Two bills which provide some changes to laws affecting those preparing to leave prison have been signed into law. House Bill 4352 provides for exemptions for certain inmates under the Sarah Stitt Act. House Bill 4353 helps secure a valid ID for an offender leaving the system.
Representative Brian Hill authored both pieces of legislation.
HB 4352 exempts inmates 65 years of age or older, inmates released to medical parole or from the mental health unit, inmates released to another jurisdiction, inmates returning to community supervision from an intermediate revocation facility, and inmates deems physically or mentally unable to return to the workforce from the Sarah Stitt Act programs.
HB4353 allows the use of a certified copy of a birth certificate with a Department of Corrections issues consolidated record card to obtain a Real ID Noncompliant Identification Card.
“I’m very glad the governor saw fit to sign these bills into law,” Hill said. “As a state, we want inmates leaving incarceration to be prepared to reenter society as smoothly as possible, including reentering the workforce. We shouldn’t be placing undue burdens on those who have paid their dues in the criminal justice system. I hope these amendments to the Sarah Stitt Act will better serve those who may be physically or mentally unable to find employment after incarceration and those who currently struggle to secure state identification.”
These bills will go into effect on November 1, 2022.
