Personal privacy bill approved

Lawmakers passed a bill April 12 that automatically seals certain criminal proceeding records.

LB505, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, ensures that arrest records are excluded from public record when criminal court charges are dismissed by mandating that state courts seal the records.

The bill expands the types of arrests eligible for privacy protection to include those of individuals who are acquitted of criminal charges and offenders who successfully complete drug court or a similar problem-solving court.

When an arrest is removed from public record, a person is not required to disclose the arrest in response to a public inquiry.

The bill passed on a 48-0 vote and takes effect Jan. 1, 2017.