S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7032
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 28, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing
   qualified homeless individuals non-driver state identification cards
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subparagraph  (iii)  of paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of
 section 490 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section  2  of
 part V of chapter 56 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   (iii) Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contra-
 ry,  a  person  who  is either (A) sixty-two years of age or older and a
 recipient of supplemental security income benefits [or], (B) a recipient
 of public assistance, as defined in subdivision nineteen of section  two
 of  the  social  services law, supplemental nutrition assistance program
 benefits, pursuant to section ninety-five of the social services law, or
 medical assistance, as defined in paragraph (a) of  subdivision  thirty-
 eight  of  section  two of the social services law, and who has not been
 issued a driver's license, or whose driver's license is expired, or  who
 surrendered  [his  or her] SUCH RECIPIENT'S driver's license, OR (C) ANY
 PERSON WHO CAN VERIFY THEIR STATUS AS  A  HOMELESS  PERSON  OR  HOMELESS
 CHILD  OR  YOUTH,  shall  be  issued  an identification card without the
 payment of any fee, upon submitting  the  appropriate  application.  For
 persons  applying  for  an identification card pursuant to clause (B) of
 this subparagraph, such application shall include proof that such person
 is in receipt of public assistance,  supplemental  nutrition  assistance
 program  benefits,  or  medical  assistance,  as  the case may be.   FOR
 PERSONS APPLYING FOR AN IDENTIFICATION CARD PURSUANT TO  CLAUSE  (C)  OF
 THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, SUCH APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE PROOF THAT SUCH PERSON
 IS  HOMELESS.  SUCH  PROOF  SHALL  INCLUDE  VERIFICATION FROM A HOMELESS
 SERVICE PROVIDER THAT HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PERSON'S HOUSING STATUS.  FOR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11161-01-5
 S. 7032                             2
              

 
 PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SUBPARAGRAPH,  THE  FOLLOWING  TERMS  SHALL HAVE THE
 FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (1) "HOMELESS CHILD OR YOUTH" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS THE DEFI-
 NITION  OF  "HOMELESS  CHILDREN  AND  YOUTHS"  AS DEFINED IN THE FEDERAL
 MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT (42 USC, 11301 ET SEQ.);
   (2) "HOMELESS PERSON" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN  THE
 FEDERAL  MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT (42 USC 11301, ET SEQ.);
 AND
   (3) "HOMELESS SERVICES PROVIDER" SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A) A GOVERNMENTAL OR NONPROFIT AGENCY RECEIVING FEDERAL, STATE, COUN-
 TY OR MUNICIPAL FUNDING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO A  "HOMELESS  PERSON"  OR
 "HOMELESS  CHILD  OR  YOUTH", OR THAT IS OTHERWISE SANCTIONED TO PROVIDE
 SUCH SERVICES BY A LOCAL HOMELESS CONTINUUM OF CARE ORGANIZATION;
   (B) AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THIS STATE;
   (C) A LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY LIAISON FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH
 AS DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO 42 USC 11432 (G)(1)(J)(II), OR A SCHOOL SOCIAL
 WORKER;
   (D) A HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDER OR PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDER FUND-
 ED BY THE STATE OF NEW  YORK  TO  PROVIDE  HOMELESS  CHILDREN  OR  YOUTH
 SERVICES,   HEALTH  SERVICES,  MENTAL  OR  BEHAVIORAL  HEALTH  SERVICES,
 SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES,  OR  PUBLIC  ASSISTANCE  OR  EMPLOYMENT
 SERVICES;
   (E)  A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DESIGNATED AS A LIAISON TO THE HOMELESS
 POPULATION BY A LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT OR SHERIFF'S  DEPARTMENT  WITHIN
 THE STATE; OR
   (F)  ANY  OTHER HOMELESS SERVICES PROVIDER THAT IS QUALIFIED TO VERIFY
 AN INDIVIDUAL'S HOUSING STATUS, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal  of  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of
 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made  and  completed
 on or before such date.