Homelessness: interim motel housing projects: state programs.

(1) The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. Existing law, until January 1, 2025, exempts from CEQA projects related to the conversion of a structure with a certificate of occupancy as a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing, as defined, that meet certain conditions. This bill would delete the above-described January 1, 2025, repeal date, thereby extending operation of that exemption indefinitely. Because the lead agency must determine the applicability of this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires agencies and departments administering state programs to adopt guidelines and regulations to incorporate core components of Housing First, as defined. Existing law defines "state programs" for this purpose as any program a California state agency or department funds, implements, or administers for the purpose of providing housing or housing-based services to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, except as provided. This bill would delete the above-described requirements for state agencies to adopt guidelines and regulations to incorporate core components of Housing First. The bill, notwithstanding any guidelines or regulations adopted pursuant to that requirement as it read on January 1, 2022, would authorize an agency or department that administers a state program that has incorporated core components of Housing First to provide funding in accordance with the state program to housing that does not comply with Housing First. The bill would also make a conforming change. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.