By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill that would provide a Massachusetts identification card to incarcerated individuals who will soon be released from prison and will be re-entering society.

Supporters said the proposal codifies the Healey administration’s efforts to provide identification to citizens returning to society. They noted that many people returning to society will do so without any means of proving who they are, which presents a significant challenge when accessing government assistance programs that help people secure housing, food, employment and various other basic needs. They argued that denying individuals this support is setting them up for failure and making it more likely that they will recidivate.

“I am proud to be the lead sponsor of this bill that will give returning citizens access to the services and support they need to move on to the next chapter of their lives and succeed in our state,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “When an individual leaves incarceration, they deserve the chance to provide for themselves and their families without any obstacles in front of them. I am committed to getting this commonsense policy over the finish line to ensure we give every Massachusetts resident the opportunity to thrive.”