Identification cards.

(1) Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that any eligible inmate released from state prison has a valid identification card. Existing law defines "eligible inmate," in part, as a person who has previously held a California driver's license or identification card, who has a usable photo on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles that is not more than 10 years old, who has no outstanding fees due for a prior identification card, and who meets certain requirements, including that they have provided, and the Department of Motor Vehicles has verified, specified information, such as the inmate's true full name. This bill would delete the requirements that the usable photo on file be no more than 10 years old and that the person have no outstanding fees due for a prior identification card, would require a new photo to be taken if the photo on file is deemed unusable, and would require the inmate to provide, and the Department of Motor Vehicles to verify, their California residency for purposes of obtaining an identification card. The bill would expand the definition of "eligible inmate" to include a person who has not previously held a California driver's license or identification card, and who meets specified requirements, including that they have signed and verified their application for an identification card. The bill would also authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide a renewed driver's license in lieu of an identification card if the inmate meets specified criteria. The bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide an inmate with a photo prison identification card if a valid identification card is not obtained prior to release. The bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to the extent administratively feasible and within available resources, to facilitate the process between an eligible inmate and the agencies holding documentation required for the issuance of an identification card, as specified. (2) Existing law requires, upon an application for an identification card, a fee of $26 to be paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles, except as specified, including that a fee not be charged for an original or replacement identification card for certain individuals, such as senior citizens or a person who can verify their status as a homeless person or homeless child or youth. Existing law provides for a reduced fee of $8 for a replacement identification card issued to an eligible inmate, as defined, upon release from a state or federal correctional facility or a county jail facility. Existing law requires, as part of eligibility for the reduced fee, among other things, that the person previously held a California driver's license or identification card, and that the person has provided the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon application, a specified verification. In the case of an inmate, existing law requires that verification to be on state or federal correctional facility letterhead or county sheriff letterhead, and to contain the original signature of an official from those respective entities. Upon release from a state correctional facility, this bill would instead establish a fee of $8 for an original or replacement identification card issued to an eligible inmate, as defined, who meets certain requirements, including that the inmate has provided the department, upon application, a specified verification on state correctional facility letterhead that contains a signature of an official from the facility. This bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.