AB 672, as introduced, Jones-Sawyer. Inmates: wrongful convictions: assistance upon release.
Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that all eligible inmates released from the state prison have valid identification cards. Existing law establishes certain criteria to be met in order for an inmate to be considered “eligible” for these purposes.
This bill would provide that those criteria are not applicable to a person who was wrongfully convicted and released from prison. The bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist a person who was wrongfully convicted with obtaining an identification card upon release from prison. The bill would also require the department to provide transitional services to that person, to include housing assistance, job training, and mental health services, as applicable. The extent of the services would be determined by the department and would be provided for a period of not less than 6 months and not more than 2 years from the date of release.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code is amended
2to read:
(a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
4and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall ensure that all eligible
5inmates released from state prisons have valid identification cards,
6issued pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 13000) of
7Chapter 1 of Division 6 of the Vehicle Code.
8(b) For purposes of this section, “eligible inmate” means an
9inmate who meets all of the following requirements:
10(1) The inmate has previously held a California driver’s license
11or identification card.
12(2) The inmate has a usable photo on file with the Department
13of Motor Vehicles that is not more than 10 years old.
14(3) The inmate has no outstanding fees due for a prior California
15identification card.
16(4) The inmate has provided, and the Department of Motor
17Vehicles has verified, all of the following information:
18(A) The inmate’s true full name.
19(B) The inmate’s date of birth.
20(C) The inmate’s social security number.
21(D) The inmate’s legal presence in the United States.
begin insert
22(c) A person released from state prison who was wrongfully
23convicted shall not be subject to subdivision (b). The department
24
shall assist a person who was wrongfully convicted with obtaining
25an identification card upon release from prison. The department
26shall also provide transitional services to that person, to include
27housing assistance, job training, and mental health services, as
28applicable. The extent of the services shall be determined by the
29department and shall be provided for a period of not less than six
30months and not more than two years from the date of release.
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