H-2324.1

HOUSE BILL 2098

ByRepresentatives Shewmake, Ramel, Frame, and Sutherland

AN ACT Relating to modifying the interest rate for the low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program; amending RCW 43.330.482; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 43.330.482 and 2017 c 285 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program is created within the department.

(2) The program must include the following elements:

(a) Eligible homeowners must be low-income and live in rural areas.

(b) Homeowners who are senior citizens, persons with disabilities, families with children five years old and younger, and veterans must receive priority for loans.

(c) The cost of the home rehabilitation must be the lesser of eighty percent of the assessed value of the property post rehabilitation or ((forty thousand dollars))$40,000.

(d) The maximum amount that may be loaned under this program may not exceed the cost of the home rehabilitation as provided in (c) of this subsection, and must not result in total loans borrowed against the property equaling more than ((eighty))80 percent of the assessed value.

(e) The interest rate of the loan must be equal to the lesser of the previous calendar year's annual average consumer price index compiled by the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of labor or one and one-half percent.

(f) The department must allow participating homeowners to defer repayment of the loan principal and interest and any fees related to the administration or issuance of the loan. Any amounts deferred pursuant to this section become a lien in favor of the state. The lien is subordinate to liens for general taxes, amounts deferred under chapter 84.37 or 84.38 RCW, or special assessments as defined in RCW 84.38.020. The lien is also subordinate to the first deed of trust or the first mortgage on the real property but has priority over all other privileges, liens, monetary encumbrances, or other security interests affecting the real property, whenever incurred, filed, or recorded. The department must take such necessary action to file and perfect the state's lien. All amounts due under the loan become due and payable upon the sale of the home or upon change in ownership of the home.

(3) All moneys from repayments must be deposited into the low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program account created in RCW 43.330.488.

(4) The department must adopt rules for implementation of this program.

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