Committee approves audit of homelessness spending, data collection bill

House Bill 24-35 would require the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission to collect specified data and would direct the Auditor General to carry out a special audit of public spending on programs and services for people experiencing homelessness.

Representative Matt Gress framed the bill as a step to produce a baseline and outcome measures for homelessness spending. He cited research from the Common Sense Institute showing an estimated $1 billion in public spending in calendar year 2023 and noted limited statewide outcome tracking; the bill would make spending and outcomes more transparent.

Witnesses included Paul Webster (Cicero Institute/LA Alliance for Human Rights), who described auditing results from Los Angeles that found weak management, contract and oversight practices despite large spending levels. Supporters argued that more detailed, centralized data and audits would help determine program effectiveness, identify gaps (for example, low spending on substance-use treatment identified in a cited analysis) and guide better policy choices.

Committee members questioned whether the bill would impose new reporting burdens, and whether specified performance measures should be tied to benchmarks. Representative Marquez noted veterans among those affected and emphasized the importance of data to target help.

Ending: The committee returned HB 24-35 with a due-pass recommendation. The bill passed despite one or more dissenting votes; the sponsor and witnesses said the audit would inform future appropriations and program design.