CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 258Introduced by Senator HertzbergFebruary 12, 2019 An act to add Section 12087.4 to the Government Code, relating to homeless shelters, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 258, as introduced, Hertzberg. Department of Community Services and Development: grants: homeless shelters: pets and veterinary services.Existing law establishes the Department of Community Services and Development and requires the department to, among other things, mobilize public and private resources in support of antipoverty and community services programs.This bill would require the department to develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters, as described, for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. The bill would appropriate $5,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for this grant program.Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California is experiencing increased homelessness.(b) According to Pets of the Homeless, of the 3,500,000 Americans who are homeless, 5 to 10 percent have dogs or cats.(c) Many shelters, motels, and other assisted housing programs do not permit animals on their property, pushing potential recipients to live in cars, recreational vehicles (RVs), and tent camps.(d) Being asked to abandon a pet is a major barrier to engaging homeless persons to use services and is emotionally draining to an already vulnerable population.(e) Pets provide warmth, security, and companionship to many who sleep on the streets. Pets also provide a type of normalcy, as providing food and water for their pets helps some homeless persons connect with reality.(f) After surrendering a pet, owners reunite with their dogs only 15 percent of the time, while 60 percent or more of animals are left in the animal shelter system and most will die.(g) By providing services for pets whose owners are without a home, both ends of the leash would be getting needed assistance. More homeless people in need would be inclined to obtain medical and living assistance, and the conditions for their pets would be improved.SEC. 2. Section 12087.4 is added to the Government Code, to read:12087.4. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. (b) For purposes of this section, a qualified homeless shelter means a homeless shelter that meets all of the following conditions:(1) It has rules of conduct and responsibility regarding pets and their owners.(2) It provides crates or kenneling either near bunks or in a separate area.(3) It provides food for both homeless people and their pets.(4) It offers the services of a veterinarian, including spay and neutering services.(c) There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for purposes of providing grants pursuant to this section.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 258Introduced by Senator HertzbergFebruary 12, 2019 An act to add Section 12087.4 to the Government Code, relating to homeless shelters, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 258, as introduced, Hertzberg. Department of Community Services and Development: grants: homeless shelters: pets and veterinary services.Existing law establishes the Department of Community Services and Development and requires the department to, among other things, mobilize public and private resources in support of antipoverty and community services programs.This bill would require the department to develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters, as described, for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. The bill would appropriate $5,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for this grant program.Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill No. 258
Introduced by Senator HertzbergFebruary 12, 2019
Introduced by Senator Hertzberg
February 12, 2019
An act to add Section 12087.4 to the Government Code, relating to homeless shelters, and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 258, as introduced, Hertzberg. Department of Community Services and Development: grants: homeless shelters: pets and veterinary services.
Existing law establishes the Department of Community Services and Development and requires the department to, among other things, mobilize public and private resources in support of antipoverty and community services programs.This bill would require the department to develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters, as described, for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. The bill would appropriate $5,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for this grant program.
Existing law establishes the Department of Community Services and Development and requires the department to, among other things, mobilize public and private resources in support of antipoverty and community services programs.
This bill would require the department to develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters, as described, for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. The bill would appropriate $5,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for this grant program.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California is experiencing increased homelessness.(b) According to Pets of the Homeless, of the 3,500,000 Americans who are homeless, 5 to 10 percent have dogs or cats.(c) Many shelters, motels, and other assisted housing programs do not permit animals on their property, pushing potential recipients to live in cars, recreational vehicles (RVs), and tent camps.(d) Being asked to abandon a pet is a major barrier to engaging homeless persons to use services and is emotionally draining to an already vulnerable population.(e) Pets provide warmth, security, and companionship to many who sleep on the streets. Pets also provide a type of normalcy, as providing food and water for their pets helps some homeless persons connect with reality.(f) After surrendering a pet, owners reunite with their dogs only 15 percent of the time, while 60 percent or more of animals are left in the animal shelter system and most will die.(g) By providing services for pets whose owners are without a home, both ends of the leash would be getting needed assistance. More homeless people in need would be inclined to obtain medical and living assistance, and the conditions for their pets would be improved.SEC. 2. Section 12087.4 is added to the Government Code, to read:12087.4. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. (b) For purposes of this section, a qualified homeless shelter means a homeless shelter that meets all of the following conditions:(1) It has rules of conduct and responsibility regarding pets and their owners.(2) It provides crates or kenneling either near bunks or in a separate area.(3) It provides food for both homeless people and their pets.(4) It offers the services of a veterinarian, including spay and neutering services.(c) There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for purposes of providing grants pursuant to this section.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California is experiencing increased homelessness.(b) According to Pets of the Homeless, of the 3,500,000 Americans who are homeless, 5 to 10 percent have dogs or cats.(c) Many shelters, motels, and other assisted housing programs do not permit animals on their property, pushing potential recipients to live in cars, recreational vehicles (RVs), and tent camps.(d) Being asked to abandon a pet is a major barrier to engaging homeless persons to use services and is emotionally draining to an already vulnerable population.(e) Pets provide warmth, security, and companionship to many who sleep on the streets. Pets also provide a type of normalcy, as providing food and water for their pets helps some homeless persons connect with reality.(f) After surrendering a pet, owners reunite with their dogs only 15 percent of the time, while 60 percent or more of animals are left in the animal shelter system and most will die.(g) By providing services for pets whose owners are without a home, both ends of the leash would be getting needed assistance. More homeless people in need would be inclined to obtain medical and living assistance, and the conditions for their pets would be improved.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California is experiencing increased homelessness.(b) According to Pets of the Homeless, of the 3,500,000 Americans who are homeless, 5 to 10 percent have dogs or cats.(c) Many shelters, motels, and other assisted housing programs do not permit animals on their property, pushing potential recipients to live in cars, recreational vehicles (RVs), and tent camps.(d) Being asked to abandon a pet is a major barrier to engaging homeless persons to use services and is emotionally draining to an already vulnerable population.(e) Pets provide warmth, security, and companionship to many who sleep on the streets. Pets also provide a type of normalcy, as providing food and water for their pets helps some homeless persons connect with reality.(f) After surrendering a pet, owners reunite with their dogs only 15 percent of the time, while 60 percent or more of animals are left in the animal shelter system and most will die.(g) By providing services for pets whose owners are without a home, both ends of the leash would be getting needed assistance. More homeless people in need would be inclined to obtain medical and living assistance, and the conditions for their pets would be improved.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
### SECTION 1.
(a) California is experiencing increased homelessness.
(b) According to Pets of the Homeless, of the 3,500,000 Americans who are homeless, 5 to 10 percent have dogs or cats.
(c) Many shelters, motels, and other assisted housing programs do not permit animals on their property, pushing potential recipients to live in cars, recreational vehicles (RVs), and tent camps.
(d) Being asked to abandon a pet is a major barrier to engaging homeless persons to use services and is emotionally draining to an already vulnerable population.
(e) Pets provide warmth, security, and companionship to many who sleep on the streets. Pets also provide a type of normalcy, as providing food and water for their pets helps some homeless persons connect with reality.
(f) After surrendering a pet, owners reunite with their dogs only 15 percent of the time, while 60 percent or more of animals are left in the animal shelter system and most will die.
(g) By providing services for pets whose owners are without a home, both ends of the leash would be getting needed assistance. More homeless people in need would be inclined to obtain medical and living assistance, and the conditions for their pets would be improved.
SEC. 2. Section 12087.4 is added to the Government Code, to read:12087.4. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. (b) For purposes of this section, a qualified homeless shelter means a homeless shelter that meets all of the following conditions:(1) It has rules of conduct and responsibility regarding pets and their owners.(2) It provides crates or kenneling either near bunks or in a separate area.(3) It provides food for both homeless people and their pets.(4) It offers the services of a veterinarian, including spay and neutering services.(c) There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for purposes of providing grants pursuant to this section.
SEC. 2. Section 12087.4 is added to the Government Code, to read:
### SEC. 2.
12087.4. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. (b) For purposes of this section, a qualified homeless shelter means a homeless shelter that meets all of the following conditions:(1) It has rules of conduct and responsibility regarding pets and their owners.(2) It provides crates or kenneling either near bunks or in a separate area.(3) It provides food for both homeless people and their pets.(4) It offers the services of a veterinarian, including spay and neutering services.(c) There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for purposes of providing grants pursuant to this section.
12087.4. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. (b) For purposes of this section, a qualified homeless shelter means a homeless shelter that meets all of the following conditions:(1) It has rules of conduct and responsibility regarding pets and their owners.(2) It provides crates or kenneling either near bunks or in a separate area.(3) It provides food for both homeless people and their pets.(4) It offers the services of a veterinarian, including spay and neutering services.(c) There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for purposes of providing grants pursuant to this section.
12087.4. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people. (b) For purposes of this section, a qualified homeless shelter means a homeless shelter that meets all of the following conditions:(1) It has rules of conduct and responsibility regarding pets and their owners.(2) It provides crates or kenneling either near bunks or in a separate area.(3) It provides food for both homeless people and their pets.(4) It offers the services of a veterinarian, including spay and neutering services.(c) There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for purposes of providing grants pursuant to this section.
12087.4. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by homeless people.
(b) For purposes of this section, a qualified homeless shelter means a homeless shelter that meets all of the following conditions:
(1) It has rules of conduct and responsibility regarding pets and their owners.
(2) It provides crates or kenneling either near bunks or in a separate area.
(3) It provides food for both homeless people and their pets.
(4) It offers the services of a veterinarian, including spay and neutering services.
(c) There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for purposes of providing grants pursuant to this section.