Department of Transportation: homeless encampments.

Senator Blakespear's California Homeless Encampment Collaboration Act establishes a dedicated liaison within the Department of Transportation to coordinate homeless encampment management on state highways through partnerships with local governments. The liaison will facilitate communication between state and local agencies, oversee maintenance agreements, and develop response protocols for encampment removal requests.

The legislation authorizes the Department to enter into delegated maintenance agreements with cities and counties, allowing local agencies to apply their existing encampment management practices on state property. These agreements may cover outreach programs, environmental cleanup, trash removal, and graffiti abatement. The Department may issue single general entry permits valid for the duration of each agreement and, pending legislative appropriation, reimburse local governments for services provided under these arrangements.

To enhance transparency and assess outcomes, the Department must maintain a public database of all maintenance agreements, including geographic coverage, funding allocations, and authorized activities. The liaison will also submit annual reports to the Legislature documenting the number of encampments addressed through local partnerships and recommending improvements to coordination and resource allocation processes. The bill's provisions focus specifically on state highway property, where the Department currently maintains full control and authority over encampment removal.