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Senate panel delays vote on H.549 on IDs for people leaving corrections, seeks counsel review
Summary
The Senate Institutions committee postponed a vote on H.549 (state ID/driver-license replacements for sentenced or detained individuals) and asked counsel and agency counsel to draft or review final language; members noted the house and senate versions differ only by the addition of the word 'card.'
The Senate Institutions committee on April 2 deferred a possible vote on H.549, which would allow sentenced or detained individuals to obtain state-issued replacement non-driver identification cards, operator's licenses or learner's permits upon release.
Chair Wendy Harrison said the committee had previously supported the concept but wanted counsel present before taking final action. Committee members discussed differences between the house and senate draft and reported the only substantive change in the senate version they observed was "the addition of the word 'card,'" a distinction several members said made them prefer the house draft.
John Benson and other members suggested waiting for agency or legislative counsel to ensure the statutory language is consistent and to resolve any drafting questions. Harrison proposed pausing and reconvening later in the day; members agreed to return either shortly or at 2:30 p.m. to proceed if counsel and the relevant attorney were available. "We can just wait till tomorrow when Hillary gets here ... or we can come back at 02:30," Harrison said.
The committee did not take a vote on H.549 at the meeting. Chair Harrison asked staff to coordinate counsel attendance for the next meeting and to circulate the house draft language preferred by members so the committee can take up a final vote with counsel present.
