HB2782 is a bill that establishes a new Homeless Shelter and Services Fund and creates new criminal violations related to drugs in homeless service zones. The bill transfers $5,500,000 from the FY 2024 Housing Trust Fund deposit and $50,000,000 from the Consumer Remediation Subaccount. It introduces a felony for selling or transferring dangerous or narcotic drugs in a drug-free homeless service zone and a misdemeanor for employees of homeless service facilities who knowingly violate drug-free policies. The bill also requires the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission to report annually on drug overdoses and crimes related to homelessness.

The bill creates the Homeless Shelter and Services Fund under the Arizona Department of Housing, which is subject to legislative appropriation and prioritizes grants for services benefiting homeless children, parents with children, senior citizens, and veterans. It prohibits additional funding to political subdivisions that do not enforce public camping, sleeping, or obstructing public right-of-way laws. The bill also mandates performance audits of expenditures on homelessness and appropriates funds for establishing secure behavioral health residential facilities. Mixed hoteling practices are addressed, with requirements for signage and disclosures, and a prohibition on using state or local funds for such practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-3411.01, 41-1713, 41-2204, 41-3956, 41-3958, 13-703, 13-704, 13-708, 31-233, 41-1830.11, 12-119, 41-1304, 41-1304.05, 41-1362, 41-796, 28-1324, 28-1325, 28-1326, 28-1462, 28-3318, 37-1302, 35-146, 35-147, 41-1752, 38-615
House Engrossed Version: 13-3411.01, 41-1713, 41-2204, 41-3956, 41-3958, 13-703, 13-704, 13-708, 31-233, 41-1830.11, 12-119, 41-1304, 41-1304.05, 41-1362, 41-796, 28-1324, 28-1325, 28-1326, 28-1462, 28-3318, 37-1302, 35-146, 35-147, 41-1752, 38-615