Utah Code § 35A-16-205 — Utah Code / Title 35A / Chapter 35A-16 / § 35A-16-205
§ 35A-16-205. Duties of the board.
Status: in_force

(1) The board: (a) shall provide final approval for: (i) a funding formula developed by the steering committee under Section 35A-16-211; (ii) the homeless services budget; and (iii) the awarding of funding for the provision of homeless services as described in Subsection 35A-16-203(1)(c); (b) in cooperation with the coordinator, shall: (i) develop and maintain the homeless services budget; and (ii) review applications and approve funding for the provision of homeless services in the state as described in Subsection 35A-16-203(1)(c); (c) shall review local and regional plans for providing services to individuals experiencing homelessness; (d) shall cooperate with local homeless councils to: (i) develop a common agenda and vision for reducing homelessness in each local oversight body's respective region; (ii) as part of the homeless services budget, develop a spending plan that coordinates the funding supplied to local stakeholders; and (iii) align local funding to projects that improve outcomes and target specific needs in each community; (e) shall coordinate gap funding with private entities for providing services to individuals experiencing homelessness; (f) shall recommend performance and accountability measures for service providers, including the support of collecting consistent and transparent data; (g) when reviewing and giving final approval for requests as described in Subsection 35A-16-203(1)(c): (i) may only recommend funding if the proposed recipient has a policy to share client-level service information with other entities in accordance with state and federal law to enhance the coordination of services for individuals who are experiencing homelessness; and (ii) shall identify specific targets and benchmarks for each recommended award; (h) shall develop annual state and local goals for reducing homelessness among the target subpopulations identified by the board; (i) shall work with the local homeless councils to carry out the requirements of Subsection 35A-16-211(3); (j) shall develop metrics for measuring the effectiveness of providers in assisting clients to successfully progress through the services coordinated by a continuum of care; (k) shall create best practices or innovative strategies for a service provider to administer services to an individual experiencing homelessness, including promotion of: (i) a recognition of the human dignity of clients served; (ii) a need to develop self-reliance; (iii) the value of work; (iv) personal accountability; and (v) personal progress toward greater personal independence; (l) shall make recommendations for uniform standards for enforcing pedestrian safety and unsanctioned camping laws and ordinances; (m) shall identify best practices or innovative strategies for responding to unsheltered individuals experiencing mental health disorder and substance use disorder; (n) shall make recommendations for strategies to reduce illegal drug use within homeless shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing; (o) shall facilitate client connection to alternative support systems, including behavioral health services, addiction recovery, and residential services; (p) shall facilitate participation in HMIS, where appropriate and in alignment with established HMIS policies, and data sharing agreements among all participants in a client support network, including homeless services, physical health systems, mental health systems, and the criminal justice system; (q) shall evaluate additional opportunities for the office to become a collaborative applicant; (r) shall coordinate with the continuums of care to provide for cooperative distribution of available funding; (s) shall work in conjunction with the executive directors of the Department of Workforce Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Corrections to create best practices or innovative strategies for helping individuals exiting from incarceration or an institution to avoid homelessness; (t) shall establish standards for the prioritization of beds located in homeless shelters in accordance with Section 35A-16-205.1; and (u) shall work in conjunction with the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to create best practices for helping veterans, as that term is defined in Section 68-3-12.5, avoid homelessness. (2) (a) In approving a funding formula, as described in Subsection (1)(a)(i), the board shall take action on a proposed funding formula by a two-thirds vote. (b) If the board cannot approve a proposed funding formula, the board shall refer the proposed funding formula back to the steering committee for further consideration. (3) (a) The executive committee shall act in an advisory capacity for the board and make recommendations regarding the board's duties under Subsection (1). (b) The executive committee does not have authority to make decisions independent of the board.