Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee

HB 2415

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

State Identification.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) issues the state driver's license and Identicard that serve as official forms of personal identification. The driver's license and Identicard can be used to verify a person's name, residency and age for various purposes. In order for a driver's license or Identicard to be valid for identification purposes, an applicant must provide the DOL with certain identifying documentation that contains the person's name and signature, including:

a valid or recently expired driver's license or instruction permit that includes the date of birth of the applicant;
a Washington state Identicard or an identification card issued by another state;
an identification card issued by the United States, a state, or an agency of either the United States or a state, of a kind commonly used to identify the members or employees of the government agency;
a military identification card;
a United States passport; or
an immigration and naturalization service form.

The DOL may waive this requirement if a person is unable to provide any of these forms of identification and if the person provides other documentation that clearly establishes his or her identity. In addition, the DOL regulations require an applicant to provide a current mailing and state residential address and telephone number.

Foster youth may obtain an Identicard by providing the DOL with a written statement from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) that verifies the following:

the youth's name, birthdate and physical description;
the youth's Social Security Number, if available;
the fact that the youth is a minor in the custody of DSHS or other agency and the DSHS or agency contact information; and
the appropriate address to be listed on the Identicard.

Homeless Client Management Information System.

The Department of Commerce (COM) administers the state homeless housing program to develop and coordinate a strategic plan to reduce homelessness statewide. Within the program, the COM administers a Homeless Client Management Information System to collect information about homeless individuals in the state. The information comes from the annual homeless census count administered by COM and from homeless service providers. Information about an individual may only be obtained through informed consent from a homeless individual. The information serves as an online resource for homeless service providers and local governments to connect homeless persons with available support services.

Summary of Bill:

A homeless person may apply to the COM to certify the address of a temporary housing or homeless service provider that may be used as the person's address for purposes of completing a job application or other employment purposes.

Application.

The COM must provide a temporary homeless certificate form to any homeless person in the state who may need to provide a physical or mailing address for employment purposes. The form must include:

the person's name, age, birthdate and place of birth;
social security number if available;
information on any state driver's license or identification card the person may possess;
a signed declaration of homelessness by the person and the place where he or she currently resides by address or physical location; and
a declaration by a temporary housing or homeless service provider (provider) in the state affirming that the person is homeless, providing the address or physical location where the person currently lives, and listing the provider's physical and mailing address.

The form must be filed with the COM.

Certification.

Upon verification of the information on the form, the COM shall certify the provider's address as the address of the applicant. The certification allows the homeless person to use the provider's address as his or her own address for completing a job application or other employment purposes.

The certification expires one year from the date of certification, but it may be renewed for up to six months if requested by the provider. The COM may cancel the certification at any time if it finds that the person is no longer homeless.

The COM may integrate the information gathered in this section within the Homeless Client Management Information System. The COM must publish the certificate form to temporary housing and homeless service providers statewide.

The certification may not be used as proof of residency in the state for obtaining a driver's license or Identicard, for voter registration, or other purposes apart from employment purposes.