HB5159 - Relating to providing inmates with state-issued identification on release or discharge.

  89R816 MZM-D     By: Bryant H.B. No. 5159       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to providing inmates with state-issued identification on   release or discharge.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 501.0165, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to   read as follows:          (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 personal identification certificate when the   department discharges or releases the inmate but not later than:                 (1)     the 30th day before the date the inmate is   scheduled to be discharged; or                 (2)     the 15th day after the date the department is   notified that the inmate is to be released on parole, mandatory   supervision, or conditional pardon .          (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 personal identification certificate to an inmate,   including responsibilities related to verification of the inmate's   identity. The memorandum of understanding must require :                 (1)   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 ; and                 (2)     the department and the Department of Public Safety   to establish procedures or other measures necessary to ensure that   inmates described by Subsection (a)(2) are provided with a personal   identification certificate when the department discharges or   releases the inmates .           (c-1)     Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,   the department shall:                 (1)     submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,   the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing   committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the   department a written report that contains the following information   for the two-year period preceding the date of the report:                       (A)     the number of inmates discharged or released   on parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon without a   valid license or personal identification certificate; and                       (B)  a summary of:                             (i)     the reasons inmates described by   Paragraph (A) were discharged or released without being provided a   personal identification certificate; and                             (ii)     the actions being implemented to   address the reasons identified under Subparagraph (i); and                 (2)     publish the report on the department's Internet   website.          SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.