HOUSE BILL NO. 1498

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules

on ________________)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate McClure)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 36 a chapter numbered 9.1, consisting of sections numbered 36-151.1 through 36-151.3, relating to Virginia Interagency Council on Homelessness established; meetings and reports.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 36 a chapter numbered 9.1, consisting of sections numbered 36-151.1 through 36-151.3, as follows:

CHAPTER 9.1.

VIRGINIA INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS.

§ 36-151.1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Continuum of Care" means a local or regional planning group recognized by the Department that plans, coordinates, and oversees housing, services, and funding for individuals and families experiencing homelessness within a defined geographic area.

"Council" means the Virginia Interagency Council on Homelessness established in this chapter.

"Department" means the Department of Housing and Community Development.

§ 36-151.2. Virginia Interagency Council on Homelessness; purpose; membership; terms; compensation and expenses.

A. The Virginia Interagency Council on Homelessness is established as a policy council, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of government. The purpose of the Council shall be to (i) establish a coordinated, statewide framework to prevent and end homelessness; (ii) align state investments with evidence-based practices; and (iii) support local and regional homeless response systems.

B. The Council shall have no fewer than 25 members and no more than 35 members, including legislative members, nonlegislative members, and ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, of whom no fewer than four shall be representatives from Continuums of Care operating in the Commonwealth, including at least one representative from a local planning group within the Balance of State Continuum of Care, no fewer than three shall be representatives of Virginia-recognized Indian tribes, and no fewer than eight shall be individuals with lived experience of homelessness or housing instability who are serving or have served in leadership or advisory roles in the Commonwealth. The Director of Corrections, the Commissioner of Health, the Director of the Department, the Executive Director of the Virginia Housing Development Authority, the Commissioner of Social Services, the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services, and the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, or their designees, shall serve ex officio. The Governor may designate up to two additional members as necessary to support the work of the Council.

Nonlegislative citizen members of the Council shall be citizens of the Commonwealth appointed at large without regard to political affiliation but with consideration given to geographical representation. Legislative members and ex officio members of the Council shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office.

C. After the initial staggering of terms, nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term of four years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term. No person having served on the Council for two full consecutive terms shall be eligible for reappointment to the Council for two years thereafter. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.

D. The Council shall be chaired by a member appointed by the Governor. The Council shall elect a vice-chair from among its members and shall appoint other officers as it deems necessary and prescribe their duties. The Council may adopt bylaws to govern its operations.

E. Legislative members of the Council shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department.

§ 36-151.3. Meetings; quorum; reports; staffing.

A. The Council shall meet at least quarterly. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.

B. The Council shall develop and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a statewide plan to prevent and reduce homelessness by July 1, 2027.

C. Beginning July 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the Council shall submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly that includes (i) progress toward implementation of the statewide plan; (ii) measurable outcomes related to homelessness prevention and reduction; (iii) barriers to interagency coordination and recommendations for statutory or budgetary changes; and (iv) an accounting of state resources aligned with the statewide plan.

D. The Council shall submit to the Governor, General Assembly, and Department by October 1 of each year an electronic report regarding the activities and recommendations of the Council, which shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website and the Department's website.

E. The Governor shall designate a State Homelessness Coordinator within the Department of Housing and Community Development or such office as the Governor may determine. The State Homelessness Coordinator shall (i) coordinate the activities of the Council; (ii) facilitate alignment of state agency policies, regulations, and funding related to homelessness; (iii) oversee the development of the statewide plan to prevent and reduce homelessness; and (iv) serve as the primary point of accountability for reports required pursuant to this section.

F. The Department shall provide staff support to the Council. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Council upon request.