HB 1440 Summary

• Establishes a homelessness fund administered by the Department of Human Services to receive revenues from homeless facilities and a percentage of conveyance taxes collected annually.

• Increases conveyance (transfer) tax rates by 5 cents per $100 on all real property sales, with higher increases for non-homeowner purchases, directing additional revenues to homeless programs and affordable housing projects.

• Creates community shelter commissions in each county composed of state, county, clergy, real estate, social services, and business representatives with exclusive authority to select public property for homeless facilities for five years.

• Establishes a civil rights board with nine members having backgrounds in homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, or related fields to address homeless individuals' rights and coordinate with law enforcement for emergency interventions.

• Creates a state-funded subsidized public service employment program and employer subsidy/loan programs to hire unemployed persons including homeless individuals, and requires a homeless summit and survey of vacant state-owned housing for affordable rental use.