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 require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist a person who is exonerated as to a conviction for which he or she is serving a state prison sentence at the time of exoneration with transitional services, including 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 one year from the date of release. 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. This bill would exempt from payment of those fees a person who was exonerated, and was released from state prison within the previous 6 months. The bill would also require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide a form to any person who was exonerated, and would require that form to be presented to the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to qualify for the exemption.