SB 209-DRIVER LICENSES & IDENT. CARDS FOR INMATES  4:01:32 PM CHAIR REVAK announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 209, "An Act relating to state identifications and driver's licenses for persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections; relating to the duties of the commissioner of corrections; and providing for an effective date." 4:01:53 PM SENATOR JESSE KIEHL, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, speaking as the sponsor of SB 209, said that this bill is an attempt to improve the success of people leaving Alaska's prisons. Reentry is not easy because of the statutory requirements after release. These people are required to stay clean and sober, to seek and find work and housing, and not commit new crimes. To fulfill these requirements and succeed in society generally requires an identification card (ID) but not everyone leaving prison has a valid driver's license or ID. The Department of Corrections (DOC) recognizes this problem and currently provides people leaving an institution with a face sheet that has the person's photo and name. The person can take this face sheet to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and obtain a driver's license, if applicable, or an ID card, which the DOC pays for. However, this is an imperfect solution. 4:04:15 PM SENATOR KIEHL related that those in the reentry community say there have been problems with the face sheets and repeated trips to DMV have been necessary. These trips can take up to half a day and take time away from meeting with a probation or parole officer, obtaining treatment, or applying for jobs. It is also a problem that these individuals will leave DMV with a temporary ID or license. A mailing address is required to get their permanent card or license and people coming out of prison often do not have that right away. SENATOR KIEHL emphasized that if inmates who serve a significant amount of time in prison could leave the correctional institution with an ID card or license, it would remove one barrier to successful reentry. This could help reduce recidivism, he said. 4:05:49 PM SENATOR WILSON asked how this will address the REAL ID requirements. SENATOR KIEHL answered that the bill does not cover REAL ID, although some in the reentry community would like to add a provision to include REAL ID. He related his understanding that DOC has begun to look at REAL ID, but he could not speak for the department. He said it is worth noting that most people on probation and parole and probably have restrictions on their travel so they may need to pursue REAL IDs later. Nevertheless, this is worth looking because solving that additional hurdle would be a benefit. 4:07:34 PM CHAIR REVAK asked Ms. Olsen from DMV if people on probation and parole who have travel restrictions would be prevented from obtaining a REAL ID. 4:08:03 PM JOANNE OLSEN, Interim Director, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration, Anchorage, Alaska, answered that people with an existing DMV record would be eligible for a noncompliant federal ID. If they want to obtain a REAL ID, the division will give the person the information needed and the contacts to obtain a certified birth certificate, social security card, or whatever the requirements are at the time. CHAIR REVAK asked if the noncompliant federal ID would suffice for those in reentry as identification for state agencies. MS. OLSEN said that is correct. 4:09:32 PM SENATOR WILSON asked what information is needed for an update when the person already has a REAL ID. MS. OLSEN answered that the person's information would already have been verified so that person could get a duplicate REAL ID. SENATOR WILSON commented on the number of people in pretrial who are felons who have not been charged [sic] and asked how this bill would affect the pretrial population. SENATOR COGHILL asked if he meant that the defendants have not yet been convicted of felonies. SENATOR WILSON agreed that he was referring to convictions, not charges. 4:10:53 PM SENATOR KIEHL answered that the bill would apply to those offenders who have been sentenced and have served at least 120 days. He said DOC indicated that would give the department time to work with DMV to get the state ID or license issued and transferred to the DOC prior to the person's release. He explained that it is tough to know when those in pretrial will be released. The bill seeks to establish a practical and workable program that DOC could implement once the bill becomes effective. 4:11:42 PM SENATOR COGHILL commented that it could be complicated since some people in pretrial have been previously convicted on another charge. He agreed with the concept since those reentering society cannot obtain any help without a valid ID. CHAIR REVAK asked the sponsor to explain the ID process outlined in the bill. 4:12:24 PM SENATOR KIEHL stated that SB 209 would apply to the sentenced population. He suggested that the Department of Corrections could best explain the practical details of the process to issue an ID. 4:14:22 PM KELLY HOWELL, Legislative Liaison, Department of Corrections (DOC), Anchorage, Alaska, stated that the sponsor worked with DOC to make sure that this process would work for the agency. She explained that Section 3 requires the Department of Corrections and the Department of Administration to work to ensure that an inmate leaving a correctional institution has a state identification prior to release. She suggested that Ms. Brooks could speak to the logistics. 4:15:29 PM LAURA BROOKS, Operations Manager, Division of Health & Rehabilitation Services, Department of Corrections, Anchorage, Alaska, advised that DOC currently provides inmates with identification and under the bill would provide DMV something similar, including a photo. The DMV would mail DOC the hard copy of the ID and DOC would give it to the inmate. CHAIR REVAK asked if DOC has the capacity to do this. MS. BROOKS answered yes. The department currently has a process in place to print the information and update inmate photos. Inmates are photographed during the booking process and periodically thereafter, as necessary. She said the department has not worked out the details for this process, but it is feasible. SENATOR WILSON asked if DOC has updated its cameras similar to what DMV has done. MS. BROOKS said she was not certain when the cameras were last upgraded, but she would follow up with the information. SENATOR WILSON questioned the zero fiscal note since it would require an inmate to leave the facility with an ID. 4:17:38 PM MS. HOWELL answered that not every offender will need an ID. She reported that typically about 12 percent of the prison population has requested a paper ID to take to DMV. The department believes it has the capacity to take this on with existing staff and budget. SENATOR WILSON expressed interest in the figures and an estimate of any increases. He said he would defer to the next committee to further consider the impact. CHAIR REVAK noted that the next committee of referral is the finance committee. 4:19:23 PM CHAIR REVAK asked if DOC currently has a working relationship with DMV and, if so, in what capacity. MS. HOWELL answered yes; the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Administration (DOA) have worked together on the REAL ID issues. CHAIR REVAK asked Ms. Olsen for her perspective on SB 209. MS. OLSEN answered that DMV has worked well with DOC. CHAIR REVAK said he attended a reentry simulation and this bill likely stems from that process. It was a wakeup call to see what people might experience as they reintegrate from DOC institutions into the communities. He expressed appreciation for the intent of SB 209. 4:21:40 PM CHAIR REVAK opened public testimony on SB 209. 4:22:06 PM LINDA SETTERBERG, Coordinator, Reentry Coalition, Fairbanks, Alaska, stated support for SB 209. She said it has been the coalition's experience that obtaining an ID or driver's license is a barrier for some clients. Receiving an ID before leaving a correctional facility would facilitate the reentry experience. 4:23:14 PM CHAIR REVAK closed public testimony on SB 209 and held the bill in committee for future consideration.