Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Capital Budget Committee |
HB 2282
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Creating a grant program for converting unused public buildings to housing for homeless persons.
Sponsors: Representatives Walsh, Van Werven, Appleton, Gildon, Chambers, Griffey, Young, Eslick, Irwin, Corry, Dent and Mosbrucker.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/23/20
Staff: Kelci Karl-Robinson (786-7116).
Background:
The Department of Commerce administers a number of capital budget programs, including the Housing Trust Fund, which provides loans and grants to projects providing housing for households with special housing needs and with low incomes.
Summary of Bill:
The Public Building Conversion Grant Program (Program) is created in the Department of Commerce (Department) to encourage counties to rehabilitate, retrofit, or convert unused, publicly owned buildings into housing for homeless persons. The Department is responsible for developing, managing, and overseeing the application process. In order to be apply for the grants, counties must:
have a population of 100,000 or less; and
submit an inventory of unused public buildings to the Department by April 1, 2020 and update the inventory on a quarterly basis.
Except for when providing temporary, severe weather housing, counties are required to prohibit the illegal possession of controlled substances on the premises or grounds of any building converted to housing for homeless persons with the grant awards. The Department is responsible for protecting the state's interest upon the sale or change of use of projects financed through the Program or upon a county's failure to comply with the grant requirements. The Program expires December 31, 2021.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 22, 2020.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.