_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE HOUSING STABILITY SERVICES PROGRAM; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF public HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO APPLY FOR A MEDICAID WAIVER TO FUND THE PROGRAM; establishing reporting requirements; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE and A CONTINGENT TERMINATION DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Housing stability services program -- eligibility. (1) There is a housing stability services program within the department of public health and human services. The program shall provide services that include:

(a) assistance finding and applying for available housing;

(b) help filing reasonable accommodation requests;

(d) education on the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords;

(e) ensuring that housing is safe and ready for move-in;

(f) tenancy supports, including funds for a deposit, rent for the first and last month, and other move-in costs;

(g) facilitating connections with appropriate government and nongovernment service programs;

(h) assistance with housing voucher or subsidy applications and recertification processes; and

(i) any other services that remove barriers to housing stability.

(2) To be eligible for this program, an individual must:

(a) (i) have a gross household income 80% or less than the area median income; or

(ii) be enrolled in medicaid or another medical assistance program under Title 53, chapter 6; and

(b) be at risk for experiencing homelessness, including:

(i) having a past-due rent notice or eviction notice;

(ii) having a past-due utility bill or utility shut off notice;

(iii) having unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, including overcrowding and domestic abuse;

(iv) being involved in the criminal justice system as an offender or alleged offender within the last 12 months.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Medicaid waiver -- eligibility -- administration. (1) As soon as practical but no later than January 1, 2024, the department of public health and human services shall apply for a medicaid waiver or a state plan amendment with the centers for medicare and medicaid services to provide, to the extent allowable, the program services identified in [section 1(1)] to participants who are eligible for the program but do not have coverage for the program's services under another medicaid waiver or medical assistance program in Title 53, chapter 6.

(2) If the waiver or state plan amendment described in subsection (1) is approved, the department shall:

(a) make policies and procedures for the administration of the program in [section 1], including medicaid reimbursement;

(b) report to the children, families, health, and human services interim committee and the law and justice interim committee in accordance with 5-11-210 by September 1 of each year:

(i) the number of individuals served by the program;

(ii) the cost of the program; and

(iii) the effectiveness of the program, including cost savings and benefits and any reduction in homelessness and recidivism in the population served by the program.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 53, chapter 6, part 1, and the provisions of Title 53, chapter 6, part 1, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.

NEW SECTION. Section 5. Contingent termination. (1) If the medicaid waiver or state plan amendment pursuant to [section 2] is disapproved, then [this act] terminates on June 30, 2025.

(2) Within 15 days of the disapproval by the centers for medicare and medicaid services, the department shall notify the code commissioner, certifying that the disapproval under subsection (1) has occurred.