SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2228
As Recommended by House Committee on
Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Brief*
HB 2228 would require the Secretary of Corrections
(Secretary) to prepare inmates for release from custody by
assisting with gathering identification documentation and
providing records of the inmate’s education and work while in
custody. The bill would require the Secretary and all state
agencies to coordinate to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill would specify its documentation provisions do
not apply to inmates who are to be released to another
jurisdiction on a warrant or detainer or who are physically or
mentally unable to return to the workforce upon release, as
determined by the Secretary.
Citizenship Documentation
The bill would require the Secretary, within nine months
prior to release, to determine whether an inmate has current
versions of certain identification documentation. Specifically,
the bill would require the Secretary to determine whether the
inmate’s documentation includes a certified copy of the
inmate’s birth certificate, Social Security card or replacement
Social Security card, and driver’s license or nondriver’s
identification card. If any documentation is determined to be
missing or unavailable, the Secretary would be required to
make reasonable efforts to provide any such documentation
to the inmate.
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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ Other Documentation
Additionally, the bill would require the Secretary to
provide each inmate with certain Kansas Department of
Corrections (KDOC) records, if applicable, including:
●Vocational training record;
●Work record;
●Any educational certificate or diplomas received by
the inmate; and
●A resume that includes any trade or skills learned
by the inmate.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Corrections and Juvenile Justice at the request of a
representative of KDOC.
House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of KDOC, who stated
KDOC has made it a policy to assist inmates in obtaining the
documents covered by the bill, and providing opportunities for
residents to reenter society as fully engaged citizens is key to
reducing recidivism.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union of
Kansas, Board of Indigents’ Defense Services, and Kansas
Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.
No other testimony was provided.
2- 2228 Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, KDOC indicates that enactment of the
bill would increase State General Fund expenditures by
$282,675 in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. The agency reports
that its current state identification issuance program is
operated by 1.00 FTE position and assisted 29.0 percent of
the 3,808 inmates who returned to the community in FY 2024.
KDOC estimates that to make a reasonable effort to
provide multiple forms of documentation to 100.0 percent of
the pre-release population would require the addition of 3.00
FTE regional release coordinators who would be stationed at
correctional facilities in eastern, central, and western Kansas,
and 1.00 FTE statewide release coordinator to oversee the
program and manage its operations.
The Department of Revenue indicates that enactment of
the bill would have no fiscal effect on its operations.
Any fiscal effect associated with enactment of the bill is
not reflected in The FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.
Department of Corrections; inmate release; nondriver's identification; birth certificate;
Social Security card; driver's license
3- 2228