CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 1083

Introduced by Senator Nguyen

February 12, 2024

An act to add and repeal Division 27 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to homelessness.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1083, as introduced, Nguyen. Department of Homelessness Prevention, Outreach, and Support.
Existing law establishes various programs to provide assistance to homeless persons, including, among others, the Emergency Housing and Assistance Program and homeless youth emergency service pilot projects. Existing law also establishes the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to oversee the implementation of Housing First guidelines and regulations, and, among other things, identify resources, benefits, and services that can be accessed to prevent and end homelessness in California.
This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to convene a working group that includes representatives from all departments and agencies that currently receive funding relating to services for homeless individuals. The bill would require the working group to determine the best approach to creating a Department of Homelessness Prevention, Outreach, and Support and to submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2028. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2028.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) The Department of Homelessness Prevention, Outreach, and Support will create a simplified funding stream for providers in order to more easily provide services to homeless individuals who need them most.
(2) Current funding for services for homeless individuals is split across several state departments and state agencies. This single point of contact will simplify the way services are provided to those experiencing homelessness.
(3) By consolidating and streamlining the overhead costs, regulations, funding, applications, and bureaucracy of providing services for homeless individuals and services to prevent homelessness at the state level, providers will be able to better serve California’s homeless population.
(b) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to eliminate duplicative and contradictory regulations, streamline the flow of funding, and improve tangible outcomes for homeless individuals. It is further the intent of the Legislature to establish the Department of Homelessness Prevention, Outreach, and Support after the working group established pursuant to this act submits its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

SEC. 2.

 Division 27 (commencing with Section 26000) is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

DIVISION 27. Department of Homelessness Prevention, Outreach, and Support

26000.
 (a) The California Health and Human Services Agency shall convene a working group that will determine the best approach to creating a Department of Homelessness Prevention, Outreach, and Support. The working group shall include representatives from all departments and agencies that currently receive funding relating to services for homeless individuals.
(b) In developing the best approach pursuant to subdivision (a), the working group shall consider both of the following:
(1) That the purpose of creating the Department of Homelessness Prevention, Outreach, and Support is to consolidate all state funding for services for homeless individuals and services to prevent homelessness in one new department.
(2) The intent of the Legislature that the Department of Homelessness Prevention, Outreach, and Support be within the California Health and Human Services Agency.
(c) (1) The working group shall submit their findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2028.
(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

26001.
 This division shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.