Back to Washington

HB1255 • 2026

Encampment removal

Funding the removal of illegal and dangerous encampments.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Jacobsen, Representative Couture, Representative McClintock, Representative Keaton, Representative Ley, Representative Barnard, Representative Valdez
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
H Local Govt
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Encampment removal

Encampment removal

What This Bill Does

  • Encampment removal

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 House

    By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

Official Summary Text

Encampment removal

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
AN ACT Relating to funding the removal of illegal and dangerous 1
encampments; amending RCW 36.70A.190; adding a new section to chapter 2
36.01 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new 3
section to chapter 35A.21 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 43.31 4
RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.185C RCW; and declaring an 5
emergency. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 36.01 8
RCW to read as follows: 9
(1)(a) By May 1, 2027, the county legislative authority of each 10
county that is required or that chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 11
must adopt an ordinance making it unlawful for any person to camp on 12
public property within 500 feet of: 13
(i) Public or private elementary or secondary schools;14
(ii) School walk areas, as determined under rules promulgated by 15
the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to RCW 28A.150.290;16
(iii) Child day care centers, as defined in RCW 43.216.010;17
(iv) Public parks, as defined in RCW 69.50.435;18
(v) County courthouses; 19
(vi) Areas that have been the site of an illegal encampment with 20
more than one police response for violence in the past month; and21
H-0451.2
HOUSE BILL 1255
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Jacobsen, Couture, McClintock, Keaton, Ley,
Barnard, and Caldier
Prefiled 01/10/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Local Government.
p. 1 HB 1255
(vii) Areas that the county has identified as necessary to avoid 1
water contamination. 2
(b) A county that is not required under (a) of this subsection to 3
adopt the specified ordinance may voluntarily choose to do so. A 4
county that voluntarily adopts the ordinance is eligible for grants 5
under subsection (3) of this section under the same conditions as 6
counties required to adopt the ordinance under (a) of this 7
subsection. 8
(2)(a) Upon adoption of the ordinance required in subsection (1) 9
of this section, the county legislative authority must submit copies 10
of the ordinance to the department of commerce. 11
(b) By May 1st of each year, the county legislative authority or 12
chief executive of the county must submit to the department of 13
commerce: 14
(i) A certification signed by the chair of the county legislative 15
authority or by the chief executive of the county, certifying that 16
the ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section 17
remains in effect and that the county has taken reasonable steps to 18
enforce the ordinance on an ongoing and regular basis.19
(ii) A report detailing the measures that have been taken to 20
monitor and remove those in violation of the ordinance required in 21
subsection (1) of this section, whether any violations of the 22
ordinance have occurred, and how the revenue provided in subsection 23
(3) of this section has been utilized. 24
(3) A county that has adopted the ordinance required by 25
subsection (1) of this section and that is in compliance with the 26
requirements of subsection (2) of this section shall receive funding 27
under the encampment cleanup grant program created in section 4 of 28
this act. 29
(4)(a) A county that has not adopted the ordinance required by 30
subsection (1) of this section or that has failed to submit the 31
ordinance, certification, or report as required by subsection (2) of 32
this section is ineligible to receive grants under RCW 36.70A.190.33
(b)(i) A county that has not adopted the ordinance required by 34
subsection (1) of this section or that has failed to submit the 35
ordinance, certification, or report as required by subsection (2) of 36
this section shall have the funding it receives under subsection (3) 37
of this section reduced each year that it has not been in compliance 38
with the requirements of this section until it has not been in 39
compliance for four consecutive years. A county that has not been in 40
p. 2 HB 1255
compliance for four or more consecutive years is ineligible for 1
funding. A reduction or cessation of funding under this subsection 2
shall continue until such time as the county is able to fully comply 3
with this section. 4
(ii) When funding is reduced under this subsection, it shall be 5
reduced by the following amounts: 6
(A) One-fourth of the total that the county would otherwise be 7
eligible to receive if the county is out of compliance for between 8
one and two years; 9
(B) One-half of the total that the county would otherwise be 10
eligible to receive if the county is out of compliance for between 11
two and three years; or 12
(C) Three-fourths of the total that the county would otherwise be 13
eligible to receive if the county is out of compliance for between 14
three and four years. 15
(5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this 16
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.17
(a) "Camp" or "camping" means to pitch, use, or occupy camp 18
facilities for the purposes of habitation, as evidenced by the use of 19
camp paraphernalia. Camp facilities include, but are not limited to, 20
tents, huts, temporary shelters, or vehicles if said vehicle is being 21
used as temporary living quarters, and may include a recreational 22
vehicle, tent, tarpaulin, lean-to, sleeping bag, bedroll, blankets, 23
or any form of cover or protection from the elements other than 24
clothing. Camp paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, 25
tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, 26
hammocks, or cooking facilities or equipment. For the purposes of 27
this section, "camp" and "camping" do not include the use of camp 28
facilities at an area designated for temporary recreational camping.29
(b) "Public property" means any street, alley, sidewalk, parking 30
space, pedestrian or transit mall, bike path, greenway, or any other 31
structure or area encompassed within the public right-of-way; any 32
park, parkway, mountain park, or other recreation facility; or any 33
other grounds, buildings, fixtures, or other facilities owned or 34
leased by the state or by any other public owner, regardless of 35
whether such public property is vacant or occupied and actively used 36
for any public purpose. 37
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 35.21 38
RCW to read as follows: 39
p. 3 HB 1255
(1)(a) By May 1, 2027, the legislative authority of each city or 1
town that is required or that chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 2
must adopt an ordinance making it unlawful for any person to camp on 3
public property within 500 feet of: 4
(i) Public or private elementary or secondary schools;5
(ii) School walk areas, as determined under rules promulgated by 6
the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to RCW 28A.150.290;7
(iii) Child day care centers, as defined in RCW 43.216.010;8
(iv) Public parks, as defined in RCW 69.50.435;9
(v) County courthouses; 10
(vi) Areas that have been the site of an illegal encampment with 11
more than one police response for violence in the past month; and12
(vii) Areas that the city or town has identified as necessary to 13
avoid water contamination. 14
(b) A city or town that is not required under (a) of this 15
subsection to adopt the specified ordinance may voluntarily choose to 16
do so. A city or town that voluntarily adopts the ordinance is 17
eligible for grants under subsection (3) of this section under the 18
same conditions as cities or towns required to adopt the ordinance 19
under (a) of this subsection. 20
(2)(a) Upon adoption of the ordinance required in subsection (1) 21
of this section, the city or town must submit copies of the ordinance 22
to the department of commerce. 23
(b) By May 1st of each year, the legislative authority or chief 24
executive of the city or town must submit to the department of 25
commerce: 26
(i) A certification signed by the chair of the legislative 27
authority or by the chief executive of the city or town, certifying 28
that the ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section 29
remains in effect and that the city or town has taken reasonable 30
steps to enforce the ordinance on an ongoing and regular basis.31
(ii) A report detailing the measures that have been taken to 32
monitor and remove those in violation of the ordinance required in 33
subsection (1) of this section, whether any violations of the 34
ordinance have occurred, and how the revenue provided in subsection 35
(3) of this section has been utilized. 36
(3) A city or town that has adopted the ordinance required by 37
subsection (1) of this section and that is in compliance with the 38
requirements of subsection (2) of this section shall receive funding 39
p. 4 HB 1255
under the encampment cleanup grant program created in section 4 of 1
this act. 2
(4)(a) A city or town that has not adopted the ordinance required 3
by subsection (1) of this section or that has failed to submit the 4
ordinance, certification, or report as required by subsection (2) of 5
this section is ineligible to receive grants under RCW 36.70A.190.6
(b)(i) A city or town that has not adopted the ordinance required 7
by subsection (1) of this section or that has failed to submit the 8
ordinance, certification, or report as required by subsection (2) of 9
this section shall have the funding it receives under subsection (3) 10
of this section reduced each year that it has not been in compliance 11
with the requirements of this section until it has not been in 12
compliance for four consecutive years. A city or town that has not 13
been in compliance for four or more consecutive years is ineligible 14
for funding. A reduction or cessation of funding under this 15
subsection shall continue until such time as the city or town is able 16
to fully comply with this section. 17
(ii) When funding is reduced under this subsection, it shall be 18
reduced by the following amounts: 19
(A) One-fourth of the total that the city or town would otherwise 20
be eligible to receive if the city or town is out of compliance for 21
between one and two years; 22
(B) One-half of the total that the city or town would otherwise 23
be eligible to receive if the city or town is out of compliance for 24
between two and three years; or 25
(C) Three-fourths of the total that the city or town would 26
otherwise be eligible to receive if the city or town is out of 27
compliance for between three and four years. 28
(5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this 29
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.30
(a) "Camp" or "camping" means to pitch, use, or occupy camp 31
facilities for the purposes of habitation, as evidenced by the use of 32
camp paraphernalia. Camp facilities include, but are not limited to, 33
tents, huts, temporary shelters, or vehicles if said vehicle is being 34
used as temporary living quarters, and may include a recreational 35
vehicle, tent, tarpaulin, lean-to, sleeping bag, bedroll, blankets, 36
or any form of cover or protection from the elements other than 37
clothing. Camp paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, 38
tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, 39
hammocks, or cooking facilities or equipment. For the purposes of 40
p. 5 HB 1255
this section, "camp" and "camping" do not include the use of camp 1
facilities at an area designated for temporary recreational camping.2
(b) "Public property" means any street, alley, sidewalk, parking 3
space, pedestrian or transit mall, bike path, greenway, or any other 4
structure or area encompassed within the public right-of-way; any 5
park, parkway, mountain park, or other recreation facility; or any 6
other grounds, buildings, fixtures, or other facilities owned or 7
leased by the state or by any other public owner, regardless of 8
whether such public property is vacant or occupied and actively used 9
for any public purpose. 10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 11
RCW to read as follows: 12
(1)(a) By May 1, 2027, the legislative authority of each code 13
city that is required or that chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 14
must adopt an ordinance making it unlawful for any person to camp on 15
public property within 500 feet of: 16
(i) Public or private elementary or secondary schools;17
(ii) School walk areas, as determined under rules promulgated by 18
the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to RCW 28A.150.290;19
(iii) Child day care centers, as defined in RCW 43.216.010;20
(iv) Public parks, as defined in RCW 69.50.435;21
(v) County courthouses; 22
(vi) Areas that have been the site of an illegal encampment with 23
more than one police response for violence in the past month; and24
(vii) Areas that the code city has identified as necessary to 25
avoid water contamination. 26
(b) A code city that is not required under (a) of this subsection 27
to adopt the specified ordinance may voluntarily choose to do so. A 28
code city that voluntarily adopts the ordinance is eligible for 29
grants under subsection (3) of this section under the same conditions 30
as code cities required to adopt the ordinance under (a) of this 31
subsection. 32
(2)(a) Upon adoption of the ordinance required in subsection (1) 33
of this section, the code city's legislative authority must submit 34
copies of the ordinance to the department of commerce.35
(b) By May 1st of each year, the code city's legislative 36
authority or chief executive of the code city must submit to the 37
department of commerce: 38
p. 6 HB 1255
(i) A certification signed by the chair of the code city's 1
legislative authority or by the chief executive of the code city, 2
certifying that the ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection (1) of 3
this section remains in effect and that the code city has taken 4
reasonable steps to enforce the ordinance on an ongoing and regular 5
basis. 6
(ii) A report detailing the measures that have been taken to 7
monitor and remove those in violation of the ordinance required in 8
subsection (1) of this section, whether any violations of the 9
ordinance have occurred, and how the revenue provided in subsection 10
(3) of this section has been utilized. 11
(3) A code city that has adopted the ordinance required by 12
subsection (1) of this section and that is in compliance with the 13
requirements of subsection (2) of this section shall receive funding 14
under the encampment cleanup grant program created in section 4 of 15
this act. 16
(4)(a) A code city that has not adopted the ordinance required by 17
subsection (1) of this section or that has failed to submit the 18
ordinance, certification, or report as required by subsection (2) of 19
this section is ineligible to receive grants under RCW 36.70A.190.20
(b)(i) A code city that has not adopted the ordinance required by 21
subsection (1) of this section or that has failed to submit the 22
ordinance, certification, or report as required by subsection (2) of 23
this section shall have the funding it receives under subsection (3) 24
of this section reduced each year that it has not been in compliance 25
with the requirements of this section until it has not been in 26
compliance for four consecutive years. A code city that has not been 27
in compliance for four or more consecutive years is ineligible for 28
funding. A reduction or cessation of funding under this subsection 29
shall continue until such time as the code city is able to fully 30
comply with this section. 31
(ii) When funding is reduced under this subsection, it shall be 32
reduced by the following amounts: 33
(A) One-fourth of the total that the code city would otherwise be 34
eligible to receive if the code city is out of compliance for between 35
one and two years; 36
(B) One-half of the total that the code city would otherwise be 37
eligible to receive if the code city is out of compliance for between 38
two and three years; or 39
p. 7 HB 1255
(C) Three-fourths of the total that the code city would otherwise 1
be eligible to receive if the code city is out of compliance for 2
between three and four years. 3
(5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this 4
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.5
(a) "Camp" or "camping" means to pitch, use, or occupy camp 6
facilities for the purposes of habitation, as evidenced by the use of 7
camp paraphernalia. Camp facilities include, but are not limited to, 8
tents, huts, temporary shelters, or vehicles if said vehicle is being 9
used as temporary living quarters, and may include a recreational 10
vehicle, tent, tarpaulin, lean-to, sleeping bag, bedroll, blankets, 11
or any form of cover or protection from the elements other than 12
clothing. Camp paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, 13
tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, 14
hammocks, or cooking facilities or equipment. For the purposes of 15
this section, "camp" and "camping" do not include the use of camp 16
facilities at an area designated for temporary recreational camping.17
(b) "Public property" means any street, alley, sidewalk, parking 18
space, pedestrian or transit mall, bike path, greenway, or any other 19
structure or area encompassed within the public right-of-way; any 20
park, parkway, mountain park, or other recreation facility; or any 21
other grounds, buildings, fixtures, or other facilities owned or 22
leased by the state or by any other public owner, regardless of 23
whether such public property is vacant or occupied and actively used 24
for any public purpose. 25
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 43.31 26
RCW to read as follows: 27
(1) The encampment cleanup grant program is created in the 28
department of commerce. Grant funding must be distributed to counties 29
that are required to or voluntarily enact an ordinance under section 30
1 of this act. Counties must enter into subgrants with cities that 31
are required to or voluntarily enact an ordinance under section 2 or 32
3 of this act. In making subgrants, counties must distribute funds 33
based on the city's relative share of unsheltered homeless 34
individuals living in the county. 35
(2) Grantees must first use funds awarded under this section for 36
actions to enforce an ordinance enacted pursuant to sections 1, 2, or 37
3 of this act including, but not limited to, costs to clear garbage, 38
debris, or hazardous materials, and costs to prevent future 39
p. 8 HB 1255
encampments from forming in areas protected under the enacted 1
ordinances. Grant funding may also be used for other activities to 2
address and prevent homelessness, including providing housing and 3
supportive services for homeless individuals and families.4
(3) The department of commerce must distribute funds awarded 5
under this section to counties as follows: 6
(a) 50 percent based on the county's relative share of the 7
state's population, as determined by the office of financial 8
management pursuant to RCW 43.62.035; and 9
(b) 50 percent based on the county's relative share of the number 10
of unsheltered homeless individuals living in the state of 11
Washington, as determined by the annual Washington homeless census 12
conducted pursuant to RCW 43.185C.030. 13
(4) Grants provided under subsection (3) of this section 14
constitute reimbursement for purposes of RCW 43.135.060(1).15
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 43.31 16
RCW to read as follows: 17
(1) The encampment cleanup account is created in the state 18
treasury. Moneys in the account consist of appropriations and 19
transfers made to the account by the legislature and all other moneys 20
directed for deposit into the account. Moneys in the account may be 21
spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be 22
used by the department of commerce only for the encampment cleanup 23
grant program created in section 4 of this act. 24
(2) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and each 25
subsequent fiscal year, the legislature must transfer an amount no 26
less than $100,000,000 into the encampment cleanup account.27
Sec. 6. RCW 36.70A.190 and 2023 c 228 s 9 are each amended to 28
read as follows: 29
(1) The department shall establish a program of technical and 30
financial assistance and incentives to counties and cities to 31
encourage and facilitate the adoption and implementation of 32
comprehensive plans and development regulations throughout the state.33
(2) The department shall develop a priority list and establish 34
funding levels for planning and technical assistance grants both for 35
counties and cities that plan under RCW 36.70A.040. Priority for 36
assistance shall be based on a county's or city's population growth 37
rates, commercial and industrial development rates, the existence and 38
p. 9 HB 1255
quality of a comprehensive plan and development regulations, the 1
presence of overburdened communities, and other relevant factors. The 2
department shall establish funding levels for grants to community-3
based organizations for the specific purpose of advancing 4
participation of vulnerable populations and overburdened communities 5
in the planning process. 6
(3) The department shall develop and administer a grant program 7
to provide direct financial assistance to counties and cities for the 8
preparation of comprehensive plans under this chapter. The department 9
may establish provisions for county and city matching funds to 10
conduct activities under this subsection. Grants may be expended for 11
any purpose directly related to the preparation of a county or city 12
comprehensive plan as the county or city and the department may 13
agree, including, without limitation, the conducting of surveys, 14
inventories and other data gathering and management activities, the 15
retention of planning consultants, contracts with regional councils 16
for planning and related services, and other related purposes.17
(4) The department shall establish a program of technical 18
assistance: 19
(a) Utilizing department staff, the staff of other state 20
agencies, and the technical resources of counties and cities to help 21
in the development of comprehensive plans required under this 22
chapter. The technical assistance may include, but not be limited to, 23
model land use ordinances, regional education and training programs, 24
and information for local and regional inventories; and25
(b) Adopting by rule procedural criteria to assist counties and 26
cities in adopting comprehensive plans and development regulations 27
that meet the goals and requirements of this chapter. These criteria 28
shall reflect regional and local variations and the diversity that 29
exists among different counties and cities that plan under this 30
chapter. 31
(5) The department shall provide mediation services to resolve 32
disputes between counties and cities regarding, among other things, 33
coordination of regional issues and designation of urban growth 34
areas. 35
(6) The department shall provide services to facilitate the 36
timely resolution of disputes between a federally recognized Indian 37
tribe and a city or county. 38
(a) A federally recognized Indian tribe may request the 39
department to provide facilitation services to resolve issues of 40
p. 10 HB 1255
concern with a proposed comprehensive plan and its development 1
regulations, or any amendment to the comprehensive plan and its 2
development regulations. 3
(b) Upon receipt of a request from a tribe, the department shall 4
notify the city or county of the request and offer to assist in 5
providing facilitation services to encourage resolution before 6
adoption of the proposed comprehensive plan. Upon receipt of the 7
notice from the department, the city or county must delay any final 8
action to adopt any comprehensive plan or any amendment or its 9
development regulations for at least 60 days. The tribe and the city 10
or county may jointly agree to extend this period by notifying the 11
department. A county or city must not be penalized for noncompliance 12
under this chapter due to any delays associated with this process.13
(c) Upon receipt of a request, the department shall provide 14
comments to the county or city including a summary and supporting 15
materials regarding the tribe's concerns. The county or city may 16
either agree to amend the comprehensive plan as requested consistent 17
with the comments from the department, or enter into a facilitated 18
process with the tribe, which must be arranged by the department 19
using a suitable expert to be paid by the department. This 20
facilitated process may also extend the 60-day delay of adoption, 21
upon agreement of the tribe and the city or county.22
(d) At the end of the 60-day period, unless by agreement there is 23
an extension of the 60-day period, the city or county may proceed 24
with adoption of the proposed comprehensive plan and development 25
regulations. The facilitator shall write a report of findings 26
describing the basis for agreements or disagreements that occurred 27
during the process that are allowed to be disclosed by the parties 28
and the resulting agreed-upon elements of the plan to be amended.29
(7) The department shall provide planning grants to enhance 30
citizen participation under RCW 36.70A.140. 31
(8) The department shall develop, in collaboration with the 32
department of ecology, the department of fish and wildlife, the 33
department of natural resources, the department of health, the 34
emergency management division of the military department, as well as 35
any federally recognized tribe who chooses to voluntarily 36
participate, and adopt by rule guidance that creates a model climate 37
change and resiliency element that may be used by counties, cities, 38
and multiple-county planning regions for developing and implementing 39
p. 11 HB 1255
climate change and resiliency plans and policies required by RCW 1
36.70A.070(9), subject to the following provisions:2
(a) The model element must establish minimum requirements, and 3
may include model options or voluntary cross-jurisdictional 4
strategies, or both, for fulfilling the requirements of RCW 5
36.70A.070(9); 6
(b) The model element should provide guidance on identifying, 7
designing, and investing in infrastructure that supports community 8
resilience to climate impacts, including the protection, restoration, 9
and enhancement of natural infrastructure as well as traditional 10
infrastructure and protecting and enhancing natural areas to foster 11
resiliency to climate impacts, as well as areas of vital habitat for 12
safe passage and species migration; 13
(c) The model element should provide guidance on identifying and 14
addressing natural hazards created or aggravated by climate change, 15
including sea level rise, landslides, flooding, drought, heat, smoke, 16
wildfires, and other effects of reasonably anticipated changes to 17
temperature and precipitation patterns; and 18
(d) The rule must recognize and promote as many cobenefits of 19
climate resilience as possible such as climate change mitigation, 20
salmon recovery, forest health, ecosystem services, and socioeconomic 21
health and resilience. 22
(9)(a) A county that is not in compliance with the requirements 23
of section 1 of this act, or a city that is not in compliance with 24
section 2 or 3 of this act, is ineligible to receive grants or 25
technical assistance under this section except as provided in (b) of 26
this subsection.27
(b) By June 1, 2027, and by each subsequent June 1st thereafter, 28
the department shall notify any city or county that will not qualify 29
for technical assistance and grants for the coming fiscal year 30
because of a failure to comply with the requirements of section 1, 2, 31
or 3 of this act. A city or county that remedies its noncompliance 32
within 30 days of receiving a notification shall be considered to 33
have complied with the requirements of this section for the coming 34
fiscal year.35
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 43.185C 36
RCW to read as follows: 37
(1) By January 1, 2026, the department must maintain an online 38
data dashboard updated on a quarterly basis with performance metrics 39
p. 12 HB 1255
regarding verified homeless encampment sites. The dashboard must 1
allow for viewing data at a statewide level and by county. The 2
dashboard must include the following performance metrics:3
(a) The number and location of verified homeless encampment 4
sites; 5
(b) The number of individuals living in a verified homeless 6
encampment site who received an offer of shelter before a local 7
government or state agency took action to close the site; and8
(c) Total expenditures, by fund source, for closing verified 9
homeless encampment sites. Types of expenditures may include, but are 10
not limited to, costs for outreach and the provision of services to 11
homeless individuals previously living at the encampment site; law 12
enforcement costs; costs to collect and dispose of garbage; costs to 13
clear debris or hazardous material; and other costs to prevent future 14
encampments from forming. 15
(2) Any local government receiving state funds for homelessness 16
assistance or state or local document recording fees under RCW 17
36.22.250, must provide a report to the department that includes the 18
information described in subsection (1)(a) through (c) of this 19
section on a quarterly basis. If a local government fails to report 20
or provides an inadequate or incomplete report, the department must 21
take corrective action, which may include withholding state funding 22
for homelessness assistance to the local government to enable the 23
department to use such funds to contract with other public or 24
nonprofit entities to provide homelessness assistance within the 25
jurisdiction. 26
(3) The department may provide grants to local governments to 27
assist with costs associated with collecting and reporting data as 28
required under subsection (2) of this section. 29
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this 30
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.31
(a) "Public property" means any street, alley, sidewalk, parking 32
space, pedestrian or transit mall, bike path, greenway, or any other 33
structure or area encompassed within the public right-of-way; any 34
park, parkway, mountain park, or other recreation facility; or any 35
other grounds, buildings, fixtures, or other facilities owned or 36
leased by the state or by any other public owner, regardless of 37
whether such public property is vacant or occupied and actively used 38
for any public purpose. 39
p. 13 HB 1255
(b) "Verified homeless encampment site" means a site located on 1
public property where one or more homeless individuals or households 2
pitch, use, or occupy camp facilities for the purposes of habitation. 3
The state agency or local government who owns the property where the 4
site is located must verify the presence of homeless individuals or 5
households using or occupying camp facilities. Camp facilities 6
include, but are not limited to, tents, huts, temporary shelters, or 7
vehicles if said vehicle is being used as temporary living quarters, 8
and may include a recreational vehicle, tent, tarpaulin, lean-to, 9
sleeping bag, bedroll, blankets, or any form of cover or protection 10
from the elements other than clothing. For the purposes of this 11
section, a "verified homeless encampment site" does not include the 12
use of camp facilities at an area designated for temporary 13
recreational camping. 14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act is necessary for the immediate 15
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 16
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 17
effect immediately.18
--- END ---
p. 14 HB 1255