State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

SB 1098: housing assistance pilot program; appropriation

PRIME SPONSOR: Senator Carter, LD 15

BILL STATUS: Health and Human Services

                                Appropriations

 

Overview

Establishes the Housing Assistance Advisory Board (Board) to administer the Housing Assistance Pilot Program (Program) and appropriates $5 million to the Board.☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

History

Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) is defined as a person who, as a result of a mental disorder, exhibits emotional or behavioral functioning that is so impaired as to interfere substantially with their capacity to remain in the community without supportive treatment or services of a long-term or indefinite duration. In these persons mental disability is severe and persistent, resulting in a long-term limitation of their functional capacities for primary activities of daily living such as interpersonal relationships, homemaking, self-care, employment and recreation (A.R.S. § 36-550).

The SMI Housing Trust Fund (Fund) is administered by the Arizona Health Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and provides funds for housing projects for individuals that have SMI. The Fund monies, which consists of proceeds received from the sale of unclaimed property and interest income, must be spent solely for housing projects for a person with SMI (A.R.S. § 41-3955.01). The first $2,000,000 in unclaimed property revenues are distributed to the Fund (A.R.S. § 44-313).

Provisions

1.       Allows the director of DHS to classify secure behavioral health residential facilities (BHRF). (Sec. 1)

2.       Establishes the Program to provide grants to assist individuals who are transitioning off of public assistance or who are eligible for secure housing as determined by the Board. (Sec. 2)

3.       Establishes the Board to administer the Program and specifies that the Board consist of the Director, or their designee, of:

a.       AHCCCS;

b.       The State Department of Corrections;

c.        The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH); and,

d.       The Department of Economic Security (DES). (Sec 2)

4.       Requires the Board to:

a.       Establish criteria for housing assistance grants (grants);

b.       Establish the application process for the grants;

c.        Award the grants to qualified applicants. Monies may be spent for SMI persons in the following settings:

i.         A community living home that is for persons who hold their own leases and that has embedded in-home support to meet the individualized needs of the person and up to 24 hours of support and supervision as indicated by the person's individual treatment plan;

ii.       A behavioral health residential facility that:

Ř  Is licensed by DHS; and,

Ř  Provides in-house wraparound services and secure 24-hour on-site support, treatment and supervision by staff with behavioral health training for persons who have serious mental illness of sufficient severity as to require assistance to live in the community and who are subject to a plan of care that is ordered by a mental health court, a mental health division of the probate court, a criminal court as part of a plea agreement or judgment and conviction or a court as part of guardianship proceedings or that is part of a diversion agreement with a law enforcement agency; and,

d.       Submit a report regarding the Board's activities, number of Grants awarded and the results of the Pilot Program by December 15, 2022 to the governor and the legislature and provide a copy to the secretary of state. (Sec. 2)

5.       Allows the Board to accept matching grant monies from any lawful source. (Sec. 2)

6.       Repeals the Program and the Board on September 30, 2023. (Sec. 2)

7.       Directs AHCCCS to issue a request for proposals for a third-party entity to conduct a program study that measures the outcomes of SMI residents in each housing setting for a one-year period and includes an analysis of the costs and effectiveness of the services provided. (Sec. 3)

8.       Requires the director of DHS to adopt rules by January 1, 2020 that allow a BHRF to be a secure facility if it is the least restrictive environment that meets the resident's treatment needs and the resident is an incapacitated person and is either ordered by a court or diversion agreement to a secure BHRF. (Sec. 4)

9.       Permits the Director of DHS to use the assisted living facility rules as guidelines in determining standards for a secure BHRF. (Sec. 4)

10.   Exempts DHS from rulemaking for one year but requires DHS to provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposed rules. (Sec. 4)

11.   Appropriates $5 million from the state GF for FY 2020 to the Board. (Sec. 4)

12.   Contains a legislative intent clause. (Sec. 5)

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16.   Fifty-fourth Legislature                       SB 1098

17.   First Regular Session                            Version 1: Health and Human Services

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