ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: APPROP DPA/SE 9-1-0-0 | 3^rd Read 19-8-3-0 House: HHS DP 5-4-0-0 | APPROP DPA 10-1-0-2

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SB 1581: housing; grants; homelessness; camping; appropriation

Sponsor: Senator Livingston, LD 22

Caucus & COW

Overview

Appropriates monies allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) to distribute grants to municipalities or counties to establish sanctioned camping sites for homeless individuals and create or support multidisciplinary homeless outreach teams.

History

ADOH was established in 2002 to establish policies, procedures and programs to address affordable housing issues in Arizona, including for: 1) low-income families; 2) moderate income families; 3) housing affordability; 4) special needs populations; and 5) decaying housing stock. Additionally, ADOH is responsible for maintaining and enforcing standards of quality and safety for manufactured homes, mobile homes and factory-built buildings (A.R.S. § 41-3953).

Provisions

1. Permits ADOH to disburse grants to a municipality, county or to a consortium of municipalities and counties to establish sanctioned camping sites for homeless individuals. (Sec. 1)

2. Outlines the requirements that a municipality or county and the sanctioned camping site must comply with in order to be eligible for the grant. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires ADOH to:

a) Establish the Program, including site operations and other operating policies; and

b) Prioritize safe camping sites, but may also fund indoor encampment structures, tiny homes or similar low-cost structures that can be assembled quickly. (Sec. 1)

4. Specifies that any grant distributed to a municipality, county or to a consortium of municipalities and counties may not be continued if the municipality or county refuses to enforce ordinances in place that prohibit sleeping and camping in public places that are not designated as sanctioned camping sites. (Sec. 1)

5. Permits ADOH to disburse grants to a municipality, county or nonprofit organization to establish or support multidisciplinary homeless outreach teams. (Sec. 1)

6. Outlines the composition of the multidisciplinary homeless outreach teams. (Sec. 1)

7. Deems that a municipality, county or designated operator of the sanctioned camping site is not liable in any civil action that arises out of the operation of the sanctioned camping site unless the claim involves intentional or grossly negligent conduct. (Sec. 1)

8. Appropriates $50,000,000 from monies allocated from ARPA to ADOH in FY 2023 to distribute as follows:

a) $30,000,000 to municipalities or counties or a consortium of municipalities and counties to establish sanctioned camping sites for homeless individuals; and

b) $20,000,000 to municipalities or counties or nonprofit organizations to establish or support multidisciplinary homeless outreach teams. (Sec. 2)

9. Exempts this appropriation from lapsing. (Sec. 2)

Amendments

Committee on Appropriations

1. States that in lieu of continuing enforcement, the municipality or county may demonstrate to the satisfaction of ADOH on application that unsheltered homeless individuals, outside of sanctioned camping sites will be reduced by at least 80 percent.

2. Requires all unexpended or unencumbered monies remaining by December 31, 2023, to be transferred to AHCCCS to supplement the Mental Health Block Grant.

3. Makes technical changes.

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                        SB 1581

Initials AG       Page 0 Caucus & COW

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