Governor DeWine Signs Legislation to Remove Barriers for Reintegration

State Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery) today announced that Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 393, legislation that would require community-based correctional facilities and programs in Ohio to assist individuals in custody in obtaining a state-issued identification card before their release.

“Reducing recidivism requires equipping those who seek a new start with the tools necessary to be successful,” said Click. “This bipartisan legislation with Representative Darnell Brewer demonstrates how we can work together to equip vulnerable populations to begin living their best lives.”

Under the bill, community-based correctional facilities, including halfway houses, would be required to begin the identification process within a reasonable time before an individual completes programming. For inmates without valid identification, correctional facilities will compile the appropriate applications and documents and submit the completed materials to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

House Bill 393 continues efforts from the previous General Assembly, which required the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and the Department of Youth Services to implement this program. Securing an essential form of identification is necessary to access housing, employment, and other critical services. Expanding this program to community-based correctional facilities aims to facilitate a smoother reentry process for over 7,000 incarcerated Ohioans.

House Bill 393 is now enrolled.