On Thursday, July 25, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order following the reversal of Johnson v. Grants Pass by the U.S. Supreme Court. This executive order is in direct response to the case reversal and intended to remedy the homelessness crisis in California. The executive order declares all California agencies and departments should implement policies with these key points in mind:
- When possible, assess the site prior to removal to determine if the encampment indeed poses an immediate threat, danger to life, health, safety, or infrastructure, requiring urgent removal.
- If the immediate danger is present, provide as much advance notice to vacate as possible.
- If immediate danger is not present, post a notice to vacate the site at least 48 hours prior to removal,
- Reach out to homeless services to request assistance for individuals at the encampment.
- Collect, label, and store any personal property found at the encampment for 60 days unless it poses a health or safety risk.
Although in immediate effect, this order states that the decision to remove encampments remains in the authority of California local agencies. Civica Law is highly experienced in updating local agencies’ codes, ordinances, policies, and procedures – you can trust Civica Law to efficiently bring your agency into compliance. Contact us today to speak with an experienced code enforcement attorney.
