2. a. The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide a non-driver identification card issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to each inmate, free of charge, as soon as practicable, but not less than 10 days prior to the inmate’s release from a State correctional facility. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue the identification card and accept a former inmate’s Department of Corrections identification card as two points for the purposes of applying for the identification card.

b. An inmate’s Department of Corrections identification card shall be accepted by all State, county, and municipal agencies and New Jersey nonprofit organizations for six months following the date of release from incarceration to allow the released inmate to gain access to services for which the inmate is deemed eligible including, but not limited to, establishing the inmate’s identity.

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of this section, whenever Motor Vehicle Commission agencies are closed during a declared public health emergency, pursuant to the “Emergency Health Powers Act,” P.L.2005, c.222 (C. 26:13-1 et seq.), a state of emergency, pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.), or both, the inmate’s Department of Corrections identification card shall be accepted by all State, county, and municipal agencies and New Jersey nonprofit organizations in a manner as to allow the released inmate to gain access to services for which the inmate is deemed eligible for the duration of the public health emergency.

L.2020, c.45, s.2; amended 2021, c.312, s.3.