Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 225 (2019GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Escamilla, L.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2019

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• provides that the Homeless Coordinating Committee may award money from the Homeless to Housing Reform Restricted Account for the purpose of providing medical respite care for homeless individuals; and
• modifies the definition of the term "homeless shelter."

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDER AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla
House Sponsor: 
Paul Ray
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to the potential uses of the Homeless to Housing
Reform Restricted Account.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ provides that the Homeless Coordinating Committee may award money from the
Homeless to Housing Reform Restricted Account for the purpose of providing
medical respite care for homeless individuals; and
▸ modifies the definition of the term "homeless shelter."
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
35A-8-604
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 251
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
35A-8-604
 is amended to read:
35A-8-604.
Uses of Homeless to Housing Reform Restricted Account.
(1) With the concurrence of the division and in accordance with this section, the
Homeless Coordinating Committee members designated in Subsection 
35A-8-601
(2) may
award ongoing or one-time grants or contracts funded from the Homeless to Housing Reform
Restricted Account created in Section 
35A-8-605
. 
(2) Before final approval of a grant or contract awarded under this section, the
Homeless Coordinating Committee and the division shall provide written information
regarding the grant or contract to, and shall consider the recommendations of, the Executive
Appropriations Committee.
(3) As a condition of receiving money, including any ongoing money, from the
restricted account, an entity awarded a grant or contract under this section shall provide
detailed and accurate reporting on at least an annual basis to the division and the Homeless
Coordinating Committee that describes:
(a) how money provided from the restricted account has been spent by the entity; and
(b) the progress towards measurable outcome-based benchmarks agreed to between the
entity and the Homeless Coordinating Committee before the awarding of the grant or contract.
(4) In determining the awarding of a grant or contract under this section, the Homeless
Coordinating Committee, with the concurrence of the division, shall:
(a) ensure that the services to be provided through the grant or contract will be
provided in a cost-effective manner;
(b) consider the advice of committee members designated in Subsection 
35A-8-601
(3);
(c) give priority to a project or contract that will include significant additional or
matching funds from a private organization, nonprofit organization, or local government entity;
(d) ensure that the project or contract will target the distinct housing needs of one or
more at-risk or homeless subpopulations, which may include:
(i) families with children;
(ii) transitional-aged youth;
(iii) single men or single women;
(iv) veterans;
(v) victims of domestic violence;
(vi) individuals with behavioral health disorders, including mental health or substance
use disorders;
(vii) individuals who are medically frail or terminally ill;
(viii) individuals exiting prison or jail; or
(ix) individuals who are homeless without shelter; and
(e) consider whether the project will address one or more of the following goals:
(i) diverting homeless or imminently homeless individuals and families from
emergency shelters by providing better housing-based solutions;
(ii) meeting the basic needs of homeless individuals and families in crisis;
(iii) providing homeless individuals and families with needed stabilization services;
(iv) decreasing the state's homeless rate;
(v) implementing a coordinated entry system with consistent assessment tools to
provide appropriate and timely access to services for homeless individuals and families;
(vi) providing access to caseworkers or other individualized support for homeless
individuals and families;
(vii) encouraging employment and increased financial stability for individuals and
families being diverted from or exiting homelessness;
(viii) creating additional affordable housing for state residents;
(ix) providing services and support to prevent homelessness among at-risk individuals
and adults;
(x) providing services and support to prevent homelessness among at-risk children,
adolescents, and young adults; [
and
]
(xi) preventing the reoccurrence of homelessness among individuals and families
exiting homelessness[
.
]
; and
(xii) providing medical respite care for homeless individuals where the homeless
individuals can access medical care and other supportive services.
(5) In addition to the other provisions of this section, in determining the awarding of a
grant or contract under this section to design, build, create, or renovate a facility that will
provide shelter or other resources for the homeless, the Homeless Coordinating Committee,
with the concurrence of the division, may consider whether the facility will be:
(a) located near mass transit services;
(b) located in an area that meets or will meet all zoning regulations before a final
dispersal of funds;
(c) safe and welcoming both for individuals using the facility and for members of the
surrounding community; and
(d) located in an area with access to employment, job training, and positive activities.
(6) In accordance with Subsection (5), and subject to the approval of the Homeless
Coordinating Committee with the concurrence of the division, the following may recommend a
site location, acquire a site location, and hold title to real property, buildings, fixtures, and
appurtenances of a facility that provides or will provide shelter or other resources for the
homeless:
(a) the county executive of a county of the first class on behalf of the county of the first
class, if the facility is or will be located in the county of the first class in a location other than
Salt Lake City;
(b) the state;
(c) a nonprofit entity approved by the Homeless Coordinating Committee with the
concurrence of the division; and
(d) a mayor of a municipality on behalf of the municipality where a facility is or will be
located.
(7) Subject to the requirements of Subsections (5) and (6), on or before March 30,
2017, the county executive of a county of the first class shall make a recommendation to the
Homeless Coordinating Committee identifying a site location for one facility within the county
of the first class that will provide shelter for the homeless in a location other than Salt Lake
City.
(8) (a) As used in this Subsection (8) and in Subsection (9), "homeless shelter" means a
facility that:
(i) is located within a municipality; 
and
(ii) provides temporary shelter year-round to homeless individuals[
; and
]
, including an
emergency shelter or a medical respite facility.
[
(iii) has the capacity to provide temporary shelter to at least 50 individuals per night.
]
(b) In addition to the other provisions of this section, the Homeless Coordinating
Committee, with the concurrence of the division, may award a grant or contract:
(i) to a municipality to improve sidewalks, pathways, or roadways near a homeless
shelter to provide greater safety to homeless individuals; and
(ii) to a municipality to hire one or more peace officers to provide greater safety to
homeless individuals.
(9) (a) If a homeless shelter commits to provide matching funds equal to the total grant
awarded under this Subsection (9), the Homeless Coordinating Committee, with the
concurrence of the division, may award a grant for the ongoing operations of the homeless
shelter.
(b) In awarding a grant under this Subsection (9), the Homeless Coordinating
Committee, with the concurrence of the division, shall[
: (i) give priority to a homeless shelter
located in a county of the first class that has the capacity to provide temporary shelter to at least
individuals per night; and (ii)
] consider the number of beds available at the homeless
shelter and the number and quality of the homeless services provided by the homeless shelter.
(10) The division may expend money from the restricted account to offset actual
division and Homeless Coordinating Committee expenses related to administering this section.