Committee adopts substitute for homelessness bill focused on structured residence halls; clarifies enforcement and finance referral

The Senate Health Committee adopted a committee substitute to Senate Bill 873 and reported it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, with the bill first to be referred to the Committee on Finance under the original double reference.

Counsel described the bill’s purpose as addressing homelessness and said the original language required law enforcement to enforce existing statutes related to loitering and vagrancy, initiating evaluations for mental health and substance use if an individual had been cited multiple times. Counsel said the bill as introduced directed the Department of Health to develop treatment plans if a person was found to have a mental health or substance use disorder and directed the Department of Human Services to make efforts to repurpose vacant buildings into structured residence halls offering temporary housing and vocational supports.

During discussion Senators asked whether the bill supplanted existing local programs; counsel said it did not supplant existing law or local agreements. Senator (Marion) expressed concern that early sections were broad, potentially confusing law-enforcement practice, and offered an amendment to strike subsection B (lines 6–13 on page 1) to focus the bill on structured residence halls. The committee adopted that amendment by voice vote; the chair stated the ayes have it. After adopting the committee substitute the vice chair moved to report the substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass, with referral to Finance for fiscal consideration; the motion was adopted by voice vote.

Counsel said there is no fiscal note on file and the Department of Human Services would be the affected agency; the substitute carries a second reference to Finance and counsel noted that Finance will need an impact statement if the committee places the bill on its agenda.