Hello, PPC Members! This week was important for homeless services in the legislature. I had a special part in one of these bills. Up until this point, I’ve been following legislation from the time it is numbered until it reaches the desk of the governor. In the past two weeks, we had the opportunity to help a legislator with a bill before it was publicly available. It is amazing to see the process from the very beginning. Legislators put so much care and thought into their bills—they reach out to so many people for input on their work and are open to all viewpoints. We are honored to have relationships with these leaders that are rooted in trust and respect.
I wanted to breakdown six major bills that we are following in the 2020 session, that you should pay particular attention to.
SB 39 1st Substitute, Affordable Housing Amendments, is a result of a yearlong effort by the Utah Commission on Housing Affordability co-chaired by Senator Jake Anderegg and Representative Val Potter. SB 39 1st Substitute tries to address the shortage of affordable housing in Utah and the lack of rental assistance for low-income individuals and families. The bill request for $35,300,000 will be appropriated to Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund, which currently receives $2,200,000 ongoing from the general fund. The Department of Workforce Services (DWS) estimates that the gap financing will create 2,300 rental units in 2021 and 3,063 households will be helped in 2021 and 2020 respectively. The bill just passed the Senate and moves to the House for deliberation.
HB 32 2nd Substitute, Crisis Service Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Steve Eliason and Sen. Daniel Thatcher authorizes each county to operate local mental health services. These operations include providing mental health services, cooperating with efforts of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to promote integrated programs that address individuals’ substance abuse, mental health, and physical healthcare needs. Each county will review the mental health needs of individuals who are incarcerated or in correctional facilities and individuals who require outpatient treatment. Programs will include services for adults, youth, and children. Service providers have the option to utilize Medicaid waivers. The bill requests $12,725,000 for ongoing funding and $12,596,900 of one-time costs. This money will go to mental health programs, personnel costs, and infrastructure changes. The bill just passed in the House and moves to the Senate for further discussion.
HB 299 Second Substitute, Opportunity Zone Enhancements, Sponsored by Rep. Mike Winder and Sen. Curtis Bramble, creates tax credits for eligible construction costs in an opportunity zone. These opportunity zones include low-income housing. The Utah Housing Corporation will determine the amount of the tax credit to allocate under the allocation plans. H.B. 0299S02 just passed the House and awaits discussion in the Senate.
HB 394, Homeless and Transitional Housing Program Amendments, sponsored by Representative Kim Coleman is the result of a long effort from homeless advocates to ensure accountability from service providers. HB 394 addresses the lack of coordination between service providers and accurate data. The bill appoints a homeless service director to oversee staffing and recommendations of the Homeless Coordination Committee. The homeless services director will work to ensure that services provided to the homeless by state agencies, local governments, and private organizations are done in a safe, cost-effective, and efficient manner. The bill requests $165,900 of ongoing funding for personnel costs. This is a direct response to our meetings with Dr. Marbut and his call to appoint a leader who we can hold accountable. Rep. Coleman’s bill awaits committee meetings in the House.
SB 165, Emergency Response Plans for Homelessness, sponsored by Senator Luz Escamilla ensures that there are emergency response plans that have guidelines for emergencies. The bill requires that the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness are met by locally appropriate agencies by expanding local capacity and infrastructure in emergency situations including development, construction, and emergency shelters. The bill also expands outreach for families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness. This week the bill passed the Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee with a favorable recommendation and moves to be read on the Senate floor.
HB 401, Homeless Center Drug-Free Zone, sponsored by Representative Steve Eliason Modifies the penalty for certain crimes committed at a homeless resource center. It is prohibited from producing, manufacturing, or dispensing, or possessing with an intent to produce a controlled or counterfeit substance, or engaging in criminal enterprises that violate the Utah Controlled Substances Act at the site of a homeless resource center. It is prohibited to engage in the aforementioned activities in or on the grounds of a homeless shelter that can provide temporary shelter to between twenty and two hundred people depending on the county. The penalty is a first-degree felony. This bill is awaiting deliberation in committee meetings before going on the floor of the house.
All six of these bills provide positive steps in homeless services policy. In our visits with Dr. Marbut, he stressed a formula for stable housing: The two components being trauma-informed care and affordable housing. All of these bills connect back to those ideas.
We have two weeks left of the session, which promise to be very busy and fast-paced. If there are any questions about these bills or other legislation please email us at info@pioneerpark.co. You can also follow us on Instagram @pioneerparkco, for live story updates at the Capitol!