2013 -- S 0498

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- SUPPORT OF THE HOMELESS

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, P Fogarty, Kettle, Bates, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 40-17-2 and 40-17-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-17

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entitled "Support of Homeless" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     40-17-2. Agency established. -- (a) There is hereby created a permanent council to be

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called the "Interagency Council on Homelessness" consisting of seventeen (17) nineteen (19)

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members and one two (2) ex-officio member members:

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      (1) One of whom shall be the chief of the office of housing and community

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development, or his or her designee, who shall chair the Interagency Council on Homelessness;

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      (2) One of whom shall be the director of the department of administration, or his or her

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designee;

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      (3) One of whom shall be the chair of the housing resources commission, or his or her

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designee;

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      (4) One of whom shall be the director of the department of human services, or his or her

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designee;

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      (5) One of whom shall be the director of the department of health, or his or her designee;

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      (6) One of whom shall be the director of the department of children, youth, and families,

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or his or her designee;

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      (7) One of whom shall be the director of elderly affairs, or his or her designee;

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      (8) One of whom shall be the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental

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disabilities and hospitals, or his or her designee;

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      (9) One of whom shall be director of the department of labor and training, or his or her

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designee;

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      (10) One of whom shall be the director of the department of corrections, or his or her

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designee;

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      (11) One of whom shall be the commissioner of the department of elementary or

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secondary education, or his or her designee;

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      (12) One of whom shall be the director of the Rhode Island housing and mortgage

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finance corporation, or his or her designee;

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      (13) One of whom shall be the director of emergency management agency, or his or her

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designee;

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      (14) One of whom shall be a representative from the Rhode Island division/department

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of veterans' affairs or his or her designee;

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      (15) One of whom shall be the public defender, or his or her designee;

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      (16) One of whom shall be the Medicaid director within the department of human

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services, or his or her designee; and

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      (17) One of whom shall be the secretary of the executive office of health and human

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services, or his or her designee; and

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     (18) One of whom shall be the executive director of the economic development

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corporation, or his or her designee;

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     (19) One of whom shall be the Lieutenant Governor, or his or her designee;

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     (20) One of whom shall be an exofficio member who shall be from the Providence

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Veterans Administration Medical Center who specializes in health care for homeless veterans;

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and

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      (18)(21) One of whom shall be an ex-officio member who shall be the chair, or his or her

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designee, of the Interagency Council on Homelessness Advisory Council as described in this

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chapter herein.

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      (b) Forthwith upon the effective date of this chapter, the members of the commission

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shall meet at the call of the chair and organize. Vacancies in the commission shall be filled in like

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manner as the original appointment.

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      (c) The department of administration is hereby directed to provide suitable quarters and

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staff for the commission.

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      (d) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary, and otherwise to the commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable

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by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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     40-17-5. Advisory council established. -- (a) There is hereby created a permanent

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advisory council to the Interagency Council on Homelessness containing equal representation of

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advocates, service providers, members of the veteran community including housing providers and

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a current or former homeless veteran, current and/or former members of the homeless

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community, as well as representatives specifically affiliated with youth homelessness to be

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appointed by the governor. All new members shall be chosen and approved by majority vote of

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the members present at an official meeting. At no time shall there be less than three (3)

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representatives of the homeless community, current or former. The chair shall be elected by a

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majority of the members.

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      (b) The purpose of the council is to inform the Interagency Council on Homelessness on

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the current status and issues facing the homeless throughout Rhode Island.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- SUPPORT OF THE HOMELESS

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     This act would add three (3) additional members to the interagency council on

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homelessness, and would require that all new members be chosen and approved by a majority of

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the members present at an official meeting. The act would also require that there be at least three

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(3) representatives of the homeless community chosen and present at official meetings.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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