Louisiana SB 144: HOUSING: Provides for local authorities to regulate group homes. (gov sig)

Bill Text

SLS 24RS-539 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 144
BY SENATOR BARROW
HOUSING. Provides for local authorities to regulate group homes. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Chapter 15-B of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be
3 comprised of R.S. 33:5100, relative to shared housing; to provide for legislative
4 findings; to provide for definitions; to provide relative to operating standards; to
5 provide for residency requirements and rights; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. Chapter 15-B of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
8 comprised of R.S. 33:5100, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 CHAPTER 15-B. SHARED HOUSING
10 §5100. Findings; declaration of necessity and purpose
11 A. It is hereby found and declared that:
12 (1) It is the policy of the state to permit and promote the availability of
13 shared housing establishments based on a social model that promotes the
14 dignity, individuality, privacy, independence, autonomy, and decision making
15 of unrelated adults.
16 (2) It is the policy of the state to enable the governing body of parishes
17 and municipalities to promote the safety, health, morals, and welfare, comfort,
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO. 144
SLS 24RS-539 ORIGINAL
1 and security of the people of the state through the provision of adequate, safe,
2 and sanitary accommodations and facilities incidental or appurtenant thereto,
3 for persons residing in shared housing establishment in this state.
4 (3) It is the policy of the state to promote a vigorous and growing
5 economy, to prevent economic stagnation, and to encourage the creation of new
6 job opportunities, to increase revenues to the state and to its parishes and
7 municipalities, and to achieve stable and diversified local economies. In
8 furtherance of these goals, it is the policy of the state to enable the governing
9 authority of parishes and municipalities to assure shared housing
10 establishments shall be operated in a manner that provides the least restrictive
11 and most homelike environment and that promotes independence, autonomy,
12 individuality, and dignity.
13 (4) It is not the intent of the state that shared housing establishments be
14 used as halfway houses for alcohol and substance abusers.
15 B. For purposes of this Chapter the following terms shall have the
16 following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
17 (1) "Activities of daily living" means eating, dressing, bathing, toileting,
18 and personal hygiene.
19 (2) "Severe mental illness" means a condition that is characterized by
20 the presence of a major mental disorder as classified in the Diagnostic and
21 Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
22 (3) "Shared housing establishment" means a privately operated
23 free-standing home, residence, or any other place where sleeping
24 accommodations are provided for at least six unrelated adults.
25 C. The minimum operating standards for shared housing establishments
26 shall include but not be limited to:
27 (1) Compliance with the residential board and care occupancies chapter
28 of the National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code, local and state
29 building codes for the building type, and accessibility standards of the
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO. 144
SLS 24RS-539 ORIGINAL
1 Americans with Disabilities Act.
2 (2) All sanitary conditions within the establishment and its surroundings,
3 including water supply, sewage disposal, food handling, infection control, and
4 general hygiene, which shall ensure the health and comfort of residents.
5 D.(1) Each owner of the shared housing establishment shall furnish the
6 following information with the local governing authority's department that is
7 responsible for enforcing building codes:
8 (a) The owner's name, address, and telephone number, or the name,
9 address, and telephone number of the owner's agent; and
10 (b) The street address and unit number, as appropriate, for each shared
11 housing that the owner owns, leases, or subleases.
12 (2)(a) The information required under Paragraph (D)(1) of this Section
13 shall be furnished on a form provided by the department of the local governing
14 authority responsible for enforcing building codes. The local governing
15 authority is authorized to collect from an owner who files the form. The fee
16 shall be set by ordinance and shall not exceed one hundred dollars per year.
17 (b) Any owner who fails to register as required by this Section shall be
18 assessed a fine in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars per week by the
19 department of the local governing authority that is responsible for enforcing
20 building codes. Prior to the assessment of the f