OCCY Announces New ID Access for Homeless Youth under HB 3231

The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY) proudly announces that House Bill 3231 (HB 3231) went into effect on November 1, 2024. This new legislation grants homeless youth in Oklahoma the opportunity to obtain a free, four-year state identification card, providing vital access to employment, education, financial services, and other essential resources.

HB 3231 creates a pathway for homeless youth aged 14 and 21, including those under 18 without parental or guardian consent, to receive a REAL ID non-compliant State Identification Card at no cost. With this identification, homeless youth can take important steps toward greater security and self-sufficiency.

"We are thrilled to see HB 3231 go into effect, giving homeless youth a critical resource that can help them transition more successfully into adulthood," said Susan Agel, Chair of the OCCY Homeless Children and Youth Steering Committee. "Identification opens doors—to work, school, financial security—and provides a greater sense of belonging and autonomy for young people navigating incredibly challenging circumstances."

Through collaboration with Service Oklahoma, which oversees driver and motor vehicle services statewide, HB 3231 simplifies the identification process for homeless youth. Now, unaccompanied homeless youth under 18 can apply for a state ID without a parent or guardian's signature, provided their housing status is verified by a director or designee of a homeless shelter, transitional living program, McKinney-Vento liaison from a public school, or a continuum of care lead agency. Additionally, homeless youth aged 21 or younger are eligible to obtain a state ID at no cost, further easing the path toward self-sufficiency.

"We recognize that identification can be a major barrier for unaccompanied homeless youth, limiting their ability to achieve stability and independence," said Annette Wisk Jacobi, Executive Director of OCCY. "HB 3231 helps remove that barrier by making ID access more equitable, giving young people the identification they need to move forward with dignity and purpose."

Service Oklahoma has developed a one-page guide detailing the new law to assist agencies and organizations working with homeless youth. Agencies and nonprofits are required to complete a verification form, which must be printed on letterhead and notarized, to confirm the housing status of eligible youth.

Click here to visit Service Oklahoma's Homeless Youth ID Program webpage.

For more information on HB 3231 and the community partnerships that contributed to its passage, please contact Caitlin Merritt, OCCY Community Planner, at caitlin.merritt@occy.ok.gov.

For details on accessing the identification services provided under this law, please contact Service Oklahoma's Partnership Coordinator, Ashley Bechtold, at ashley.bechtold@service.ok.gov.