Transactions and use taxes: County of Los Angeles: homelessness.

Existing law authorizes cities and counties, subject to certain limitations and approval requirements, to levy a transactions and use tax for general or specific purposes, in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in the Transactions and Use Tax Law, including a requirement that the combined rate of all taxes that may be imposed in accordance with that law in the county not exceed 2%. Existing local transactions and use tax law for the County of Los Angeles, known as Measure H, establishes a local tax at a rate of 0.25%, and the revenue from that tax is dedicated to addressing and preventing homelessness. This bill would authorize the County of Los Angeles to impose a transactions and use tax at a rate of no more than 0.50% that, in combination with other transactions and use taxes, would exceed the above-described combined rate limit of 2%, if the county adopts an ordinance proposing the tax and the ordinance proposing the tax is approved by the voters, subject to applicable voter approval requirements. The bill would also require all revenue from the tax to be dedicated to addressing and preventing homelessness, as provided, and would require the local ordinance, upon approval by the electorate, to repeal Measure H. The bill would specify that a transactions and use tax established pursuant to its provisions would not be considered for purposes of the 2% combined rate limitation. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature that any transactions and use tax adopted pursuant to these provisions include robust oversight and accountability provisions. The bill would repeal this authorization on December 31, 2028, if an ordinance proposing the tax has not been approved by that date. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles.