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HB0022
Rules for ID Cards, Driver's Licenses, and Birth Certificates in Maryland State Prisons
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law requires state prison officials to check for specific identification documents upon intake, keep them safe until release, and help eligible incarcerated individuals obtain or renew these documents before they leave.
What it does
- Requires the Commissioner of Correction to record whether an inmate has a birth certificate, Social Security card, driver's license, or valid photo ID when first taking custody.
- Makes managing officials responsible for keeping identification documents safe from intake until release.
- Orders the Commissioner to issue a new state-issued identification card before release unless the person already possesses one that meets specific standards.
- Starts the process of obtaining birth certificates at least nine months before an inmate's expected release date if they do not have one and consent in writing.
- Requires officials to apply for Social Security cards as soon as practicable or per agreement with the Social Security Administration, provided the individual consents in writing.
- Mandates returning valid driver's licenses or photo IDs at release, but requires renewing expired ones under specific conditions regarding expiration dates and license status.
Who it affects
- Incarcerated individuals serving sentences of 18 months or more in state correctional facilities
- The Commissioner of Correction and managing officials of state prisons
Limits and unknowns
- These rules only apply to people serving sentences of 18 months or longer at state correctional facilities.
- Officials cannot obtain new birth certificates or Social Security cards unless the incarcerated person signs a written consent form.
- The provided text ends before fully explaining all steps for renewing expired licenses under Subsection (G).
Plain language
Terms to know
- Intake
- The time when an individual is first taken into custody at a prison.
- Commissioner of Correction
- The state official in charge of Maryland's Division of Correction and its facilities.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Providing that certain provisions about identification documents apply only to certain incarcerated individuals; requiring the Commissioner of Correction to determine whether an incarcerated individual is in possession of certain documentation on taking custody of the individual; providing that a managing official of a State correctional facility is responsible for the safekeeping and care of certain identification documents in the possession of an individual at the time of intake; etc.
Official activity
Bill history
- In the Senate - Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.