HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5156

             As Reported By House Committee On:

            Economic Development, Housing & Trade

Title:  An act relating to voluntary expansion of local housing authority boards of commissioners to comply with federal law.

Brief Description:  Amending housing authority law.

Sponsors:  Senators Prentice and Winsley.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Economic Development, Housing & Trade:  3/23/99 [DP].

             Brief Summary of Senate Bill

$Allows a housing authority to increase the size of its board from five to six commissioners.

CRequires one commissioner to be a direct recipient of services through the housing authority.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING & TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Republican Co-Chair; Veloria, Democratic Co-Chair; Dunn, Republican Vice Chair; Eickmeyer, Democratic Vice Chair; Ballasiotes; Gombosky; Miloscia; Morris; Radcliff; Skinner; D. Sommers and Wolfe.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:

The state's Housing Authorities Law, enacted in 1939, authorizes counties and cities to establish local public housing authorities to provide housing for persons of low-income.  The housing is provided through the administration of various federal, state, or local housing programs.

Public housing authorities are governed by a five-member commission, except that housing authorities in cities with a population of 400,000 or more must have a seven-member commission.  At least two of the commissioners on a seven-member board must be tenants that reside in a housing project that is owned by the housing authority. 

The federal Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 revised federal law governing public housing.  The act requires that a public housing authority board must contain a commissioner that is a recipient of housing services through the housing authority.

Summary of Bill:

If federal law requires that a local housing authority board contain one member who is directly assisted by the housing authority, a five-member board may increase its size to six members.  The increase in the membership of the board may be on a temporary or permanent basis.  The board may determine the length of the term of the commissioner that is directly assisted by the housing authority, and they may only serve as long as they receive services through the housing authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The addition of a resident that receives housing authority services to the board will be a positive benefit.  This bill gives local housing authorities the flexibility in meeting the federal requirement without having to remove an existing commissioner.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (Pro)  Norman McLoughlin, Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority; John Collins, Vancouver Housing Authority; and Chauncey Boyle, Snohomish County Housing Authority.