2022 -- H 7640

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LC005268

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING

RESOURCES ACT OF 1998

     Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, McLaughlin, and Alzate

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 42-128-6, 42-128-7 and 42-128-8 of the General Laws in Chapter

42-128 entitled "Rhode Island Housing Resources Act of 1998" are hereby amended to read as

follows:

     42-128-6. Commission -- Membership and terms -- Officers -- Expenses -- Meetings.

     (a)(1) Membership. The commission shall have twenty-eight (28) members as follows: the

directors of departments of administration, business regulation, elderly affairs, health, human

services, behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, the chairperson of the

Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation, and the attorney general, shall be ex

officio members; the president of the Rhode Island Bankers Association, or the designee of the

president; the president of the Rhode Island Mortgage Banker's Association, or the designee of the

president; the president of the Rhode Island Realtors Association, or the designee of the president;

the executive director of the Rhode Island Housing Network; the executive director of the Rhode

Island Coalition for the Homeless; the president of the Rhode Island Association of Executive

Directors for Housing, or the designee of the president; the executive director of operation stand

down; and thirteen (13) members who have knowledge of, and have a demonstrated interest in,

housing issues as they affect low-and moderate-income people, appointed by the governor with the

advice and consent of the senate: one of whom shall be the chairperson, one of whom shall be the

representative of the homeless; one of whom shall be a representative of a community development

corporation; one of whom shall be the representative of an agency addressing lead poisoning issues;

one of whom shall be a local planner; one of whom shall be a local building official; one of whom

shall be a representative of fair housing interests; one of whom shall be representative of an agency

advocating the interest of racial minorities; one of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode

Island Builders Association; one of whom shall be a representative of insurers a Rhode Island city

or town with a population below twenty-five thousand (25,000) people and with a median family

income less than forty thousand dollars ($40,000), according to data from the United States Census

Bureau; one of whom shall be a representative of a community development intermediary that

provides financing and technical assistance to housing non-profits; one of whom shall be a

nonprofit developer; and one of whom shall be a senior housing advocate.

     (2) The terms of appointed members shall be three (3) years, except for the original

appointments, the term of four (4) of whom shall be one year and the term of four (4) of whom

shall be two (2) years; no member may serve more than two (2) successive terms.

     (b) Officers. The governor shall appoint the chairperson of the commission, who shall not

be an ex officio member, with the advice and consent of the senate. The commission shall elect

annually a vice-chairperson, who shall be empowered to preside at meetings in the absence of the

chairperson, and a secretary.

     (c) Expenses. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall

be reimbursed for their reasonable actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their

duties.

     (d) Meetings. Meetings of the commission shall be held upon the call of the chairperson,

or five (5) members of the commission, or according to a schedule that may be annually established

by the commission; provided, however, that the commission shall meet at least once quarterly. A

majority of members of the commission, not including vacancies, shall constitute a quorum, and

no vacancy in the membership of the commission shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all

the rights and perform all of the duties of the commission.

     42-128-7. General powers.

     The commission shall have the following powers, together with all powers incidental to or

necessary for the performance of those set forth in this chapter:

     (1) To sue and be sued.

     (2) To negotiate and to enter into contracts, agreements, and cooperative agreements with

agencies and political subdivisions of the state, not-for-profit corporations, for profit corporations,

and other partnerships, associations and persons for any lawful purpose necessary and desirable to

effect the purposes of this chapter.

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     (3) To adopt by-laws and rules for the management of its affairs and for the exercise of its

powers and duties, and to establish the committees, workgroups, and advisory bodies that from

time to time may be deemed necessary.

     (4) To receive and accept grants or loans as may be made by the Federal government, and

grants, donations, contributions and payments from other public and private sources.

     (5) To grant or loan funds to agencies and political subdivisions of the state or to private

groups to effect the purposes of this chapter; provided that, in each funding round, there must be a

material award that benefits a Rhode Island city or town with a population below twenty-five

thousand (25,000) people and with a median family income less than forty thousand dollars

($40,000), according to data from the United States Census Bureau.

     (6) To secure the cooperation and assistance of the United States and any of its agencies,

and of the agencies and political subdivisions of this state in the work of the commission.

     (7) To establish, charge, and collect fees and payments for its services.

     42-128-8. Powers and duties.

     In order to provide housing opportunities for all Rhode Islanders, to maintain the quality

of housing in Rhode Island, and to coordinate and make effective the housing responsibilities of

the agencies and subdivisions of the state, the commission shall have the following powers and

duties:

     (1) Policy, planning and coordination of state housing functions. The commission shall

have the power and duty:

     (i) To prepare and adopt the state's plans for housing; provided, however, that this provision

shall not be interpreted to contravene the prerogative of the state planning council to adopt a state

guide plan for housing.

     (ii) To prepare, adopt, and issue the state's housing policy.

     (iii) To conduct research on and make reports regarding housing issues in the state.

     (iv) To advise the governor and general assembly on housing issues and to coordinate

housing activities among government agencies and agencies created by state law or providing

housing services under government programs.

     (2) Establish, implement, and monitor state performance measures and guidelines for

housing programs. The commission shall have the power and the duty:

     (i) To promulgate performance measures and guidelines for housing programs conducted

under state law.

     (ii) To monitor and evaluate housing responsibilities established by state law, and to

establish a process for annual reporting on the outcomes of the programs and investments of the

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state in housing for low and moderate income people.

     (iii) To hear and resolve disputes pertaining to housing issues.

     (3) Administer the programs pertaining to housing resources that may be assigned by state

law. The commission shall have the power and duty to administer programs for housing, housing

services, and community development, including, but not limited to, programs pertaining to:

     (i) Abandoned properties and the remediation of blighting conditions.

     (ii) Lead abatement and to manage a lead hazard abatement program in cooperation with

the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation.

     (iii) Services for the homeless.

     (iv) Rental assistance.

     (v) Community development.

     (vi) Outreach, education and technical assistance services.

     (vii) Assistance, including financial support, to nonprofit organizations and community

development corporations.

     (viii) Tax credits that assist in the provision of housing or foster community development

or that result in support to nonprofit organizations performing functions to accomplish the purposes

of this chapter.

     (ix) The Supportive Services Program, the purpose of which is to help prevent and end

homelessness among those who have experienced long-term homelessness and for whom certain

services in addition to housing are essential. State funding for this program may leverage other

resources for the purpose of providing supportive services. Services provided pursuant to this

subsection may include, but not be limited to: assistance with budgeting and paying rent; access to

employment; encouraging tenant involvement in facility management and policies; medication

monitoring and management; daily living skills related to food, housekeeping and socialization;

counseling to support self-identified goals; referrals to mainstream health, mental health and

treatment programs; and conflict resolution.

     In the administration of the programs in this subsection, the commission shall award, in

each funding round, a material award that benefits a Rhode Island city or town with a population

below twenty-five thousand (25,000) people and with a median family income less than forty

thousand dollars ($40,000), according to data from the United States Census Bureau.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING

RESOURCES ACT OF 1998

***

     This act would amend the membership of the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act of 1998

Commission to exclude a representative of the insurers and replace it with a representative of a

Rhode Island city or town with a population below twenty-five thousand (25,000) people with a

median family income of forty thousand (40,000). It would also require a material award to that

city or town.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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