Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) Persons experiencing homelessness shall be treated with dignity, care, and compassion.
(2) Local jurisdictions and providers must engage persons experiencing homelessness with teams of multidisciplinary experts focused on trauma-informed care and provision of services with the goal of transitioning persons experiencing homelessness into permanent housing solutions. Nothing in this section allows state or local governments to impose penalties for sitting, sleeping, or lying outside on public property for homeless individuals who are unable to obtain shelter. Every effort must be made to avoid furthering existing trauma to persons experiencing homelessness by causing displacement that does not result in a transition to permanent housing.
(3) All memoranda of agreement between state agencies and local government must be consistent with this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter
43.20A RCW to read as follows:
(1) The office of intergovernmental coordination on public right-of-way homeless encampments is created within the department. For purposes of this section, "public rights-of-way" means any right-of-way under the authority and control of the state department of transportation.
(2) Activities of the office must be carried out by a director and supervised by the secretary of the department or his or her designee.
(3) The office must lead efforts under this section to coordinate the spectrum of ongoing and future funding, policy, and practice efforts related to persons encamped on the rights-of-way to identify more permanent housing solutions and appropriate services in a manner that treats persons with respect, compassion, and dignity, through coordinated state, local, and community partnerships. Recognizing and accommodating partners, families, and pets is a critical component of shelter and housing solutions. Shelter or housing plans should be complete before engaging persons encamped on the public rights-of-way.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter
43.131 RCW to read as follows:
The office of intergovernmental coordination on public right-of-way homeless encampments is terminated July 1, 2027, as provided in section 4 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter
43.131 RCW to read as follows:
The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective July 1, 2028:
(1) Section 1 of this act; and
(2) Section 2 of this act."
(2) Requires the Office of Intergovernmental Coordination on Public Right-of-Way Homeless Encampments (office) to identify more permanent housing solutions and appropriate services in a manner that treats encamped persons with respect, compassion, and dignity, through coordinated state, local, and community partnerships.
(3) Removes language related to reducing the number of persons encamped on public rights-of-way, closing encampments, and allowing engagement with encamped persons while housing plans are being completed under certain circumstances.
(4) Eliminates all provisions requiring the office to establish regional coordination teams, regional outreach teams, and a data analysis team.
(5) Removes all provisions directing the Department of Commerce to work with the new office and administer grants to local governments or nonprofit organizations to meet the needs of persons encamped on state public rights-of-way and facilitate their transition to permanent housing.