Ohio House Concurs on Legislation to Remove Barriers for Reintegration

State Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery) today announced that the Ohio House voted to concur on 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 begins with equipping people with all the tools necessary for a fresh start. This bipartisan legislation is a common-sense approach to meeting that need,” said Click.

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 is a continuation of 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 now heads to Governor DeWine’s desk for his signature.