2022 -- H 7944

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LC005361

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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

     Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Shallcross Smith, Azzinaro, Noret, Phillips, and
Amore

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2022

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

      SECTION 1. Chapter 45-53 of the General Laws entitled "Low and Moderate Income

Housing" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

     45-53-10. Database for housing stock and permits issued.

     (a) The division of statewide planning (the "division") established pursuant to chapter 11

of title 42 shall collect and maintain an affordable housing online database website ("database") of

inventory of affordable housing in the state. The division shall maintain the database on the

department of administration’s website. In particular, the division shall place an emphasis on

providing current, updated information on the available inventory of affordable housing in the state,

and the contact person or entity pertaining to individual units.

     (b) This database shall contain the following:

     (1) A comprehensive list of all low and moderate income housing units in the state, as

defined by § 45-53-3, aggregated by the total number of such units in the state and disaggregated

by each municipality in the state;

     (2) The number of active applications pending for a comprehensive permit application to

build affordable housing and the number of applications which have had permits issued for

affordable housing plans, both pursuant to §45-53-4, aggregated by the total number of such

applications in the state and disaggregated by each municipality in the state;

     (3) To the extent the information is available, a list of available affordable housing units,

along with contact information for the rental or purchase of these units; and

     (4) The annual report required from the division pursuant to this section.

     (c) Each municipality and/or instrumentality of any municipality within the state that is

charged with administering the comprehensive permit application process and making decisions

thereon, shall furnish to the division of statewide planning the information required in subsections

(a) and (b) of this section on at least an annual basis, and not later than December 30 of each year,

commencing on December 30, 2022. This information shall include data for the year prior to the

forwarding of the data. Each such municipality and/or instrumentality of any municipality shall

also provide to the division, on at least a quarterly basis, and to the extent the information is

available, a list of available affordable housing units, along with contact information for the rental

or purchase of these units.

     (d) On or before June 30, 2023, and annually on or before June 30 thereafter, the division

shall prepare an annual report on the status of availability of affordable housing in the state. This

report shall be provided to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the

secretary of commerce for housing, and shall also be made available on the affordable housing

online database. This report shall be a public record and shall be placed on the division’s affordable

housing online database website

     45-53-11. Semi-annual status reports.

     (a) The Rhode Island housing corporation established pursuant to chapter 55 of title 42 (the

"corporation") shall maintain accurate records and shall collect data on funds and fees which are

received and utilized by municipalities, and any instrumentalities thereof, including, but not limited

to public housing authorities or agencies, on fees and payments in lieu of taxes.

     (b) The corporation shall prepare a status report ("reports") on a semi-annual basis to the

general assembly, the housing resources commission, the division of statewide planning, and the

secretary of commerce for housing. Each of these reports shall also be made available on the

corporation’s website for a period of at least three (3) years, and shall also be deemed to be a public

record. These status reports shall be due on or before January 1 and July 1 of each year,

commencing in the calendar year 2023.

     (c) The status reports required by this section shall contain the following for the six (6)

month calendar period covered by the report:

     (1) The total amount of fees collected and payments made in lieu of taxes that were

collected by municipality, reported in dollar amounts;

     (2) The total amount of fees collected by municipalities on any assessment and taxation

made pursuant to § 44-5-13.11, aggregated by all the municipalities and disaggregated by each

individual municipality;

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     (3) The identity of the projects that have been provided funding by the corporation;

     (4) The total aggregate of funds, in dollar amounts, which have been provided to projects

by the corporation, as well as those amounts disaggregated by each project; and

     (5) The number of housing units which have been created using funds from the corporation,

both in total and disaggregated by project.

     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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

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     This act would direct the division of statewide planning to maintain an affordable housing

online database website on the department of administration’s website. The act would also direct

the Rhode Island housing corporation to maintain accurate records and prepare semi-annual status

reports ("reports") to the general assembly, the housing resources commission, the division of

statewide planning, and the secretary of commerce for housing, on funds collected and expended

by the corporation, and on fees and payments in lieu of taxes.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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