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WOODLAND —

A bill dubbed the Right to Rest Bill is far from becoming law, but local communities are keeping an eye on it.

“We would literally be hamstrung on our ability to deal with people loitering or basically laying around leaving their stuff on people’s property,” said Woodland Mayor Tom Stallard.

The bill’s supporters say homeless people should not be punished with citations and arrests simply because there is not enough affordable housing available.

The bill asserts the right of homeless people to rest, sit or eat in areas accessible to the public and also gives them the right to protect themselves from the elements.

“It doesn’t help the homeless person. It doesn’t help our community to tell them just to move on. It doesn’t solve homelessness,” said Paul Lomazzi, Director of the Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee, one of the key sponsors of the bill.

Stallard says his city is sympathetic to its homeless population, supporting programs and services to get people off the streets. But he says not every homeless person wants help or follows local rules.

That’s a big problem in a re-emerging downtown.

“It’s very very hard for us. So the police have to defend our interests as property owners and business owners in these small communities,” said Stallard.

The bill was heard in a Senate Committee earlier this month, but will not be heard again until the beginning of next year to allow backers to gather more support and fine tune the legislation.