AN ACT Relating to demolition or change of use of low-income housing; creating new sections; 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 finds that the lack of affordable housing has become a growing problem for lower-income households in the state; that this lack of affordable housing is cited as a part of the problems facing the homeless; that the existing low-income housing stock can not meet the demands for affordable housing in the state; that changes in the federal tax laws have reduced the incentives to developers to construct affordable housing for lower-income households; that the loss of affordable housing through demolition, conversion to higher-income housing, and prepayment or termination of federal subsidies has further reduced the supply of affordable housing for lower-income households; and that strategies and methods to replace and preserve the existing supply of affordable housing for lower-income households are needed.

The legislature further finds that replacing and preserving the existing supply of affordable housing for lower-income households is an important part of the legislature's goal of affordable housing for the people of this state; that a comprehensive examination of this problem requires participation from the development community, the financial community, and the local governments; that the best approach to this problem is to have all parties review strategies and methods to replace and preserve the existing supply of affordable housing for lower-income households; and that by forming a task force the problems will be identified and solutions to address this issue will be developed.

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

(1) "Task force" means the low-income housing preservation task force; and

(2) "Low-income housing" means housing occupied by persons whose household income is less than fifty percent of annual median income, adjusted for household size, for the county or standard metropolitan statistical area, where the project is located.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) There is established the low-income housing preservation task force to consist of nineteen members selected as follows:

(a) Six representatives of cities;

(b) Two representatives of counties;

(d) One representative of the home builders association of Washington;

(e) Two representatives of realtors;

(f) Two representatives of the building owners and managers association;

(g) Two representatives of financial institutions that provide development financing;

(h) One representative of the Washington state housing finance commission, as a nonvoting member;

(i) One representative of the department of community development, as an ex officio, nonvoting member; and

(j) One representative selected by the task force to act as chairperson.

(2) The chairperson shall be a nonvoting member, except in the case of ties.

(3) The director of the department of community development shall appoint all members of the task force within thirty days from the effective date of this section. The director shall consider obtaining a geographic distribution and balance throughout the state.

(4) Staffing shall be provided through the members of the task force.

(5) The task force shall meet at such times as it is called by the director or by the chairperson of the task force.

(6) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The task force shall:

(1) Conduct a comprehensive examination of the loss of low-income housing caused by, but not limited to demolitions, conversions to other uses, and local development pressures;

(2) Determine strategies and methods for replacing and preserving the existing low-income housing stock including but not limited to development fees, relocation fees to displaced tenants, replacement housing, and revisions to state property tax policies;

(3) Take any other action relating to carrying out this section; and

(4) Provide a written preliminary report to the house of representatives housing committee and senate governmental operations committee by September 1, 1988, and a written final report by December 1, 1988, presenting the findings and recommendations of the task force.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act shall expire on July 1, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. 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. 7. 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.