at the State Capitol.
“It's not often you get to pass a policy that has the potential to help a million people overnight, and Clean Slate Colorado did just that. Healthier Colorado is proud to be a member of this diverse coalition because we know that living a healthy life is determined by so many factors in someone's life,” shared Healthier Colorado in a statement ahead of Governor Polis signing SB22-099. “Meaningful employment, putting a roof over your head, and securing economic stability are all predictors of how healthy you are. If you face barriers to even one of these, the likelihood that your health will pay the price is higher. We've now removed many of these barriers for deserving people and their families and we know our communities will be stronger, safer, and healthier for it.”
Once implemented, the law will streamline the record clearance process by automating the sealing of eligible records after a defined period of time. Eligible records include arrests that do not result in a conviction, misdemeanors, and some felony records. Colorado’s Clean Slate Coalition advocated strongly for the bill in the state legislature, making the case that sealing records bolsters the economy and supports public safety by removing barriers for people seeking employment, housing, education, and other services. Additional information about Colorado’s expungement process and the impact of SB22-099 is available at https://www.cleanslateco.org/resources.
Currently, three out of ten Coloradans are burdened with an arrest or conviction record, which dramatically limits their ability to find work and support their families. Once implemented, SB22-099 will automatically clear the records of 1 million eligible Coloradans. Colorado joins six other states that passed similar legislation in recent years - Pennsylvania (2018), Utah (2019), Michigan (2020), Connecticut (2020), Delaware (2021), and Oklahoma (2022).
“Whether on the baseball diamond or in life, Americans love a good comeback story. Giving people a second chance after they have paid their debts to society isn't just the Christian thing to do. It also helps make sure people can obtain meaningful work, safe housing, and educational opportunities,” said David Safavian, general counsel of the American Conservative Union Foundation and Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). “Ensuring that people have a second chance makes us all safer. Removing barriers to opportunity reduces recidivism and allows people to provide for themselves and their families. CPAC has been a strong supporter of Clean Slate across the country. Kudos to Colorado for taking this important step towards safer communities, reducing barriers to employment, and demonstrating what it looks like to put policies in place that allow for redemption."
Earlier this month, Oklahoma enacted a Clean Slate bill that will automate record clearance for people with eligible arrest and misdemeanor records. Once implemented, roughly 380,000 Oklahomans will benefit from the measure, according to estimates from The Clean Slate Initiative. With the signing of SB22-099, Colorado joins a rapidly developing statewide movement to eliminate barriers and create opportunities for millions of Americans.
“Laws that create transformational changes in people’s lives and give people a clean slate don’t just come out of nowhere,” said Sheena Meade, executive director of The Clean Slate Initiative. “Colorado’s legislation is a direct result of organizing, advocacy, and education done by a broad bipartisan coalition. No matter where from, how much money we make, or which political party we support, we should all be able to agree that we deserve policies that make our communities safer and give people the chance to provide for themselves and their families. That’s exactly what this bill does.”
For more information about The Clean Slate Initiative, visit https://www.cleanslateinitiative.org/about-clean-slate.
For more information about the Clean Slate Colorado coalition, including a list of partners, visit https://www.cleanslateco.org/coalition-members.
Editor's Note: Clean Slate laws are gaining popularity in states across the country. Since this was published, the number of states that have passed Clean Slate policies may have changed. For the most up-to-date number of Clean Slate states, please check cleanslateinitiative.org/states.
