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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; changing a fee. |
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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. Sections 501.0165(a), (b), (c), and (d), |
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Government Code, are amended 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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(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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(d) The department shall reimburse the Department of Public |
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Safety or the Department of State Health Services for the actual |
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costs incurred by those agencies in performing responsibilities |
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established under this section. The department may charge an |
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inmate for the actual costs incurred under this section or the fees |
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required by Section 521.421 or 522.029, Transportation Code, as |
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applicable. |
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SECTION 3. Section 521.421(a-1), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The fee for a renewal driver's license or a personal |
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identification certificate issued under Section 501.0165, |
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Government Code, or Section 841.153, Health and Safety Code, as |
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applicable, is $5. |
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SECTION 4. Section 522.029, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (n) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The fee for a commercial driver's license issued by the |
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department is $96, except as provided by Subsections (f), (h), (j), |
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(k), [and] (m), and (n). |
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(n) The fee for a renewal commercial driver's license issued |
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under Section 501.0165, Government Code, is $5. |
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SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |