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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the issuance of a personal identification certificate |
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to present or former inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice. |
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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 |
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[institutional division] shall 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; [and] |
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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 personal identification certificate obtained |
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under Section 501.0165, if available. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.0165 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.0165. STATE-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION; NECESSARY |
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DOCUMENTATION. (a) Before discharging an inmate or releasing an |
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inmate on 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 a personal identification certificate under Chapter 521, |
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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 personal identification certificate when the |
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department discharges or releases the inmate. |
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(c) The department, the Department of Public Safety, and the |
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bureau of vital statistics 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 personal identification certificate to an inmate, |
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including responsibilities related to verification of the inmate's |
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identity. |
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(d) The department shall reimburse the Department of Public |
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Safety or the Department of State Health Services for any costs |
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incurred by those agencies in performing responsibilities |
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established under this section. |
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(e) This section does not apply to an inmate who: |
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(1) is not legally present in the United States; or |
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(2) was not a resident of this state before the person |
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was placed in the custody of the department. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |