Chapter 307
2022 -- S 2481 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 07/06/2022

A N   A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998

Introduced By: Senators Acosta, Bell, Kallman, and Cano

Date Introduced: March 01, 2022

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 the departments of administration, business regulation, elderly affairs healthy aging,
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 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.
     (3) To adopt by-laws bylaws 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 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 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
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 according to data from the United States Census
Bureau.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005206/SUB A
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