California Assembly Bill AB672 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 672AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 1, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer FEBRUARY 25, 2015 An act to amend Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code, and to add Section 14903 to the Vehicle Code, relating to inmates. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 672, as amended, Jones-Sawyer. Inmates: wrongful convictions: assistance upon release. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that all eligible inmates released from the state prison have valid identification cards. Existing law establishes certain criteria to be met in order for an inmate to be considered "eligible" for these purposes. This bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist a person who  was wrongfully convicted   is exonerated as to a conviction for which he or she is serving a state prison sentence at the time of exoneration  with transitional services, including housing assistance, job training, and mental health services, as applicable. The extent of the services would be determined by the department and would be provided for a period of not less than 6 months and not more than one year from the date of release. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to collect specified fees for the issuance, renewal, or replacement of a driver' s license or identification card. This bill would exempt from payment of those fees a person who was  wrongfully convicted   exonerated  and was released from state prison or county jail within the previous 6 months. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   This act shall be known, and may be cited, as Obie's Law.   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.  Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 3007.05. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall ensure that all eligible inmates released from state prisons have valid identification cards, issued pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 13000) of Chapter 1 of Division 6 of the Vehicle Code. (b) For purposes of this section, "eligible inmate" means an inmate who meets all of the following requirements: (1) The inmate has previously held a California driver's license or identification card. (2) The inmate has a usable photo on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles that is not more than 10 years old. (3) The inmate has no outstanding fees due for a prior California identification card. (4) The inmate has provided, and the Department of Motor Vehicles has verified, all of the following information: (A) The inmate's true full name. (B) The inmate's date of birth. (C) The inmate's social security number. (D) The inmate's legal presence in the United States. (c) The  department   Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation  shall assist a person who  was wrongfully convicted   is exonerated as to a conviction for which he or she is serving a state prison sentence at the time of exoneration  with transitional services, including housing assistance, job training, and mental health services, as applicable. The extent of the services shall be determined by the department and shall be provided for a period of not less than six months and not more than one year from the date of release.  (d) For the purposes of this section, "exonerated" means the person has been convicted and subsequently either of the following occurred:   (1) A writ of habeas corpus concerning the person was granted on the basis that the evidence unerringly points to innocence, or the person's conviction was reversed on appeal on the basis of insufficient evidence.   (2) The person was given an absolute pardon by the governor on the basis that the person was innocent.   SEC. 2.   SEC. 3.  Section 14903 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read: 14903. A fee shall not be charged for an original, renewal, or replacement driver's license or identification card issued to any person who was  wrongfully convicted   exonerated, as defined in Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code,  and was released from state prison or county jail within the previous six months.