2014 -- H 8176

Enacted 07/03/14

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - HOUSING RESOURCES COMMISSION

Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, E Coderre, Diaz, Lombardi, and Hull

Date Introduced: May 08, 2014

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 42-128-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-128 entitled "Rhode Island Housing Resources Act of 1998" is hereby amended to read as follows:

42-128-6. Commission -- Membership and terms -- Officers -- Expenses -- Meetings. -- (a) (1) Membership. - The commission shall have ~~twenty-seven (27)~~ twenty-eight (28) members as follows: the directors of departments of administration, business regulation, elderly affairs, health, human services, mental health retardation 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,; 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 non-profit 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.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.