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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
appropriation; homeless veterans; shelter services
Purpose
Appropriates $300,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FYs 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 to the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS) to distribute grants to eligible emergency shelters that provide aid to homeless veterans and prescribes related reporting requirements.
Background
ADVS's duties include: 1) assisting veterans, family members of veterans and dependents of veterans in presenting, providing and establishing claims, privileges, rights and benefits provided under federal, state or local law; 2) cooperating with all government and private agencies receiving services for or benefits to veterans, family members of veterans and dependents of veterans; 3) entering into agreements with veterans' organizations in Arizona that hold a charter granted by the U.S. Congress for the beneficial interest of veterans; 4) evaluating programs offered by educational institutions and training establishments pursuant to federal and state law, so that veterans and dependents of veterans may draw the educational allowance provided by federal law while pursuing approved programs; and 5) establishing an application process for the Arizona Gold Star Military Medal, verifying the eligibility of recipients and, if funding is available, awarding the Medal to an eligible individual (A.R.S. § 41-603).
H.B. 2620 appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FYs 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 to ADVS.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FYs 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 to ADVS to distribute as grants to emergency shelters.
2. Requires grant monies be distributed to emergency shelters that do not require a pre-scheduled intake appointment and that provide:
a) low-barrier, single adult, emergency shelter;
b) 100 or more beds; and
c) aid for homeless veterans in Arizona.
3. Directs each organization that is a grant recipient to:
a) inquire with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs if additional federal services are available for a veteran; and
b) provide that information to ADVS.
4.
Requires ADVS to submit, by June 30, 2026, and each year thereafter, a
report to the Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Chairperson and
Vice-chairperson of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) containing the
following information for each organization that is a grant recipient:
a) all expenditures of granted monies to aid homeless veterans in Arizona;
b) the metrics used to analyze the success of those expenditures; and
c) the military discharge status of each veteran served by the organization.
5.
Requires ADVS to submit, by June 30, 2031, a final report to the
Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
the Chairperson and
Vice-chairperson of JLAC that contains:
a) activities funded by the appropriation and associated expenditures by each grant recipient organization;
b) outcomes of all expenditures from the appropriation;
c) the total number of persons aggregated by military discharge status who were served by a grant funded by the appropriation by each grant recipient organization; and
d) any recommendations by each grant recipient organization.
6. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
7. Repeals the appropriation and all related requirements on January 1, 2032.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
FMAE 2/12/26 W/D
GOV 2/18/26 DPA 7-0-0-0
APPROP 2/23/26 DPA 17-0-0-1
3rd Read 3/10/26 51-4-4-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 18, 2026
KJA/ci