S.F. No. 961 modifies the group residential housing (GRH) chapter of law by establishing an alternative financing mechanism; instead of individual GRH client eligibility, this bill allocates GRH funds directly to counties for existing emergency shelter beds, based on a plan submitted by the county and approved by the commissioner. The Commissioner of Human Services is required to make a cost-neutral transfer of funding from the GRH fund to the county human services agencies for emergency shelter beds removed from the GRH census.  The county must submit a biennial plan by August 1, beginning in 2017, which describes outcomes, efficiencies, eligibility, and quality assurance.  The funding may be used for room and board or supplemental services.