Government Code section 53069.44
(a)
Notwithstanding any other law, a local jurisdiction shall not adopt a local ordinance, or enforce an existing ordinance, that prohibits a person or organization from providing support services, including legal services or medical care, to a person who is homeless or assisting a person who is homeless with any act related to basic survival.(b)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1)
(A)“Act related to basic survival” includes, but is not limited to, assisting with or providing items to assist with any of the following:(i)
Eating and drinking, including provision of food and water.(ii)
Sleeping, including provision of blankets and pillows.(iv)
Other activities and items necessary for immediate personal health and hygiene.(B)
Nothing in this definition shall be interpreted to include distribution of plywood or other heavy construction materials.(2)
“Homeless” has the same meaning as defined in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as that section read on January 10, 2019.(3)
“Local jurisdiction” means a city, county, city and county, or special district.(4)
“Support services” includes nonhousing services described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (e) of Section 50243 of the Health and Safety Code.
Source:
Section 53069.44, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=53069.44. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
