WEST virginia Legislature
2017 regular session
By
[
to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.
A BILL to amend the Code
of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated
§25-1-9, relating to facilitating a released inmate’s reintegration into
society, by requiring the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles and Commissioner
of Corrections, to provide an identification card for released inmates who do
not have a West Virginia identification card or driver’s license.
Be it enacted by the
Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section,
designated §25-1-9, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. ORGANIZATION,
INSTITUTIONS AND CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT.
§25-1-9.
Identification card for released inmates.
(a) It is the intent of
the Legislature to enact legislation that reduces recidivism rates for West
Virginia’s released inmates. Furthermore, it is the intent of the Legislature
to establish an interagency program between the Division of Corrections and the
Division of Motor Vehicles that provides inmates with identification cards upon
their release from the custody of the Division of Corrections, providing them
with an important tool for their reintegration into society.
(b) The Legislature
finds and declares all of the following:
(1) The lack of proper
identification for individuals recently released from prison is a major barrier
to successful community reintegration.
(2) Inmates who have
served long sentences may have outdated identification cards or lost their
cards during their travel through the criminal justice system.
(3) The lack of an identification
card leaves released inmates unable to complete employment forms, apply for
housing, open a bank account, cash or deposit a check, receive necessary
medication, register for school or enter a federal building.
(c) Prior to each inmate
being released from the Division of Corrections the division shall take
reasonable steps to ensure that each inmate successfully obtains a valid West
Virginia identification card issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.
(d) The Division of
Corrections, in collaboration with the Division of Motor Vehicles, shall allow
the division to make visits to its facilities for the purpose of providing
state-issued identification cards to inmates upon their release and to inmates
who are eligible to be released or released on parole within six months.
(e) An inmate is not
eligible to receive an identification card pursuant to this section if the
inmate already has possession of a validly issued West Virginia identification
card or driver’s license.
(f) An inmate shall pay
all fees charged by the Division of Motor Vehicles related to the issuance of
an identification card. However, the division shall waive the fee upon a finding
of an inability to pay.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is
to facilitate a released inmate’s reintegration into society, by requiring the
Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles and Commissioner of Corrections,
to provide an identification card for inmates who do not have a West Virginia
identification card or driver’s license.
Strike-throughs indicate language
that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring
indicates new language that would be added.