INTRODUCED
BY G. Frazer, D. Hawk, G. Nikolakakos, A. Buckley, E. Buttrey, Z. Zephyr, S.
Howell
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM TO INCREASE COMMUNITY SHELTER CAPACITY TO SERVE THE HOMELESS POPULATION; ESTABLISHING CRITERIA FOR GRANT AWARDS; providing an appropriation; Providing rulemaking authority; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE and a termination date."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. State matching grants for homeless shelter capacity -- rulemaking authority. (1) As soon as possible after July 1 of each year from funds appropriated by the legislature for the purposes of this section, the department of public health and human services shall grant to eligible applicants state matching funds for the following purposes:
(a) in-house treatment and case management services to address mental health and substance use disorders;
(b) family care and other services that will allow families to remain together; and
(c) programs serving elderly populations who are currently unhoused or at risk of becoming homeless.
(2) An applicant for matching funds under this section must:
(a) be a local government or a nonprofit corporation meeting the requirements of Title 35, chapter 2, that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3);
(b) include in its grant application a detailed plan for how the applicant will collaborate with existing homelessness service providers; and
(c) indicate the source and amount of matching funds for the project.
(3) In awarding grants, the department shall prioritize to the greatest extent possible projects that:
(a) provide for geographic diversity in funded projects;
(b) address existing gaps in the ability of available shelter services to meet the community's need for shelter services; and
(c) include the availability of local and federal matching funds.
(4) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section, including but not limited to:
(b) criteria for grant awards; and
(c) information to be reported to the department by grant recipients.
(5) The department shall report to the children, families, health, and human services interim committee no later than August 30, 2024, on the results of the grant program.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Appropriation. (1) There is appropriated $2 million from the general fund to the department of public health and human services for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, for the purposes of [section 1]. Funds that are unencumbered on June 30, 2025, must revert to the general fund.
(2) The legislature intends that the appropriation be considered as part of the ongoing base for the next legislative session.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 53, chapter 2, part 2, and the provisions of Title 53, chapter 2, part 2, apply to [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Termination. [This act] terminates June 30, 2025.