AB604: Bill Text

LRB-4712/1

MPG:cjs&emw

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 604

October 8, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Dallman, Duchow and Plumer, cosponsored by Senators Bernier and Roth. Referred to Committee on Housing and Real Estate.

AB604,1,5 An Act to amend 20.505 (7) (b), 20.505 (7) (fm), 20.505 (7) (ft), 20.505 (7) (h) and 20.505 (7) (kg); and to create 16.3087, 16.311 and 943.135 of the statutes; relating to: pay for performance grant requirements, housing navigator grants, use of public lands to provide temporary residence for the homeless, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Pay for performance grant requirements

Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a number of grant programs having the purpose of alleviating homelessness. This bill establishes “pay for performance” requirements for certain grants issued under those programs, which the bill terms “eligible grants.” For each eligible grant, DOA must withhold between 10 and 50 percent of the amount of the eligible grant for at least six months after the award. DOA may then pay the amount withheld to the grant recipient only if the grant recipient demonstrates that it has met one or more of the following performance objectives:

1. Increase the number of homeless individuals and families securing permanent housing.

2. Increase the number of homeless individuals securing part-time or full-time employment.

3. Reduce the number of homeless individuals and families returning to homelessness after participation in programs offered by the grant recipient.

Structured camping facilities

This bill authorizes DOA to designate any public property for use as a “structured camping facility,” at which DOA may assign a homeless individual or family a specific location for the purpose of allowing the individual or family to set up temporary residence at the facility. DOA may allow homeless individuals and families assigned to a structured camping facility to bring camping equipment and other personal items onto the facility. Additionally, DOA must provide for public safety at structured camping facilities and must ensure that potable water and adequate sanitary facilities are available at each facility.

The bill prohibits the setting up of a temporary residence on public property that is not designated for recreational camping or as a structured camping facility under the bill. A person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and may be subject to a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both.

Finally, under the bill, DOA may condition a homeless individual's or family's temporary residence at a structured camping facility on the completion of mental health or substance use evaluations, and DOA may expel individuals who fail to comply with department instructions.

Housing navigator grants

This bill requires DOA to provide grants to continuum of care organizations for hiring housing navigators to engage in activities that include the following:

1. Acting as a liaison with landlords, rental property managers, and homeless assistance programs.

2. Recruiting new landlords.

3. Identifying affordable housing for program participants.

4. Mediating landlord-tenant issues.

Of the funds accepted by the governor under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the bill requires the governor to allocate $300,000 in each fiscal year of the 2021-23 fiscal biennium for the housing navigator grants.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB604,1 Section 1. 16.3087 of the statutes is created to read:

AB604,2,3 16.3087 Pay for performance grant requirements. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB604,3,2 (a) “Eligible grant” means a grant awarded under s. 16.306 (2), 16.307, 16.308 (2) (a), or 16.3085 (2).

AB604,3,3 (b) “Grant recipient” means all of the following:

AB604,3,5 1. An organization specified in s. 16.306 (1) (d) or (e) that receives a grant under s. 16.306 (2).

AB604,3,6 2. An organization that receives a grant under s. 16.307.

AB604,3,8 3. An organization specified in s. 16.308 (1) (b) 4. or 7. that receives a grant under s. 16.308 (2) (a).

AB604,3,9 4. A shelter facility that receives a grant under 16.3085 (2).

AB604,3,12 (2) Performance payments. (a) For each eligible grant the department awards to a grant recipient, the department shall withhold between 10 and 50 percent of the amount of the eligible grant for at least 6 months after the award, subject to par. (b).

AB604,3,15 (b) The department may pay the amount of an eligible grant withheld under par. (a) only if the grant recipient demonstrates that it has met one or more of the following performance objectives, as determined by the department:

AB604,3,17 1. Increase the number of homeless individuals and families securing permanent housing.

AB604,3,19 2. Increase the number of homeless individuals securing part-time or full-time employment.

AB604,3,21 3. Reduce the number of homeless individuals and families returning to homelessness after participation in programs offered by the grant recipient.

AB604,3,25 (c) For purposes of par. (b) and to the extent permitted under federal law, the department shall give priority to grant recipients awarded grants under ss. 16.306 (2) and 16.3085 (2) who have made demonstrable commitments to improving outcomes in connection with the performance objectives specified in par. (b).

AB604,2 Section 2. 16.311 of the statutes is created to read:

AB604,4,2 16.311 Structured camping facilities. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB604,4,4 (a) “Public property” means any real property that is owned, leased, or occupied by a state agency or a city, village, town, or county.

AB604,4,8 (b) “State agency” means an association, authority, board, department, commission, independent agency, institution, office, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, except the legislature and the courts.

AB604,4,10 (c) “Structured camping facility” means public property that the department designates under sub. (2) for use under this section.

AB604,4,15 (2) Designation of structured camping facilities. The department may designate any public property for use as a structured camping facility. If the department makes a designation under this subsection, the department shall provide for public safety at the structured camping facility and ensure that potable water and adequate sanitary facilities are available at the facility.

AB604,4,21 (3) Use of structured camping facilities. (a) The department may assign to a homeless individual or family a specific location at a structured camping facility for the purpose of allowing the individual or family to set up temporary residence at the facility. The department may allow homeless individuals and families assigned to a structured camping facility to bring camping equipment and other personal items onto the facility.

AB604,4,25 (b) The department may condition temporary residence at a structured camping facility under par. (a) on the completion of mental health or substance use evaluations, as prescribed by the department, and may expel individuals who fail to comply with department instructions.