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Merritt: Bills to assist homeless Hoosiers pass Senate

STATE HOUSE (Feb. 26, 2019) — Two bills authored by State Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) that would assist the homeless in Indiana today passed the Senate.

Senate Bill 464 would allow certain representatives of homeless youth to have access to their birth certificate, a photo identification, learner’s permit or driver’s license. The representative who could obtain these critical documents on behalf of a homeless youth are McKinney-Vento liaisons, or representatives of a government entity, school corporation or nonprofit organization. The representatives would be required to accept the delivery of mail and have a fee and consent waiver for the youth.

This legislation would also require the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to allow a representative of a homeless youth who presents a fee and consent waiver affidavit to register the homeless youth to take the high school equivalency exam.

Additionally, Senate Bill 476 would urge the Legislative Council to assign a study committee to study homelessness in 2019.

“As a state, we should be doing everything we can to help our homeless population,” Merritt said. “Right now, one stumbling block for homeless youth is their inability to get identification, which they might need to enter the workforce or receive higher education. Additionally, if assigned to a study committee, SB 476 would help provide our state with more information to address homelessness in Indiana.”

SB 464 and SB 476 will now move to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Merritt, click here