HB 552 -- Housing Development Commission

Co-Sponsors:  Green, Chrismer, George, Monaco, Reynolds,
Hendrickson, Hoppe

This bill makes several changes to what the duties of the
Housing Development Commission are prior to its making any
commitment in principle or approving a loan or project.  The
commission must:

(1)  Notify by certified mail all landowners within 1,000 feet
of the site, the city and county in which the proposed site is
located, and the state representative and state senator in whose
district the proposed site is located of the commission's intent
to approve a loan or project or to make a commitment in
principle; and

(2)  Wait 30 days for a response from the city, county,
representative, or senator before making the loan or approving
the project.

The bill also specifies that the commission must consult with
city and county governments, the state representative, and the
state senator, in addition to the owner and tenants prior to
entering agreements to grant new or additional subsidies to
multifamily rental housing projects involving more than $125,000
in subsidies, including tax credit.  Current law requires the
commission to consult with the owner, tenants, local government,
and HUD prior to granting additional subsidies to a subsidized
multifamily housing project.

Additionally, the commission's public hearing on the subsidy
must be held in the jurisdiction in which the project is
located.  A notice of the public hearing must be published in an
area newspaper of general circulation at least 14 days but no
more than 30 days prior to the hearing, and the notice must be
at least 12 column inches in size.  Prior to the publication of
the notice, a copy of the notice must be sent to the state
representative and state senator in whose district the project
is located.  The public hearing must occur before the commission
is permitted to enter into an agreement.

Current law requires the commission to notify the chief elected
official of the city or county prior to approving assistance for
mulitfamily rental housing of 12 or more units.  The bill
changes the requirement to notify the state representative,
state senator, and elected officials of the city or county for
assistance to multifamily rental housing projects involving more
than $125,000 in subsidies, including tax credits.  A public
hearing must be held in accordance with the requirements set out
above.