Upcoming Committee Hearings to Support Access to Identity Documents for Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Make Your Voice Heard!

REMINDER: Upcoming Transportation and Public Health Committees Public Hearings

The Transportation and Public Health Committees will be holding public hearings this week and early next week, and your support and advocacy can help to ensure that youth experiencing homelessness have access to identity documents.

Transportation Committee Hearing

The Transportation Committee hearing provides an opportunity to address the access to a State Identity Card for youth experiencing homelessness. The public hearing will be held on Friday, February 28th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building.

Ask the Transportation Committee to amend sec. 11 of HB 5192, An Act Concerning Recommendations by the Department of Motor Vehicles, to allow the Commissioner of motor vehicles to waive the fee for a State ID card for youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness and to define homelessness consistent with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

The proposed changes to sec 11 of HB 5192 will allow youth experiencing homelessness, as verified by their school or a provider, to obtain a copy of a state ID for free. The amended language specifies a definition of homelessness consistent with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which includes those who are doubled-up, and specifically includes youth age 24 and younger.

Public Health Committee Hearing

The Public Health Committee public hearing provides an opportunity to address the access to a birth certificate for youth experiencing homelessness. The public hearing has not been announced yet though we expect it to be early next week.

Ask the Public Health Committee to support Senate Bill 248, AN ACT CONCERNING ACCESS TO IDENTITY DOCUMENTS BY HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. This will allow the Department of Public Health and registrars of vital statistics to waive the fee for a certified copy of a birth certificate for youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness. The legislation will specify a definition of homelessness consistent with the federal McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act and include youth age 24 and younger.

How to Testify

Whether you're new to the legislative process or an experienced advocate, you can make a difference. With your support and shared vision and commitment toward a better future, we can ensure Connecticut is equipped to make homelessness a rare, brief and one-time experience.

Here's what you can do:

Craft and submit a testimony!
- A draft testimony template for the Transportation Committee hearing can be accessed here.
- A draft testimony template for the Public Health hearing can be accessed here.
Email Danielle Hubley (danielle@pschousing.org) if you intend to submit testimony or testify in person ASAP.
Once complete, written testimony can be emailed in Word or PDF format on your organizations letterhead and sent to Danielle AS SOON AS POSSIBLE - this helps to ensure that your voice is part of the conversation.
- Please submit your testimony for the Transportation Committee hearing by 1:00 pm on Thursday, February 27th, 2020 to Danielle, and she will be submitted it to the committee.
- We will let you know as soon as we know about the deadline for submitting testimony for the Public Health Committee public hearing.
Lastly, join us at the Legislative Office Building for the Transportation Committee hearing on Friday, February 28th at 11:00 am.