Representative Joel K. Briscoe proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
PROPERTY LOSS AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Joel K. Briscoe

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     Cosponsor:
Tyler Clancy

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill creates the Property Loss Related to Homelessness Compensation Fund.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     creates the Property Loss Related to Homelessness Compensation Fund;
15          ▸     describes acceptable uses of the Property Loss Related to Homelessness
16     Compensation Fund;
17          ▸     creates the Property Loss Related to Homelessness Advisory Committee; and
18          ▸     describes the duties of the Property Loss Related to Homelessness Advisory
19     Committee.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025:
22          ▸     to Department of Workforce Services - Office of Homeless Services as an ongoing
23     appropriation:
24               •     from the General Fund, $300,000

25     Other Special Clauses:
26          This bill provides a special effective date.
27     Utah Code Sections Affected:
28     ENACTS:
29          35A-16-801, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30          35A-16-802, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31     

32     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33          Section 1. Section 35A-16-801 is enacted to read:
34          35A-16-801. Property Loss Related to Homelessness Compensation Fund.
35          (1) As used in this section:
36          (a) "Homelessness services facility" includes:
37          (i) a homeless shelter, including an emergency shelter;
38          (ii) a homeless resource center;
39          (iii) a daytime resource center; and
40          (iv) transitional housing or permanent supportive housing.
41          (b) "Property loss" means:
42          (i) documented damage to or theft of personal property; or
43          (ii) documented cost of cleaning, sanitizing, repairing, or restoring real property.
44          (2) There is created an expendable special revenue fund known as the "Property Loss
45     Related to Homelessness Compensation Fund."
46          (3) The fund shall consist of:
47          (a) gifts, grants, donations, loan repayments, or any other conveyance of money that
48     may be made to the fund from private sources; and
49          (b) additional amounts as appropriated by the Legislature.
50          (4) The fund shall be administered by the coordinator.
51          (5) Fund money may be used to:
52          (a) compensate an individual who:
53          (i) lives within 1/6 of a mile from a homelessness services facility; and
54          (ii) experiences property loss as a direct result of the presence of the homelessness
55     services facility;

56          (b) compensate a business that:
57          (i) is located within 1/6 of a mile of a homelessness services facility or encampment;
58     and
59          (ii) experiences property loss as a direct result of the presence of the homelessness
60     services facility; or
61          (c) provide a no-interest loan to a business that:
62          (i) meets the requirements of Subsection (5)(b); and
63          (ii) enters into an agreement with the department to:
64          (A) use loaned funds only to repair or mitigate property loss as a direct result of the
65     presence of the homelessness services facility; and
66          (B) repay the loan within one year of the day on which the loan is made.
67          (6) Not less that 50% of the fund shall be used each fiscal year to directly assist
68     individuals and businesses who meet the qualifications described in Subsection (5).
69          (7) An individual who receives compensation from the fund shall:
70          (a) be a resident of Utah; and
71          (b) have a need that can be met within the requirements of this section.
72          (8) A business that receives compensation or a loan from the fund shall be in good
73     standing with the State Tax Commission and Department of Commerce.
74          (9) The fund may not duplicate any services or support mechanisms being provided to
75     an individual by any other government or private agency.
76          (10) All actual and necessary operating expenses for the Property Loss Related to
77     Homelessness Advisory Committee created in Section 35A-16-802 and staff shall be paid by
78     the fund.
79          Section 2. Section 35A-16-802 is enacted to read:
80          35A-16-802. Property Loss Related to Homelessness Advisory Committee.
81          (1) As used in this section:
82          (a) "Committee" means the Property Loss Related to Homelessness Advisory
83     Committee created in this section.
84          (b) "Homelessness services facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section
85     35A-16-801.
86          (c) "Property loss" means the same as that term is defined in Section 35A-16-801.

87          (2) On or after July 1 of each year, the coordinator may create the Property Loss
88     Related to Homelessness Advisory Committee of not more than nine members.
89          (3) The committee shall be composed of members of the community, including:
90          (a) persons who operate a business in proximity with a homelessness services facility;
91          (b) representatives of an association which advocates for people experiencing
92     homelessness;
93          (c) individuals with experience in quantifying and evaluating property loss; and
94          (d) office representatives.
95          (4) The office shall provide staff support to the committee.
96          (5) (a) If a vacancy occurs in the committee membership for any reason, a replacement
97     may be appointed for the unexpired term.
98          (b) The committee shall elect a chairperson from the membership.
99          (c) A majority of the committee constitutes a quorum at any meeting, and, if a quorum
100     exists, the action of the majority of members present shall be the action of the committee.
101          (d) The committee may adopt bylaws governing the committee's activities.
102          (e) A committee member may be removed by the coordinator:
103          (i) if the member is unable or unwilling to carry out the member's assigned
104     responsibilities; or
105          (ii) for good cause.
106          (6) The committee shall:
107          (a) recommend criteria for disbursements and loans from the Property Loss Related to
108     Homelessness Compensation Fund, including criteria for confirming the amount of property
109     loss and prioritizing disbursements in the event of limited funds, to the coordinator; and
110          (b) review disbursements and loans from the Property Loss Related to Homelessness
111     Compensation Fund.
112          (7) The committee shall comply with the procedures and requirements of:
113          (a) Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act; and
114          (b) Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.
115          (8) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but,
116     at the coordinator's discretion, may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
117          (a) Section 63A-3-106;

118          (b) Section 63A-3-107; and
119          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
120     63A-3-107.
121          (9) Beginning in 2025, the committee shall provide an annual written report
122     summarizing the activities of the committee to the coordinator by November 30.
123          (10) The committee shall cease to exist on December 31 of each year, unless the
124     coordinator determines it necessary to continue.
125          Section 3. FY 2025 Appropriation.
126          The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
127     2024, and ending June 30, 2025. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
128     fiscal year 2025.
129          Subsection 3(a). Expendable Funds and Accounts.
130          The Legislature has reviewed the following expendable funds. The Legislature
131     authorizes the State Division of Finance to transfer amounts between funds and accounts as
132     indicated. Outlays and expenditures from the funds or accounts to which the money is
133     transferred may be made without further legislative action, in accordance with statutory
134     provisions relating to the funds or accounts.
135     
ITEM 1
     To Department of Workforce Services - Office of Homeless Services
136      From General Fund$300,000
137      Schedule of Programs:
138      Property Loss Related to Homelessness
Compensation Fund
$300,000

139          Section 4. Effective date.
140          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.