6246-S AMS FROC NOAH 116

SSB 6246 - S AMD 668

By Senators Frockt, Pedersen, Mullet, Rolfes, Liias

NOT ADOPTED 02/26/2016

On page 22, line 30, increase the General Fund- -State FY 2017 appropriation by $2,000,000 and adjust the total appropriation accordingly.

On page 31, after line 38, insert the following:

"(43) $2,000,000 of the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2017 is provided solely for the implementation and administration of a competitive grant program for stable housing for unaccompanied homeless youth from very low-income households, in consultation with the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The grant program shall link homeless students and their families with housing located in the student’s school district to provide educational stability for homeless students by promoting housing stability. A maximum of fifteen grants of up to five hundred thousand dollars to school districts partnered with eligible organizations, such as local government, local housing authority, regional support network established under chapter 71.24 RCW, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organization, federally recognized Indian tribe in the state of Washington, or regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organization, shall be awarded. Applications for the grant program must include contractual agreements between the housing providers and school districts defining the responsibilities and commitments of each party to identify, house, and support homeless students. Activities eligible for assistance under this grant program include but are not limited to:

(a) Rental assistance, which includes utilities, security and utility deposits, first and last month's rent, rental application fees, moving expenses, and other eligible expenses to be determined by the department;

(b) Transportation assistance, including gasoline assistance for families with vehicles and bus passes;

(d) Housing stability case management.

On page 166, line 9, increase the General Fund- -State FY 2017 appropriation by $2,000,000 and adjust the total appropriation accordingly.

On page 180, after line 32, insert the following:

"(47) $2,000,000 of the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2017 is provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the following:

(a)Create a competitive grant process to evaluate and award state-funded three-year grants to school districts to increase identification of homeless students and the capacity of the districts to provide support, which may include education liaisons, for homeless students;

(b) Provide grants to school districts based on the demonstrated need of the school district with consideration of the number or overall percentage, or both, of homeless children and youths enrolled in preschool, elementary, and secondary schools in the school district, and the ability of the local school district to meet these needs. Preference must be given to districts that demonstrate a commitment to serving the needs of unaccompanied youth. School districts must certify that grant funds allocated under this section must not supplant existing federal, state, or local resources for homeless student supports, which may include education liaisons; and

(c) Collect and report from the grantees how often each student physically moves during the school year, what services families or unaccompanied youth could access, and whether or not a family or unaccompanied youth received stable housing by the end of the school year. The information collected must be published on the office's website annually."

EFFECT:

1. Creates and implements a competitive grant program at the Dept. of Commerce for stable housing for unaccompanied homeless youth from very low-income households.

2. Creates and implements a competitive grant program at OSPI for three-year grants to school districts to increase homeless student identification and support.

FISCAL IMPACT: $4,000,000 GF-S FY 2017

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