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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing inmates with certain documents on release or |
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discharge. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 501.015(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) When an inmate is discharged or is released on parole, |
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mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon, the department shall |
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provide the inmate with: |
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(1) suitable civilian clothing; |
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(2) money held in the inmate's trust account by the |
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director; |
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(3) cash, in an amount and in the manner described by |
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Subsection (b); and |
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(4) a license or personal identification certificate |
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obtained under Section 501.0165, if available. |
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SECTION 2. Section 501.0165, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (b-1) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Before discharging an inmate or releasing an inmate on |
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parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon, the |
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department shall: |
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(1) determine whether the inmate has: |
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(A) a valid license issued under Chapter 521 or |
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522, Transportation Code; or |
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(B) a valid personal identification certificate |
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issued under Chapter 521, Transportation Code; and |
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(2) if the inmate does not have a valid license or |
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certificate described by Subdivision (1), submit to the Department |
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of Public Safety on behalf of the inmate a request for the issuance |
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of: |
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(A) a renewal license under Chapter 521 or 522, |
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Transportation Code, if: |
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(i) the inmate's license issued under the |
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applicable chapter is expired but eligible for renewal; and |
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(ii) the inmate meets the requirements for |
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the issuance of the license; or |
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(B) a personal identification certificate under |
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Chapter 521, Transportation Code. |
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(b) The department shall submit a request under Subsection |
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(a)(2) as soon as is practicable to enable the department to provide |
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the inmate with the license or personal identification certificate |
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when the department discharges or releases the inmate. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding any other law, a license or personal |
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identification certificate issued to an inmate under Subsection |
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(a)(2) may include in lieu of the inmate's current residence |
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address the inmate's intended residence address after discharge or |
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release. The department and the Department of Public Safety shall |
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ensure that a license or personal identification certificate issued |
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to an inmate under Subsection (a)(2) includes the inmate's intended |
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residence address unless that address is unknown. |
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(c) The department, the Department of Public Safety, and the |
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[bureau of] vital statistics unit of the Department of State Health |
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Services shall by rule adopt a memorandum of understanding that |
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establishes their respective responsibilities with respect to the |
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issuance of a license or personal identification certificate to an |
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inmate under this section, including responsibilities related to |
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verification of the inmate's identity. The memorandum of |
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understanding must require the Department of State Health Services |
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to electronically verify the birth record of an inmate whose name |
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and any other personal information is provided by the department |
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and to electronically report the recorded filing information to the |
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Department of Public Safety to validate the identity of an inmate |
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under this section. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.0167 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.0167. PROVIDING DISCHARGED OR RELEASED INMATE WITH |
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INFORMATION ON VOTING. When an inmate is discharged or is released |
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on parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon, the |
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department shall provide the inmate with a document explaining the |
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procedure for restoring the inmate's eligibility to register to |
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vote after a felony conviction in accordance with Section |
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13.001(a)(4), Election Code. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the |
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Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, and the vital |
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statistics unit of the Department of State Health Services shall |
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update as necessary the memorandum of understanding and rules |
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required by Section 501.0165(c), Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to the discharge or release of an inmate on parole, mandatory |
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supervision, or conditional pardon that occurs on or after December |
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1, 2021. A discharge or release that occurs before that date is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |