H-1672              _______________________________________________

 

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 953

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

 

By Representative Gallagher

 

 

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on State Government.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to the housing finance commission; and amending RCW 43.180.050 and 43.180.070.

 

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

 

        Sec. 1.  Section 5, chapter 161, Laws of 1983 and RCW 43.180.050 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) In addition to other powers and duties prescribed in this chapter, and in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter to provide decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for eligible persons, the commission is empowered to:

          (a) Issue bonds in accordance with this chapter:  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this power to issue bonds shall cease to exist on June 30, 1986, unless extended by law for an additional fixed period of time;

          (b) Invest in, purchase, or make commitments to purchase or take assignments from mortgage lenders of mortgages or mortgage loans;

          (c) Make loans to or deposits with mortgage lenders for the purpose of making mortgage loans; and

          (d) Participate fully in federal and other governmental programs and to take such actions as are necessary and consistent with this chapter to secure to itself and the people of the state the benefits of those programs and to meet their requirements, including such actions as the commission considers appropriate in order to have the interest payments on its bonds and other obligations treated as tax exempt under the code.

          (2) The commission shall establish eligibility standards for eligible persons, considering at least the following factors:

          (a) Income;

          (b) Family size;

          (c) Cost, condition and energy efficiency of available residential housing;

          (d) Availability of decent, safe, and sanitary housing;

          (e) Age or infirmity; ((and))

          (f) Applicable federal, state, and local requirements; and

          (g) Whether a proposed project has the approval of the city or county, and shall deny use of funds under the provisions of this chapter if such approval is not granted.

 

        Sec. 2.  Section 7, chapter 161, Laws of 1983 and RCW 43.180.070 are each amended to read as follows:

          The commission shall adopt a general plan of housing finance objectives to be implemented by the commission during the period of the plan.  The commission shall adopt a plan no later than December 15, 1983.  The commission may exercise the powers authorized under this chapter prior to the adoption of the initial plan.  In developing the plan, the commission shall consider and set objectives for:

          (1) The use of funds for single-family and multifamily housing, and shall specifically establish a rule prohibiting expenditures of funds under the provisions of this chapter for construction of additional multiple family housing units in an area where the vacancy factor in existing units is more than three percent;

          (2) The use of funds for new construction, rehabilitation, including refinancing of existing debt, and home purchases;

          (3) The housing needs of low-income and moderate-income persons and families, and of elderly or mentally or physically handicapped persons;

          (4) The use of funds in coordination with federal, state, and local housing programs for low-income persons;

          (5) The use of funds in urban, rural, suburban, and special areas of the state;

          (6) The use of financing assistance to stabilize and upgrade declining urban neighborhoods;

          (7) The use of financing assistance for economically depressed areas, areas of minority concentration, reservations, and in mortgage-deficient areas;

          (8) The geographical distribution of bond proceeds so that the benefits of the housing programs provided under this chapter will be available to address demand on a fair basis throughout the state;

          (9) The use of financing assistance for implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency measures in dwellings.

          The plan shall include an estimate of the amount of bonds the commission will issue during the term of the plan and how bond proceeds will be expended.

          The plan shall be adopted by resolution of the commission following at least one public hearing thereon, notice of which shall be made by mailing to the clerk of the governing body of each county and by publication in the Washington State Register no more than forty and no less than twenty days prior to the hearing.  A draft of the plan shall be made available not less than thirty days prior to any such public hearing.  At least every two years, the commission shall report to the legislature regarding implementation of the plan.

          Prior to December 31, 1983, the commission shall submit the plan to the chief clerk of the house and secretary of the senate for transmittal to and review by the appropriate standing committees.  The commission may periodically update the plan.  Proposed changes of the plan shall be submitted to the chief clerk of the house and secretary of the senate for transmittal to and review by the appropriate standing committees.  This submittal of proposed changes shall occur at least fourteen days before final adoption of the changes by the commission.

          The commission shall adopt rules designed to result in the use of bond proceeds in a manner consistent with the plan.  These rules shall be adopted and in full force and effect by February 1, 1984.  The commission may periodically update its rules.

          The commission is not required to adopt a plan or rules for the use of the proceeds of bonds issued prior to February, 1984.  This section is designed to deal only with the use of bond proceeds and nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation on the commission's authority to issue bonds.