2023 Tennessee Code › Title 41 - CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND INMATES (§§ 41-1-101 — 41-51-302) › Chapter 51 - CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND INMATES - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 41-51-101 — 41-51-302) › Part 3 - PREPARATION OF INMATES FOR RELEASE (§§ 41-51-301 — 41-51-302) › Section 41-51-301 - Assistance with post-release employment of inmates

(a)
The department of correction shall provide an inmate who is discharged from imprisonment for a felony offense and who intends to reside in this state with relevant documentation to assist the inmate in obtaining post-release employment and shall coordinate with the department of safety to provide a photo identification license, pursuant to §
55-50-336
, if the inmate does not have a current photo identification license or driver license.
(b)
(1)
Nine (9) months before an inmate's release from custody, the department of correction, in coordination with the department of safety, shall identify whether the inmate has a current form of state identification and begin the process of gathering the documentation required for the issuance of a photo identification license, pursuant to §
55-50-336
.
(2)
The department of correction shall coordinate with the department of safety to provide a photo identification license to all eligible inmates who do not have a current photo identification license or driver license upon their release from custody. A photo identification license must be issued, replaced, canceled, or denied in the same manner as provided in §
55-50-336
.
(3)
The department of safety shall allow the use of a certified copy of a birth certificate coupled with a department of correction issued record card to serve as a valid form of photo identification documentation to obtain a photo identification license.
(4)
A photo identification license issued with a record card from the department of correction for an inmate is valid for the same period as other photo identification licenses issued pursuant to §
55-50-336
. The department of safety may charge a fee for issuance of a photo identification license. A photo identification license issued pursuant to this section is nonrenewable and nontransferable.
(5)
The department of correction may utilize any funds available to cover the costs associated with the implementation and administration of this section and the purchase of photo identification licenses, including, but not limited to, inmate trust funds, existing funds of the department of correction, and donations.
(6)
This subsection (b) applies only to inmates who may receive a photo identification license pursuant to §
55-50-336
.
(c)
For purposes of assisting an inmate in obtaining post-release employment, the department of correction shall provide the inmate with the following documentation:
(1)
A copy of the vocational training record of the inmate, if applicable;
(2)
A copy of the work record of the inmate, if applicable;
(3)
A certified copy of the birth certificate of the inmate, if obtainable;
(4)
A social security card or a replacement social security card of the inmate, if obtainable; and
(5)
A notification to the inmate of whether the inmate is eligible to apply for a license from a state entity charged with oversight of an occupational license or certification.
Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 461, s 1, eff. 1/1/2024.