Fees to expunge arrest record would rise 7 times under bill

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - The House today approved a seven-fold fee increase for Tennesseans wishing to expunge their arrest record following successful completion of a judicial diversion program.

The vote was 75-15. The Senate companion bill comes up in committee next week.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, said increasing the fee from $50 to $350 was necessary because of a huge influx in recent years of requests to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which handles expungement requests. There are about 28,000 annually, he said.

The bill would raise about $4.3 million, according to legislative estimates, which would go toward equipment, computer software and personnel training.

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