2C:52-5.1 Eligibility to file petition for expungement.

5. a. (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of N.J.S.2C:52-2 and N.J.S.2C:52-3 or any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning on the effective date of this section, the following persons may file a petitionfor an expungement with any court designated by the Rules of Court at any time, provided they have satisfied, except as otherwise set forth in this subsection, payment of any court-ordered financial assessment as defined in section 8 of P.L.2017, c.244 (C.2C:52-23.1), satisfactorily completed probation or parole, been released from incarceration, or been discharged from legal custody or supervision at the time of application:

(a) any person who, prior to the development of a system for sealing records from the public pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.2), was charged with, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for, any number of offenses for, or delinquent acts which if committed by an adult would constitute, unlawful distribution of, or possessing or having under control with intent to distribute, marijuana or hashish in violation of paragraph (12) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:35-5, or a violation of that paragraph and a violation of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1987, c.101 (C.2C:35-7) or subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1997, c.327 (C.2C:35-7.1) for distributing, or possessing or having under control with intent to distribute, on or within 1,000 feet of any school property, or on or within 500 feet of the real property comprising a public housing facility, public park, or public building; or

(b) any person who, prior to the development of a system for sealing records from the public pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.2), was charged with, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for, any number of offenses for, or delinquent acts which if committed by an adult would constitute, obtaining, possessing, using, being under the influence of, or failing to make lawful dispositionof marijuana or hashish in violation of paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection a., or subsection b., or subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:35-10; or

(c) any person who, prior to the development of a system for sealing records from the public pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.2), was charged with, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for, any number of offenses for, or delinquent acts which if committed by an adult would constitute, a violation involving marijuana or hashish as described in subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph and using or possessing with intent to use drug paraphernalia with that marijuana or hashish in violation of N.J.S.2C:36-2.

(2) If, at the time of application, a court-ordered financial assessment subject to collection under the comprehensive enforcement program established pursuant to P.L.1995, c.9 (C.2B:19-1 et al.) is not yet satisfied due to reasons other than willful noncompliance, but the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection are otherwise satisfied, the person may submit the expungement application and the court shall grant an expungement in accordance with subsection c. of this section; provided, however, that at the time the expungement is granted the court shall enter a civil judgment for the unpaid portion of the court-ordered financial assessment in the name of the Treasurer, State of New Jersey and transfer collection and disbursement responsibility to the State Treasurer for the outstanding amount in accordance with section 8 of P.L.2017, c.244 (C.2C:52:23.1). The Treasurer may specify, and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall collaborate with, the technical and informational standards required to effectuate the transfer of the collection and disbursement responsibilities. Notwithstanding any provision in this law or any other law to the contrary, the court shall have sole discretion to amend the judgment.

b. (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of N.J.S.2C:52-2 and N.J.S.2C:52-3 or any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning on the effective date of this section, a person who, prior, on, or after that effective date is charged with, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for, any number of offenses for, or delinquent acts which if committed by an adult would constitute, unlawful distribution of, or possessing or having under control with intent to distribute, marijuana or hashish in violation of paragraph (11) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:35-5, may file a petitionfor an expungement with a court after the expiration of three years from the date of the most recent conviction, payment of any court-ordered financial assessment as defined in section 8 of P.L.2017, c.244 (C.2C:52-23.1), satisfactory completion of probation or parole, release from incarceration, or discharge from legal custody or supervision, whichever is later.

(2) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions concerning the three-year time requirement set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, if, at the time of application, a court-ordered financial assessment subject to collection under the comprehensive enforcement program established pursuant to P.L.1995, c.9 (C.2B:19-1 et al.) is not yet satisfied due to reasons other than willful noncompliance, but the time requirement is otherwise satisfied, the person may submit the expungement application and the court shall grant an expungement in accordance with subsection c. of this section; provided, however, that at the time the expungement is granted the court shall enter a civil judgment for the unpaid portion of the court-ordered financial assessment in the name of the Treasurer, State of New Jersey and transfer collection and disbursement responsibility to the State Treasurer for the outstanding amount in accordance with section 8 of P.L.2017, c.244 (C.2C:52:23.1). The Treasurer may specify, and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall collaborate with, the technical and informational standards required to effectuate the transfer of the collection and disbursement responsibilities. Notwithstanding any provision in this law or any other law to the contrary, the court shall have sole discretion to amend the judgment.

(b) Additionally, an application may be filed and presented, and an expungement granted pursuant to subsection c. of this section, although less than three years have expired in accordance with the time requirement set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, when the court finds that the court-ordered financial assessment is satisfied but less than three years have expired from the date of satisfaction, and the time requirement of three years is otherwise satisfied, and the court finds that the person substantially complied with any payment plan ordered pursuant to N.J.S.2C:46-1 et seq., or could not do so due to compelling circumstances affecting the person's ability to satisfy the financial assessment.

c. (1) The provisions of N.J.S.2C:52-8 through N.J.S.2C:52-14 shall not apply to an expungement as set forth in this section.

(2) Upon review of the petition, the court shall immediately grant an expungement for each arrest, conviction, or adjudication of delinquency as described in subsection a. or b. of this section, as applicable. The court shall provide copies of the expungement order to the person who is the subject of the petition or that person's representative.

(3) A court order vacating an expungement that is granted to a person pursuant to this subsection may be issued upon an action filed by a county prosecutor with the court that granted the expungement, if filed no later than 30 days after the expungement order was issued, with notice to the person, and a hearing is scheduled at which the county prosecutor shows proof that the expungement was granted in error due to a statutory disqualification to expungement that existed at the time the relief was initially granted.

d. Any public employee or public agency that provides information or records pursuant to this section shall be immune from criminal and civil liability as a result of an act of commission or omission by that person or entity arising out of and in the course of participation in, or assistance with, in good faith, an expungement. The immunity shall be in addition to and not in limitation of any other immunity provided by law.

L.2019, c.269, s.5.