H.B. 2021 Summary

• Establishes a three-year pilot project requiring the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Health, to procure services from a designated provider to operate a shelter and provide mental health treatment for homeless individuals with severe mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders.

• Limits the shelter to serve no more than eight homeless individuals at any given time and requires individuals to provide identification documentation (social security card, driver's license, or civil identification card) to be eligible.

• Authorizes the Adult Protective and Community Services Branch or a licensed physician employed by the designated service provider to petition family court for court-ordered assisted community treatment or court-ordered guardianship, allowing placement in the shelter even over the individual's objection, with a goal of transitioning to group home placement within twelve weeks.

• Requires submission of an interim report by twenty days prior to the 2021 legislative session and a final report by twenty days prior to the 2022 legislative session, with pilot project data entered into the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Homeless Management Information System.

• Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2018-2019 to cover shelter operations, staff positions, facility lease, and administrative expenses; pilot project terminates June 30, 2021.