--- title: SB 147. Correctional Institutions of State and Counties; consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and educational information for inmates upon release; provide collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sb147 cite_as: SB 147, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb147 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb147.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb147/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70237 date: 2025-05-14 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb146.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb148.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 1378 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb147.md?full=1 bill_number: SB 147 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-14 last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 sponsors: - Michael Rhett - John Albers - Randy Robertson - Steve Gooch - Nan Orrock - Ed Harbison - Elena Parent - Lee Anderson - David Lucas - Freddie Sims - Kay Kirkpatrick - Donzella James - Frank Ginn - Drew Echols - Chuck Hufstetler - Jason Esteves - Sonya Halpern - RaShaun Kemp - Sally Harrell - Blake Tillery - Kenya Wicks - Gail Davenport - Harold Jones - Kim Jackson - Max Burns - Ricky Williams - Sheikh Rahman - Chuck Payne - Russ Goodman - Derek Mallow - Sam Watson - William Werkheiser text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB147/2025 upstream_id: 1965755 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - prison reentry - criminal justice - inmate identification - job training - state identification cards --- # SB 147. Correctional Institutions of State and Counties; consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and educational information for inmates upon release; provide ## Text 25 LC 56 0387S Senate Bill 147 By: Senators Rhett of the 33rd, Albers of the 56th, Robertson of the 29th, Gooch of the 51st, Orrock of the 36th and others AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 42 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to conditions of detention generally relative to correctional institutions of state and2 counties, so as to provide consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and3 educational information for inmates upon release; to provide for issuance of an identification4 card and a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate; to provide for related matters; to5 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to9 conditions of detention generally relative to correctional inst itutions of state and counties,10 is amended in Code Section 42-5-64, relating to educational programming and information11 provided to released prisoners, by revising subsections (e) thr ough (g) and adding a new12 subsection to read as follows:13 "(e) When a person is released from confinement from the depart ment, the department14 shall issue to such releasee, with his or her consent, documents pertaining to:, upon request15 from an eligible person, who is not an illegal alien as defined in Code Section 16-11-201,16 S. B. 147 - 1 - 25 LC 56 0387S provide such person with the relevant documentation to assist h im or her in obtaining17 post-release employment and shall coordinate with the Department of Driver Services to18 provide a state issued identification card pursuant to Code Section 40-5-107 if such person19 does not have a current state issued identification card or driver's license. The department20 may also include a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate , if such person is21 eligible.22 (1) The releasee's program history, including:23 (A) Whether the releasee completed training requested by the State Board of Pardons24 and Paroles;25 (B) Whether the releasee completed programs recommended by the department;26 (C) Whether the releasee obtained a state approved high school equivalency (HSE)27 diploma or other educational degree while incarcerated; and28 (D) The releasee's institutional work record, including skills obtained through any job29 training; and30 (2) Other information considered relevant by the department.31 (f) When a person is released from confinement from the department, the department may,32 in conjunction with the Department of Driver Services, issue su ch releasee a personal33 identification card pursuant to Code Section 40-5-107. The department may also issue a34 Program and Treatment Completion Certificate, if such releasee is eligible. For purposes35 of assisting an inmate in obtaining post-release employment, th e department shall, upon36 request from an eligible person, provide the inmate with the following documentation upon37 such person's release:38 (1) A copy of the vocational training record of the inmate, if applicable;39 (2) A copy of the work record of the inmate, if applicable;40 (3) A certified copy of the birth certificate of the inmate, if obtainable;41 (4) A social security card or a replacement social security ca r d f o r t h e i n m a t e , i f42 obtainable;43 S. B. 147 - 2 - 25 LC 56 0387S (5) A resume that includes any trade learned by the inmate and such inmate's proficiency44 at such trade;45 (6) Documentation that the inmate has completed a practice job interview; and46 (7) A notification to the inmate if he or she is eligible to apply for a license from a state47 entity charged with oversight of an occupational license or certification.48 (g) The following categories of inmates are not required to complete resumes or practice49 job interviews prior to their release from incarceration:50 (1) Inmates 65 years of age or older;51 (2) Inmates releasing to medical reprieve or discharging from a prison infirmary setting;52 (3) Inmates releasing to the custody of another jurisdiction on a warrant or detainer; and53 (4) Inmates that the department determines would be physically or mentally unable to54 return to the workforce upon release from incarceration.55 (g)(h) The commissioner and other relevant state agencies shall be authorized to56 promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the pro visions of this Code57 section."58 SECTION 2.59 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.60 S. B. 147 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. Senate Bill 147 changes how Georgia's prison system shares job related and identification documents with inmates when they are released, adding a consent requirement and new exemptions from resume rules. ### Plain-language summary 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. ### What it does - 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. ### Who it affects 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. ### Why it matters 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. ### Key provisions - 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. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-14) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-14) - Sponsors: Michael Rhett, John Albers, Randy Robertson, Steve Gooch, Nan Orrock, Ed Harbison, Elena Parent, Lee Anderson, David Lucas, Freddie Sims, Kay Kirkpatrick, Donzella James, Frank Ginn, Drew Echols, Chuck Hufstetler, Jason Esteves, Sonya Halpern, RaShaun Kemp, Sally Harrell, Blake Tillery, Kenya Wicks, Gail Davenport, Harold Jones, Kim Jackson, Max Burns, Ricky Williams, Sheikh Rahman, Chuck Payne, Russ Goodman, Derek Mallow, Sam Watson, William Werkheiser - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70237 > The history, votes, and amendments (1,378 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb147.md?full=1