Section 18-81ff - Issuance of state identity card or motor vehicle operator's license to person discharged or released from correctional facility(a) The Commissioners of Correction and Motor Vehicles shall ensure that a person who is incarcerated possesses an identity card issued pursuant to section 1-1h or a motor vehicle operator's license issued pursuant to chapter 246 at the time such person is discharged or released from a correctional facility after serving any part of a term of imprisonment for a misdemeanor or felony conviction with a sentence of not less than one year, unless such person (1) indicates, in writing, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Correction, that such person does not wish to obtain such card or license, or (2) is otherwise ineligible for such card or license for reasons that include, but are not limited to, suspension, revocation or cancellation of motor vehicle operating provisions in this or any other state.(b) In order to effectuate the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, at the time a person is committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction, said commissioner, in consultation and collaboration with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, shall ascertain (1) whether the person has been issued a valid identity card pursuant to section 1-1h or a motor vehicle operator's license pursuant to chapter 246, and (2) if such card or license has been issued, the date upon which such card or license is to expire.(c) For any person who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment who wishes to (1) obtain an initial identity card issued pursuant to section 1-1h, or renew such card, (2) renew a motor vehicle operator's license pursuant to chapter 246, or (3) obtain a duplicate card or license if the original card or license has been lost, the Commissioner of Correction, in consultation and collaboration with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, shall: (A)(i) Not later than twenty-four months prior to the date on which such person is to be discharged from the correctional facility, determine the documentation such person requires to obtain such card or license; and(ii) facilitate the process that allows such person to expeditiously obtain the required documentation by providing access to any forms, fees and fee waivers, within available appropriations, notary services and mailing-related needs, to secure the required documentation. The Commissioner of Correction shall begin the process described in this subdivision not later than twenty-four months prior to the person's earliest date of eligibility for parole, and immediately begin the process for any person whose sentence is reduced, if the reduced sentence results in a date of discharge within twenty-four months or for any person who is otherwise scheduled to be released with a date of discharge within twenty-four months; and(B) Not later than thirteen months prior to the date on which such person is to be discharged from the correctional facility, initiate a process that allows such person to expeditiously obtain any additionally required documentation or photographs by providing (i) access to any forms, fees and fee waivers, within available appropriations, notary services and mailing-related needs, to secure the required documentation, and (ii) a means by which to obtain the required photographs. The Commissioner of Correction shall begin the process described in this subdivision not later than thirteen months prior to the person's earliest date of eligibility for parole, and immediately begin the process for any person whose sentence is reduced, if the reduced sentence results in a date of discharge within thirteen months or for any person who is otherwise scheduled to be released with a date of discharge within thirteen months.(d) At the time a person is released from a correctional facility, the Commissioner of Correction shall provide an identity card issued pursuant to section 1-1h or a motor vehicle operator's license issued pursuant to chapter 246 to any person who requested assistance in obtaining such card or license pursuant to the provisions of this section and is not otherwise ineligible to receive such card or license.(e) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Correction, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary on: (1) The total number of formerly incarcerated persons who were issued original, renewal or duplicate identity cards pursuant to section 1-1h, and renewal or duplicate motor vehicle operator's licenses issued pursuant to chapter 246, disaggregated by card and license type;(2) The total number of identification cards and motor vehicle operator's licenses issued to such persons by each individual state correctional facility;(3) The total number of incarcerated persons who were not able to be issued an identification card or motor vehicle operator's license under this section, disaggregated to the extent practicable by reasons for the nonissuance of such cards or licenses; and(4) Any issues encountered by the Commissioners of Correction and Motor Vehicles in implementing the provisions of this section and section 14-41c along with recommendations for the resolution of such issues and any recommended legislative enhancements to the provisions of this section and section 14-41c.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 18-81ff
Amended by P.A. 23-0088,S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 4/1/2024.Added by P.A. 17-0106, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017. See Sec. 14-41c re renewal of operator's licenses and identity cards of incarcerated persons.