HB0209 • 2024

Possession of alcohol-amendments.

AN ACT relating to alcoholic beverages; amending the penalty for a person under the age of 21 possessing, consuming or having a measurable amount of alcohol in his body; providing for the expungement of a criminal record for a person under the age of 21 possessing, consuming or having a measurable amount of alcohol in his body; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Crime

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Representative Andrew
Last action: 2024-02-14
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide a detailed summary or digest of the bill, so some details may need verification from additional sources.

Changes to Alcohol Laws for People Under 21

The bill changes the penalties and record-keeping rules for people under 21 who possess, consume, or have alcohol in their system.

What This Bill Does

Amends the penalty for underage possession of alcohol from a general misdemeanor to a specific misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $250.
Prohibits courts from reporting convictions for underage alcohol offenses to law enforcement agencies.
Automatically expunges criminal records six months after payment of the fine, allowing individuals to say their record is clean when asked about it.

Who It Names or Affects

People under the age of 21 who possess, consume, or have alcohol in their system
Courts that handle underage alcohol offenses

Terms To Know

Expungement: The process of removing criminal records from public view and legal consequences.
Misdemeanor: A crime that is less serious than a felony, usually punishable by fines or short jail time.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
It only applies to future cases and does not affect past convictions.
The changes would take effect on July 1, 2024, if passed.

Bill History

2024-02-14 House
H Failed Introduction 21-39-2-0-0
2024-02-14 House
H Received for Introduction
2024-02-14 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

24LSO-0579
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0579
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0209

Possession of alcohol-amendments.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Andrew, Byron, Provenza, Singh and Strock and Senator(s) Rothfuss

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to alcoholic beverages; amending the penalty for a person under the age of 21 possessing, consuming or having a measurable amount of alcohol in his body; providing for the expungement of a criminal record for a person under the age of 21 possessing, consuming or having a measurable amount of alcohol in his body; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 12
‑
6
‑
101(g) and by creating new subsections (k) and (m) is amended to read:

12
‑
6
‑
101.

Sale or possession prohibited; when possession unlawful; public drunkenness; falsification of identification; penalty; prima facie identification as defense.

(g)

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (k) of this section a
ny person who violates this section, or aids, abets or incites any violation hereof, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(k)

Any person who violates paragraphs (c)(iii), (iv) or (v) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).

(m)

No conviction for a violation of paragraphs (c)(iii), (iv) or (v) of this section, whether by guilty plea, adjudication of guilt or forfeiture of bond shall be reported by the court to any law enforcement agency. Upon payment of the fine imposed by subsection (k) of this section, a criminal conviction for a violation of paragraphs (c)(iii), (iv) or (v) of this section shall be expunged by operation of law from all records of the court six (6) months after the entry of conviction. For any person whose record of conviction was expunged under this subsection, the conviction is deemed not to have occurred and the individual may reply accordingly upon any inquiry in the matter. No expungement under this subsection shall be considered for purposes of any other law providing for expungement.

Section 2.

This act shall apply to convictions under W.S. 12
‑
6
‑
101(c)(iii), (iv) or (v) on and after July 1, 2024.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2024
.

(END)

1
HB0209