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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
inmates; documentation; workforce reentry.
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) to provide an inmate who is discharged from imprisonment with relevant documentation to assist the inmate in obtaining post release employment, if certain conditions are met.
Background
ADCRR is charged with encompassing the various institutions, facilities and programs which are now or may become a part of the correctional program of the state, and providing the supervisory staff and administrative functions at the state level for all matters relating to the institutionalization, rehabilitation and community supervision functions of adult offenders (A.R.S. § 41-1602).
Current statute requires ADCRR to withdraw any applicable fees from a prisoner's spendable or dedicated discharge account before a prisoner's discharge for the issuance of either a driver license or a nonoperating identification license, if eligible (A.R.S. § 31-228). ADCRR is required to provide a prisoner who successfully completes a training program while incarcerated that results in a certification to work in a specific field or a trade an individual certificate that includes: 1) the prisoner's name; 2) the date of the training; and 3) information that the prisoner successfully completed the training program and is certified to work in that specific field or trade (A.R.S. § 31-256).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires ADCRR to:
a) provide an inmate who is discharged from imprisonment for a felony offense and who intends to reside in Arizona with relevant documentation to assist the inmate in obtaining postrelease employment;
b) coordinate with ADOT to replace the inmate's current nonoperating identification license or driver license, if necessary; and
c) coordinate with ADOT to provide the inmate with a nonoperating identification license if the inmate does not possess a current nonoperating identification license or driver license.
2. Requires, nine months before an inmate's release from custody, ADCRR, in coordination with ADOT, to:
a) determine whether the inmate possesses a current and valid nonoperating identification license or driver license; and
b) begin gathering the documentation that is required for obtaining a nonoperating identification license, if the inmate does not possess a current and valid nonoperating or driver license.
3. Requires ADCRR, in coordination with ADOT, to provide a nonoperating identification license to each eligible inmate on release from custody who does not possess a current and valid nonoperating identification license or driver license.
4. Specifies that a nonoperating identification license or driver license that is issued to an inmate on release from custody must be issued, replaced, canceled and denied in the same manner as any other nonoperating identification license or a driver license.
5. Requires ADOT to allow copies of birth certificates along with a ADCRR-issued record card to serve as a valid form of photo identification to obtain a nonoperating identification license or driver license.
6. Specifies that a nonoperating identification license that is issued to an inmate on release from custody, for a fee to be determined by ADOT, is:
a) valid for four years from the month of issuance;
b) nonrenewable; and
c) nontransferable.
7. Requires ADCRR to provide any inmate who has served in the U.S. military with the contact information of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS) along with the ADVS veteran benefits guide.
8. Allows ADCRR to use any available monies, including inmate trust fund monies, existing department fund monies and donations, to cover the costs of providing inmates with relevant documentation and to pay fees associated with issuing a nonoperating identification license or driver license.
9. Requires, to assist an inmate in obtaining postrelease employment, ADCRR to provide an inmate with the following:
a) a copy of the inmate's vocational training record, if applicable;
b) a copy of the inmates work record, if applicable;
c) a certified copy of the inmate's birth certificate; if obtainable;
d) a social security card or a replacement social security card;
e) a resume that includes any trade the inmate learned and the inmate's proficiency at that trade; and
f) documentation that the inmate has completed a mock job interview.
10. Requires ADCRR to notify an inmate if the inmate is eligible to apply for a license or certificate from a state agency that oversees occupational licenses or certifications.
11. Exempts ADCRR from providing an inmate with a resume or documentation that the inmate has completed a mock job interview if the inmate is:
a) 65 years of age or older;
b) being released for medical reasons or being discharged from a prison infirmary;
c) being released to the custody of another jurisdiction on a warrant or detainer; or
d) determined by ADCRR to be physically or mentally unable to return to the workforce on release from incarceration.
12. Allows ADCRR, ADOT and the Department of Health Services to adopt rules relating to providing inmates with relevant workforce and reentry documentation.
13. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2023
JT/FB/sr