S.B. No. 801 aims to facilitate the issuance of certified birth records to homeless individuals in Texas. The bill introduces a new section, 191.00495, to the Health and Safety Code, defining a "homeless individual" and outlining the conditions under which they may request a birth record. Specifically, it states that a homeless individual is someone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or resides in temporary accommodations such as shelters or public places not designed for regular sleeping. The bill also clarifies that individuals who are imprisoned or detained in correctional facilities do not qualify as homeless under this definition.

Under the provisions of the bill, state registrars, local registrars, or county clerks are required to issue a certified copy of a birth record to a homeless individual upon request, without charging a fee. The executive commissioner is tasked with establishing a verification process for an individual's homeless status and determining the necessary documentation for issuing the birth record. Importantly, the bill prohibits the department from requiring a homeless individual to provide a physical address to fulfill any requirements related to this section. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to applications submitted on or after that date.

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