§ 35A-8-602. Purposes of Homeless Coordinating Committee -- Uses of Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account. (Effective 5/13/2014)

(1)

(a) The Homeless Coordinating Committee shall work to ensure that services provided to the homeless by state agencies, local governments, and private organizations are provided in a cost-effective manner.

(b) Programs funded by the committee shall emphasize emergency housing and self-sufficiency, including placement in meaningful employment or occupational training activities and, where needed, special services to meet the unique needs of the homeless who:

(i) have families with children;

(ii) have a disability or a mental illness; or

(iii) suffer from other serious challenges to employment and self-sufficiency.

(c) The committee may also fund treatment programs to ameliorate the effects of substance abuse or a disability.

(2) The committee members designated in Subsection 35A-8-601(2) shall:

(a) award contracts funded by the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account with the advice and input of those designated in Subsection 35A-8-601(3);

(b) consider need, diversity of geographic location, coordination with or enhancement of existing services, and the extensive use of volunteers; and

(c) give priority for funding to programs that serve the homeless who have a mental illness and who are in families with children.

(3)

(a) In any fiscal year, no more than 80% of the funds in the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account may be allocated to organizations that provide services only in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and Utah Counties.

(b) The committee may:

(i) expend up to 3% of its annual appropriation for administrative costs associated with the allocation of funds from the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account, and up to 2% of its annual appropriation for marketing the account and soliciting donations to the account; and

(ii) pay for the initial costs of the State Tax Commission in implementing Section 59-10-1306 from the account.

(4)

(a) The committee may not expend, except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), an amount equal to the greater of $50,000 or 20% of the amount donated to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account during fiscal year 1988-89.

(b) If there are decreases in contributions to the account, the committee may expend money held in the account to provide program stability, but the committee shall reimburse the amount of those expenditures to the account.

(5) The committee shall make an annual report to the department regarding the programs and services funded by contributions to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account for inclusion in the annual written report described in Section 35A-1-109.

(6) The state treasurer shall invest the money in the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account according to the procedures and requirements of Title 51, Chapter 7, State Money Management Act, except that interest and other earnings derived from the restricted account shall be deposited in the restricted account.

Amended by Chapter 371, 2014 General Session