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House Engrossed
homelessness; housing; facilities |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session 2023
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HOUSE BILL 2284 |
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An Act
amending title 41, chapter 37, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-3956; relating to homelessness.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 41, chapter 37, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-3956, to read:
41-3956. Homelessness; facilities; shelters; requirements; political subdivisions; civil actions; rules; violation; classification
A. The department shall Accept and Allocate monies that are appropriated by the legislature for services for INDIVIDUALS experiencing homelessness. Monies shall be used for all of the following:
1. Facilities, including transitional shelters, noncongregate shelters, congregate shelters, shelter facilities provided by religious organizations and other shelter structures that can be assembled or obtained quickly, that are limited to INDIVIDUALS experiencing homelessness and each INDIVIDUAL'S personal property. INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING homelessness may shelter and store personal property at facilities in areas designated by the agency providing the FACility. Each facility shall offer mental health and substance abuse evaluations as DESIGNATED by a state or local agency.
2. Facilities that meet all of the following:
(a) Provide sleeping accommodations and access to ELECTRICITY.
(b) Provide adequate access to showers and bathroom facilities.
(c) Provide twenty-four-hour on-site security.
(d) Allow INDIVIDUALs to occupy the shelter for not more than two years.
B. The DEPARTMENT shall prioritize spending for all of the purposes prescribed in subsection A of this section.
C. The owner of a facility described in subsection A of this section or an employee or officer of the facility is not liable in any civil action that arises out of the ownership, operation or management of the facility unless the claim involves intentional or grossly negligent conduct.
D. The department may use monies appropriated by the legislature to construct permanent housing for INDIVIDUALS experiencing homelessness and to assist INDIVIDUALS experiencing homelessness with substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment and any other services, including short-term housing.
E. This section does not prohibit a political subdivision from offering diversion programs or services to encourage individuals experiencing homelessness to utilize shelter facilities.
F. The department shall adopt rules necessary to carry out this section.
Sec. 2. Department of health services; report
Before January 1, 2024, the Arizona department of health services shall submit a report to the joint legislative budget committee on the feasibility and potential cost of establishing a shelter on the campus of the Arizona state hospital for individuals experiencing homelessness and suffering from serious mental illness.
Sec. 3. Severability
If a provision of this act or its applications to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.
Sec. 4. Effective date
This act is effective from and after December 31, 2023.