BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2308
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 9, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2308 (Stone) - As Introduced: February 21, 2014
Policy Committee: Public Safety
Vote: 6-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation (CDCR) to ensure that all inmates released from
state prisons have valid identification (ID) cards.
FISCAL EFFECT
Significant annual GF costs to CDCR and DMV, likely in the range
of $2 million, to expand the current effort to provide IDs to
discharging inmates.
CDCR has estimates that to increase its current goal of 12,000
IDs per year to about 30,000 (about the number of inmates
discharged annually) would require about $800,000. DMV costs
would be in the same range.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. The author cites the importance of official
identification in reestablishing a post-prison life: housing,
employment, medical care, insurance, social services, etc.
Moreover, the author notes, the process of obtaining source
documents - birth certificates, social security cards,
drivers' licenses, ID cards - can be daunting, particularly
for someone who has been incarcerated.
The author states, "If inmates can't access important services
quickly, they may have difficulty successfully reintegrating
into the community, and ultimately they may recidivate.
Immediate access to MediCal is especially important for
parolees who need medication to stay physically and mentally
AB 2308
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healthy. By removing a bureaucratic hurdle for parolees, this
measure will assist men and women in their transition to
post-release life and help reduce recidivism."
2)A solution to providing IDs for discharging inmates has long
proved elusive . Despite several legislative efforts - dropped,
held, and vetoed - CDCR and DMV have been unable to create an
ideal solution, though the departments are progressing. A
post-realignment solution is even more difficult, given the
longer terms in state prison, which result in a higher
incidence of expired licenses and IDs, outdated photos and
lack of documentation.
While there is no statutory requirement for CDCR to ensure
that all inmates released from state prisons have a valid ID
card, CDCR has been working with DMV on a Cal-ID program to
issue ID cards to eligible prisoners scheduled for release
within 120-210 days from one of 13 CDCR Reentry Hubs. The
eligibility requirements include no active immigration (ICE)
hold, a valid Social Security number, an address and ZIP code,
and a valid DMV ID card or driver's license issued within the
last 10 years. Because of these extensive requirements, many
inmates are ineligible for this program.
DMV processes the application and confirms the information
provided matches existing records. DMV does not take a new
picture, so inmates must adequately resemble the picture DMV
has on file to be approved. According to CDCR, since the
program began in October 2013, about 85% of 1,800 applications
have been issued an ID.
While many offenders enter prison with drivers' licenses and
state-issued IDs, regular licenses and ID cards expire in five
to six years. For longer term inmates, whose ID has been
expired for more than 10 years, the ability of CDCR and DMV to
verify identity via a photo and access source documents
becomes more problematic.
The goal of CDCR's Cal-ID program is about 12,000 IDs per
year, though about 2,700 inmates are currently released per
month from CDCR.
3)Current law authorizes DMV to issue an ID card to any
applicant attesting to their full name, age, and other
identifying data as certified by the applicant for the
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identification card. Every application for an ID card must be
signed and verified by the applicant before a person
authorized to administer oaths, and must be supported by bona
fide documentary evidence of age and identity, as DMV may
require, and include a legible thumb or finger print.
4)Discussions continue between the author and CDCR and DMV
regarding the most cost-efficient way to provide ID to
discharging inmates.
5)Suggested Amendments . Make DMV a partner with CDCR in creating
the most effective system, and insert "eligible" before
inmates to make clear that not all inmates will be able to
receive ID cards, if the necessary source materials are
unavailable.
Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081