The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard public testimony Tuesday on legislation to waive state fees for identification documents and birth certificates for homeless young adults aged 18-25.

House Bill 334, sponsored by Representative Genevieve Mina, would eliminate barriers that prevent homeless youth from obtaining employment and housing by waiving fees for state IDs and birth certificates. The bill also expands address verification options, allowing homeless individuals to use service provider addresses since they often lack stable housing.

"Among an array of other services, we provide transitional living, rapid rehousing and navigation services to homeless youth ages eighteen to twenty five," said one service provider during testimony. "This process often takes months as we help them to track down the necessary documents they need to file to get the other necessary documents and on and on."

Jordan Nigro, youth services manager for the city and borough of Juneau, told the committee that identification is often the primary barrier to employment. A service provider testified that identification documents are frequently lost in difficult circumstances, explaining that "It is the first thing that gets destroyed in violent relationships. It is the first thing that you do not have if you have been sort of institutionalized or growing up without their parental units."

Committee members discussed potentially expanding the age range beyond 25 and adding limits on the number of free IDs per person. Committee Co-chair Donna Mears asked whether the benefit should extend to all homeless individuals, noting that the 35-44 age group represents the largest demographic of homeless people at 21.7 percent, while 18-24 year-olds comprise 9.4 percent.

Representative Kyle Holland raised concerns about unlimited ID replacements, suggesting constraints to "encourage responsibility." Mina said she was open to discussing limits on the number of IDs.

The committee set an amendment deadline of Friday, April 10 at noon and will consider the bill at a future meeting.