BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
1177 (Fong)
Hearing Date: 08/12/2010 Amended: 03/22/2010
Consultant: Jacqueline Wong-HernandezPolicy Vote: Human Serv.
4-1, T&H: 6-4
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 1177 establishes the Interagency Council on
Homelessness (ICH) and prescribes the membership and duties of
the ICH. Specifically, this bill:
1.Requires the Governor to designate a lead agency or member of
the Governor's staff to direct the work of the ICH.
2.Designates 13 ICH seats to be filled by representatives of
specified agencies, departments and non-governmental groups,
and appointments.
3.Requires ICH to meet at least quarterly, and provides that
members shall serve without compensation, with certain
exceptions if private funds are available.
4.Requires ICH to provide an updated state plan to end
homelessness every two years and submit this plan to the
Legislature, as specified.
5.Provides that ICH "may", but is not required to: (a) Act as
the lead for coordinating and planning the state's response to
homelessness, including coordinating federal funding; (b)
Discuss potential mechanisms for streamlining the
administration of programs across agencies; (c) Discuss
potential mechanisms for streamlining funding of homelessness
programs to leverage existing resources effectively; (d)
Solicit input from stakeholders, the business community,
concerned public, and governmental agencies; (e) Identify
other states' best practices in combating homelessness; and
(f) identify private and public funding partnerships.
6.Requires ICH to operate within the budget of each department
and agency represented.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11
2011-12 Fund
Create/operate new council $125
$250 $250 General
State plan to reduce homelessness Likely substantial future
cost pressure General
to the extent ICH completes this work Federal*
*Some programs/activities that address homelessness are eligible
for federal funding.
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE.
This bill creates a new Interagency Council on Homelessness
(ICH) of at least 13 members to address the issue of
homelessness in the California. This bill requires the Governor
to designate a lead agency or member of the Governor's staff to
direct the work of the ICH. The costs reflected for creation and
operation of the council are for one full-time director position
and one part-time administrative position. This bill authorizes
the Governor to select the lead agency responsible for creating
and managing ICH.
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AB 1177 (Fong)
Without knowing which agency will be tasked with this project,
it is impossible to know the level of workload that can be
absorbed, and the number of (if any) new employees
would be needed. Considering state departments' budget
reductions and mandatory furloughs, it is extremely unlikely
that establishing an ICH could be completed within the existing
resources of any probable department. The workload on other (non
lead agency) participants, however, would likely be minor. It is
likely that designated positions will be necessary.
This bill requires ICH to update a state plan to reduce or end
homelessness in the state. This plan would likely involve
increased preventative and remedial services, new protocols and
requisite training of agencies, and possibly new mandates on
local agencies (which often confront homelessness most
directly). There would be substantial cost pressure to adopt the
plan.
To the extent that this bill results in innovative and effective
services provided to reduce homelessness, there will likely be
significant savings to local governments and law enforcement
agencies. Depending on the nature of these services, there may
be significant savings to the state in costs associated with
crime and social services in the future.