A Democratic state representative in Washington state is pushing for legislation aimed at making homelessness a civil right, according to a report.
State Representative Mia Gregerson is promoting a bill that would make homeless people a protected class and protect them from “discrimination based on residency status.” “The Jason Rentz Show” on KTTH. The received draft date is 10 October 2024.
“[M]Any community within Washington enacting and enforcing laws that disproportionately affect homelessness or make it a crime to be in public,” the document reads. “These laws are potentially unconstitutional. , make it harder for people to get out of homelessness, not address the underlying problem of homelessness. , and a waste of valuable public funds.”
The bill comes in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Grants-Pass v. Johnson, according to the report, in which the nation’s highest court said the Eighth Amendment’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment allowed a city to enforce public camping. does not prevent Ordinance against Homeless Persons.
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State Representative Mia Gregerson is reportedly introducing a bill that would protect homeless people from “discrimination based on residency status.” (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images, File)
Gregerson told Fox News Digital in a statement Wednesday that the reported draft was a “starting point” based on legislation that failed to pass in 2019.
“To be clear, the language in the Jason Rentz article is not a bill but a starting point from earlier this year,” the lawmaker said in the statement. “What I will be proposing will be significantly different from the 2019 bill because we are working on different issues. The plan has always been to share it broadly, including all cities. Such drafts are a continuation of meaningful That’s what we’ve done in the past.”
Under the draft bill, homeless people would have the “right to live undisturbed” on public property when “the person has no reasonable alternative but to live in a public place and within the jurisdiction of local government.” Existing shelter facilities are inadequate or virtually inaccessible.” (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images, File)
The reported draft law states that it would allow the homeless to occupy public property, including plazas, courtyards, parking lots, sidewalks, public transportation facilities and services, and rooms or areas within public buildings that are open. are, but will grant the “right to life in an unimpeded manner”. to the public and during normal business hours.
It added that homeless persons would be allowed to stay on public property when “the person has no reasonable alternative but to survive in a public place and shelter facilities under the jurisdiction of the local government.” are insufficient in number or functionally inaccessible.”
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Mayor Kevin Schilling of Burien, a suburb in Gregerson’s district, told “The Jason Rentz Show” that he was “disappointed” that the representative did not consult with the city council or the city before passing the legislation.
Democratic State Representative Mia Gregerson has represented Washington State’s 33rd District since 2013. (Washington State House Democrats)
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“My hope this year is that the Legislature will act to help cities deal with this problem by expanding substance use disorder programs, emergency shelter capacity, and law enforcement assistance,” he said. Each element can be dealt with accordingly.”
