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An Act To Amend the Veterans' Homelessness Prevention Coordination Program
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  the need to support homeless veterans is immediate and crucial for their health, safety and welfare; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §513, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 329, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 2.  37-B MRSA §513-A  is enacted to read:
§ 513-A. Veterans' homelessness prevention coordination
 
1.  Veterans' homelessness prevention partnership.     The director shall, through one or more collaborative agreements, establish a program of partnerships with human services-based volunteer organizations to provide transitional housing to homeless veterans and coordinate efforts to remedy and prevent homelessness among veterans in this State. The volunteer organizations must have as their core programs addressing homelessness and veterans' services and have been active in the State for at least 2 years. Priority must be given to an organization founded, chartered or organized in the State. The director may accept donations from outside sources and state and federal funding to accomplish the priorities of the partnerships. To the extent state, federal or outside funding is available, the priorities of these partnerships, listed in order of priority, include, but are not limited to:
 
A.  Identifying homeless veterans in the State;
 
B.  Identifying and securing temporary or permanent living space for veterans within the veterans' communities;
 
C.  Providing reimbursement to human services-based volunteer organizations that provide transitional housing to homeless veterans pursuant to collaborative agreements entered into pursuant to this subsection; and
 
D.  Conducting annual outreach events, targeted to reach the maximum number of veterans in need, to disseminate information on resources and services available to assist homeless veterans.
 
2.  Rules.     The bureau may adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including to define "veterans" for purposes of this section, to govern collaborative agreements with human services-based volunteer organizations and to govern the reimbursement of organizations that provide transitional housing to homeless veterans through disbursements from the Veterans' Homelessness Prevention Partnership Fund.
 
Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
3.  Fund established.     The Veterans' Homelessness Prevention Partnership Fund, a nonlapsing fund, is established under the bureau for the purpose of receiving funds from state, federal and other sources, including donations from private citizens, corporations and entities for the purpose of this section. The bureau shall use the fund to provide reimbursement to human services-based volunteer organizations that provide transitional housing to homeless veterans and to otherwise carry out the purposes of this section.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Veterans Services 0110
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for reimbursements to a human services-based volunteer organization that provides transitional housing to homeless veterans.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21	
All Other	$100,000	$100,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$100,000	$100,000	

Veterans Services 0110
 
Initiative: Establishes one part-time Office Associate II position to provide auditing and accounting services to the veterans' homelessness prevention coordination program.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.500	0.500	
Personal Services	$29,691	$30,582	
All Other	$2,500	$2,500	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$32,191	$33,082	

Veterans Services 0110
 
Initiative: Establishes the Veterans' Homelessness Prevention Partnership Fund with a base Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $500 beginning in fiscal year 2019-20.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2019-20	2020-21	
All Other	$500	$500	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$500	$500	

DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2019-20	2020-21	
			
GENERAL FUND	$132,191	$133,082	
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	$500	$500	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$132,691	$133,582	
 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.