Governor Newsom signs new bills intended to boost housing supply, provide shelter beds

Fresno CA unveils new motel converted to homeless shelter | Fresno Bee

Governor Newsom signs new bills to boost housing supply, provide shelter beds

Iman Palm
fox5sandiego.com

Gov Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed two new bills that aim to boost housing supply and further address the state’s homelessness crisis.

One of the bills, Assembly Bill 2835, will make it easier for homeless individuals to stay at privately owned motels and hotels for longer than 30 days. Local governments, including Los Angeles, have often used this strategy to get people off the street.

The other bill, Assembly Bill 3057, focuses on junior ADUs—units created within single-family homes up to 500 feet in size. Under the new law, junior ADUs will be exempt from requirements mandated under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. In the past, following these requirements could add time and cost to developments.

Larger ADUs were already exempt from CEQA requirements.

“The homelessness crisis demands immediate and innovative action, not the status quo. With these new laws, local governments have even more tools to provide housing. I urge them to fully utilize the state’s unprecedented resources to address homelessness,” Newsom said in a statement.

The introduction of the new laws comes after Newsom signed an executive order allowing state and local officials to dismantle homeless encampments.

Assembly Bill 2835 Summary

This bill, introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel in the California legislature, outlines requirements for shelter programs operating in motels, hotels, or other facilities. Here's a summary of the key points:

1. Legal Status: Shelter program participants are not considered tenants, which affects their rights under certain civil procedures.

2. Housing First Approach: Programs must adhere to Housing First principles.

3. Termination Policies:
   - Programs must establish clear rules for terminating a participant's enrollment.
   - Permissible reasons include sexual assault, threatening behavior, violence, illegal activity, and established time limits.
   - Terminations should be handled in a trauma-informed, harm-reduction manner.

4. Termination Notice:
   - Generally, 30 days' notice is required for termination.
   - Immediate removal is allowed in cases of "direct threat," but participants must be informed of their right to a grievance process.

5. Exit Planning:
   - Programs must provide an exit plan with referrals to other available services.
   - Operators must make good faith efforts to facilitate intake at another available shelter.
   - Reasonable transportation accommodations should be provided upon termination or transfer.

6. Grievance Process:
   - A due process-compliant grievance system must be established.
   - Participants can appeal terminations they believe are wrongful.
   - The process can be initiated 30 days before termination or at any point after.

7. Conversion to Permanent Housing:
   - When a property is converted to permanent housing, certain requirements no longer apply once a certificate of occupancy is issued.

This bill aims to balance the rights and needs of shelter program participants with the operational requirements of shelter providers, emphasizing clear communication, due process, and support for participants facing termination. 

Assembly Bill 3057 Summary

This bill, introduced by Assembly Member Wilson in the California legislature, proposes to amend the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regarding exemptions for junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). Here's a summary of the key points:

1. Current CEQA Exemptions:
   - CEQA currently exempts certain ordinances related to zoning variances, special use permits, and conditional use permits for dwelling units from its environmental review requirements.
   - These exemptions apply to ordinances for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in areas zoned for single-family or multifamily residential use.

2. Proposed Amendment:
   - The bill aims to expand the existing CEQA exemption to include ordinances related to junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) in single-family residential zones.

3. Purpose:
   - This amendment would streamline the process for local governments to adopt ordinances allowing JADUs in single-family residential areas without requiring a full CEQA review.

4. Scope:
   - The bill specifically targets ordinances that "provide for the creation of junior accessory dwelling units in single-family residential zones."

5. Legislative Details:
   - The bill requires a majority vote to pass.
   - It does not involve any appropriations.
   - It is not classified as a fiscal committee item.
   - It does not create a local program.

This bill essentially aims to reduce regulatory barriers for creating JADUs by exempting related ordinances from CEQA review, potentially making it easier and faster for local governments to allow these types of housing units in single-family residential areas.

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