HB 2568 Summary

• Establishes a Homeless Persons' Bill of Rights guaranteeing homeless individuals equal rights and privileges as other state residents in public spaces, employment, voting, and access to services without discrimination based on housing status.

• Prohibits discrimination against homeless persons in emergency medical care, employment decisions based on lack of permanent address, and protection of their records from unauthorized disclosure.

• Guarantees homeless persons reasonable privacy expectations for personal property and the right to enter homeless shelters while possessing service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Eliminates criminal liability for sitting, lying, or sleeping on public property if the person is homeless and no shelter space is available.

• Allows prevailing plaintiffs in civil actions alleging violations to recover injunctive relief, declaratory relief, actual damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs.