Florida Supportive Housing Coalition
FSHC CAPITAL NEWS
Week 5: February 8 – February 12, 2016
Thursday marked the half way point in the 2016 Legislative Session and floor activity is starting to pick up. FSHC president Shannon Nazworth and board member Joy Beaton spent the week in Tallahassee visiting with several House and Senate members and staff educating them on the advantages of funding affordable housing. The sense of Ms. Beaton is the Senate gets it compared to the House and obviously the Senate’s budget position of not sweeping the Housing Trust Funds demonstrates their understanding of ROI.
SB 1534 – Housing Assistance and FSHC priority bill passed its second committee of reference on Thursday, 2/11/16. Now a committee substitute,CS/SB 1534 was amended to include changesrequested by Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The revised bill expands FHFC ability to make forgiveness loans to counties or rural areas of counties that do not have existing units set aside for homeless persons in order to create permanent rental housing units for persons who are homeless, or for persons residing in time-limited transitional housing or institutions as a result of a lack of permanent affordable housing.Both Senator Detert from Sarasota & Charlotte Counties, and Senator Gibson from Duval County expressed concern about the bill’s language which authorizes 25% of SHIP dollars for housing supports. However, once it was explained that the language was permissive and not a mandatethey supported the bill. The bill as amended was unanimously approved by the committee. Several groups including FSHC waived in support and no one spoke in opposition. The bill is now headed to Senate full Appropriation for approval before heading to the floor. CS/HB 1235 is waiting to be put on the House Appropriation Committee.
The House and Senate passed their budgets on Thursdaybut differ by nearly $1 billion on what that spending goes toward from tax cuts in the House to the Senate which fully funding affordable housing, hashigher teacher pay raises and health care funding. Both chambers concede that it will require some major compromises to end the session by March 11, 2016.
Below is a side by side analysis of budget areas that may be of interest to FSHC members.
Affordable Housing Trust Funds:
Florida Housing Finance CorporationIssue / House / Senate
State Housing Trust Funds (SAIL) / $94,405,000 / $125,760,000*
From above – DD Housing Initiative / - $10,000,000 / - $10,000,000
- Keys Essential Services Personnel Project / - $ 5,000,000
- Workforce Housing to Low Income / - $20,000,000
- Catalyst Program / - $ 674,000
State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) / $47,000,000 / $185,800,000
From above – To DCF/ Homeless Challenge Grants / - $3,800,000 / - $7,000,000
- To DOE for Training/TA / - $ 200,000 / - $ 200,000
- To Serve Special Needs (20%) / - $37,160,000
Total Affordable Housing Trust Funds / $141,405,000 / $311,560,000
The Senate Sail funding is a combination of $95,000,000 from the State Housing Trust Funds and $30,760,000 from the Local Government Housing Trust Fund. Unlike the House budget bill the Senate budget bill includes proviso stating that at least 50% of the $125,760,000 must be used to fund construction, or rehabilitation of units through SAIL. “These funds must be targeted to families, elderly persons, persons who are homeless and at least 5% and not less than 10% to persons with disabling conditions. Each development shall be required to have an agreement with at least one designated support services lead agency such as the Local Center for Independent Living, APD, or any other such agency approved by the FHFC for the purpose of coordinating services and housing for persons with disabilities.”
Health & Human Services Funding
The Agency for Health Care Administration funding of $10,259,041 in Medicaid for “Homeless Mental Health Transitional Housing” remains only in the Senate budget. The proviso reads “…funds are provided for flexible services for persons with severe mental illness or substance abuse disorders, including, but not limited to, temporary housing assistance, subject to federal approval under section 409.906(13)(e), Florida Statutes.” The House has no similar language.
Department of Children& FamiliesIssue / House / Senate
Central Receiving Facility Unspecified / $0 / $10,000,000
Central Receiving Facility – Orange County / $10,000,000 / $10,000,000
Children’s Community Action Teams – Increase Teams / $3,000,000 / $3,750,000
Forensic Multidisciplinary Teams for Hospital Diversion / $3,260,000 / $3,260,000
Criminal Justice, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Grants Increase / $6,080,596 / $6,080,506
Family Intervention Teams – Increase Teams / $2,800,000 / $2,800,000
Forensic Bed Expansion 43 FTEs / $2,609,692 / $4,368,992
Homeless Coalitions / $0 / $1,000,000
Mental Health Forensic Beds / $1,211,727 / $1,211,727
Transitional Voucher Program for Individuals Exiting State Hospital – include Housing Assistance Funding / $3,500,000 / $3,500,000
Indigent Drug Program Increase / $50,000 / $0
Special Projects re: Homeless/Housing
Citrus Health Network – Safe Haven for the Homeless / $140,800 / $0
Miami – Dade Homeless Trust / $189,794 / $0
Transition House Homeless Veterans’ Program / $150,000 / $0
BILLS
CS/HB 1235/CS/SB 1534Housing Assistance:The bills continue to include FSHC top legislative priorities amending s. 420.5087 to implement a 10% minimum SAIL reservation for housing for homeless (as defined s. 420.621) and persons with special needs (as defined in s. 420.0004) households and amending s. 420.9072 to allow the use of SHIP dollars to provide up to 12-months of rental assistance to very low-income households with at least one adult member that is a person with a special need (as defined in s. 420.0004) or is homeless (as defined s. 420.621) as an eligible use. Providesfor a Rapid ReHousing methodology.
CS/HB 1235 passed Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee 01/26/2016, on Appropriations agenda 2/16/16 (3:00 – 6:00); also referred to Economic Affairs Committee.CS/SB 1534 passed Community Affairs 1/26/16, passed Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development 2/11/16, now waiting to be placed on Appropriations agenda.
CS/SB 12/HB 7097Mental Health and Substance Abuse:CS/SB 12and HB 7097 are extensive bills designed to address the current system of behavioral health services to improve a legislative identified fragmented and inefficient system. In so doing both pieces of legislationcreate a coordinated system of care to be provided either by a community or a region for those suffering from mental illness or substance use disorder through a “No Wrong Door” system of single access points. The Agency for Health Care Administration (“the agency” or “AHCA”) and the Department of Children and Families (“the department” or “DCF”) are directed to modify licensure requirements to create an option for a single, consolidated license to provide both mental health and substance use disorder services; requires AHCA DCF to develop a plan to increase federal funding for behavioral health care.The bills are similar but not identical.
HB 7097 passed Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee1/26/2016 as PCB, passed Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee 2/8/16, now inHealth and Human Services Committee 2/11/16.SB 12 passed Senate Children, Families & Seniors 1/14/16, passed HHS 1/26/16, on Appropriations agenda 2/18/16 (1:00 – 5:00).
CS/HB 979/SB 1336Behavioral Health Care Services:The bills although not identical revise criteria for involuntary admission for assessment, stabilization, & treatment of persons with substance use or mental health disorders; requires behavioral health managing entities to coordinate service delivery plans with their respective counties or circuits; specifies professionals authorized to execute certificate for involuntary admission; provides criteria for emergency admission; provides for Advanced Directives.
CS/HB 979passed Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee1/26/2016, now in Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee 1/29/16, also referenced Appropriations.SB 1336 passed Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, 1/27/16, passed HHS Appropriations Subcommittee 2/11/16, referenced Appropriations.
HB 339/SB 7008 - Housing Discrimination: Removes housing discrimination as cause of action for certain relief & damages from violations of Florida Civil Rights Act; revises conditions under which aggrieved person may commence civil action & when action may be filed.
HB 339 passed Civil Justice Subcommittee 1/26/16, now in Government Operations Appropriations 1/27/16. SB 7008 passed Judiciary 11/17/15, passed Appropriations on General Government Subcommittee 1/13/16, passed Appropriations as a strike all2/3/16, now waiting for referral to Senate Calendar.
CS/CS/CS HB 439/SB 604Mental Health Services in the Criminal Justice System: Expands eligibility for military veterans & service members for certain programs; authorizes creation of mental health court programs; authorizes county court to order conditional release of defendant for outpatient care & treatment; requires Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program in specified judicial circuits; provides for courts to order certain defendants on probation or community control to post adjudicatory mental health court programs; expands eligibility requirements for certain pretrial intervention programs; provides eligibility of misdemeanor defendants for misdemeanor pretrial mental health court programs; authorizes pretrial mental health court programs for certain juvenile offenders.
SB 604– On Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, 2/17/16, 10:00 am, 401 Senate Office Building.CS/CS/CS/HB 439 passed as amended Appropriations 1/27/16, passed Judiciary Committee as amended 2/10/16, placed on Calendar 2/12/16.
CS/CS/CS HB 147/CS SB 386 - Expunging Criminal History Records of Minors: Provides for nonjudicial expunction of criminal history of offense after 2 years (rather than the current 5) for a minor who is not a serious or habitual juvenile offender; provides exception for specified minors to apply for expunction before attaining 21 years of age; establishes application process etc..
CS/CS/CS HB 147 placed on House Calendar 1/15/16. CS SB 386 passed by the Senate, in House messages 2/2/16.
CS/HB 627/SB 868 – Community Contribution Tax Credit: Defines terms related to CCTC that may apply against certain tax liabilities. CS/HB 627 – passed Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee 1/13/16, passed Finance & Tax Committee 2/1/16, referenced Economic Affairs Committee. SB 868 passed Community Affairs 2/1/16, referenced Finance & Tax and Appropriations
SB 2500/HB 5001–Appropriations: General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016-17.HB 5001 passed the House and sent to the Senate 2/11/16. The Senate refused to pass the bill as passed by the House and acceded to the request for a conference The Appropriations bill will be tracked as HB 5001 moving forward.
HB 7099 Taxation:Revises certain documentary stamp tax provisions; specifies uses of community redevelopment agency redevelopment trust fund moneys for youth centers; extends rehabilitation tax credits; etc. HB 7099 passed Finance & Tax 2/3/26, passed the House Chamber 2/11/16.. There are several senate bills containing pieces of HB 7099.
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