BILL REQ. #:  S-1298.1 

Read first time 02/04/2005.   Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions, Housing & Consumer Protection.

     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, and at-large representatives of the community.
     (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 shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature 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. 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.