AN ACT Relating to housing; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; making appropriations; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that existing programs cannot meet the housing needs within the state. The reduction of the federal role in housing requires innovative state actions to fill the gap left by limited federal resources.

The legislature further recognizes the need for a comprehensive and unified approach to meet the state's housing needs. An essential first step is to establish a public and private consensus on the short and long-term housing needs in the state. State policies must recognize the housing needs of the population as a whole and special needs of low and moderate-income households, rural households, older citizens, handicapped persons, homeless persons, and persons with mental illness.

The legislature finds that inadequate data exists and such data is needed to identify the state's most pressing needs, to formulate policy, and to target scarce public resources. A partnership between the state and the private sector is imperative in order to provide adequate housing for all the state's residents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. As used in this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Washington state housing advisory commission.

(2) "Department" means the department of community development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. There is established the Washington state housing advisory commission to consist of twenty-one members selected as follows:

(1) Four members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, two from each political party;

(2) Four members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, two from each political party;

(3) One representative of special housing needs population;

(4) One representative of the manufactured housing industry;

(5) One representative of the Washington state housing finance commission;

(6) One representative from home builders;

(7) One representative from a major financial institution;

(8) One representative from realtors;

(9) One representative from private nonprofit housing assistance groups;

(10) One representative from public housing assistance groups;

(11) Two representatives from local government;

(12) One private housing development professional;

(13) One representative for small towns and rural areas; and

(14) The director of community development, ex officio.

The governor shall, within fourteen days of the effective date of this section, appoint all nonlegislative members of the commission. In making appointments, the governor shall consider obtaining a geographic distribution and balance throughout the state. The first meeting of the commission shall occur within thirty days of the effective date of this section.

The chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by the governor from among the members. Members shall serve two-year terms. Members appointed by the governor shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

The commission shall meet at such times as it is called by the governor or by the chairperson of the commission.

Members of the commission shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 or 44.04.120.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. All expenses incurred by the commission, including salaries and expenses of employees, shall be paid upon voucher forms as provided by the auditor and signed by the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the commission and attested by the secretary of the commission, and the authority of the chairperson and secretary to sign vouchers shall continue until their successors are selected after each ensuing session of the legislature. Vouchers may be drawn on funds appropriated generally by the legislature for legislative expenses or upon any special appropriation which may be provided by the legislature for the expenses of the commission or both.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The commission shall present to the housing committee of the house of representatives and the commerce and labor committee of the senate a report on housing market trends and housing needs within the state of Washington. The objective of this report is to provide background information to the state in developing housing policies and programs that meet the needs of its citizens. The commission shall submit a draft report by November 30, 1987. The commission shall produce a final report by December 31, 1987, which:

(1) Identifies available data on housing;

(2) Identifies housing needs for the population as a whole and for special housing populations; and

(3) Summarizes data gathered to date.

Revisions to the report shall be submitted based on continuing analysis and oversight on December 31 of each year thereafter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The commission has the following responsibilities and powers:

(1) To secure and encourage substantial private sector, community, and citizen support in the analysis of state-wide housing needs;

(2) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of any department, agency, or instrumentality of the state, counties, and cities and other associations affected by or concerned with the business of the commission;

(3) To contract for services as it deems necessary in order to carry out its duties; and

(4) To accept gifts and grants upon such terms as the commission may deem proper.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The commission shall implement sections 5 and 6 of this act only to the extent that funds are available.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The commission may study and review housing and housing-related data. The commission may:

(1) Review existing state policies, laws, and programs which promote or affect housing and determine their cost-effectiveness and level of cooperation with other public and private agencies;

(2) Study the housing needs for the state population as a whole and special needs of older citizens, handicapped persons, homeless persons, low and moderate-income households, and special housing needs of the mentally ill;

(3) Make recommendations on housing and housing-related policies to the housing committee of the house of representatives and commerce and labor committee of the senate;

(4) Identify options for a state housing information system; and

(5) Review any other subject related to housing.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The department shall provide the necessary administrative and clerical assistance to the commission for the purposes of carrying out its powers and duties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. This chapter shall expire July 1, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Sections 1 through 10 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. (1) The sum of twenty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated to the department of community development from the general fund, for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, for the purposes of this act. Any moneys from this appropriation remaining unexpended at the end of the biennium are hereby reappropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989.

(2) The sum of two hundred seventy thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated to the department of community development from the general fund, for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.