(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b), (c), (d), (g), and (h) of this section, subdivision (c) of Section 13002, and subdivision (c) of Section 14900, upon an application for an identification card a fee of twenty dollars ($20), and on and after January 1, 2010, a fee of twenty-six dollars ($26), shall be paid to the department.

(b) An original or replacement senior citizen identification card issued pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13000 shall be issued free of charge.

Terms Used In California Vehicle Code 14902

  • County: includes every county and city and county within this State. See California Vehicle Code 270
  • Department: means the Department of Motor Vehicles except, when used in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 2 and in Divisions 11 (commencing with Section 21000), 12 (commencing with Section 24000), 13 (commencing with Section 29000), 14 (commencing with Section 31600), 14. See California Vehicle Code 290
  • driver: is a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 305
  • motor vehicle: includes a recreational vehicle as that term is defined in subdivision (a) of §. See California Vehicle Code 415
  • Person: includes a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Vehicle Code 470

(c) The fee for an original or replacement identification card issued to a person who has been determined to have a current income level that meets the eligibility requirements for assistance programs under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 3 of, or Part 5 (commencing with Section 17000) of, or Article 9 (commencing with Section 18900) of Chapter 10 of Part 6 of, or Chapter 10.1 (commencing with Section 18930) or Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 18937) of Part 6 of, Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be six dollars ($6). The determination of eligibility under this subdivision shall be made by a governmental or nonprofit entity, which shall be subject to regulations adopted by the department.

(d) A fee shall not be charged for an original or replacement identification card issued to any person who can verify their status as a homeless person or homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the person’s housing status may verify the person’s status for purposes of this subdivision. A determination of eligibility pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to regulations adopted by the department. A person applying for an identification card under this subdivision shall not be charged a fee for verification of their eligibility.

(e) All fees received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account.

(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) A “homeless child or youth” has the same meaning as the definition of “homeless children and youths” as set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11301 et seq.).

(2) A “homeless person” has the same meaning as the definition set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11301 et seq.).

(3) A “homeless services provider” includes:

(A) A governmental or nonprofit agency receiving federal, state, or county or municipal funding to provide services to a “homeless person” or “homeless child or youth,” or that is otherwise sanctioned to provide those services by a local homeless continuum of care organization.

(B) An attorney licensed to practice law in this state.

(C) A local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth designated as such pursuant to Section 11432 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of Title 42 of the United States Code, or a school social worker.

(D) A human services provider or public social services provider funded by the State of California to provide homeless children or youth services, health services, mental or behavioral health services, substance use disorder services, or public assistance or employment services.

(E) A law enforcement officer designated as a liaison to the homeless population by a local police department or sheriff’s department within the state.

(F) Any other homeless services provider that is qualified to verify an individual’s housing status, as determined by the department.

(g) The fee for a replacement identification card issued to an eligible inmate upon release from a federal correctional facility or a county jail facility is eight dollars ($8). For purposes of this subdivision, “eligible inmate” means an inmate who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The inmate previously held a California driver‘s license or identification card.

(2) The inmate has a usable photo on file with the department that is not more than 10 years old.

(3) The inmate has no outstanding fees due for a prior California identification card.

(4) The inmate has provided, and the department has verified, their true full name, date of birth, social security number, and legal presence in the United States, or, upon implementation of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 12801.9, if the inmate is unable to submit satisfactory proof that their presence in the United States is authorized under federal law, the inmate has provided proof of their identity pursuant to Section 12801.9.

(5) The inmate currently resides in a federal correctional facility or a county jail facility.

(6) The inmate has provided the department, upon application, a verification of their eligibility under this subdivision that meets all of the following requirements:

(A) Be on federal correctional facility letterhead or county sheriff letterhead.

(B) Be typed or computer generated.

(C) Contain the inmate’s name.

(D) Contain the inmate’s date of birth.

(E) Contain the original signature of an official from the federal correctional facility or county sheriff’s office.

(F) Be dated within 90 days of the date of application.

(h) The fee for an original or replacement identification card issued to an eligible inmate upon release from a state correctional facility is eight dollars ($8). For purposes of this subdivision, “eligible inmate” has the same meaning as that term is defined under subdivision (b) of § 3007.05 of the Penal Code, and meets both of the following requirements:

(1) The inmate currently resides in a facility housing inmates under the control of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(2) The inmate has provided the department, upon application, a verification of their eligibility under this subdivision that meets the requirements described under subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, and (F) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (g) and contains the signature of an official from the state facility.

(i) The fee for a replacement identification card issued to an eligible patient treated in a facility of the State Department of State Hospitals is eight dollars ($8). For purposes of this subdivision, “eligible patient” means a patient who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The patient previously held a California driver’s license or identification card.

(2) The patient has a usable photo on file with the department that is not more than 10 years old.

(3) The patient has no outstanding fees due for a prior California identification card.

(4) The patient has provided, and the department has verified, their true full name, date of birth, social security number, and legal presence in the United States, or, upon implementation of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 12801.9, if the patient is unable to submit satisfactory proof that their presence in the United States is authorized under federal law, the patient has provided proof of their identity pursuant to Section 12801.9.

(5) The patient is currently preparing to be unconditionally discharged from a facility of the State Department of State Hospitals, or through a conditional release program.

(6) The patient has provided the department, upon application, a verification of their eligibility under this subdivision that meets all of the following requirements:

(A) Be on State Department of State Hospitals letterhead.

(B) Be typed or computer generated.

(C) Contain the patient’s name.

(D) Contain the patient’s date of birth.

(E) Contain the original signature of an official from the State Department of State Hospitals.

(F) Be dated within 90 days of the date of application.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 482, Sec. 14. (AB 1766) Effective January 1, 2023.)