BILL REQ. #:  H-3265.1 

Read first time 01/16/14.   Referred to Committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a temporary homeless status certification; and adding a new section to chapter 43.185C RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.185C RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall provide a temporary homeless status certificate form to any homeless person in the state who may need to provide a physical or mailing address for the purpose of obtaining or maintaining employment. The certificate must be provided in the form and manner prescribed by the department and must include:
     (a) The person's full name, age, date and place of birth (if known), social security number if available, and the information on any driver's license or identification card issued by any state that the person may possess;
     (b) A signed declaration by the person stating that he or she is homeless and currently resides at a particular address or a specific physical location in the state; and
     (c) A declaration by a temporary housing or homeless service provider located in the state affirming that the person is homeless, providing the particular address or the specific physical location where the person currently resides, and listing the provider's physical and mailing address.
     (2) The certificate form must be filed with the department within ten days of completion. Upon verification of the information provided on the form, the department shall certify the address of the temporary housing or homeless service provider for the homeless person. The certification allows a homeless person to use the provider's address as his or her own address for purposes of completing a job application or as otherwise required by a prospective or current employer.
     (3) The certification must expire one year from the date it is certified by the department, except that the department may renew it for up to an additional six months upon written request by the temporary housing or homeless service provider. The department may periodically check with the provider on the current location of a person. If the department finds that the person is no longer homeless, it may cancel the certification at any time.
     (4) The department may integrate the information gathered in this section with the homeless client management information system. The department must publish and circulate the certificate form to temporary housing and homeless service providers throughout the state.
     (5) The certification may not be used as proof of residency in this state for purposes of obtaining a state driver's license or identicard, for voter registration, or for any other purpose than those described in this section.