STAND. COM. REP. NO.  96-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1606

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1606 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL IDENTIFICATION CARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow homeless persons to replace their lost, destroyed, stolen, or mutilated identification card without paying a fee, provided that the person can verify their homeless status with certain specified documentation.

The American Civil Liberties Union, Rainbow Family 808, IMUAlliance, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Transportation opposed this measure.  The Department of Human Services and Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the provisions requiring a homeless person to verify their homeless status in writing by a homeless facility, provider agency, or attorney licensed to practice in Hawaii;

     (2)  Requiring a homeless person to verify their status as a homeless person through:

          (A)  A signed sworn statement from a member of a victim services organization, an attorney, a member of the clergy, correctional institution staff, or a medical or other health professional from whom the homeless person has sought services; or

          (B)  A verification letter from a homeless provider; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1606, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1606, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair