AgdaPkt 2020-06-08 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.H. - Page 2 of 16 ANALYSIS Background AB 2553 (Ting) According to the Author's Office "California is facing a devastating homelessness crisis exacerbated by a lack of shelter housing. With siting, planning, and building shelters taking years, business as usual is failing. This bill expands a 2017 pilot program allowing cities and counties to fight homelessness with regulatory flexibility to expedite the construction of shelters that can link people in need with services to achieve self-sufficiency." In 2017, the State legislature enacted AB 932 (Ting) authorizing seven cities and counties to participate in the emergency shelter pilot program to expand shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Until January 1, 2021, and upon the declaration of a shelter crisis, the bill enabled these communities to expand shelter housing for the homeless. In order for the agency included in the pilot program to exercise the protections afforded in AB 932, the agency had to adopt by ordinance reasonable local standards for housing habitability, zoning, and construction approval to streamline their ability to build temporary shelters. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) must also review and approve the ordinances to ensure the preservation of health and safety standards. AB 2553 expands the emergency shelter pilot program statewide to all local agencies and extends the sunset date until January 1, 2026. The bill enables communities across the state to expand shelter housing for the homeless. To do so, local jurisdictions must adopt by ordinance reasonable local standards for housing habitability, zoning, and construction approval to streamline their ability to build temporary shelters. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) must also review and approve the ordinances to ensure the preservation of health and safety standards. Each community operating under the bill must report annually to the Legislature, how this bill helped reduce the number of unsheltered homeless residents, the number who exited homelessness, and new actions taken to better serve the homeless. Bill Status: The Bill has been referred to the Committee on Appropriations as of May 26, 2020. Amendments to Provide Additional Clarity to Recreational Vehicle Safe Parking Programs: The City's legislative consultant has been in contact with Assemblymember Ting's office on the status of the bill. In these discussions, the issue was raised about the applicability of AB 2553 to safe parking programs for recreational vehicles (RV's). Under current law there is some ambiguity as to the potential legal exposure an agency may have for operating a 24/7 safe parking program on agency -owned property. As of May 20, 2020, the Author's Office has reviewed and accepted the proposed amendments that will clarify the intent of the measure's applicability to the use of RV's for safe parking sites. These amendments will be reflected after the bill moves out of committee. Page 2 of 8 City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 311