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SB-1284 Homelessness: interim motel housing projects: state programs.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 03/16/2022 09:00 PM
SB1284:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  March 16, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 1284

Introduced by Senator Bates
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Mathis)

February 18, 2022

An act to amend Section 21080.50 of the Public Resources Code, and to amend Sections 8256 and 8257 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to homelessness.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1284, as amended, Bates. Homelessness: state programs: Housing First. interim motel housing projects: state programs.
(1) The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. Existing law, until January 1, 2025, exempts from CEQA projects related to the conversion of a structure with a certificate of occupancy as a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing, as defined, that meet certain conditions.
This bill would delete the above-described January 1, 2025, repeal date, thereby extending operation of that exemption indefinitely. Because the lead agency must determine the applicability of this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing

(2) Existing law requires agencies and departments administering state programs to adopt guidelines and regulations to incorporate core components of Housing First, as defined. Existing law defines “state programs” for this purpose as any program a California state agency or department funds, implements, or administers for the purpose of providing housing or housing-based services to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, except as provided.
This bill would delete the above-described requirements for state agencies to adopt guidelines and regulations to incorporate core components of Housing First. The bill, notwithstanding any guidelines or regulations adopted pursuant to that requirement as it read on January 1, 2022, would authorize an agency or department that administers a state program that has incorporated core components of Housing First to provide funding in accordance with the state program to housing that does not comply with Housing First. The bill would also make a conforming change.
(3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NOYES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 21080.50 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21080.50.
 (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Interim motel housing project” or “project” means the conversion of a structure with a certificate of occupancy as a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing, and the conversion meets one or both of the following conditions:
(A) It does not result in the expansion of more than 10 percent of the floor area of any individual living unit in the structure.
(B) It does not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
(2) “Residential hotel” has the same meaning as defined in Section 50519 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3) “Supportive housing” means housing linked to onsite or offsite supportive services and with no limit on length of stay for persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities and may include, among other populations, adults, emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people.
(4) “Supportive services” means services that are provided on a voluntary basis to residents of supportive or transitional housing, including, but not limited to, a combination of subsidized and permanent housing services, intensive case management, medical and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, employment services, benefits advocacy, and other services or service referrals necessary to obtain and maintain housing.
(5) “Transitional housing” means temporary housing linked to supportive services that is offered, usually for a period of up to 24 months, to facilitate movement to permanent housing for persons with low incomes who may have one or more disabilities, and may include, among other populations, adults, emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people.
(b) This division does not apply to an interim motel housing project.
(c) A lead agency that determines an interim motel housing project is exempt pursuant to this section shall file a notice of exemption in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 21152 with the Office of Planning and Research.

(d)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and as of that date is repealed.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Section 8256 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

8256.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, or any guidelines or regulations adopted pursuant to this section as it read on January 1, 2022, an agency or department that administers a state program and has incorporated core components of Housing First as required by this section, as it read on January 1, 2022, may provide funding in accordance with that state program to housing that does not comply with Housing First.
(b) (1)  Until July 1, 2022, an agency or department that administers programs that fund recovery housing shall do all of the following:
(A) In coordination with the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, consult with the Legislature, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the California Health and Human Services Agency, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other stakeholders between July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2022, to identify ways to improve the provision of housing to individuals who receive funding from that agency or department, consistent with the applicable requirements of state law.
(B) Comply with the core components of Housing First, other than those components described in paragraphs (5) to (7), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 8255.
(C) Ensure that recovery housing programs meet the following requirements:
(i) A recovery housing program participant shall sign an agreement upon entry that outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the participant and the program administrator to ensure individuals are aware of actions that could result in removal from the recovery housing program.
(ii) If a recovery housing program participant chooses to stop living in a housing setting with an abstinence focus, is discharged from the program, or is evicted from housing, the program administrator shall offer assistance in accessing other housing and services options, including options operated with harm-reduction principles. To the extent practicable, this assistance shall include connecting the individual with alternative housing providers, supportive services, and the local coordinated entry system, if applicable. This clause does not apply to an individual who leaves the program without notifying the program administrator.
(iii) The recovery housing program administrator shall track and report annually to the program’s state funding source the housing outcome for each program participant who is discharged.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “recovery housing” means sober living facilities and programs that provide housing in an abstinence-focused and peer-supported community for people recovering from substance use issues. Participation is voluntary, unless that participation is pursuant to a court order or is a condition of release for individuals under the jurisdiction of a county probation department or the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
(c) (1) Beginning on January 1, 2023, a grantee or entity operating any of the following state homelessness programs, as a condition of receiving state funds, shall enter the required data elements described in paragraph (8) on the individuals and families it serves into its local Homeless Management Information System, as required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development guidance described in paragraph (8), unless otherwise exempted by state or federal law:
(A) The program referred to as Homekey, as described in Section 50675.1.1 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B) The Housing for a Healthy California Program established pursuant to Part 14.2 (commencing with Section 53590) of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code.
(C) The No Place Like Home Program established pursuant to Part 3.9 (commencing with Section 5849.1) of Division 5.
(D) The Multifamily Housing Program (Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 50675) of Part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code).
(E) The Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Act of 2014, as established by Article 3.2 (commencing with Section 987.001) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code.
(F) The Bringing Families Home Program, as established by Article 6 (commencing with Section 16523) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9.
(G) The CalWORKs Housing Support Program, as established by Article 3.3 (commencing with Section 11330) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9.
(H) The Housing and Disability Income Advocacy Program, as established by Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 18999) of Part 6 of Division 9.
(I) The Community Colleges Homeless and Housing Insecure Pilot Project, as established by funds appropriated by the Budget Act of 2019.
(J) The Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program established in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 50216) of Part 1 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) Council staff, in consultation with respective administering state agencies or departments, shall specify the entry format and disclosure frequency for the programs subject to this subdivision to submit the data elements as specified in paragraph (1) to inform and meet the council’s statewide objectives and goals described in Section 8257.
(3) (A) The requirements of paragraph (1) shall additionally apply to all new state homelessness programs that commence on or after July 1, 2021.
(B) New state homelessness programs and new grantees of the existing state programs described in paragraph (1) may be granted an extension of up to one year from program launch to meet the requirements of this subdivision.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, state homelessness programs are defined as those programs that are funded, in whole or in part, by the state with the express purpose of addressing or preventing homelessness or providing services to people experiencing homelessness. This definition shall be broadly construed for the purpose of carrying out the requirements of this subdivision.
(5) The requirements of paragraphs (1) and (3) do not supplant any existing requirements imposed on a grantee or entity operating a state program described in this subdivision that require the program to report data into their local Homeless Management Information Systems before January 1, 2023.
(6) (A) Any grantee or entity operating a program described in paragraph (1) or (3) that does not already collect and enter into the local Homeless Management Information System the data elements required under this subdivision shall, upon request, receive technical assistance and guidance from council staff and, as available, from federal partners, including, but not limited to, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(B) When a grantee or entity operating a program requests technical assistance, the council shall inform the respective administering state agency or department and offer the opportunity to partner or coordinate the provision of technical assistance.
(7) Any grantee or entity operating a program described in paragraph (1) shall, upon request, be granted an extension to meet the requirements in this subdivision, provided noncompliant grantees are making good faith progress towards meeting the requirements. An extension granted under this paragraph shall not extend beyond July 1, 2023. For purposes of this paragraph, “making good faith progress” includes, but is not limited to, engaging in technical assistance offered under paragraph (6) and establishing a plan to comply with this subdivision.
(8) For purposes of this subdivision, required data elements are the Universal Data Elements (Items 3.01–3.917) and the Common Data Elements (Items 4.02–4.20 and Item W5 of the Individual Federal Partner Program Elements) drawn from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Homeless Management Information System Data Standards. When necessary, due to federal changes to the items indicated in this paragraph, the required data elements may be amended to maintain alignment with federal standards.
(9) Beginning January 1, 2022, council staff shall provide aggregate data summaries collected in full pursuant to this subdivision to the respective administering state agencies or departments that oversee relevant programs within 45 days of receipt. Where feasible, council staff shall notify the respective administering state agencies or departments at least 14 days before sharing, publicly using, or referencing the data, including, but not limited to, using the data for any substantive analysis, summary statistics, or other findings.

SEC. 2.SEC. 3.

 Section 8257 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

8257.
 (a) The Governor shall create an Interagency Council on Homelessness.
(b) The council shall have all of the following goals:
(1) To oversee implementation of this chapter.
(2) To identify mainstream resources, benefits, and services that can be accessed to prevent and end homelessness in California.
(3) To create partnerships among state agencies and departments, local government agencies, participants in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Program, federal agencies, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, nonprofit entities working to end homelessness, homeless services providers, and the private sector, for the purpose of arriving at specific strategies to end homelessness.
(4) To promote systems integration to increase efficiency and effectiveness while focusing on designing systems to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness, including unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age.
(5) To coordinate existing funding and applications for competitive funding. Any action taken pursuant to this paragraph shall not restructure or change any existing allocations or allocation formulas.
(6) To make policy and procedural recommendations to legislators and other governmental entities.
(7) To identify and seek funding opportunities for state entities that have programs to end homelessness, including, but not limited to, federal and philanthropic funding opportunities, and to facilitate and coordinate those state entities’ efforts to obtain that funding.
(8) To broker agreements between state agencies and departments and between state agencies and departments and local jurisdictions to align and coordinate resources, reduce administrative burdens of accessing existing resources, and foster common applications for services, operating, and capital funding.
(9) To serve as a statewide facilitator, coordinator, and policy development resource on ending homelessness in California.
(10) To report to the Governor, federal Cabinet members, and the Legislature on homelessness and work to reduce homelessness.
(11) To ensure accountability and results in meeting the strategies and goals of the council.
(12) To identify and implement strategies to fight homelessness in small communities and rural areas.
(13) To create a statewide data system or warehouse, which shall be known as the Homeless Data Integration System, that collects local data through Homeless Management Information Systems, with the ultimate goal of matching data on homelessness to programs impacting homeless recipients of state programs, such as the Medi-Cal program (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9) and CalWORKs (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) of Part 3 of Division 9). Upon creation of the Homeless Data Integration System, all continuums of care, as defined in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, that are operating in California shall provide collected data elements, including, but not limited to, health information, in a manner consistent with federal law, to the Homeless Data Integration System.
(A) Council staff shall specify the form and substance of the required data elements.
(B) Council staff may, as required by operational necessity, and in accordance with paragraph (8) of subdivision (c) of Section 8256, amend or modify data elements, disclosure formats, or disclosure frequency.
(C) To further the efforts to improve the public health, safety, and welfare of people experiencing homelessness in the state, council staff may collect data from the continuums of care as provided in this paragraph.
(D) Any health information or personal identifying information provided to, or maintained within, the Homeless Data Integration System shall not be subject to public inspection or disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
(E) For purposes of this paragraph, “health information” includes “protected health information,” as defined in Part 160.103 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and “medical information,” as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 56.05 of the Civil Code.
(14) To set goals to prevent and end homelessness among California’s youth.
(15) To improve the safety, health, and welfare of young people experiencing homelessness in the state.
(16) To increase system integration and coordinating efforts to prevent homelessness among youth who are currently or formerly involved in the child welfare system or the juvenile justice system.
(17) To lead efforts to coordinate a spectrum of funding, policy, and practice efforts related to young people experiencing homelessness.
(18) To identify best practices to ensure homeless minors who may have experienced maltreatment, as described in Section 300, are appropriately referred to, or have the ability to self-refer to, the child welfare system.
(19) To collect, compile, and make available to the public financial data provided to the council from all state-funded homelessness programs.
(c) (1) The council shall consist of the following members:
(A) The Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency and the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, who both shall serve as cochairs of the council.
(B) The Director of Transportation.
(C) The Director of Housing and Community Development.
(D) The Director of Social Services.
(E) The Director of the California Housing Finance Agency.
(F) The Director or the State Medicaid Director of Health Care Services.
(G) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(H) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
(I) The Executive Director of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee in the Treasurer’s office.
(J) The State Public Health Officer.
(K) The Director of the California Department of Aging.
(L) The Director of Rehabilitation.
(M) The Director of State Hospitals.
(N) The executive director of the California Workforce Development Board.
(O) The Director of the Office of Emergency Services.
(P) A representative from the State Department of Education, who shall be appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(Q) A representative of the state public higher education system who shall be from one of the following:
(i) The California Community Colleges.
(ii) The University of California.
(iii) The California State University.
(2) The Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint one member to the council from two different stakeholder organizations.
(3) The council may, at its discretion, invite stakeholders, individuals who have experienced homelessness, members of philanthropic communities, and experts to participate in meetings or provide information to the council.
(4) The council shall hold public meetings at least once every quarter.
(d) The council shall regularly seek guidance from and, at least twice a year, meet with an advisory committee. The cochairs of the council shall appoint members to this advisory committee that reflects racial and gender diversity, and shall include the following:
(1) A survivor of gender-based violence who formerly experienced homelessness.
(2) Representatives of local agencies or organizations that participate in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Program.
(3) Stakeholders with expertise in solutions to homelessness and best practices from other states.
(4) Representatives of committees on African Americans, youth, and survivors of gender-based violence.
(5) A current or formerly homeless person who lives in California.
(6) A current or formerly homeless youth who lives in California.
(7) This advisory committee shall designate one of the above-described members to participate in every quarterly council meeting to provide a report to the council on advisory committee activities.
(e) Within existing funding, the council may establish working groups, task forces, or other structures from within its membership or with outside members to assist it in its work. Working groups, task forces, or other structures established by the council shall determine their own meeting schedules.
(f) Upon request of the council, a state agency or department that administers one or more state homelessness programs, including, but not limited to, an agency or department represented on the council pursuant to subdivision (c), the agency or department shall be required to do both of the following:
(1) Participate in council workgroups, task forces, or other similar administrative structures.
(2) Provide to the council any relevant information regarding those state homelessness programs.
(g) The members of the council shall serve without compensation, except that members of the council who are, or have been, homeless may receive reimbursement for travel, per diem, or other expenses.
(h) The appointed members of the council or committees, as described in this section, shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority.
(i) The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency shall provide staff for the council.
(j) The members of the council may enter into memoranda of understanding with other members of the council to achieve the goals set forth in this chapter, as necessary, in order to facilitate communication and cooperation between the entities the members of the council represent.
(k) There shall be an executive officer of the council under the direction of the Secretary of Business, Consumer Services and Housing.
(l) The council shall be under the direction of the executive officer and staffed by employees of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

SEC. 4.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.