Revision: Jan. 19, 2023, 10:20 a.m.
SB 110-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2023 SESSION
23-0785
07/05
SENATE BILL 110-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT relative to administration of the emergency shelter program by cities and towns.
SPONSORS: Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4
COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill establishes further residency requirements for the emergency shelter program facilitated by the department of health and human services.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0785
07/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT relative to administration of the emergency shelter program by cities and towns.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Department of Health and Human Services; Emergency Shelter Program; Residency. Amend RSA 126-A:30 to read as follows:
126-A:30 Residency.
I. Persons receiving short-term emergency housing under this subdivision shall continue to maintain their legal residence as it existed at the time of entering the emergency shelter.
II. A person does not gain or lose residency while in emergency housing, hospital or treatment program center until such a time said person has acquired more permanent residence (i.e. an apartment).
III. A person that leaves emergency housing of their own free will and remains in a situation of homelessness, or is removed from emergency housing for non-compliance or policy violations, for local welfare purposes, shall remain a resident of the municipality of origin for 30 days.
IV. A person assisted by a municipality, or other assistance providers, with emergency housing assistance in a motel in another municipality, who then self pays for a consecutive 30 days without municipal or other provider assistance shall, for local welfare purposes, transition residency to the new municipality.
V. Temporary urgent assistance may need to be provided to meet basic needs of transient individuals or residents of other municipalities. Municipalities shall communicate and coordinate assistance options with each other, including reimbursements from municipalities of origin as established in RSA 165:20-a, when it is determined unreasonable for the person to physically return to the municipality of origin due to transportation, timing of need for assistance, or residency is unclear.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
23-0785
1/11/23
SB 110-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to administration of the emergency shelter program by cities and towns.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
|
| |||
| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
LOCAL: | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
The Department of Health and Human Services was contacted for a fiscal note worksheet on January 9, 2023, which they have not provided as of January 11, 2023.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill clarifies that a person does not gain or lose residency while in a hospital, treatment program center, or emergency housing until such time as they have acquired a more permanent residence. In the case of a person who leaves emergency housing voluntarily or due to noncompliance with housing rules, the bill states that the individual shall remain a resident of the municipality of origin for 30 days. In addition, the bill establishes that when a person was previously assisted by a municipality or other assistance provider but then self pays for a consecutive 30 days without assistance, that person's residency shall be transferred to the new municipality for local welfare purposes. Finally, the bill requires municipalities to coordinate assistance options with other municipalities when it is determined unreasonable for the person to physically return to the municipality of origin.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states that due to the complexity of local welfare budgets, it is unable to determine the bill's impact. However, the Association assumes that the bill will more closely tie individuals to their municipality of origin while in emergency housing, which may reduce costs for municipalities with emergency housing while increasing costs for municipalities without such housing.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Municipal Association