SB147: SB147 Correctional Institutions of State and Counties; consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and educational information for inmates upon release; provide

Georgia law already directs the Department of Corrections to help released inmates with documents like ID cards, work records, and school records so they can find jobs. This bill rewrites part of that law (O.C.G.A. § 42-5-64) to add a consent requirement: the department can only release a person's program history, training records, and other information with that person's consent, and only for someone who is not an illegal alien as defined elsewhere in Georgia law. The bill also spells out what the department must provide upon request, including a vocational training record, work record, certified birth certificate, social security card, resume, proof of a practice job interview, and notice of eligibility for an occupational license. It adds a new list of inmates, such as those 65 or older or releasing to medical reprieve, who do not have to complete a resume or practice interview before release. It also lets the department issue a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate and coordinate with the Department of Driver Services on state ID cards.

• Requires the Department of Corrections to get an inmate's consent before releasing certain program history and criminal history related information upon release.
• Limits release of this employment assistance documentation to eligible people who are not illegal aliens as defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-201.
• Directs the department to coordinate with the Department of Driver Services to issue a state identification card to releasees who lack one.
• Creates a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate that the department may issue to eligible releasees.
• Exempts four categories of inmates, including those 65 or older and those releasing to medical reprieve, from having to complete a resume or practice job interview before release.
• Requires the department to notify an eligible inmate if they qualify to apply for a state occupational license or certification.

People incarcerated in Georgia's state and county correctional institutions who are approaching release, the Department of Corrections staff who prepare release documents, the Department of Driver Services which issues state ID cards, and state licensing boards that oversee occupational licenses.

Inmates leaving custody often need identification, work records, and proof of training to get a job or housing quickly. The bill adds a consent step and citizenship related eligibility limit to that document sharing, while also excusing certain inmates, such as elderly or medically frail ones, from resume and interview requirements.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 42-5-64(e) to require consent before the department shares an inmate's program history, training completion, and educational records upon release.
• Adds an eligibility limit excluding people classified as illegal aliens under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-201 from this documentation assistance.
• Revises subsection (f) to list specific documents the department must provide on request, including vocational and work records, birth certificate, social security card, resume, and interview practice proof.
• Adds a new subsection (g) listing inmates exempt from completing resumes or practice job interviews, such as those 65 or older or releasing to another jurisdiction's custody.
• Renumbers the rulemaking authority as subsection (h), letting the commissioner and other state agencies adopt rules to implement the section.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-14Act 312
3. 2025-05-14Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-03-31Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2025-03-28House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2025-03-28House Third Readers (House)
8. 2025-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)Primary sponsor
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• David Lucas (D, SD-026)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• William Werkheiser (R, HD-157)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   55 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 0 absent)

   Passage As Amended: Senate Vote #215

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 28, 2025

   163 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 13 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #337

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

   51 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #360

• prison reentry
• criminal justice
• inmate identification
• job training
• state identification cards