Homelessness: transport.

Assembly Member Pellerin's proposal to regulate the relocation of homeless individuals across jurisdictions would establish new requirements for local governments and law enforcement agencies throughout California. The legislation prohibits public employees from transporting homeless individuals to different jurisdictions unless shelter or long-term housing has been coordinated in advance.

The bill defines specific parameters around homeless relocation practices, requiring coordination with housing providers before any cross-jurisdictional transport can occur. This applies whether agencies directly transport individuals or arrange/fund such transportation through other means. Local governments and law enforcement agencies that violate these provisions would face civil penalties of $10,000 per incident.

The legislation provides detailed definitions of various housing types, including emergency shelter (limited to six-month stays), transitional housing (up to 24-month programs with support services), and permanent supportive housing (unlimited duration with integrated services). It specifically addresses individuals lacking fixed nighttime residences, those staying in places not meant for human habitation, and persons living in supervised temporary shelters or transitional housing.

By declaring homelessness a matter of statewide concern, the bill would apply uniformly across all California municipalities, including charter cities. This standardization aims to create consistent protocols for how public agencies handle cross-jurisdictional movement of homeless individuals throughout the state.