HF 371 (LSB 1919HH (5) 90)

HOUSE FILE 371

BY  ISENHART, TUREK, CAHILL, WILBURN, BROWN-POWERS, LEVIN, and GAINES

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to transitional housing for specified homeless veterans, and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY —— TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR ELIGIBLE SERVICE MEMBERS.  There is appropriated from the opioid settlement fund established in section 12.51 to the Iowa finance authority for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   To provide grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees to veteran-led nonprofit organizations:
   ...................................................................... $  4,300,000

   1.  Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall be distributed to veteran-led nonprofit organizations provided that the organization meets all of the following conditions:
   a.  The funds will be used to purchase land, construct housing, or furnish housing for the purpose of providing transitional housing to homeless veterans.
   b.  The veterans receiving transitional housing benefits pursuant to paragraph “a” are suffering from or are at risk of opioid or other substance abuse disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another mental illness or life disruption as the Iowa finance authority, in consultation with the department of health and human services and the department of veterans affairs, deems appropriate.
   c.  The funds are used as a part of a wraparound health and social services program provided by or through the organization.
   2.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to transitional housing for specified homeless veterans.
   The bill appropriates $4.3 million from the opioid settlement fund to the Iowa finance authority (IFA) for FY 2023-2024 to provide grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees to veteran-led nonprofit organizations (VNO).
   The bill makes the distribution of such moneys appropriated to the IFA contingent on a VNO using the funds to purchase land, construct housing, or furnish housing for the purpose of providing transitional housing to homeless veterans; ensuring the veterans receiving such transitional housing benefits are suffering from or are at risk of opioid or other substance abuse disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another mental illness or life disruption as the IFA, in consultation with the department of health and human services and the department of veterans affairs, deems appropriate; and that the funds are used as a part of a wraparound health and social services program provided by or through the VNO.
   The bill states that all moneys appropriated pursuant to the bill that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.