Senate Engrossed

 

technical correction; industrial development; insurance

(now:  housing; grants; homelessness; camping; appropriation)

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2022

 

 

 

SENATE BILL 1581

 

 

 

An Act

 

amending title 41, chapter 37, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-3956; appropriating monies; relating to homelessness.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 41, chapter 37, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-3956, to read:

START_STATUTE41-3956. Arizona department of housing; grant programs for sanctioned camping sites and multidisciplinary homeless outreach teams; immunity

A. The department may disburse grants to a municipality or county or to a consortium of municipalities and counties to establish sanctioned CAMPING sites for homeless INDIVIDUALS. To be eligible to receive a grant, a municipality or county and the sanctioned camping sites must comply with all of the following requirements:

1. provide sanitary facilities, potable water and on-site security and implement a progressive engagement case management model.

2. be integrated into the local coordinated entry system for homeless services.

3. set low barriers to entry for INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING homelessness.

4. allow Homeless individuals to camp and store personal property in areas designated by the operator of the sanctioned camping site.

5. establish rules for the safety of the residents.  An individual who violates a rule may be removed from the sanctioned camping site.

B. The department shall:

1. establish the program, including site considerations and other operating policies.

2. prioritize safe camping sites, but may also fund indoor encampment structures, tiny homes or similar low-cost structures that can be assembled quickly.

C. Any grant that is disbursed to a municipality or county pursuant to subsection A of this section may not be continued if the municipality or county refuses to enforce ordinances in place that prohibit sleeping and camping in public places that are not designated as sanctioned camping sites.

D. THE DEPARTMENT may disburse GRANTS TO a municipality, county or nonprofit organization TO establish or support MULTIDISCIPLINARY homeless outreach teams. A MULTIDISCIPLINARY homeless outreach team shall:

1. Be composed of at least one from each of the following subdivisions:

(a) Peer providers, law enforcement officers or mental health providers.

(b) Social service providers, contracted off-duty law enforcement officers or contracted security officers.

2. Work to move individuals who are camping and sleeping in public or private places not fit for human habitation into homeless services, housing, shelters or sanctioned camping sites.

E. The municipality or county, or the designated operator of the sanctioned camping site, is not liable in any civil action THAT arises out of the operation of the sanctioned camping site unless the claim involves intentional or grossly negligent conduct. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Appropriation; Arizona department of housing; exemption

A. The sum of $50,000,000 is appropriated from the monies allocated to this state from the American rescue plan act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) in fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Arizona department of housing. The Arizona department of housing shall allocate the monies as follows:

1. $30,000,000 to municipalities or counties or to a consortium of municipalities and counties to establish sanctioned camping sites for homeless individuals pursuant to section 41-3956, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.

2. $20,000,000 to municipalities, counties or nonprofit organizations to establish or support multidisciplinary homeless outreach teams pursuant to section 41-3956, subsection D, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.