Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that all eligible inmates released from state prisons have valid identification cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Existing law defines “eligible inmate” for those purposes.

This bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that all eligible inmates, as defined, have the opportunity to apply to obtain the privilege to operate a motor vehicle upon release from state prison. The bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide an eligible inmate with a specified form to renew the inmate’s driver’s license by mail, upon request. The bill would provide that if a person has a suspended driver’s license as a result of delinquent court-ordered debt that would otherwise be required to be paid before issuance of a driver’s license, the Department of Motor Vehicles is required to issue a restricted driver’s license only allowing, among other things, necessary travel to and from that person’s school or place of employment, or to comply with conditions of release. The bill would require the person to make payments to eliminate or reduce any delinquent court-ordered debt during the time that the person’s driver’s license is restricted and would provide that the restriction would be lifted once the person has paid the amount due for delinquent court-ordered debt. The bill would prohibit a penalty fee from being assessed to obtain a restricted driver’s license pursuant to these provisions.