Bill > S1132

This bill, titled the "Bridging Systems to Housing Act," aims to prevent individuals from becoming homeless upon discharge from certain facilities and institutions by establishing clearer procedures and encouraging collaboration. It revises existing law to emphasize that hospitals and other facilities, in partnership with local "continuum of care lead agencies" (organizations that coordinate services for people experiencing homelessness), should develop and implement plans to connect individuals to housing or support services before they are discharged. The bill mandates a pilot program in Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties to test these procedures for hospitals and requires the Department of Children and Families to report on the pilot program's progress and effectiveness. Key provisions include early assessment for individuals at risk of homelessness, developing discharge plans that offer transitions to local care systems, communicating with receiving entities, and sharing "client-level data" (detailed, individual information about a person's needs for housing and support services) to ensure coordinated care, all while complying with privacy laws. The bill also requires facilities to verify if individuals are registered with the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a database used to track services for those experiencing homelessness, and to facilitate registration if they are not. Furthermore, it mandates providing information about available resources to discharged individuals. The continuum of care lead agency will evaluate these procedures annually, and the State Office on Homelessness, with the Council on Homelessness, can offer guidance for improvement. This bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1132