This bill strips away independent judgement from local jurisdictions when it comes to orders banning public camping, sleeping, or other obstruction of a sidewalk. It also gives the attorney general a legal basis to sue the jurisdiction if it adopts policies that discourage enforcement of public camping orders.
Local officials are the best situated to determine when enforcement will work and when it won’t. We cannot criminalize our way out of homelessness. We oppose this bill because it implements a “one size fits all” solution on a complex issue, homelessness. Local governments need the flexibility to respond to homelessness in a way that makes sense for their communities.
