Committee advances bill to prioritize housing help for child-welfare families

The Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee on Friday voted to report substitute House Bill 1177 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, 8-3.

The bill, which concerns the Child Welfare Housing Assistance Program and how the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) refers families to housing assistance, was amended in committee by Wickham 667. The amendment removed a provision that would have required the department to increase the number of households served by 200 in the upcoming biennium and instead requires the program to prioritize families on its waiting list and makes that prioritization subject to appropriation.

The amendment’s sponsor, Representative Ortiz Self, described the change as a budgetary flexibility measure while retaining the bill’s central aim. Representative Ortiz Self said, “This amendment gives flexibility for the fiscal note. As we know, it's a tight budget year, still emphasizing the priority of the wait list and the crux of the bill, but giving the flexibility for fiscal. It also clarifies that the department doesn't have to refer every single person to this program, that it is one of the options that they have.”

Representative Dent and two other members voiced opposition in committee, with Dent saying he had concerns raised by constituents and would vote no for now. After roll-call, the clerk announced an 8 yes, 3 no tally; Representatives Burnett, Dent and Penner voted no.

The committee’s action incorporates the adopted Wickham 667 amendment into the substitute bill and forwards the measure with a due-pass recommendation. No appropriation was attached in committee; the amendment makes the expansion contingent on appropriation rather than automatic.

The bill now moves to the next stage of the legislative process for further consideration by the full chamber.