Proposed 2023 California Legislation Concerning Homelessness Continues to Evolve
Bills Introduced in January Reveal the Kind of Actions That
Legislators Want to Become Law During the 2023 Legislative
Session to Help Mitigate the Statewide Homelessness Crisis
Legislation introduced in January includes:
- AB 271 Homeless death review committees
- AB 86 Homelessness: lead entity
- AB 284 Department of Housing and Community Development: annual report: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program
- AB 295 Department of Transportation: maintenance projects
- SB 63 Homeless and Mental Health Court and Transitioning Home Grant
- SB 91 California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: supportive and transitional housing: motel conversion
The kind of actions that legislators introduced in January to become law during the 2023 legislative session to further help mitigate the statewide homelessness crisis include
- Authorizing counties to establish a homeless death review committee for the purposes of gathering information to identify the root causes of death of homeless individuals and to determine strategies to improve coordination of services.
- Establishing a single entity to serve as the lead for ending homelessness in California.
- Requiring an evaluation of the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program.
- Removing and clearing of material including removal of trash, debris, and other materials from previous homeless encampments.
- Establishing two new grant programs: the Homeless and Mental Health Court Grant Program and the Transitioning Home Grant Program.
- Extending indefinitely the above exemption from CEQA projects related to the conversion of a structure with a certificate of occupancy as a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing.
AB 271 Homeless death review committees
This bill would authorize counties to establish a homeless death review committee for the purposes of gathering information to identify the root causes of death of homeless individuals and to determine strategies to improve coordination of services for the homeless population. The bill would establish procedures for the sharing or disclosure of information by a homeless death review committee.
Information gathered by the homeless death review committee and any recommendations made by the committee shall be used by the county to develop education and prevention strategies that will lead to improved coordination of services for the homeless population.
Click here for introduced bill.
AB 86 Homelessness: lead entity
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a single entity to serve as the lead for ending homelessness, who would perform specified duties.
Improve governmental efficiencies and communications by coordinating homelessness programs, services, data, and policies between federal, state, and local agencies, as well as by requiring state agencies and departments to report to the lead entity.
Affect changes and provide recommendations to the Legislature on new state policies, programs, and actions, or amendments to existing programs, that seek to end homelessness.
Develop and implement a statewide strategic plan on homelessness that will establish measurable objectives and strategies to enhance state-level accountability, coordination, and best practices.
Click here for introduced bill.
AB 284 Department of Housing and Community Development: annual report: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program
This bill would additionally require that this report (annual report to the Governor and both houses of the Legislature) include an evaluation of the HHAP program.
An evaluation of the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program as administered by the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and the California Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Click here for introduced bill.
AB 295 Department of Transportation: maintenance projects
This bill would authorize the department to enter into agreements with local governmental entities, fire departments, fire protection districts, fire safe councils, and tribal entities to perform specified projects authorized by the department on roadways managed by the department, including activities related to roadside maintenance and the removal and clearing of material, as provided.
Removing trash, debris, and other materials from previous homeless encampments.
Click here for introduced bill.
SB 63 Homeless and Mental Health Court and Transitioning Home Grant
This bill would establish two new grant programs until January 1, 2028: the Homeless and Mental Health Court Grant Program that would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, be administered by the Judicial Council and provide grants to counties for the purpose of establishing or expanding homeless courts and mental health courts, as specified; and the Transitioning Home Grant Program that would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, be administered by the board and provide grants to county sheriffs and jail administrators to fund programs aimed at reducing homelessness among inmates released from custody, as specified.
The bill would require the board and council to prepare and submit reports to the Legislature, as specified, regarding the impacts of the grant program under their jurisdiction.
Click here for introduced bill.
SB 91 California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: supportive and transitional housing: motel conversion
Existing law, until January 1, 2025, exempts from CEQA projects related to the conversion of a structure with a certificate of occupancy as a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing, as defined, that meet certain conditions.
This bill would extend indefinitely the above exemption.
Because the bill would extend the duties of lead agencies to determine the applicability of the above exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Click here for introduced bill.
Legislation Introduced in December
California legislation concerning homelessness began to take shape when the Legislature reconvened last month on December 5th, which initiated the 2023 legislative session. Several bills that focused on homelessness were introduced on December 5th through the 8th, revealing the kind of legislative actions that legislators want to become law during the 2023 legislative session to further help mitigate the statewide homelessness crisis.
Click here to read an earlier report that notes and details the legislation concerning homelessness that was introduced in December.
Next Legislative Steps
The legislative process, during which bills are considered and enacted by the Legislature, includes submitting bill requests to the Office of Legislative Counsel by January 20th where bills are drafted into bill form and returned to the legislator for introduction. The last day for bills to be introduced is February 17th.
The legislative process also includes meetings of the legislative policy and appropriations/fiscal committees, three readings, and resolution of differences between the Assembly and Senate. If both houses approve a bill, it will go to the Governor for approval. The last day for each House to pass bills is September 14th.
Last Legislative Steps
The last day for House policy committees to meet and report bills is July 14th, which is also when the summer recess begins. When the Legislature reconvenes on August 14th, each House may pass bills until September 14th. The last day for the Governor to approve or not approve bills is October 14th.
Thus, 2023 legislation concerning homelessness will continue to take shape during most of 2023. More bills will be introduced that will reveal the kind of actions that Legislators want to become law during the 2023 legislative session to further help mitigate the statewide homelessness crisis.
As in the past, the Legislature and Governor will not approve all of the bills as they try to maximize policy and funding to increase results regarding homelessness prevention and ending unsheltered homelessness, which was the case during the 2022 legislative session.
Most approved bills will go into effect on the first day of January of the following year.