BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
BILL NO: AB 1177
A
AUTHOR: Fong
B
VERSION: June 1, 2009
HEARING DATE: June 23, 2009
1
FISCAL: To Transportation and Housing and to
Appropriations 1
7
CONSULTANT:
7
Hailey
SUBJECT
Homelessness: Interagency Council on Homelessness
SUMMARY
Creates an interagency council on homelessness as a central
coordinator of existing agencies and communities supporting
initiatives to end homelessness.
ABSTRACT
Current law
1.Under existing law, several state agencies have
prescribed responsibilities relating to homeless persons.
This bill
1.Makes findings and declarations about homelessness,
reducing homelessness, and the value of a state
coordinating council.
2. Defines "at risk of homelessness" as a history of
homelessness and an income of 30 percent of below the
area median income.
Continued---
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3. Defines "homelessness" as a condition of lacking a
fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence or having
as a primary nighttime residence a shelter or a place not
designed for or used as a regular sleeping accommodation;
also includes in the definition persons exiting an
institutional setting at risk of homelessness or living
in transitional or temporary housing.
4. Defines "stakeholder organization as a nonprofit of
faith-based organization with the mission to prevent or
end homelessness or to provide services to people who are
homeless.
5. Establishes the interagency council on homelessness
with a mission to construct cross-agency and community
cooperation in responding to homelessness, to use a more
efficient and supportive method in implementing
evidence-based approaches to address homelessness, and,
to the extent possible, plan to end homelessness in the
state.
6. Provides that the governor shall appoint a lead agency
to seek maximum federal funding for the council's
efforts.
7. Requires the council meet at least quarterly, provide
reports to appropriate legislative committees at least
once per year, and include at least 25 members:
a. At least one representative with decision
making authority from each of the following:
i. The State Department of
Alcohol and Drug Programs;
ii. The Department of Community
Services and Development;
iii. The Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation;
iv. The State Department of
Education;
v. The State Department of Health
Care Services;
vi. The Department of Housing and
Community Development;
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vii. The California Housing Finance
Agency;
viii. The State Department of Mental
Health;
ix. The State Department of Social
Services;
x. The California Tax Credit
Allocation Committee; and,
xi. The Department of Veterans
Affairs.
b. A representative of the governor's
office;
c. A representative from the Senate,
appointed by the President pro Tempore, or his or
her designee;
d. A representative from the Assembly,
appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, or his
or her designee;
e. Two members of philanthropic
organizations active in homelessness issues, to
be appointed by the governor;
f. At least five representatives of local
and regional jurisdictions, appointed by the
governor, which shall include at least one
representative of local law enforcement, at least
one representative of county government, and at
least one representative of city government.
g. Representatives of at least two
stakeholder organizations, to be appointed by the
governor; and,
h. At least two people who have experienced
homelessness, to be appointed by the governor.
8. Directs the governor to appoint a chair and vice chair
from among the members of the council.
9. Allows the council to establish working groups or task
forces from within its membership or with outside members
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to assist it in its work.
10. Specifies that all council members serve without
compensation unless non-state resources are available or
the Legislature makes a future appropriation.
11. Directs the council to act as the lead for
coordinating and planning the state's response to
homelessness.
12. Directs the council to streamline the administration
of programs across agencies and jurisdictions.
13. Directs the council to streamline funding of
homelessness programs and to leverage existing resources
effectively.
14. Directs the council to solicit input and suggestions
from stakeholders, the business community, the concerned
public, existing law of other states, and governmental
agencies to find the most effective strategies to address
homelessness.
15. Directs the council to identify best practices, from
other states, in combating homelessness.
16. Directs the council to create a plan for council
actions by the end of the first year after its initial
meeting, with annual review, to implement
recommendations for policy, regulatory, and resource
changes needed to accomplish objectives, as well as each
agency's responsibilities on the council.
17. Directs the council, within current costs, publish a
plan to reduce or end homelessness within three years.
18. Directs the council to gather needs assessments from
local jurisdictions, including city housing elements and
community continuation of care.
19. Requires the council to create a centralized database
on homelessness by January 1, 2015 and assist in the
coordination of a state continuum of care by January 1,
2017, if federal funds allow.
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20. Identify private and public partnerships.
21. Gives the council authority to contract with nonprofit
organizations, accept the services of agency personnel,
or employ council staff to manage the business of the
council, provided there are nonstate funds available for
that purpose or the Legislature makes an appropriation.
13. Ensures the council will operate within the budget of
each department and agency represented.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Assembly Appropriations Committee identifies 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 offset the costs of the council.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
According to the bill's sponsor, California Supportive
Housing, California has the highest rate of homelessness
and the highest ratio of homeless people per resident, with
360,000 people sleeping outdoors or in shelters on any
given night. Homelessness is traumatic for those who
suffer it, often leading to separated families,
exacerbation of health conditions, a rise in avoidable
emergency room use, social and academic delays among
children, and greater likelihood of incarceration. People
who lack permanent shelter and the ability to access
regular support ricochet through separate and expensive
public systems: corrections, hospital emergency rooms,
mental health programs, substance abuse treatment and detox
facilities, shelters, and emergency housing. Individuals
and families experiencing chronic homelessness use a
disproportionate share of state and local services.
The sponsors believe that reducing homelessness requires
coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and
local governments, as well as private sector organizations.
This bill establishes a council that will give priority to
developing consolidated, coordinated, and cooperative
approaches to this issue. In November 2005, Governor
Schwarzenegger created the governor's homeless initiative,
which included plans to form an interagency coordinating
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council to reduce homelessness; to date, no action has been
taken. A codified, structured interagency council on
homelessness would reduce duplication of effort and,
potentially, redirect resources to more effective
approaches and developing a more integrated system.
Previous votes
Assembly Floor 49-29
Assembly Appropriations 12-5
Assembly Human Services 5-2
Assembly Business and Professions 7-4
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
Council authority
The bill gives the council more than advisory powers. The
council is to act as the lead for coordinating and planning
the state's response to homelessness, including,
coordinating federal funding, streamlining program
administration across agencies and jurisdictions, and
streamline funding. These powers seem to extend beyond the
governor's administration into the State Department of
Education and the Office of the State Treasurer (the
California Tax Credit Allocation Committee). The author
has indicated that he will commit to an amendment to
clarify the authority of the council: that it will fulfill
its responsibility to coordinate and streamline policies
and budgets by advising state agencies and seeking their
agreement with council recommendations. If AB 1177 passes
out of the Human Services Committee, that amendment will be
offered and adopted in the bill's hearing before the
Transportation and Housing Committee.
POSITIONS
Support: Corporation for Supportive Housing (sponsor)
Housing California (sponsor)
Interagency Council to End Homelessness,
Sacramento
Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and
Homelessness
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
NAMI California
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Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern
California
United Homeless Healthcare Partners
Western Center on Law and Poverty
Yolo County Homeless and Poverty Action
Coalition
Yolo Wayfarer Center
Oppose: None received
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