[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of Beacon 12-17-2018 by L.L. No.
21-2018. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The City Council finds that many residents of the City of Beacon
oftentimes do not have access to various forms of identification and
thus have difficulty obtaining services, such as bank accounts, access
to health care services, as well as access to public/government buildings.
This barrier leaves thousands of individuals, including immigrants,
homeless people, transgender people, senior citizens, young people,
and those who have been formerly incarcerated, without access to critical
services. It is the intent of the City Council to build the City of
Beacon's standing as a welcoming and inclusive center for all
residents, without regard to a person's race, national origin,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, immigration,
housing, or financial status.
B.
Residents' lack of access to acceptable forms of identification
also raises public safety concerns for the City. Residents without
access to bank accounts often carry large amounts of money on their
person or store it in their home making them targets for crime. In
addition, residents who cannot produce proof of identity are often
reluctant to report crimes to the police that they suffer or witness.
Studies show that immigrant populations in particular are victimized
by crime at rates similar to or greater than the general population,
but immigrant populations report crime at lower rates than the general
population. This underreporting of crime poses a serious public safety
problem and erodes the ability of law enforcement to function effectively
in the City.
C.
A City of Beacon identification card would serve to reduce the impact
of the above-mentioned conditions, improve public safety, and enable
all City of Beacon residents to participate more fully in and become
an integral part of the community. A City of Beacon identification
card would encourage crime reporting and witness cooperation, both
key elements in building a safer community. Such cards would also
potentially enable more City residents to open bank accounts, access
parks or other public facilities, and receive resident discounts at
local businesses, events, and arts institutions. The cards would also
benefit children and youth who become lost and normally possess no
identification or emergency contact information and elderly citizens
who no longer drive and therefore no longer possess a valid driver's
license. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of its residents
for the City to issue its own municipal identification card.
D.
By authorizing the creation of this program, the City Council does
not intend to expand identification requirements for access to basic
services or exercise of constitutional rights. The program should
not be used as a proxy to require individuals to produce government-issued
identification to access services and benefits where such identification
is not presently required, such as registering to vote or casting
a ballot.
The City of Beacon is providing the Beacon ID card for identification
and access to services provided by the City of Beacon. The City does
not act as guarantor or warrantor of either of the information provided
by the applicant for the Beacon ID card or of/against acts, criminal
or otherwise committed by the individual(s) while possessing or using
the Beacon ID card. The City does not waive any of its protections
afforded under federal, state or local laws, by processing or issuing
the Beacon ID cards.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
An identification card issued by the City of Beacon that
shall, at a minimum, display the cardholder's photograph, name,
date of birth, address, ID card number, and card expiration date.
Such identification card shall be designed in a manner to deter fraud
which may include bar codes, serial numbers, watermarks, City Seal,
or other security measures used to protect against fraud. Additionally,
the card does not bestow eligibility for state or federal financial
benefits, therefore significantly reducing the incentive to fraudulently
obtain an ID card.
The City of Beacon or any department, agency, board, or commission
thereof.
A person who can establish that he or she is a current resident of the City of Beacon pursuant to § 42-6.
The City Clerk shall act as the custodian of all records and
applications. The City shall work with such groups as Nobody Leaves
Mid-Hudson to implement the Beacon ID card program.
A.
The Beacon ID card shall be available to any resident of the City
over the age of 14, regardless of his or her race, color, creed, age,
national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender identity,
sexual orientation, disability, marital status, partnership status,
any lawful source of income, housing status, status as a victim of
domestic violence or status as a victim of sex offenses or stalking,
or conviction or arrest record, provided that such resident is able
to meet the requirements for establishing his or her identity and
residency as set forth in this chapter.
B.
The City shall establish an application fee for municipal identification
cards of $10 for adults and $5 for people under the age of 18 or over
the age of 62.
C.
The Beacon ID card shall be valid for a period of two years from
the date of issuance, and thereafter must be renewed for a fee of
$5 in order to keep the ID card active. Only residents with a valid,
active Beacon ID card shall be eligible to receive Beacon ID card
benefits.
A.
Eligibility. In order to obtain a Beacon ID card, an applicant must
complete an application and provide documentation in order to establish
proof of identity and proof of residency within the City as follows:
(1)
Proof of identity. In order to establish identity, an applicant shall
be required to attain four points of identification by producing at
least one of the following document from List One (four points), current
or expired not more than five years prior to the date of the Beacon
ID card application or one document from List Two (three points) along
with one document from List Three (one point).
(a)
List one (four-point documents): United States or foreign passport;
United States state driver's license; United States state identification
card; United States permanent resident card; a consular identification
card; a photo identification card with name, address, date of birth,
and expiration date issued by another country to its citizens or nationals
as an alternative to a passport for reentry to the issuing country;
a national identification card with photo, name, address, date of
birth, and expiration date; a foreign driver's license; United
States or foreign military identification card; a current visa issued
by a government agency.
(b)
List Two (three-point documents): United States permanent resident
(green card); United States citizenship and naturalization certificate;
United States federal government or tribal-issued photo ID; state
veterans ID with photo.
(c)
List Three (one-point document): social security card; EBT card;
high school or college diploma; ITIN (individual taxpayer identification
number) card or authorization letter (must be accompanied by an ID
with a photograph); voter registration card.
(2)
Proof of residency. In order to establish residency, an applicant
shall be required to produce at least one of the following items which
must show the applicant's name and residential address located
within the City and must be dated no more than 60 days prior to the
date such document is presented, unless otherwise indicated below:
(a)
A utility bill;
(b)
A current residential property lease;
(c)
A local property tax statement dated within one year of the
date it is submitted;
(d)
A local real property mortgage payment receipt;
(e)
A bank account statement;
(f)
Proof that the applicant has a minor child currently enrolled
in a school located within the City;
(g)
An employment pay stub;
(h)
A jury summons or court order issued by a federal or state court;
(i)
A federal or state income tax or refund statement dated within
one year of the date it is submitted;
(j)
An insurance bill (homeowner, renter, health, life, or automobile
insurance);
(k)
Written verification issued by a homeless shelter located within
the municipality that confirms at least 15 days' residency;
(l)
Written verification issued by a hospital, health clinic or
social services agency located within the City confirming at least
15 days' residency.
A.
The records relating to the application and issuance of Beacon ID
cards shall be maintained in accordance with the law.
B.
The City will make the best efforts to protect the confidentiality
of all Beacon ID card applicants to the maximum extent allowable by
federal and state law.
C.
The City shall not disclose information obtained from an applicant
for a Beacon ID card to any public or private entity or individual,
including federal, state, or city immigration or law enforcement entities,
unless disclosure is required by law.
D.
The City Clerk's office shall not retain original or copies
of documents provided by an applicant to prove identity or residence
when applying for a Beacon ID card; nor will the office retain any
listing of such documents. Any documentation provided by the applicant
during the application process shall be immediately returned to the
applicant after the Beacon ID card is printed. A statement will be
included on the application form indicating that the City Clerk's
office has reviewed the applicable documentation submitted by the
applicant, and such official in the City Clerk's office will
initial the application showing that the qualifying documentation
has been submitted, but not retained, in connection with the application.
A.
The City's municipal agencies and offices, and appropriate municipal
employees, including law enforcement officers, may accept the Beacon
ID card as proof of identity and residency, excluding in cases where
acceptance of the Beacon ID card is precluded by state or federal
law.
B.
The City may seek to promote and expand the benefits associated with
the Beacon ID card and may take reasonable efforts to promote the
acceptance of the Beacon ID card by banks and other public and private
institutions located within the City.
C.
The City's municipal agencies and offices may not require the
possession of a Beacon ID card where identification is not already
required in order to obtain City services; provided, however, that
the City's municipal agencies and offices may require the possession
of a Beacon ID card to obtain benefits or privileges offered exclusively
to those who possess a Beacon ID card as an incentive to apply for
the municipal identity card.
D.
The City will train appropriate municipal personnel, municipal offices,
and law enforcement officers to ensure that the Beacon ID card is
effectively accepted per its intended use as is outlined in this chapter.
The City may, consistent with all federal, state and local laws,
provide language assistance to applicants for the municipal identity
cards to facilitate access thereto. The City may identify and implement
measures, including but not limited to staff training, community outreach,
and language assistance tools, to address the needs of limited English
proficient individuals in the successful administration of the Beacon
ID card program.
It is a violation of this chapter for any person or entity to
undertake any of the following acts. A fine of no more than $100 may
be imposed for each violation.
A.
To knowingly present false information in the course of applying
for a Beacon ID card.
B.
To alter, copy, or replicate a Beacon ID card without the authority
of the City.
C.
To use a Beacon ID card issued to another person, with the intent
to cause a third person or entity to believe the holder of the card
is the person to whom the card was issued.
