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H.R. 1315 (117th): Restoring Access Through Identification Act

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The text of the bill below is as of Feb 24, 2021 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1315

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 24, 2021

(for himself and Mr. Evans) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to require that Bureau of Prisons help Federal prisoners who are being released to obtain appropriate ID to facilitate their reentry into society at no cost to the prisoner, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Restoring Access Through Identification Act.

2.

Provision of photo identification card for prisoners

(a)

Title 18, United States Code

Subparagraph (B) of section 4042(a)(6) of the title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(B)

obtain, at no cost to the prisoner, identification documents, including social security cards, birth certificates, and driver’s licenses or State photo identification documents; and

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(b)

Second Chance Act of 2007

Section 231(b) of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 60541(b)) is amended by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

(1)

Obtaining identification

(A)

In general

The Director shall assist prisoners in obtaining, at no cost to the prisoner, identification documents prior to release from a term of imprisonment in a Federal prison or if the individual was not sentenced to a term of imprisonment in a Federal prison, prior to release from a sentence to a term in community confinement, including a social security card, birth certificate, and driver's license or other State photo identification document.

(B)

Notice to prisoners of inability to obtain documents

(i)

Lack of response from Federal or State agency

If the Director cannot obtain a copy of a document required to obtain a form of identification described in subparagraph (A) because of inaction by the Federal or State agency from which the document was requested, the Director shall provide to the prisoner—

(I)

a written statement that explains what steps the Director took in trying to obtain the document; and

(II)

any documents transmitted to the Director by the Federal or State agency in response to the request for the document.

(ii)

Lack of authorization from prisoner

If the Director cannot obtain a copy of a document required to obtain a form of identification described in subparagraph (A) because the prisoner does not provide the authorization required to obtain the document, the Director shall provide a written statement to the prisoner that explains why the document was not obtained.

(C)

Report

On an annual basis, the Director shall submit to Congress a report on the receipt of driver's licenses or other State photo identification documents by prisoners described in subparagraph (A) that includes, for the previous year—

(i)

the number of prisoners who received such an identification document; and

(ii)

the number of prisoners released without receiving such an identification document, and the reasons that such prisoners did not receive such an identification document.

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