The proposed bill introduces a new chapter, titled "State Identification Cards for Minors Without Residence Act," to Title 31 of the General Laws concerning motor and other vehicles. This legislation allows minors aged fourteen to seventeen who are Rhode Island residents without a permanent residence to obtain a state identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The bill specifies that minors in the care of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) can receive a state identification card with a signed letter from the DCYF administrator. Additionally, minors residing in a shelter can obtain a state identification card with a signed letter from the shelter administrator, and those living in a shelter with a parental guardian for at least thirty days must provide a letter from the shelter administrator, along with their birth certificate, social security card, passport, or driver's license. In cases where a minor is residing in a shelter without a parental guardian due to unforeseen circumstances, the shelter administrator may act as the legal guardian for the purposes of this section. The bill exempts these minors from the licensing fees associated with obtaining the identification cards.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws regarding vital records, allowing minors aged sixteen and older who do not have a residence address or are in DCYF custody to receive a certified copy of their birth registration without needing a parent's, guardian's, or foster parent's signature. It also states that individuals qualifying under this provision will not incur any fees for obtaining these records. The act will take effect upon passage.