This bill creates a program to provide matching funds up to $100,000,000 to qualified projects that are facilities to provide support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Sections 2-8 of this bill define terms related to the program to provide matching funds for qualified projects to provide support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Section 9 of this bill authorizes the lead participant of a project to apply to the Office of Economic Development for a certificate of eligibility for matching funds up to $100,000,000 and establishes the requirements for a project to be eligible for such matching funds, including, without limitation, the submission by the lead participant of the project of an application which meets certain requirements. Section 10 of this bill additionally requires a project, to be eligible for the matching funds, to be determined by the Office to be a qualified project. Section 10 establishes requirements for a qualified project. Section 11 of this bill establishes requirements with respect to the contribution to the cost of a project which may be made from matching funds, including, without limitation, a requirement for the lead participant to pay the initial $25,000,000 of the costs for the development and construction of the project and for matching funds to be used to pay the last $10,000,000 in project costs. Section 11 provides the requirements for the issuance of matching funds.
Section 12 of this bill requires the lead participant of a qualified project to furnish certain records to the Office. Section 12 requires the lead participant to repay matching funds under certain circumstances and subjects the state business registration of the lead participant to revocation or suspension for failure to repay matching funds. Section 12 authorizes the Executive Director of the Office to take certain action if a project is materially underperforming. If a project ceases to operate under certain circumstances or files for bankruptcy, section 12 provides for the transfer of the underlying facility to the incorporated city in which the facility is located, or to the county in which the facility is located if the facility is not located in an incorporated city.
Section 13 of this bill authorizes the governing body of a city or county in which a qualified project is located to provide an abatement of certain permit and license fees to a participant in such a project. Section 14 of this bill requires the services provided at a qualified project that receives matching funds to be made available to the residents of any participating municipality in the county where the qualified project operates and establishes the requirements to qualify as a participating municipality.
Section 15 of this bill requires the financial operating plan for a qualified project to provide for the annual operations, maintenance and ongoing capital needs of the facility and requires the operating costs of a facility within a qualified project to be distributed equitably among the State, participating municipalities and the private sector. Section 15 requires the State to provide funds equal to the amounts provided by any participating municipalities up to $15,000,000 per year, as adjusted each year. Section 15 authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to create provider codes to maximize Medicaid billing for the services provided by a qualified project.
Section 16 of this bill creates the Homelessness Support Services Matching Account and requires money in the Account to be used only to provide matching funds pursuant to the provisions of this bill. Section 18 of this bill makes an appropriation of $100,000,000 to the Account.