AN ACT Relating to the homeless; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the homeless population in the state is increasing; that homelessness has become a state-wide problem affecting citizens living in urban and rural communities; that a growing segment of the homeless population is homeless due to job loss and economic, social and other reasons; that existing federal, state, and local programs and activities should be provided in a coordinated manner.

The legislature further finds that coordination would enhance the provision of employment services to homeless persons; that job training and placement programs are needed to assist homeless persons who are employable; and that by providing transitional housing and job skills training in a coordinated manner this segment of the homeless population could become self-sustaining members of society. The legislature declares that it is state policy to encourage employment and self-sufficiency among the homeless.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Department" means the department of community development.

(2) "Director" means the director of community development.

(3) "Task force" means the governor's task force on homelessness.

(4) "Nonprofit organization" means a public housing authority created under RCW 35.82.030 or a not-for-profit corporation as defined in RCW 24.03.005.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The governor's task force on homelessness is hereby created to consist of twenty members as follows:

(a) Two members of each house of the legislature, one from each of the respective caucuses to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate.

(b) The director of community development, the secretary of social and health services, the director of employment security, the director of veterans affairs, the director of general administration, the executive director of the state board for community colleges, the director of the office of financial management, and the superintendent of public instruction, or their designees; and

(c) Eight representatives appointed by the governor from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors with experience in providing employment services, and shelter, transitional housing, and support services for the homeless.

(2) The governor shall, within thirty days of the effective date of this section, appoint members of the task force under subsection (1) (b) and (c) of this section. In making appointments, the governor shall consider obtaining a geographic distribution and balance throughout the state. The first meeting of the task force shall occur within forty-five days of the effective date of this section.

(3) The director of community development shall serve as chair of the task force.

(4) The department shall provide the necessary administrative and clerical assistance to the task force for the purposes of carrying out its powers and duties.

(5) Members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 44.04.120.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The task force, working with the department, shall conduct a review of federal, state, and local employment and housing services for homeless individuals. The department in consultation with the department of employment security and other appropriate state agencies shall assist the task force to:

(1) Review existing federal, state, and local activities and programs to assist homeless individuals;

(2) Recommend a coordinated approach for self-sufficiency services to assist homeless individuals to become employable;

(3) Review available information on the extent of and the reasons for homelessness within the state and identify methods to estimate unduplicated caseload levels; and

(4) Identify funding sources and programs of federal, state, and local agencies to assist homeless individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of our society.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The department, based on information from the review required in section 4 of this act and in consultation with the task force, shall produce a report by December 1, 1988, for the governor and appropriate legislative committees on the extent and nature of homelessness in Washington state which shall include:

(1) Advice on critical issues relating to the homeless;

(2) The extent and estimates of caseloads;

(3) Characteristics and reasons for homelessness;

(4) Recommendations for specific actions to address housing problems;

(5) Recommendations for proposals to encourage self-sufficiency and employment;

(6) Recommendations for an ongoing reporting system to provide unduplicated caseload estimates, reasons for the homelessness, and effectiveness of self-sufficiency programs;

(7) Recommendations for prioritization of state funds, and availability of, and coordination with, other fund sources; and

(8) Recommendations on any necessary action to reduce duplication of programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The task force on homelessness shall cease to exist on June 30, 1991, unless extended by law for an additional fixed period of time.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The department may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of this chapter and expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act may be known and cited as the homeless self-sufficiency act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The sum of fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of community development for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 1 through 8 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.