Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. To provide for supplementing a certain item in the general appropriation act and other appropriation acts for fiscal year 2003, the sum set forth in section 2 is hereby appropriated from the General Fund unless specifically designated otherwise in this act or in those appropriation acts, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act or in those appropriation acts and subject to laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003. The sum appropriated in said section 2 shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made available for the purposes of that item.

SECTION 2.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

Department of Transitional Assistance.

4403-2120 .................................................$2,000,000

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of transitional assistance shall develop plans to prevent homelessness and to locate permanent housing in order to reduce the time of stay in shelters.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.