Senate Panel Kills Bipartisan Bill to Ban Homeless Camps When Shelter Space is Available 

Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Public Safety Committee rejected a bipartisan bill April 16 that would have prohibited homeless individuals from camping on streets or sidewalks when shelter space is available. The measure, Senate Bill 1011—introduced by Republican Leader Sen. Brian W. Jones—also would have banned encampments within 500 feet of schools, in open spaces, and at transit stops. Violations would be punishable by a misdemeanor, and belongings could be cleared if law enforcement provided 72-hour notice. The proposal was modeled after similar laws enacted in San Diego last year, which helped reduce homelessness in that city, according to supporters. “This is a very common-sense bill that would move the needle in a positive direction,” Mr. Jones told The Epoch Times April 16. “The bill is narrowly tailored to protect public safety in certain specific areas, and I think that’s the minimum that the Legislature should be doing to keep our families, our elderly, and our children safe in the neighborhoods where these encampments continue to spring up.”...