Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Amendments

9
35A-8-2501
63I-2-235
0
Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Nate Blouin
House Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates the Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
creates the Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force (task force);
requires the task force to assess housing needs in certain counties for certain individuals
ahead of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games;
requires the task force to report to the Economic and Workforce Services Development
Interim Committee; and
provides a sunset date.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-2-235
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 277
ENACTS:
35A-8-2501
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
35A-8-2501
is enacted to read:
35A-8-2501
. Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force -- Creation --
Membership -- Compensation -- Staff.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Coordinator" means the state homelessness coordinator appointed under Section
63J-4-202
.
(b)
"Task force" means the Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force created
in Subsection
(2)
.
(c)
"Vulnerable populations" means individuals or families living in Davis County, Salt
Lake County, Summit County, Utah County, and Weber County who experience
barriers to obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing because of:
(i)
a developmental disability;
(ii)
domestic violence;
(iii)
severe mental illness;
(iv)
substance abuse;
(v)
age-based limitations on the individual's or family member's ability to work;
(vi)
financial hardship because of pregnancy, childbirth, or having an adult or child in
the family who is medically frail or who has a disability;
(vii)
if a youth, aging out of foster care and having limited family support, assets, or
work experience; or
(viii)
other limiting factors.
(2)
There is created within the division the Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task
Force composed of the following 17 members:
(a)
(i)
the director of the division or the director's designee;
(ii)
the chair of the board of trustees of the Utah Housing Corporation or the chair's
designee; and
(iii)
the state homelessness coordinator or the coordinator's designee;
(b)
one individual representing the Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games, nominated by the Organizing Committee;
(c)
six individuals representing public housing authorities, recommended by the director,
one each from:
(i)
the Davis Community Housing Authority;
(ii)
the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City;
(iii)
Housing Connect;
(iv)
the Summit Combined Housing Authority;
(v)
the Housing Authority of Utah County; and
(vi)
the Weber Housing Authority;
(d)
three individuals representing the state's continuum of care organizations,
recommended by the coordinator, one each from:
(i)
Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness;
(ii)
Mountainland Continuum of Care; and
(iii)
Utah Balance of State Continuum of Care;
(e)
one individual representing the Utah Impact Partnership, recommended by the
coordinator;
(f)
one individual representing Shelter the Homeless, recommended by the coordinator;
(g)
one individual representing a nonprofit organization that addresses issues related to
affordable and supportive housing, recommended by the director; and
(h)
one individual representing a for-profit organization that develops projects that
include deeply affordable housing, recommended by the director.
(3)
(a)
When a vacancy occurs in a position described under Subsection
(2)(b)
through
(h)
,
the nominating or recommending authority shall nominate or recommend an
individual to fill the vacant position.
(b)
A member serves until the member's successor is appointed.
(4)
(a)
The task force shall select two members to serve as co-chairs, one of whom shall
be a member described in Subsection
(2)(a)
.
(b)
Subject to the other provisions of this Subsection
(4)
, the co-chairs are responsible
for the call and conduct of meetings.
(c)
The co-chairs shall call and hold meetings of the task force at least once per month.
(d)
One or more additional meetings may be called upon request by a majority of the
task force's members.
(5)
A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum.
(6)
The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the task force.
(7)
A member of the task force described in Subsection
(2)
may not receive compensation
or benefits for the member's service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in
accordance with:
(a)
Section
63A-3-106
;
(b)
Section
63A-3-107
; and
(c)
rules made by the Division of Finance in accordance with Sections
63A-3-106
and
63A-3-107
.
(8)
The task force shall, in anticipation of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games:
(a)
assess the housing needs of vulnerable populations, including the need for homeless
shelters, supportive housing, and affordable housing options;
(b)
determine what housing gaps may exist within the vulnerable populations, including
a lack of homeless shelters, safety concerns, and integrated or accessible affordable
homes;
(c)
analyze the risks of displacement of vulnerable populations from rental units, hotels,
or motels due to increased 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games housing
needs;
(d)
analyze the costs of producing affordable housing to support vulnerable populations;
and
(e)
identify potential funding sources to support the affordable housing needs of
vulnerable populations, including receiving funds from:
(i)
legislative appropriations;
(ii)
private donations or grants;
(iii)
public-private partnerships;
(iv)
private sponsors;
(v)
social impact bonds; or
(vi)
any other federal, state, or philanthropic source.
(9)
The task force shall:
(a)
create a report that:
(i)
details the task force's conclusions on the items described in Subsection
(8)
; and
(ii)
includes recommendations on legislation needed to address or implement the task
force's conclusions; and
(b)
report on the findings described in Subsection
(9)(a)
to the Economic Development
and Workforce Services Interim Committee no later than the November 2026,
interim meeting.
(10)
The division shall provide administrative support to the task force.
(11)
Meetings of the task force are subject to Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public
Meetings Act.
Section 2. Section
63I-2-235
is amended to read:
63I-2-235
. Repeal dates: Title 35A.
(1)
Section
35A-3-212
, Use of COVID-19 relief funds -- Grants to child care providers
-- Reporting requirements, is repealed June 30, 2025.
(2)
Section
35A-8-2501
, Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force, is repealed
December 31, 2026.
Section 3.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
2-5-26 9:12 AM