6168-S AMS BRAU MURR 476

SSB 6168 - S AMD 1208

By Senator Braun

NOT ADOPTED 02/27/2020

On page 507, after line 24, insert the following:

"Sec. 925. RCW 43.185C.050 and 2018 c 85 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each local homeless housing task force shall prepare and recommend to its local government legislative authority a five-year homeless housing plan for its jurisdictional area, which shall be not inconsistent with the department's statewide guidelines issued by December 1, 2018, and thereafter the department's five-year homeless housing strategic plan, and which shall be aimed at eliminating homelessness. The local government may amend the proposed local plan and shall adopt a plan by December 1, 2019. Performance in meeting the goals of this local plan shall be assessed annually in terms of the performance measures published by the department. Local plans may include specific local performance measures adopted by the local government legislative authority, and may include recommendations for any state legislation needed to meet the state or local plan goals.

(2) Eligible activities under the local plans include:

(a) Rental and furnishing of dwelling units for the use of homeless persons;

(b) Costs of developing affordable housing for homeless persons, and services for formerly homeless individuals and families residing in transitional housing or permanent housing and still at risk of homelessness;

(c) Operating subsidies for transitional housing or permanent housing serving formerly homeless families or individuals;

(d) Services to prevent homelessness, such as emergency eviction prevention programs including temporary rental subsidies to prevent homelessness;

(e) Temporary services to assist persons leaving state institutions and other state programs to prevent them from becoming or remaining homeless;

(f) Outreach services for homeless individuals and families;

(g) Development and management of local homeless plans including homeless census data collection; identification of goals, performance measures, strategies, and costs and evaluation of progress towards established goals;

(h) Rental vouchers payable to landlords for persons who are homeless or below thirty percent of the median income or in immediate danger of becoming homeless; ((and))

(i) Other activities to reduce and prevent homelessness as identified for funding in the local plan; and

(j) For the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium, security and sanitation services related to homeless encampments and populations.

Sec. 926. RCW 43.185C.060 and 2018 c 85 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The home security fund account is created in the state treasury, subject to appropriation. The state's portion of the surcharge established in RCW 36.22.179 and 36.22.1791 must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for homeless housing programs as described in this chapter and during the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium to provide grants to local government for security or sanitation services related to homeless encampments and populations.

(2) The department must distinguish allotments from the account made to carry out the activities in RCW 43.330.167, 43.330.700 through 43.330.715, 43.330.911, 43.185C.010, 43.185C.250 through 43.185C.320, and 36.22.179(1)(b).

(3) The office of financial management must secure an independent expenditure review of state funds received under RCW 36.22.179(1)(b) on a biennial basis. The purpose of the review is to assess the consistency in achieving policy priorities within the private market rental housing segment for housing persons experiencing homelessness. The independent reviewer must notify the department and the office of financial management of its findings. The first biennial expenditure review, for the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium, is due February 1, 2020. Independent reviews conducted thereafter are due February 1st of each even-numbered year.

Sec. 927. RCW 43.185C.090 and 2005 c 484 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall allocate grant moneys from the *homeless housing account to finance in whole or in part programs and projects in approved local homeless housing plans to assist homeless individuals and families gain access to adequate housing, prevent at-risk individuals from becoming homeless, address the root causes of homelessness, track and report on homeless-related data, provide grants to local government for security or sanitation services related to homeless encampments and populations during the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium, and facilitate the movement of homeless or formerly homeless individuals along the housing continuum toward more stable and independent housing. The department may issue criteria or guidelines to guide local governments in the application process."

SSB 6168 S AMD

By Senator Braun

On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "28B.145.050", insert "43.185C.050, 43.185C.060, 43.185C.090,"

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