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The homeless will have fees waived for obtaining copies of important documents such as birth certificates under a new bill that passed committee on Wednesday. Stock image
Preston Cathcart
By Preston Cathcart

SALT LAKE CITY — The homeless will have fees waived for obtaining copies of important documents such as birth certificates under a new bill that passed committee on Wednesday.

Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, sponsored SB196 before the Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee.

Christensen said there was an obvious problem asking the homeless to go scrape together $20 for a birth certificate so they could qualify for other IDs necessary to find work or housing.

The bill requires only that an applicant's homelessness be verified by a homeless shelter, a supportive or transitional facility, or the Department of Workforce Services, and then the fee will be waived.

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The bill goes to the full Senate for consideration.

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