The Department of Licensing (DOL) issues driver's licenses and identicards to applicants who pay a fee and provide proof of their identity.
An applicant for a driver's license or identicard must provide the DOL with at least one of the following identifying documents that contains the signature and photograph of the applicant:
The Department of Corrections is required to provide incarcerated individuals certain services prior to their discharge, including identifying the individual's needs and connecting the individual with community resources.
Prior to the discharge of an incarcerated individual, the Department of Corrections (DOC) must ensure that every consenting incarcerated individual has a valid identicard or driver's license issued by the Department of Licensing (DOL). The DOC is required to pay the application fee, provide a photo for use on the card, and obtain an acceptable signature from the individual. An individual may request that the photo used is not the individual's mug shot and does not indicate that the individual was incarcerated at the time the photo was taken. The DOL is required to ensure that the DOC has access to the appropriate DOL system to assist incarcerated individuals with obtaining a driver's license.
Eastern State Hospital and Western State Hospital must ensure that every consenting patient possesses a valid identicard prior to the individual's release from care. The hospital must also pay any application fee, provide a photo of the patient, and obtain a signature or mark from the patient to use for an identicard.
The DOC is required to issue a department identification card to individuals in a correctional facility for use while in the facility. The DOC is also required to issue a department identification card to individuals in community custody upon request of the individual. Eastern State Hospital and Western State Hospital must issue an identification document to individuals for use while in the hospitals.
The DOL must, in consultation with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, develop a model policy, process, and informational materials for the DOL and governing units of city, county, and multijurisdictional jails to assist individuals in custody of a jail within obtaining an identicard.
In addition to the existing identifying documents that an applicant may use to apply for a driver's license or identicard, an applicant may also use an identification card issued by the DOC or a patient identification verification document issued by Eastern State Hospital or Western State Hospital.
A reference to "immigration and naturalization service form" is changed to "a citizenship and immigration services service form" for the purposes of identifying documents.
The substitute bill requires that issuance of a driver's license or identicard does not delay release of an individual from care or custody. The governing unit responsible for a county or multijurisdictional jail is no longer required to establish and implement a process to support individuals in custody with obtaining a state-issued identicard. The Department of Licensing (DOL) is required to, in consultation with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, develop a model policy, process, and materials for the DOL and governing units of city, county, and multijurisdictional jails to assist individuals in custody of a jail with obtaining an identicard. Governing units of jails are not prohibited from assisting individuals in custody with obtaining state-issued identicards.
(In support) The Department of Corrections (DOC), Department of Licensing (DOL), and Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) currently have processes for obtaining identification documents for individuals released from care and custody and this would streamline those processes. An effort has been made to get individuals IDs, but can there has not been consistency in obtaining IDs. People need IDs for long term stability and to access housing, bank accounts, social services, and government benefits. Successful reentry reduces recidivism. The cost of getting someone an ID outweighs the costs of trying to get people into services over and over again. Local corrections officials may not be best suited to help individuals with obtaining IDs and the DOL is better situated to facilitate this process. Local jurisdictions struggle with resources and would need additional funding from the Legislature to assist individuals with obtaining IDs.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) Having identification is critical to success in the first few hours of reentry. The DOC and DOL have been working closely together. The DOC will be working with DOL to allow DOC staff to have direct access to the appropriate portal to assist individuals with obtaining IDs. Additional funding is required.
(In support) Representative Darya Farivar, prime sponsor; Kelly Olson, Civil Survival Project; James McMahan, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; and Christina Mason, Washington Association of Drug Courts.
Ronni Batchelor.