HOUSE BILL NO. 2302 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE OEHLERKING.
5833H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 217, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to inmate release from the custody of the department of corrections.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 217, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 217.443, to read as follows: 217.443. 1. When any inmate is discharged from a term of imprisonment for a 2 felony offense and the intended residence designated by the inmate is within this state, 3 the department of corrections shall provide the inmate with relevant documentation to 4 assist the inmate in obtaining post-release employment and shall coordinate with the 5 department of revenue to provide a state-issued identification card if the inmate does 6 not have a current state-issued identification card or driver's license. 7 2. Within nine months prior to the release of an inmate from custody, the 8 department of corrections, in coordination with the department of revenue, shall 9 identify whether the inmate has a current form of state-issued identification and if not, 10 begin the process of gathering the documentation required for the issuance of a state- 11 issued identification card pursuant to the process provided by state law. 12 3. The department of corrections shall coordinate with the department of 13 revenue to provide state-issued identification cards to all eligible inmates who do not 14 have a current state-issued identification card or driver's license upon their release from 15 custody. The identification cards shall be issued, replaced, cancelled, and denied in the 16 same manner as driver's licenses in this state.
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 2302 2
17 4. The department of revenue shall allow the use of a certified copy of a birth 18 certificate coupled with a department of corrections-issued record card to serve as a 19 valid form of identification documentation to obtain a state-issued identification card. 20 5. State-issued identification cards issued with a record card from the 21 department of corrections for inmates shall be valid for a period of four years from 22 the month of issuance for an allowable fee to be determined by the department of 23 revenue and are nonrenewable and nontransferable. 24 6. The department of corrections may utilize any funds available to cover the 25 costs associated with the implementation and administration of this section and the 26 purchase of state-issued identification cards including, but not limited to, inmate trust 27 funds, existing funds of the department of corrections, and donations. 28 7. The provisions of this section shall apply only to inmates who may receive a 29 state-issued identification card pursuant to the standards established by state law. 30 8. For purposes of assisting an inmate in obtaining post-release employment, the 31 department of corrections shall provide the inmate with the following documentation: 32 (1) A copy of the vocational training record of the inmate, if applicable; 33 (2) A copy of the work record of the inmate, if applicable; 34 (3) A certified copy of the birth certificate of the inmate, if obtainable; 35 (4) A Social Security card or a replacement Social Security card of the inmate, if 36 obtainable; 37 (5) A resume that includes any trade learned by the inmate and the proficiency 38 at that trade by the inmate; and 39 (6) Documentation that the inmate has completed a practice job interview. 40 9. For purposes of assisting an inmate in obtaining post-release employment, the 41 department of corrections shall notify the inmate if he or she is eligible to apply for a 42 license from a state entity charged with oversight of an occupational license or 43 certification. 44 10. The following categories of inmates are not required to complete resumes or 45 practice job interviews prior to their release from incarceration: 46 (1) Inmates sixty-five years of age or older; 47 (2) Inmates releasing to medical parole or discharging from a prison infirmary 48 setting; 49 (3) Inmates releasing to the custody of another jurisdiction on a warrant or 50 detainer; and 51 (4) Inmates that the department determines would be physically or mentally 52 unable to enter the workforce upon release from incarceration. HB 2302 3
53 11. The department of revenue and the department of corrections may 54 promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section. 55 Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created 56 under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies 57 with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 58 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested 59 with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, 60 or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant 61 of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall 62 be invalid and void. ✔
Statutes affected: