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Committee approves limited HMIS reporting requirement for unsheltered services in Fulton County
Summary
Majority Leader presented HB 13-96 to require certain organizations in Fulton County to use the Georgia Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) when providing unsheltered homeless services; sponsor said the system is already in place and the change aims to improve tracking for grants. The committee passed the bill on a voice vote; sponsor emphasized enforcement would be noncriminal (ordinance-type citations or warnings).
Majority Leader introduced House Bill 13-96 (LC 560608), describing a narrow requirement for specified organizations in Fulton County to use the Georgia Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to track services provided to unsheltered homeless individuals. The presenter said the state already operates HMIS and that the bill would require certain providers that have not been using HMIS to begin doing so in a limited area of the state.
On enforcement, Representative Williams asked what a citation under the bill would look like and whether fines or criminal penalties would attach. The presenter said the intent was to avoid criminal charges and envisioned ordinance-style, noncriminal citations or, more commonly, warnings directing providers to register activities in HMIS. He said the data is important for grant funding and to ensure governmental funds are used effectively.
Committee members also asked whether the measure would affect warming/cooling shelter services. The presenter said improved tracking could be beneficial for understanding shifts in the unsheltered population when warming stations open.
The chair entertained a motion that the bill 'do pass.' After a voice vote, the chair announced "Motion carries. The bill passes committee." The transcript records the outcome as a committee vote by voice; no roll-call tally was provided.
