Pennsylvania HB 728: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Identification Upon Reentry Program.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 753
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 728
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KINKEAD, HILL-EVANS, OTTEN, GUENST, KENYATTA,
WAXMAN, McNEILL, RABB, MAYES, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, DEASY,
BOYD, PARKER, RIVERA, D. WILLIAMS, WARREN, MADDEN, PIELLI,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, KRAJEWSKI, GIRAL, SAPPEY, ABNEY, BOROWSKI,
D. MILLER AND KHAN, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Identification Upon
Reentry Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 61 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 49A
IDENTIFICATION UPON REENTRY
Sec.
49A01. Scope of chapter.
49A02. Definitions.
49A03. Establishment.
49A04. Administration.
49A05. Guidelines.
49A06. Responsibilities of paying costs.
49A07. Rules and regulations.
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§ 49A01. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to the Identification Upon Reentry
Program.
§ 49A02. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Assist." Printing necessary forms, ensuring that an
eligible offender has filled forms out correctly with sufficient
information, facilitating communication between an eligible
offender and State agencies and keeping an eligible offender
updated on the developments of their case.
"Costs." Application fees and translation services and other
goods or services that require a payment from an eligible
offender.
"Eligible offender." An incarcerated individual who i s to be
released from a State correctional institution and has decided
to participate in the program.
"Program." The Identification Upon Reentry Program
established under section 49A03 (relating to establishment).
§ 49A03. Establishment.
The department, in collaboration with the Department of
Health and the Department of Transportation, shall establish the
Identification Upon Reentry Program to provide eligible
offenders with birth certificates, Social Security cards, photo
identification cards and driver's licenses upon release from a
State correctional institution.
§ 49A04. Administration.
The program shall be administered as follows:
(1) The department, the Department of Health and the
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Department of Transportation shall establish policies
necessary to carry out the program, including program
requirements and implementation.
(2) The department, the Department of Health and the
Department of Transportation may seek Federal or State
funding to support the program.
(3) The department, the Department of Health and the
Department of Transportation shall develop monitoring and
accountability systems to confirm that the program is being
efficiently carried out. The monitoring and accountability
systems shall include the submission of an annual report to
the Law and Justice Committee of the Senate and the Judiciary
Committee of the House of Representatives. The annual report
shall include the number and percentage of offenders released
with birth certificates, photo identification cards and
driver's licenses and the number and percentage of offenders
released without such documents and the reasons why.
§ 49A05. Guidelines.
The following shall apply:
(1) Prior to the release of an eligible offender, the
department, in consultation with the Department of
Transportation, shall assist an eligible offender in
obtaining the following:
(i) a photo identification card; or
(ii) a driver's license.
(2) Once an eligible offender is made aware of the
eligible offender's ability to participate and available
options under the program, the eligible offender may opt out
of participation in the program.
(3) The department, in consultation with the Department
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of Health and the Social Security Administration, shall
assist an eligible offender in obtaining the necessary
documents, including a Social Security card and birth
certificate, needed to apply for a driver's license or photo
identification card.
(4) If an eligible offender was born in another state or
became a United States citizen or a naturalized citizen, the
department shall assist the eligible offender in obtaining
the necessary documents from the appropriate agencies to
apply for a photo identification card or driver's license.
(5) Upon application, the Department of Transportation,
in cooperation with the department, shall issue a renewed or
replacement driver's license to an eligible offender deemed
eligible to drive. If an eligible offender's driver's license
is expired or the eligible offender is in need of a
replacement driver's license,