Existing law authorizes the Department of General Services to perform various duties relating to state real property, including by authorizing the Director of General Services to let a building located at Patton State Hospital to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

This bill would delete the 20-year lease maximum and would additionally authorize the Director of General Services to lease the building described above for the purposes of providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

Existing law authorizes the Department of General Services to perform various duties relating to state real property, including by authorizing the Director of General Services to let a building located at Patton State Hospital to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

This bill would delete the 20-year lease maximum and would additionally authorize the Director of General Services to lease the building described above for the purposes of providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

Existing law authorizes the Department of General Services to perform various duties relating to state real property, including by authorizing the Director of General Services to let a building located at Patton State Hospital to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

This bill would delete the 20-year lease maximum and would additionally authorize the Director of General Services to lease the building described above for the purposes of providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

Existing law authorizes the Department of General Services to perform various duties relating to state real property, including leasing by authorizing the Director of General Services to let a building located at Patton State Hospital to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

This bill would delete the 20-year lease maximum, and would change the purposes of authorized lease to providing housing and mental health services for homeless individuals. maximum and would additionally authorize the Director of General Services to lease the building described above for the purposes of providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

Existing law authorizes the Department of General Services to perform various duties relating to state real property, including leasing a building located at Patton State Hospital to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

This bill would delete the 20-year lease maximum, and would change the purposes of authorized lease to providing housing and mental health services for homeless individuals.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 349

Author:(Ramos)

As Amended Ver:June 19, 2023

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Authorizes the director of the Department of General Services (DGS), with the consent of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), to lease a building at Patton State Hospital (PSH) to a nonprofit corporation or local government for the purpose of providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

Senate Amendments

Restores the current authorization for DGS, with the consent of DSH, to lease a building at PSH to a nonprofit corporation or local government for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

COMMENTS

PSH is a forensic psychiatric hospital located in San Bernardino County operating approximately 1,527 beds with around-the-clock care provided by approximately 2,380 clinical and administrative staff. Since 1986, DGS has authorized a lease between PSH and the Highland Senior Center to operate a senior adult recreational and social facility on PSH's grounds. The original lease term was for 20 years, with subsequent lease terms lasting five years. This bill deletes the 20-year maximum period that DGS may enter into such a lease, thus making the authorization permanent, and would additionally authorize DGS, with the consent of DSH, to lease the building for purposes of providing housing and mental health services to homeless individuals and to providing services to elderly persons.

This approach is similar to the use of the Metropolitan State Hospital in the City of Norwalk which leases space to nonprofit organizations that provide temporary housing and services to homeless families and long-term housing for persons with mental illnesses.

According to the author's office, the County of San Bernardino's last count found 4,195 individuals who were homeless, with 44.1% as being homeless for one year or longer and having a disabling condition such as mental illness, chronic health condition, and/or a physical disability. The City of San Bernardino has seen a 175% increase in homelessness over the past five years.

According to the Author

"Creating stable housing placement offering medical care and other services for this large portion of our local unsheltered, demands an urgent, effective, collaborative, all-hands-on-deck approach. No one entity, no one source of funding is adequate to solve our growing behaviorally ill and unsheltered population. City, county, and state and community resources must be leveraged to deal with this issue."

Arguments in Support

According to the City of San Bernardino, "to help the unhoused in our communities in need of mental health services, it requires a joint effort of state and local leaders, which AB 349 aims to do. By working together, and allowing [PSH] to provide housing and mental health services, regional leaders can follow a successful model employed by the State at Metropolitan Hospital in Norwalk that is proven to save and change lives."

Arguments in Opposition

According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, they "recognize the importance of providing housing and mental health care services to unhoused individuals but housing needs to be non-traumatizing and have a residential feel, not to harken back to the days of horrific treatment in a jail-like setting. There are many other, and better, locations that could be used."

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, no significant state costs anticipated.

VOTES:

ASM ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW: 7-0-0

YES: Petrie-Norris, Dixon, Bains, Davies, Stephanie Nguyen, Rodriguez, Wilson

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-2

YES: Holden, Megan Dahle, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Dixon, Mike Fong, Hart, Lowenthal, Mathis, Papan, Pellerin, Robert Rivas, Sanchez, Weber

ABS, ABST OR NV: Bryan, Wilson

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0-1

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner Horvath, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Cervantes, Chen, Connolly, Megan Dahle, Davies, Dixon, Essayli, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones‑Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mathis, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Rendon

ABS, ABST OR NV: Haney

SENATE FLOOR: 39-0-1

YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Ashby, Atkins, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Caballero, Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, Menjivar, Min, Newman, Nguyen, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Seyarto, Skinner, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Wiener, Wilk

ABS, ABST OR NV: Padilla

UPDATED

VERSION: June 19, 2023

CONSULTANT: Bernie Orozco / A. & A.R. / (916) 319-3600 FN: 0001767

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 349

Author: Ramos (D), et al.

Amended: 6/19/23 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE: 12-0, 6/13/23

AYES: Dodd, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Ashby, Bradford, Glazer, Nguyen, Padilla, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Seyarto

NO VOTE RECORDED: Wilk, Jones, Ochoa Bogh

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 4/17/23 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Patton State Hospital: lease: housing and mental health services for homeless individuals

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This bill authorizes the director of the Department of General Services (DGS), with the consent of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), to lease a building at Patton State Hospital (PSH) to a nonprofit corporation or local government for purposes of providing services to elderly persons and providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes DGS for purposes of, among other things, planning, acquiring, constructing, and maintaining state buildings and property.
2. Authorizes DGS, subject to legislative approval, to sell, lease, exchange, or transfer various specified properties for current market value, or upon such other terms and conditions that DGS determines are in the best interest of the state.
3. Authorizes DGS to let a building located at PHS to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.
4. Requires, by executive order, DGS to, among other things, create a digitized inventory of all excess state land, create screening tools for prioritizing affordable housing development on excess state land, and issue requests for proposals and select affordable housing developments on excess state land, as described.
5. Establishes criteria for state agencies to use in determining and reporting excess lands. A state agency must report land as surplus that is:
   1. Not currently utilized, or is underutilized, for any existing or ongoing programs;
   2. Land for which the agency cannot identify a specific utilization relative to future needs; and,
   3. Land not identified by the state agency within its master plan for facility development.
6. Requires DGS to dispose of surplus state real property in a specified manner, and prescribes the priority of disposition of the property before DGS may offer it for sale to private entities or individuals.
7. Authorizes DGS to sell surplus real property to a local agency or to a nonprofit affordable housing sponsor for affordable housing projects at a sales price less than fair market value if DGS determines that such a discount will enable housing for persons and families of low or moderate income.
8. Requires DGS, in consultation with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, to develop criteria to evaluate the suitability of excess state-owned parcels for affordable housing, as specified.

This bill:

1. Deletes the current 20-year maximum period that DGS may lease PHS to a nonprofit corporation or local government for purposes of providing services to elderly persons.
2. Authorizes DGS, with the consent of DSH, to lease a building located at PHS to a nonprofit corporation or local government for purposes of providing services to elderly persons and providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

Background

Author Statement. According to the author’s office, “Creating stable housing placement offering medical care and other services for this large portion of our local unsheltered, demands an urgent, effective, collaborative, all-hands-on-deck approach. No one entity, no one source of funding is adequate to solve our growing behaviorally ill and unsheltered population. City, county, and state and community resources must be leveraged to deal with this issue.”

Current PHS Lease. The Patton State Hospital is a forensic psychiatric hospital located in San Bernardino County operating approximately 1,527 beds with around-the-clock care provided by approximately 2,380 clinical and administrative staff. Since 1986, DGS has authorized a lease between PSH and the Highland Senior Center to operate a senior adult recreational and social facility on PSH’s grounds. The original lease term was for 20 years, with subsequent lease terms lasting five years. This bill deletes the 20-year maximum period that DGS may enter into such a lease, thus making the authorization permanent, and would additionally authorize DGS, with the consent of DSH, to lease the building for purposes of providing housing and mental health services to homeless individuals and to providing services to elderly persons. .

This approach would be similar to the use of the Metropolitan State Hospital (MSH) in the City of Norwalk, which leases space to nonprofit organizations that provide temporary housing and services to homeless families and long-term housing for persons with mental illness.

According to the author’s office, the County of San Bernardino’s last point in time count found 4,195 individuals who were homeless were 44.1% of those counted as being homeless for one year or more and having a disabling condition such as mental illness, chronic health condition, and/or a physical disability. The City of San Bernardino has seen a 175% increase in homelessness over the past five years.

Related/Prior Legislation

AB 2385 (Ramos, 2020) would have authorize DGS to lease the PSH for the purpose of providing transitional housing services. (Never Heard in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee)

SB 1217 (Dutton, Chapter 707, Statutes of 2012) reauthorized DGS, with the consent of the Department of State Hospitals, to lease a building located at PHS to a nonprofit or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

SB 1648 (Nielsen, Chapter 224, Statutes of 1986) authorized DGS, with the consent of the Department of Mental Health, to let a building located at PSH to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for up to 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/14/23)

California Council Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America

City of Rialto

City of San Bernardino

Clay Counseling

Family Assistance Program

The Garcia Center for the Arts

Highlanders Boxing Club

Inland Southern California United Way

San Bernardino County Medical Society

Time for Change Foundation

Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire

Victims of Illicit Drugs Inc.

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/14/23)

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the City of San Bernardino, “To help the unhoused in our communities in need of mental health services, it requires a joint effort of state and local leaders, which AB 349 aims to do. By working together, and allowing [PSH] to provide housing and mental health services, regional leaders can follow a successful model employed by the State at Metropolitan Hospital in Norwalk that is proven to save and change lives.”

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, “We recognize the importance of providing housing and mental health care services to unhoused individuals but housing needs to be non-traumatizing and have a residential feel, not to harken back to the days of horrific treatment in a jail-like setting. There are many other, and better, locations that could be used.”

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 4/17/23

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner Horvath, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Cervantes, Chen, Connolly, Megan Dahle, Davies, Dixon, Essayli, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mathis, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Haney

Prepared by: Felipe Lopez / G.O. / (916) 651-1530

8/16/23 10:11:46

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

Senator Bill Dodd

Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular

Bill No: 349 Hearing Date: 6/13/2023

SUBJECT: Patton State Hospital: lease: housing and mental health services for homeless individuals

DIGEST: This bill authorizes the director of the Department of General Services (DGS), with the consent of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), to lease a building at Patton State Hospital (PSH) to a nonprofit corporation or local government for purposes of providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes DGS for purposes of, among other things, planning, acquiring, constructing, and maintaining state buildings and property.
2. Authorizes DGS, subject to legislative approval, to sell, lease, exchange, or transfer various specified properties for current market value, or upon such other terms and conditions that DGS determines are in the best interest of the state.
3. Authorizes DGS to let a building located at PHS to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.
4. Requires, by executive order, DGS to, among other things, create a digitized inventory of all excess state land, create screening tools for prioritizing affordable housing development on excess state land, and issue requests for proposals and select affordable housing developments on excess state land, as described.
5. Establishes criteria for state agencies to use in determining and reporting excess lands. A state agency must report land as surplus that is:
   1. Not currently utilized, or is underutilized, for any existing or ongoing programs;
   2. Land for which the agency cannot identify a specific utilization relative to future needs; and,
   3. Land not identified by the state agency within its master plan for facility development.
6. Requires DGS to dispose of surplus state real property in a specified manner, and prescribes the priority of disposition of the property before DGS may offer it for sale to private entities or individuals.
7. Authorizes DGS to sell surplus real property to a local agency or to a nonprofit affordable housing sponsor for affordable housing projects at a sales price less than fair market value if DGS determines that such a discount will enable housing for persons and families of low or moderate income.
8. Requires DGS, in consultation with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, to develop criteria to evaluate the suitability of excess state-owned parcels for affordable housing, as specified.

This bill:

1. Deletes the current 20-year maximum period that DGS may lease PHS to a nonprofit corporation or local government for purposes of providing services to elderly persons.
2. Authorizes DGS, with the consent of DSH, to lease a building located at PHS to a nonprofit corporation or local government for purposes of providing housing to homeless individuals and providing mental health services to those individuals.

Background

Author Statement. According to the author’s office, “creating stable housing placement offering medical care and other services for this large portion of our local unsheltered, demands an urgent, effective, collaborative, all-hands-on-deck approach. No one entity, no one source of funding is adequate to solve our growing behaviorally ill and unsheltered population. City, county, and state and community resources must be leveraged to deal with this issue.”

Current PHS Lease. The Patton State Hospital is a forensic psychiatric hospital located in San Bernardino County operating approximately 1,527 beds with around-the-clock care provided by approximately 2,380 clinical and administrative staff. Since 1986, DGS has authorized a lease between PSH and the Highland Senior Center to operate a senior adult recreational and social facility on PSH’s grounds. The original lease term was for 20 years, with subsequent lease terms lasting five years. This bill deletes the 20-year maximum period that DGS may enter into such a lease, thus making the authorization permanent, and would additionally authorize DGS, with the consent of DSH, to lease the building for purposes of providing housing and mental health services to homeless individuals.

This approach would be similar to the use of the Metropolitan State Hospital (MSH) in the City of Norwalk, which leases space to nonprofit organizations that provide temporary housing and services to homeless families and long-term housing for persons with mental illness.

According to the author’s office, the County of San Bernardino’s last point in time count found 4,195 individuals who were homeless were 44.1% of those counted as being homeless for one year or more and having a disabling condition such as mental illness, chronic health condition, and/or a physical disability. The City of San Bernardino has seen a 175% increase in homelessness over the past five years.

Prior/Related Legislation

AB 2385 (Ramos, 2020) would have authorize DGS to lease the PSH for the purpose of providing transitional housing services. (Never Heard in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee)

SB 1217 (Dutton, Chapter 707, Statutes of 2012) reauthorizes DGS, with the consent of the Department of State Hospitals, to lease a building located at PHS to a nonprofit or local government, for a period not to exceed 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

SB 1648 (Nielsen, Chapter 224, Statutes of 1986) authorized DGS, with the consent of the Department of Mental Health, to let a building located at PSH to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for up to 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT:

City of San Bernardino

OPPOSITION:

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the City of San Bernardino, “to help the unhoused in our communities in need of mental health services, it requires a joint effort of state and local leaders, which AB 349 aims to do. By working together, and allowing [PSH] to provide housing and mental health services, regional leaders can follow a successful model employed by the State at Metropolitan Hospital in Norwalk that is proven to save and change lives.”

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, “we recognize the importance of providing housing and mental health care services to unhoused individuals but housing needs to be non-traumatizing and have a residential feel, not to harken back to the days of horrific treatment in a jail-like setting. There are many other, and better, locations that could be used.”

Date of Hearing: March 29, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Chris Holden, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 349

Author:(Ramos) – As Introduced Ver:January 31, 2023

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill authorizes the director of the Department of General Services (DGS), with the consent of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), to lease a building at Patton State Hospital (PSH) to a nonprofit corporation or local government for purposes of providing housing and mental health services to homeless individuals.

This bill also repeals the existing authorization for DGS to lease such a building for purposes of providing services to elderly persons, as well as the 20-year maximum lease term.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. No net costs to DGS. Since all costs are project-specific, DGS is unable to estimate total costs at this time. However, the lessee must bear all DGS staff costs and expenses for lease negotiation, preparation, and review, as well as for project permitting and inspections. The lessee is also responsible for the cost of any building modifications.

Similarly, without a new lessee contract in place, DGS is unable to estimate whether lease revenues will be higher or lower than revenues DGS collects under the current authorization, to be deposited into the Property Acquisition Law Money Account. DGS does not utilize a set formula for lease amount negotiations. However, DGS does not anticipate a significant change in lease revenues.

1. Potential costs of an unknown amount to DSH, depending on the eventual use of the leased property. Although DGS must obtain DSH’s consent to any future lease, some lessees and uses may impact DSH operations while others may not.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author:

Creating stable housing placement offering medical care and other services for this large portion of our local unsheltered, demands an urgent, effective, collaborative, all-hands-on-deck approach. No one entity, no one source of funding is adequate to solve our growing behaviorally ill and unsheltered population. City, county, state and community resources must be leveraged to deal with this issue.

1. Support and Opposition. This bill has no formal support on file. This bill is opposed by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, which argues the setting for housing and mental health services for homeless individuals must be “non-traumatizing and have a residential feel, not to harken back to the days of horrific treatment in a jail-like setting.”
2. PSH Lease. PSH is a forensic psychiatric hospital located in San Bernardino County operating approximately 1,527 beds with around-the-clock care provided by approximately 2,380 clinical and administrative staff. Since 1986, DGS has authorized a lease between PSH and the Highland Senior Center to operate a senior adult recreational and social facility on PSH’s grounds. The original lease term was for 20 years, with subsequent lease terms lasting five years. This bill replaces DGS’s authority to lease a building at PSH for purposes of providing services to seniors with authority to lease the building for purposes of providing housing and mental health services to homeless individuals.
3. Similar State Hospital Leases. The Metropolitan State Hospital (MSH) in the City of Norwalk leases space to nonprofit organizations providing temporary housing and services to homeless families (Rio Hondo Temporary Home) and long-term housing for persons with mental illness (Homes for Life). MSH also leases ground space to several other entities, including the Wheelabrator Cogeneration Plant (produces steam electricity) and California Conservation Corps.
4. Prior Legislation. AB 2385 (Ramos), of the 2019-20 Legislative Session, would have added transitional housing services to the purposes for which a building at PSH could be leased. AB 2385 was referred to, but not heard by, the Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review.

Analysis Prepared by: Irene Ho / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: March 15, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

Cottie Petrie-Norris, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 349 (

Author:Ramos) – As Introduced Ver:January 31, 2023

SUBJECT: Patton State Hospital: lease: housing and mental health services for homeless

SUMMARY: Specifically, this bill would authorize the Department of General Services (DGS), with the consent of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), to let a building located at the Patton State Hospital (PSH) to a nonprofit corporation or local government to provide housing and mental health services to unsheltered individuals.

It would also delete the existing authority for DGS, with the consent of DSH, to let a building located at PSH to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for up to 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

EXISTING LAW:

With the consent of the state agency concerned, DGS may let for a period not to exceed five years, any real or personal property that belongs to the state, unless expressively prohibited by law, if it is in the best interest of the state. (Government Code Section 14670)

Authorizes DGS, with the consent of DSH, to let a building located at the PSH to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for up to 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons. (Government Code Section 14672.95)

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, this bill has not been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

DGS has authorized numerous state property lease agreements with nonprofit corporations and local governments to provide services to Californians that are in the best interest of the state. In fact, the Patton State Hospital currently has a lease agreement with the Highland Senior Center (HSC), a nonprofit corporation, to operate a senior adult recreational and social facility on its grounds. The purpose of the HSC is to improve the quality of life for seniors through educational classes, social interaction, and special outreach programs.

In 1986, the HSC entered into a 20-year lease agreement that expired in 2006. Subsequently, the HSC entered into a five-year lease agreement that expired on November 30, 2013. In 2012, legislation reauthorized the state to continue leasing a building at the PSH to provide services to elderly persons. However, HSC has reverted to using five-year lease agreements.

This legislative proposal to authorize a nonprofit organization or local government to lease space at the PSH to provide housing and mental health services to unsheltered Californians is consistent with state practice. In fact, the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk leases space to nonprofit organizations to provide temporary housing and services to homeless families (Rio Hondo Temporary Home), and long-term housing for persons with mental illness (Homes for Life).

According to the Author:

“Creating stable housing placement offering medical care and other services for this large portion of our local unsheltered, demands an urgent, effective, collaborative, all-hands-on-deck approach. No one entity, no one source of funding is adequate to solve our growing behaviorally ill and unsheltered population. City, county, state and community resources must be leveraged to deal with this issue.”

According to the Author’s background material, San Bernardino County’s last point in time count found 3,333 individuals who were homeless with 43.5% of those counted as being homeless for one year or more and having a disabling condition such as mental illness, chronic health condition, and/or a physical disability. The City of San Bernardino has seen a 175% increase in homelessness over the past five years. The Patton State Hospital is located in the County of San Bernardino and would be a prime location to housing and mental health services for unsheltered individuals.

Arguments in Support:

None on file.

Arguments in Opposition:

None on file.

PREVIOUS LEGISLATION:

AB 2385 (Ramos) of 2020, which was held in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee, was similar to this bill.

SB 1217 (Dutton), Chapter 707, Statutes of 2012, reauthorized DGS, with the consent of the Department of Mental Health, to let a building located at PSH to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for up to 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

SB 1648 (Nielsen), Chapter 224, Statutes of 1986, authorized DGS, with the consent of the Department of Mental Health, to let a building located at PSH to a nonprofit corporation or local government, for up to 20 years, for the purpose of providing services to elderly persons.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file.

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Bernie Orozco / A. & A.R. / (916) 319-3600