BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 998
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Date of Hearing: May 1, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 998 (Fong) - As Amended: April 8, 2013
Policy Committee: Housing and
Community Development Vote: 6-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill creates the California Interagency Council on
Homelessness and requires various state agencies to meet
quarterly to coordinate efforts on homelessness. Specifically,
this bill:
1)Creates the council, whose mission is to construct cross-agency
and community cooperation in responding to homelessness, and
to identify and apply for increased federal funding to respond
to homelessness.
2)Specifies the council appointments include five state agencies
and six other representatives: two from law enforcement or
local government, two people who have been homeless, and two
stakeholder organization representatives. These six are
appointed by the Legislature.
FISCAL EFFECT
Cost pressure for the lead agency in the range of $350,000 per
year. Once the council is established, federal funds may be
available to help offset the costs of the council. The bill
requires the council to operate within the current budget of
each participating department.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The sponsors, the Corporation for Supportive Housing
and Housing California, argue the state continues to have a
fragmented approach in dealing with homelessness. They note
the state lacks coordination between state agencies, local
AB 998
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governments and non-profit organizations. They note
California is the only large state not to have an active
Interagency Council on Homelessness. The sponsors state the
purpose of this council is to improve efficiency, streamline
resources, create better coordination and provide a forum
where information and ideas can be discussed.
2)Background . California has the largest homeless population in
the country. The Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) reported that on a single night in 2008, California
communities counting people living on the streets or in
shelters reported 157,277 homeless persons. Over 380,000
people are homeless for some period of time during the course
of each year in California. The state has one of the highest
rates of homelessness, with one in every 230 residents
homeless at any point in time, and one in every 95 residents
homeless at some point during the course of a year. In the
rest of the country, most homeless people are sheltered,
temporarily living in shelters or in transitional housing. In
California, 70% of homeless people live unsheltered, the
largest percentage in the nation.
3)Previous legislation. AB 1167 (Fong) of 2011, was largely
identical to this bill and was held in the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
Analysis Prepared by : Roger Dunstan / APPR. / (916) 319-2081