HB 1491

Abstract

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a petition for a name change must include whether the petitioner has ever been charged with, arrested for, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or been found to have committed a criminal offense, regardless of adjudication. Provides that, except for petitions for a name change due to marriage, the petition shall include a copy of the petitioner's fingerprints taken by law enforcement. Provides that the clerk must, upon the filing of a final judgment of a criminal offense against any petitioner for a name change, send a report of the judgment to the Department of State Police on a form to be furnished by the Department. Provides that the report must contain sufficient information to identify the petitioner including fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency, the new name of the petitioner, and the file number of the judgment. Requires the Department of State Police to send a copy of the report to the Department of Transportation, which may be delivered by electronic transmission. Provides that, with respect to a person convicted of a felony in another state or of a federal offense, the Department of State Police must send the report to the respective state's office of law enforcement records or to the office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Provides that the costs from fingerprinting must be paid by the petitioner.