Purpose

Establish state government processes to issue certain credentials to individuals experiencing homelessness, with a focus on homeless youth. The bill creates a pathway for obtaining certified birth records and a specialized identification card, aiming to improve access to services and benefits for people who are homeless.

Key Provisions

• Added definitions to Minnesota Statutes 144.212:

  • Homeless services provider: includes employees of government or nonprofit entities that run food banks, shelters, housing programs, outreach or advocacy programs for homeless individuals, plus certain health and social service workers, peace officers who work with people experiencing homelessness, and designated homeless student liaisons.
  • Individual experiencing homelessness: aligns with the federal definition in U.S. Code.

• Certified birth record for homeless youth (Section 3, adds 144.2255):

  • Purpose: allows a homeless youth or individual experiencing homelessness to obtain a certified birth record or a guaranteed “no vital record found” statement.
  • Application requirements (Subd.1): must submit a completed application signed by the birth-record subject, plus a statement that the subject is homeless, and provide one of these:
  • An identity document listed in Minnesota Rules,
  • A compliant alternative per Minnesota Rules,
  • A verification statement from an employee of a public-funded human services agency, a homeless youth program, a school staff member serving homeless youth, or a homeless services provider (with a copy of the provider’s employment ID).
  • Verification statement (Subd.2): must include the verifier’s name, contact details, the relationship to the subject, and a statement that the subject is a homeless youth; must include the verifier’s employer information.
  • Expiration and reissuance (Subd.3): issued birth records expire six months after issuance; can be surrendered and reissued; each new record also expires six months after issuance.
  • Data privacy (Subd.4): information in these verifications is private data on individuals.

• Fee waivers for birth records (Section 4, amending 144.226 subd.8):

  • Waives fees for up to two certified birth records or a statement of no vital record found for a homeless youth or an individual experiencing homelessness.

• Identification card for homeless youth (Section 5, amending 171.07 subd.3b):

  • Defines homeless youth using the existing definition in statute.
  • Noncompliant identification card option (Subd.3b a): eligible even if not meeting standard ID requirements, under certain conditions.
  • Application requirements (Subd.3b b): must provide full name, date of birth, sex; height, weight, eye color; a certified copy of a birth certificate bearing an official seal; a statement verifying the subject is a homeless youth signed by a homeless services provider or school staff with employment verification.
  • Fees and rules (Subd.3b c–d): no fee surcharge or filing fee; Minnesota Rules parts 7410.0400 and 7410.0410 do not apply to these cards.
  • Issuance and applicability: card issuance is handled through the state; the process and standards emphasize services for homeless youth and staff who support them.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a formal process to obtain certified birth records for homeless youth and individuals experiencing homelessness, including expiration and reissuance rules.
• Establishes fee waivers for birth-record services related to homeless youth.
• Introduces a specialized identification card for homeless youth (noncompliant ID option) with simplified documentation requirements and no standard fee.
• Expands and clarifies who qualifies as a “homeless services provider” and who can verify homelessness for credentialing purposes.
• Elevates privacy protections for data collected in the verification process.

Definitions and Terminology (Key Terms Used in the Bill)

• Homeless services provider
• Individual experiencing homelessness
• Homeless youth
• Certified birth record
• State registrar
• Local issuance office
• Statement verifying subject is a homeless youth
• Noncompliant identification card
• Identification card for homeless youth
• 42 U.S.C. 11302(a) (federal homeless definition reference)
• 256K.45 subdivision 1a (state homeless youth definition)
• Data practices (private data on individuals)

Relevant sections reference Minnesota Statutes 144.212, 144.2255, 144.226, and 171.07, and involve cooperation with state registrar/local issuance offices, human services agencies, schools, and homeless services providers.

Implementation Considerations and Impacts

• Aims to reduce barriers for homeless youth and others experiencing homelessness to prove identity and access services (housing, benefits, education, health care).
• Clarifies who can attest to homelessness for credentialing (providers, school staff) and what information must be included in verification.
• Balances access with privacy protections through data-practices provisions.
• Encourages use of nontraditional documentation to obtain essential identification in a targeted population.

Relevant Terms - Homeless youth - Individual experiencing homelessness - Homeless services provider - Certified birth record - State registrar - Local issuance office - Statement verifying subject is a homeless youth - Noncompliant identification card - Identification card for homeless youth - Fee waiver - Data privacy - 42 U.S.C. 11302(a) - 256K.45(1a) - 144.212 - 144.2255 - 144.226 - 171.07(3b)