SB 239: State Homeless Campus Amendments - Utah

Amended 3/3/2026 19:03:942 → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's homeless services laws to establish strict requirements for a new state homeless services campus. It mandates the creation of a comprehensive safety and service plan within 30 days of the campus's announcement, requiring 24/7 physical security and specific staff-to-patient ratios. The bill also empowers an ombudsman to investigate the campus, recommend remediation, and suggest ceasing operations if violations occur, while allowing the Legislature to withhold funding for non-compliance.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of oversight to include a specific state facility (the homeless services campus) and introduces a new enforcement mechanism via the ombudsman to monitor compliance with safety and service standards.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the Office of Homeless Services to create a comprehensive campus plan within 30 days of announcing the location, addressing safety, transportation, and services.

Mandates 24/7 physical security and specific behavioral health staff-to-patient ratios (no more than 3 patients per provider) at the campus.

ENFORCEMENT

Grants the ombudsman authority to investigate the campus, recommend remediation plans, and suggest that the campus cease operations if it fails to cure violations or receives multiple complaints.

FISCAL

Allows the Legislature to withhold future state appropriations from the campus if it fails to cure identified violations within the statutory timeframe.

TIMELINE

Sets a specific effective date of May 6, 2026, and includes a provision to accelerate the planning timeline if the campus is announced before May 6, 2026.

Amended Excerpts 3/3/2026 19:03:942 → Amended 3/3/2026 19:03:942 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a partial excerpt of amendments into a complete substitute bill titled 'State Homeless Services Campus Amendments.' It formally defines a new 'homeless services campus' and establishes a comprehensive framework requiring the state to create a detailed plan for campus safety, transportation, and services. The bill also introduces a new ombudsman role to investigate violations and recommends a remediation process, while updating existing definitions related to homeless services and municipalities.

Scope change

The scope expanded from a fragmented list of specific line edits to a full legislative act creating a new 'homeless services campus' entity with specific operational and oversight requirements.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'homeless services campus' and updated related terms like 'eligible services' and 'exit destination' to support the new campus model.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated the creation of a comprehensive plan addressing safety, transportation, and service types for the campus and surrounding community.

ENFORCEMENT

Established a new role for the homeless services ombudsman to investigate campus violations and recommend remediation or cessation of operations.

TIMELINE

Set a requirement for the state coordinator to develop the campus plan within a specific timeframe after announcing the location.

TECHNICAL

Removed fragmented line-by-line amendment instructions and replaced them with a structured bill format including a long title and Utah Code sections affected.

Introduced → Amended Excerpts 3/3/2026 19:03:942 · 1 edit

MINOR

Senate amendments added specific requirements for the homeless services campus plan to address public health issues related to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. This change ensures that the campus plan explicitly considers the health risks of vector-borne illnesses for residents, staff, and visitors, expanding the scope of required safety and support measures.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include specific public health protections against mosquito-borne diseases within the homeless services campus operational plan.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the comprehensive campus plan to address public health issues regarding mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases for residents, staff, and visitors.

State Homeless Campus Amendments

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