Progress on 2006 Legislative Priorities

Three weeks into the 2006 Legislative Session, and already real progress is being made on the Coalition’s legislative priorities:

• Bonding. This is the session that the Legislature takes up capital investments through the bonding bill (borrowing to pay for infrastructure investments). The Coalition’s bonding initiative totals $43 million and includes $33 million to stay on track with investments needed for the state plan to end long-term homelessness, as well as $10 million for transitional housing for people that do not meet the long-term homeless definition. Our bill (SF 2486/HF 3098) has been heard favorably in initial committees and recommendations have been made to the Capital Investment Committees late last week. We expect to know more about where the initiative sits in prioritization in each body during the week of March 20th. It is expected that each body will pass its bonding bill from the floor before their spring break begins April 12, 2006.
• Dedicated Funding for Housing. Momentum is building behind the Housing Solutions Act. A new partnership has been formed with Minnesota NAHRO, which represents the local units of government that develop and manage affordable housing. With nearly 100 endorsers, the Housing Solutions Alliance will proceed with a bill this year that will dedicate $69 million annually to affordable housing. With money raised through a deed surcharge: 42 percent of the funds ($29 million/year) will be devoted to rental assistance for extremely low-income households; 33 percent ($23 million/year) will go toward construction and rehab of affordable “workforce” housing; and 25 percent ($17 million) will be matched dollar-for-dollar with local funds through a new program called the Housing Account for Leverage Opportunity (HALO). The bill will be introduced, and a first hearing will be held the week of March 20, 2006.
• Study Human Services Block Grants. The Coalition has been working with legislators to seek a study of the 2003 human services changes that block granted 26 individual programs into two block grants and also saw cutbacks in funding. We, and some legislators, would like to have better data to evaluate how this new system has worked or not worked before the budget is set again in 2007. The Legislature recommends six to eight study topics for the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor to take on in one year. Our topic is near the middle of the list of 16 of the final topics. Topics will be selected the week of March 20, 2006.
• Funding for HMIS and Continuum of Care. A hearing is scheduled March 23, 2006, for our bill to fund HMIS ($540,000) and Continuum of Care in Greater Minnesota ($110,000). The bill numbers are HF 3513/SF 3160. These state resources are critical to ensure we access federal homelessness dollars.
• Discharge Planning Initiative. The Coalition has researched a proposal to redirect approximately $100,000 annually in federal bonus dollars from the Social Security Administration to go toward improving discharge planning from corrections. We are still exploring with legislators whether this proposal should move forward this year.