BILL REQ. #:  S-1956.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/25/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to developing plans to address the housing needs of homeless persons; adding a new section to chapter 36.01 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 35A.21 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 36.01 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Each county shall create a task force to develop a ten-year plan addressing short-term and long-term housing for homeless persons.
     Membership on the task force must include representatives of the counties, cities, towns, housing authorities, civic and faith organizations, schools, community networks, human services providers, law enforcement personnel, criminal justice personnel, including prosecutors, probation officers, and jail administrators, substance abuse treatment providers, mental health care providers, emergency health care providers, businesses, at-large representatives of the community, and a homeless or formerly homeless individual.
     In lieu of creating a new task force, a local government may designate an existing body which substantially conforms to this section and which includes at least one homeless or formerly homeless individual to serve as its homeless representative. Those counties which participate in the Washington state balance of state continuum of care under the McKinney-Vento homelessness assistance act may designate their participation efforts to comply with the requirements of this section.
     (2) In addition to developing a ten-year plan to end homelessness, each task force shall establish guidelines, as needed, for the following:
     (a) Emergency shelters;
     (b) Short-term housing needs;
     (c) Temporary encampments;
     (d) Supportive housing for chronically homeless persons; and
     (e) Long-term housing.
     Guidelines must include, when appropriate, standards for health and safety and notifying the public of proposed facilities to house the homeless.
     (3) Each county, including counties exempted from creating a new task force under subsection (1) of this section, shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature and to the department of community, trade, and economic development by January 2006, including information on guidelines developed, potentials for public-private partnerships to address homelessness, and requests for further involvement or support from the legislature. Those counties which participate in the Washington state balance of state continuum of care under the McKinney-Vento homelessness assistance act may submit a single report reflecting information on all participating counties. Each county shall continue to develop and coordinate planning efforts, with reports to the legislature of substantive changes and significant additional information.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     Each city or town must participate in the task force created under section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 RCW to read as follows:
     Each code city must participate in the task force created under section 1 of this act.