Prisoners: exoneration: housing costs.

Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist a person who is exonerated as to a conviction for which the person is serving a state prison sentence in accessing specified public services, including enrollment in the CalFresh and Medi-Cal programs. Existing law requires a person who is exonerated to be paid the sum of $1,000 upon release from funds to be made available upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose. This bill would additionally require the payment of $5,000 to a person who is exonerated, upon release, to be used to pay for housing and would entitle the exonerated person to receive direct payment or reimbursement for reasonable housing costs, including, among others, rent and hotel costs, not to exceed specified limits, for a period of not more than 4 years. The bill would require the department to approve these payments and reimbursements from funds to be made available upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose.