An act relating to corrections, the official text

1                   STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2   1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

3 HOUSE BILL 2364               By: Hill

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6                   AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to corrections; amending 57 O.S.

    2021, Section 513.3, as amended by Section 1, Chapter

8   64, O.S.L. 2022 (57 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 513.3),

    which relates to the Sarah Stitt Act; modifying

9   responsible agency; requiring inmates be assisted in

    receiving certain driver license before release;

10  making certain prioritization; requiring certain

    documentation be gathered; authorizing the certain

11  use of funds; and providing an effective date.

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14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

15  SECTION 1.      AMENDATORY  57 O.S. 2021, Section 513.3, as

16 amended by Section 1, Chapter 64, O.S.L. 2022 (57 O.S. Supp. 2024,

17 Section 513.3), is amended to read as follows:

18  Section 513.3. A. When any inmate shall be discharged from an

19 institution of the Department of Corrections and the intended

20 residence designated by the inmate is within this state, the

21 Department of Corrections shall provide the inmate with relevant

22 documentation to assist the inmate in obtaining post-release

23 employment and shall coordinate with the Department of Public Safety

24 Service Oklahoma to provide a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or

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1 a REAL ID Noncompliant Identification Card if the inmate does not

2 have a current state-issued identification card or driver license.

3 The Department of Corrections shall first assist the inmate in

4 obtaining a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License. If efforts to

5 assist the inmate in obtaining a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License

6 fail, the Department of Corrections shall assist the inmate in

7 obtaining a REAL ID Noncompliant Identification Card.

8   B. 1. Within nine (9) months prior to the release of an inmate

9 from custody, the Department of Corrections shall identify whether

10 the inmate has a current form of state identification and begin the

11 process of gathering the documentation required for the issuance of

12 a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or, if the inmate is unable to

13 obtain a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License, a REAL ID Noncompliant

14 Identification Card pursuant to Section 6-105.3 of Title 47 of the

15 Oklahoma Statutes. If an inmate has any valid form of a state-

16 issued identification card or driver license, the inmate may avail

17 himself or herself of the provisions of this section.

18  2. The Department of Corrections may utilize any funds

19 available to cover the costs associated with the implementation and

20 administration of this section and the purchase of REAL ID

21 Noncompliant Driver Licenses or REAL ID Noncompliant Identification

22 Cards, including, but not limited to, inmate trust funds, existing

23 funds of the Department of Corrections and donations.

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1   3. The provisions of this section shall apply only to inmates

2 who may receive a state-issued identification card pursuant to

3 Section 1550.42 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

4   C. For purposes of assisting an inmate in obtaining post-

5 release employment, the Department of Corrections shall provide the

6 inmate with the following documentation:

7   1. A copy of the vocational training record of the inmate, if

8 applicable;

9   2. A copy of the work record of the inmate, if applicable;

10  3. A certified copy of the birth certificate of the inmate, if

11 obtainable;

12  4. A Social Security card or a replacement Social Security card

13 of the inmate, if obtainable;

14  5. A resume that includes any trade learned by the inmate and

15 the proficiency at that trade by the inmate; and

16  6. Documentation that the inmate has completed a practice job

17 interview.

18  In addition, the Department shall notify the inmate if he or she

19 is eligible to apply for a license from a state entity charged with

20 oversight of an occupational license or certification.

21  D. The following categories of inmates are not required to

22 complete resumes or practice job interviews prior to their release

23 from incarceration:

24  1. Inmates sixty-five (65) years of age or older;

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1   2. Inmates releasing to medical parole or discharging from a

2 prison infirmary setting;

3   3. Inmates releasing from a Department of Corrections Mental

4 Health Unit;

5   4. Inmates releasing to the custody of another jurisdiction on

6 a warrant or detainer;

7   5. Inmates returning to community supervision from an

8 intermediate revocation facility; and

9   6. Inmates that the Department determines would be physically

10 or mentally unable to return to the workforce upon release from

11 incarceration.

12  E. The Department of Corrections is authorized to promulgate

13 rules and procedures to implement the provisions of this section.

14  SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.

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16  60-1-11467      JBH      12/27/24

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