HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - STATE LEGISLATION: SB 333 (2)Agenda Item: 7
DATE: May 28, 2019
SUBJECT: STATE LEGISLATION: SENATE BILL 333
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
PRESENTER: Masis Hagobian
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt the City Council Legislative Committee recommendation to support Senate
Bill 333 (Wilk) and transmit position statements to Senator Wilk, Santa Clarita's state legislative
delegation, appropriate legislative committees, Governor Newsom, and the League of California
Cities.
BACKGROUND
In 2016, Senate Bill 1380, Chapter 847, Statutes of 2016, established a statewide Homelessness
Coordinating and Financing Council (Homelessness Council) to facilitate a statewide approach
to the growing homelessness crisis. The Homelessness Council did not receive any dedicated
funding, staff, or any tasks to complete any of its stated mission.
In 2018 the California State Auditor, at the request of Senator Wilk and Assembly Member
Lackey, conducted an audit of the state's approach to homelessness and in the report, the
Auditor, outlined a number of deficiencies.
Among the Auditor's recommendations was for the Legislature to require the Homelessness
Council "to develop and implement a statewide strategic plan for addressing homelessness in
California, including goals and objectives and timelines for achieving them, and metrics for
measuring their achievements. Included among the goals and objectives should be the
identification of additional funding sources that state and local agencies can use to better address
California's homelessness issues." Senate Bill 333 fully implements this recommendation.
Additionally, the Auditor recommended that the Legislature should require the Homelessness
Council to implement steps to assist the Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Continuum
of Care lead agencies in better implementing HUD -recommended activities, including
conducting annual counts of the unsheltered homeless population, raising nonfederal funding,
and coordinating with other agencies. Senate Bill 333 also fully implements this
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recommendation.
The Santa Clarita City Council supported an identical bill, Senate Bill 792 (Wilk), based on the
recommendation of the City Council's Legislative Committee during the 2018 Legislative Year
The City of Santa Clarita 2019 Legislative Platform includes a component consistent with this
bill. Component 12 under the "State" section of the Legislative Platform advises that the City
Council, "Support legislation, regulatory or administrative efforts that provide additional
authority or funding for municipalities to address homeless issues within their communities."
Senate Bill 333 was introduced on February 19, 2019, and unanimously passed the Senate
Committee on Human Services (6-0) on March 25, 2019, and the Senate Committee on Housing
(11-0) on April 2, 2019. This bill passed the Senate Committee on Appropriations (6-0-0) on
May 16, 2019, and ordered to second reading.
The City Council Legislative Committee met on May 6, 2019, and recommends that the City
Council adopt a "support" position on Senate Bill 333.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Adopt a "neutral" position on Senate Bill 333
2. Adopt an "oppose" position on Senate Bill 333
3. Take no action on Senate Bill 333
4. Refer Senate Bill 333 back to the Legislative Committee
5. Other action, as determined by the City Council
FISCAL IMPACT
The resources required to implement the recommended action are contained within the City of
Santa Clarita's adopted Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget.
ATTACHMENTS
Senate Bill 333 Bill Text
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AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 26, 2019
SENATE BILL
No. 333
Introduced by Senator Wilk
(Coauthors: Senators Bates, Chang, Glazer, and Wiener)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Diep, Flora, Gallagher, Lackey, Mathis,
Rodriguez, and Voepel)
February 19, 2019
An act to add Section 8258.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to homelessness.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 333, as amended, Wilk. Homeless Coordinating and Financing
Council.
Existing law establishes various programs, including, among others,
the Emergency Housing and Assistance Program, to provide assistance
to homeless persons. Existing law requires a state agency or department
that funds, implements, or administers a state program that provides
housing or housing -related services to people experiencing homelessness
or at risk of homelessness, except as specified, to revise or adopt
guidelines and regulations to include enumerated Housing First policies.
Existing law establishes the Homeless Coordinating and Financing
Council to oversee the implementation of the Housing First guidelines
and regulations and, among other things, to identify resources, benefits,
and services that can be accessed to prevent and end homelessness in
California.
This bill would require the Homeless Coordinating and Financing
Council, by July 1, 2021, to develop and implement a statewide strategic
plan for addressing homelessness in the state, as specified. The bill
would require the council, by January 1, 2021, to implement strategic
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SB 333 — —
plans to assist federal Housing and Urban Development Continuum of
Care lead agencies in better implementing Housing and Urban
Development recommended activities and meeting Housing and Urban
Development requirements.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State -mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 8258.5 is added to the Welfare and
2 Institutions Code, to read:
3 8258.5. In addition to the other duties described in this chapter,
4 the coordinating council shall do all of the following:
5 (a) By July 1, 2021, develop and implement a statewide strategic
6 plan for addressing homelessness in the state. This plan shall
7 include goals and objectives and timelines for achieving them, and
8 metrics for measuring their achievements. Included among the
9 goals and objectives shall be the identification of additional funding
10 sources that state and local agencies can use to better address
11 homelessness issues in the state.
12 (b) By January 1, 2021, implement strategic plans to assist HUD
13 Continuum of Care lead agencies to do either or both of the
14 following:
15 (1) Better implement federal Housing and Urban Development
16 recommended activities, including conducting annual counts of
17 the unsheltered homeless population, raising nonfederal funding,
18 and coordinating with other agencies.
19 (2) Better meet federal Housing and Urban Development
20 requirements, including implementation of the Homeless
21 Management Information System (HMIS) and entry systems. The
22 state hom3 coordinating council shall include among its
23 considerations the establishment of a balance of state Continuum
24 of Care areas to help alleviate the administrative burdens imposed
25 on Continuum of Care lead agencies, especially in rural areas.
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