For the second time, a bill that sought to ban homeless encampments near schools, transit stops, and other areas throughout California was voted down by state legislators.

Senate Bill 1011, the measure by San Diego area politicians, Senate GOP leader Brian Jones, and Democratic Senator Catherine Blakespear, would have made camping within 500 feet of a school, open space, or major transit stop a misdemeanor or an infraction.

It also would have banned camping on public sidewalks if beds were available in local homeless shelters, but legislators voted it down because they opposed penalizing down-and-out residents who sleep on public property.

Jones modeled his bill after a new camping ban in San Diego that took effect at the end of July 2023.

Jones called the ordinance a success, a sentiment echoed by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.

According to the downtown San Diego partnership monthly census, the number of homeless individuals in downtown San Diego has been reduced by over 60% from May 2023 to this March.

A CalMatters investigation paints a more complicated picture.

While encampments have been down drastically in some areas, such as downtown and around certain schools, they are still just as prevalent, in some cases much more so, along the city's freeways and riverbanks.

Opponents of the ordinance say it displaces people instead of housing them.

We know that the solutions to houselessness is more homes and more affordable housing.

This bill does neither.

Jones's bill failed to copy a key piece of San Diego's approach.

When the city started enforcing its encampment ban, it also opened two massive safe sleeping sites where about 500 people camp on vacant lots in tents purchased by the city.

Jones's bill would not have forced cities to set up accommodations for people displaced from encampments because, he said, there's no state funding for that.

For CalMatters, this is Marisa Kendall.