(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Raj Mukherji that would allow homeless persons to obtain, duplicate, or renew a non-driver identification card without paying fees to the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) was released by an Assembly panel on Monday.
“The administration fee is the only thing prevented many homeless people from acquiring identification, when shelters and social services organizations are willing to help these citizens,” said Mukherji (D-Hudson). “Identification will be useful in many ways by allowing them access to services that will help them in the long run. It is a simple, common sense change in the law that can make a huge impact in the lives of our homeless citizens.”
In order for the fee to be waived, a homeless person would be required to submit proof of temporary residence through a social worker or a coordinator of an emergency shelter for the homeless where the person is temporarily residing. Residents who are 14 years of age and older may apply to the MVC for a non-driver identification card. The card issued solely of the purpose of providing identification and is not a license to drive.
The bill (A-2107) was approved by the Assembly Human Services Committee. Last month, the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee approved a related bill, A-2106 (Mukherji/Chaparro/Holley/Jimenez/Pintor Marin/Sumter), which would permit homeless people to obtain free certified copies of their birth certificates by submitting a request for the certificate to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics through a social worker or through the coordinator of the emergency shelter for the homeless where the person is temporarily residing.
The bill was approved by the Assembly Human Services Committee and now awaits further consideration by the Assembly Speaker.