RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.

Crime

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, IWAMOTO, LEE, M., MARTEN, PERRUSO, PIERICK, TAKAYAMA, TAM, TARNAS, TODD, WARD
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not provide details on funding or the effectiveness of the program.

Helping Inmates Get ID

This bill requires the Department of Corrections to assist inmates in obtaining identification documents necessary for reentry into society upon request.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with various agencies, to inform inmates about available assistance for obtaining civil identification cards, birth certificates, social security cards, and other relevant identification documents as soon as practicable upon request.
The department must provide forms necessary for inmates released to work furlough, extended furlough, or community placement programs to obtain these identifying documents at least ninety days before their release.

Who It Names or Affects

Inmates who are nearing parole or release dates
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Terms To Know

Civil identification card: A government-issued ID that proves a person's identity.
Work furlough: A program allowing inmates to leave prison during the day for work and return at night.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if an inmate requests assistance less than one year before their release date.
It is unclear how much funding will be provided for this initiative.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist inmates in obtaining identification documents, such as civil ID cards, birth certificates, and social security cards, at least one year before their release date.

Inmates who have less than a year left on their sentence will receive assistance from the department to obtain necessary identification documents at least one year before their parole or release date.
For inmates participating in work furlough, extended furlough, or community placement programs, the process of obtaining identifying documents starts at least 90 days before their release.

The amendment text does not specify what happens if an inmate requests assistance less than a year before their release date.
It is unclear how the department will collaborate with federal agencies, which may affect the implementation of this requirement.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-14 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 687), recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-12 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 79) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-01-31 H
The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Lamosao, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.
2025-01-28 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 01-31-25 10:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-27 H
Re-referred to PBS, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-21 H
Referred to PBS, JHA, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.
DCR; Offender Reentry; Identification Documents; Departmental Assistance
Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with various agencies and upon request of the inmates, to assist inmates in obtaining the inmates' civil identification card, birth certificate, social security card, and other relevant identification necessary for successful reentry into society, as soon as practicable. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to initiate the process of obtaining identifying documents for inmates released to work furlough, extended furlough, or community placement programs, by providing the forms necessary for the inmate to obtain civil identification cards and other identifying documents to the inmate as soon as practicable. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB677

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

677

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to identification
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 353H-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsections (a) through (c) to read as follows:

����
"(
a)
�
The department, in collaboration with the
department of transportation and the examiner of drivers of each county, shall
inform inmates that departmental assistance is available to obtain civil
identification cards, in accordance with part XVI of chapter 286, and upon
request shall assist inmates [
who have one year or less prior to the
inmate's parole or release date remaining on their prison sentence
] in
obtaining a civil identification card[
.
]
as soon as practicable but
at least one year before the inmate's parole or release date.

����
(b)
�
The department, in collaboration with
appropriate
federal, state, and county
agencies, shall also inform inmates of the availability of departmental
assistance to obtain the inmate's birth certificate, social security card, and
any other relevant identification documents necessary for the inmate to transition
into the workforce, access social services, secure or verify applicable
medicaid eligibility, and secure housing, and upon request shall assist the
inmates [
who have one year or less prior to the inmate's parole or release
date.
]
in obtaining the identifying documents as soon as practicable but
at least one year before the inmate's parole or release date.

����
(c)
�
For an inmate released to work furlough,
extended furlough, or community placement programs, the department [
of
corrections and rehabilitation
] shall initiate the process of assisting the
inmate pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) [
at least ninety days prior to
the inmate being released
] by providing the forms necessary for the inmate
to obtain civil identification cards
and other identifying documents
to
the inmate[
.
]
as soon as practicable but at least ninety days before
the inmate's release date.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION
3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DCR;
Offender Reentry; Identification Documents; Departmental Assistance

Description:

Requires
the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with various
agencies and upon request of the inmates, to assist inmates in obtaining the
inmates' civil identification card, birth certificate, social security card,
and other relevant identification necessary for successful reentry into
society, as soon as practicable.
�
Requires
the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to initiate the process of obtaining
identifying documents for inmates released to work furlough, extended furlough,
or community placement programs, by providing the forms necessary for the
inmate to obtain civil identification cards and other identifying documents to
the inmate as soon as practicable.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.