GA SR659

Creates the Senate Study Committee on Unsheltered Homelessness, composed of 5 Senate members appointed by the President of the Senate, the commissioner of community affairs (or designee), the commissioner of behavioral health and developmental disabilities (or designee), and up to 2 additional citizen members with relevant expertise

Directs the committee to study the increase in unsheltered homelessness in Georgia and Atlanta, assess evidence on the effectiveness of different policies in reducing street homelessness, and consider the prevalence of mental illness and substance use disorders among the unsheltered homeless population

Requires the committee to solicit input from neighborhood groups, police, homeless nonprofits, affected businesses, drug rehabilitation and mental health organizations, and municipal leaders

Charges the committee with developing specific recommendations on enforcement of public camping and sleeping bans, new types of state and local contracts with homeless nonprofit organizations, and the need for new state laws addressing homelessness

Committee members may receive allowances and expense reimbursements for up to 5 days, funded through Senate appropriations, and the committee stands abolished on December 1, 2022