bill making prisons check inmate IDs before release

The text as introduced · 747 words

89R7950 MCF-D

By: Collier
H.B. No. 1969

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing inmates with certain documents on release or

discharge; changing a fee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 501.015(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) When an inmate is discharged or is released on parole,

mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon, the department shall

provide the inmate with:

(1) suitable civilian clothing;

(2) money held in the inmate's trust account by the

director;

(3) cash, in an amount and in the manner described by

Subsection (b); and

(4) a license or personal identification certificate

obtained under Section 501.0165, if available.

SECTION 2. Sections 501.0165(a), (b), (c), and (d),

Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Before discharging an inmate or releasing an inmate on

parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon, the

department shall:

(1) determine whether the inmate has:

(A) a valid license issued under Chapter 521 or

522, Transportation Code; or

(B) a valid personal identification certificate

issued under Chapter 521, Transportation Code; and

(2) if the inmate does not have a valid license or

certificate described by Subdivision (1), submit to the Department

of Public Safety on behalf of the inmate a request for the issuance

of :

(A) a renewal license under Chapter 521 or 522,

Transportation Code, if:

(i) the inmate's license issued under the

applicable chapter is expired but eligible for renewal; and

(ii) the inmate meets the requirements for

the issuance of the license; or

(B) a personal identification certificate under

Chapter 521, Transportation Code.

(b) The department shall submit a request under Subsection

(a)(2) as soon as is practicable to enable the department to provide

the inmate with the license or personal identification certificate

when the department discharges or releases the inmate.

(c) The department, the Department of Public Safety, and the

[ bureau of ] vital statistics unit of the Department of State Health

Services shall by rule adopt a memorandum of understanding that

establishes their respective responsibilities with respect to the

issuance of a license or personal identification certificate to an

inmate under this section , including responsibilities related to

verification of the inmate's identity. The memorandum of

understanding must require the Department of State Health Services

to electronically verify the birth record of an inmate whose name

and any other personal information is provided by the department

and to electronically report the recorded filing information to the

Department of Public Safety to validate the identity of an inmate

under this section.

(d) The department shall reimburse the Department of Public

Safety or the Department of State Health Services for the actual

costs incurred by those agencies in performing responsibilities

established under this section. The department may charge an

inmate for the actual costs incurred under this section or the fees

required by Section 521.421 or 522.029 , Transportation Code , as

applicable .

SECTION 3. Section 521.421(a-1), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a-1) The fee for a renewal driver's license or a personal

identification certificate issued under Section 501.0165,

Government Code, Section 841.153, Health and Safety Code, or

Section 245.0536, Human Resources Code, as applicable, is $5.

SECTION 4. Section 522.029, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (n) to read as

follows:

(a) The fee for a commercial driver's license issued by the

department is $96, except as provided by Subsections (f), (h), (j),

(k), [ and ] (m) , and (n) .

(n) The fee for a renewal commercial driver's license issued

under Section 501.0165, Government Code, is $5.

SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the

Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, and the vital

statistics unit of the Department of State Health Services shall

update as necessary the memorandum of understanding and rules

required by Section 501.0165(c), Government Code, as amended by

this Act.

SECTION 6. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to the discharge or release of an inmate on parole, mandatory

supervision, or conditional pardon that occurs on or after December

1, 2025. A discharge or release that occurs before that date is

governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date

of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that

purpose.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.