Amended in Assembly June 1, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 672

Introduced by Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer

February 25, 2015

An act to amend Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code, begin insert and to add Section 14903 to the Vehicle Code, end insert relating to inmates.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 672, as amended, 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 begin delete provide that those criteria are not applicable to a person who was wrongfully convicted and released from prison. The bill would end delete require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist a person who was wrongfully convicted with begin delete obtaining an identification card upon release from prison. The bill would also require the department to provide end delete transitional begin delete services to that person, to include end delete begin insert services, including end insert 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 begin delete 2 years end delete begin insert one year end insert from the date of release.

begin insert

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to collect specified fees for the issuance, renewal, or replacement of a driver’s license or identification card.

end insert begin insert

This bill would exempt from payment of those fees a person who was wrongfully convicted and was released from state prison or county jail within the previous 6 months.

end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code is amended
to read:

3007.05.  

(a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall ensure that all eligible
inmates released from state prisons have valid identification cards,
issued pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 13000) of
Chapter 1 of Division 6 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) For purposes of this section, “eligible inmate” means an
inmate who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The inmate has previously held a California driver’s license
or identification card.

(2) The inmate has a usable photo on file with the Department
of Motor Vehicles that is not more than 10 years old.

(3) The inmate has no outstanding fees due for a prior California
identification card.

(4) The inmate has provided, and the Department of Motor
Vehicles has verified, all of the following information:

(A) The inmate’s true full name.

(B) The inmate’s date of birth.

(C) The inmate’s social security number.

(D) The inmate’s legal presence in the United States.

(c)  begin delete A person released from state prison who was wrongfully
convicted shall not be subject to subdivision (b). end delete The department
shall assist a person who was wrongfully convicted with begin delete obtaining
an identification card upon release from prison. The department
shall also provide end delete transitional begin delete services to that person, to include end delete
begin insert services, including end insert housing assistance, job training, and mental
health services, as applicable. The extent of the services shall be
determined by the department and shall be provided for a period
of not less than six months and not more than begin delete two years end delete begin insert one year end insert
from the date of release.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 14903 is added to the end insert begin insert Vehicle Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 14903. end insert   

A fee shall not be charged for an original, renewal, or
replacement driver’s license or identification card issued to any
person who was wrongfully convicted and was released from state
prison or county jail within the previous six months.

end insert