| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to affordable housing; reenacting s. |
| 3 | 159.807(4), F.S., relating to the state allocation pool |
| 4 | used to confirm private activity bonds; reenacting s. |
| 5 | 193.018, F.S., relating to lands that are owned by a |
| 6 | community land trust and used to provide affordable |
| 7 | housing; reenacting s. 196.196(5), F.S., relating to a tax |
| 8 | exemption provided to organizations that provide low- |
| 9 | income housing; reenacting s. 196.1978, F.S., relating to |
| 10 | a property exemption for affordable housing owned by a |
| 11 | nonprofit entity; reenacting s. 212.055(2)(d), F.S., |
| 12 | relating to the use of a local government infrastructure |
| 13 | surtax; reenacting s. 163.3202(2), F.S., relating to |
| 14 | requirements for local land development regulations; |
| 15 | reenacting s. 420.503(25), F.S., relating to a definition |
| 16 | under the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Act; |
| 17 | reenacting s. 420.507(47), F.S., relating to powers of the |
| 18 | corporation to select developers and general contractors; |
| 19 | reenacting s. 420.5087(6)(c) and (l), F.S., relating to |
| 20 | the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program; reenacting s. |
| 21 | 420.622(5), F.S., relating to the State Office on |
| 22 | Homelessness; reenacting s. 420.628, F.S., relating to |
| 23 | affordable housing for children and young adults leaving |
| 24 | foster care; reenacting s. 420.9071(4), (8), (16), (25), |
| 25 | (29), and (30), F.S., relating to definitions under the |
| 26 | State Housing Initiatives Partnership Act; reenacting s. |
| 27 | 420.9072(6) and (7), F.S., relating to the distribution of |
| 28 | funds under the State Housing Initiatives Partnership |
| 29 | Program; reenacting s. 420.9073(1), (2), (5), (6), and |
| 30 | (7), F.S., relating to distributions of local housing |
| 31 | funds; reenacting s. 420.9075(1), (3), (5), (8), (10)(a) |
| 32 | and (h), (13)(b), and (14), F.S., relating to local |
| 33 | housing assistance plans; reenacting s. 420.9076(2)(h), |
| 34 | (5), (6), and (7)(a), F.S., relating to the adoption of |
| 35 | affordable housing incentive strategies by the governing |
| 36 | board of a county or municipality; repealing s. 420.9078, |
| 37 | F.S., relating to the state administration of funds |
| 38 | remaining in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund; |
| 39 | reenacting s. 420.9079, F.S., relating to the Local |
| 40 | Government Housing Trust Fund; reenacting s. 1001.43(12), |
| 41 | F.S., relating to the use by school districts of certain |
| 42 | lands for affordable housing; providing for retroactive |
| 43 | operation of the act with respect to provisions of law |
| 44 | amended, created, or repealed by chapter 2009-96, Laws of |
| 45 | Florida; providing for an exception under specified |
| 46 | circumstances; providing an effective date. |
| 47 |
|
| 48 | WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature enacted Senate Bill 360 in |
| 49 | 2009 for important public policy purposes, and |
| 50 | WHEREAS, litigation has called into question the |
| 51 | constitutional validity of this important piece of legislation, |
| 52 | and |
| 53 | WHEREAS, the Legislature wishes to protect those who relied |
| 54 | on the changes made by Senate Bill 360 and to preserve the |
| 55 | Florida Statutes intact and cure any alleged constitutional |
| 56 | violation, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 57 |
|
| 58 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 59 |
|
| 60 | Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 159.807, Florida |
| 61 | Statutes, is reenacted to read: |
| 62 | 159.807 State allocation pool.- |
| 63 | (4)(a) The state allocation pool shall also be used to |
| 64 | provide written confirmations for private activity bonds that |
| 65 | are to be issued by state agencies, which bonds, notwithstanding |
| 66 | any other provisions of this part, shall receive priority in the |
| 67 | use of the pool available at the time the notice of intent to |
| 68 | issue such bonds is filed with the division. |
| 69 | (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), on or |
| 70 | before November 15 of each year, the Florida Housing Finance |
| 71 | Corporation's access to the state allocation pool is limited to |
| 72 | the amount of the corporation's initial allocation under s. |
| 73 | 159.804. Thereafter, the corporation may not receive more than |
| 74 | 80 percent of the amount in the state allocation pool on |
| 75 | November 16 of each year, and may not receive more than 80 |
| 76 | percent of any additional amounts that become available during |
| 77 | each year. The limitations of this paragraph do not apply to the |
| 78 | distribution of the unused allocation of the state volume |
| 79 | limitation to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation under s. |
| 80 | 159.81(2)(b), (c), and (d). |
| 81 | Section 2. Section 193.018, Florida Statutes, is reenacted |
| 82 | to read: |
| 83 | 193.018 Land owned by a community land trust used to |
| 84 | provide affordable housing; assessment; structural improvements, |
| 85 | condominium parcels, and cooperative parcels.- |
| 86 | (1) As used in this section, the term "community land |
| 87 | trust" means a nonprofit entity that is qualified as charitable |
| 88 | under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and has as one |
| 89 | of its purposes the acquisition of land to be held in perpetuity |
| 90 | for the primary purpose of providing affordable homeownership. |
| 91 | (2) A community land trust may convey structural |
| 92 | improvements, condominium parcels, or cooperative parcels, that |
| 93 | are located on specific parcels of land that are identified by a |
| 94 | legal description contained in and subject to a ground lease |
| 95 | having a term of at least 99 years, for the purpose of providing |
| 96 | affordable housing to natural persons or families who meet the |
| 97 | extremely-low-income, very-low-income, low-income, or moderate- |
| 98 | income limits specified in s. 420.0004, or the income limits for |
| 99 | workforce housing, as defined in s. 420.5095(3). A community |
| 100 | land trust shall retain a preemptive option to purchase any |
| 101 | structural improvements, condominium parcels, or cooperative |
| 102 | parcels on the land at a price determined by a formula specified |
| 103 | in the ground lease which is designed to ensure that the |
| 104 | structural improvements, condominium parcels, or cooperative |
| 105 | parcels remain affordable. |
| 106 | (3) In arriving at just valuation under s. 193.011, a |
| 107 | structural improvement, condominium parcel, or cooperative |
| 108 | parcel providing affordable housing on land owned by a community |
| 109 | land trust, and the land owned by a community land trust that is |
| 110 | subject to a 99-year or longer ground lease, shall be assessed |
| 111 | using the following criteria: |
| 112 | (a) The amount a willing purchaser would pay a willing |
| 113 | seller for the land is limited to an amount commensurate with |
| 114 | the terms of the ground lease that restricts the use of the land |
| 115 | to the provision of affordable housing in perpetuity. |
| 116 | (b) The amount a willing purchaser would pay a willing |
| 117 | seller for resale-restricted improvements, condominium parcels, |
| 118 | or cooperative parcels is limited to the amount determined by |
| 119 | the formula in the ground lease. |
| 120 | (c) If the ground lease and all amendments and supplements |
| 121 | thereto, or a memorandum documenting how such lease and |
| 122 | amendments or supplements restrict the price at which the |
| 123 | improvements, condominium parcels, or cooperative parcels may be |
| 124 | sold, is recorded in the official public records of the county |
| 125 | in which the leased land is located, the recorded lease and any |
| 126 | amendments and supplements, or the recorded memorandum, shall be |
| 127 | deemed a land use regulation during the term of the lease as |
| 128 | amended or supplemented. |
| 129 | Section 3. Subsection (5) of section 196.196, Florida |
| 130 | Statutes, is reenacted to read: |
| 131 | 196.196 Determining whether property is entitled to |
| 132 | charitable, religious, scientific, or literary exemption.- |
| 133 | (5)(a) Property owned by an exempt organization qualified |
| 134 | as charitable under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is |
| 135 | used for a charitable purpose if the organization has taken |
| 136 | affirmative steps to prepare the property to provide affordable |
| 137 | housing to persons or families that meet the extremely-low- |
| 138 | income, very-low-income, low-income, or moderate-income limits, |
| 139 | as specified in s. 420.0004. The term "affirmative steps" means |
| 140 | environmental or land use permitting activities, creation of |
| 141 | architectural plans or schematic drawings, land clearing or site |
| 142 | preparation, construction or renovation activities, or other |
| 143 | similar activities that demonstrate a commitment of the property |
| 144 | to providing affordable housing. |
| 145 | (b)1. If property owned by an organization granted an |
| 146 | exemption under this subsection is transferred for a purpose |
| 147 | other than directly providing affordable homeownership or rental |
| 148 | housing to persons or families who meet the extremely-low- |
| 149 | income, very-low-income, low-income, or moderate-income limits, |
| 150 | as specified in s. 420.0004, or is not in actual use to provide |
| 151 | such affordable housing within 5 years after the date the |
| 152 | organization is granted the exemption, the property appraiser |
| 153 | making such determination shall serve upon the organization that |
| 154 | illegally or improperly received the exemption a notice of |
| 155 | intent to record in the public records of the county a notice of |
| 156 | tax lien against any property owned by that organization in the |
| 157 | county, and such property shall be identified in the notice of |
| 158 | tax lien. The organization owning such property is subject to |
| 159 | the taxes otherwise due and owing as a result of the failure to |
| 160 | use the property to provide affordable housing plus 15 percent |
| 161 | interest per annum and a penalty of 50 percent of the taxes |
| 162 | owed. |
| 163 | 2. Such lien, when filed, attaches to any property |
| 164 | identified in the notice of tax lien owned by the organization |
| 165 | that illegally or improperly received the exemption. If such |
| 166 | organization no longer owns property in the county but owns |
| 167 | property in any other county in the state, the property |
| 168 | appraiser shall record in each such other county a notice of tax |
| 169 | lien identifying the property owned by such organization in such |
| 170 | county which shall become a lien against the identified |
| 171 | property. Before any such lien may be filed, the organization so |
| 172 | notified must be given 30 days to pay the taxes, penalties, and |
| 173 | interest. |
| 174 | 3. If an exemption is improperly granted as a result of a |
| 175 | clerical mistake or an omission by the property appraiser, the |
| 176 | organization improperly receiving the exemption shall not be |
| 177 | assessed a penalty or interest. |
| 178 | 4. The 5-year limitation specified in this subsection may |
| 179 | be extended if the holder of the exemption continues to take |
| 180 | affirmative steps to develop the property for the purposes |
| 181 | specified in this subsection. |
| 182 | Section 4. Section 196.1978, Florida Statutes, is |
| 183 | reenacted to read: |
| 184 | 196.1978 Affordable housing property exemption.-Property |
| 185 | used to provide affordable housing serving eligible persons as |
| 186 | defined by s. 159.603(7) and natural persons or families meeting |
| 187 | the extremely-low-income, very-low-income, low-income, or |
| 188 | moderate-income limits specified in s. 420.0004, which property |
| 189 | is owned entirely by a nonprofit entity that is a corporation |
| 190 | not for profit, qualified as charitable under s. 501(c)(3) of |
| 191 | the Internal Revenue Code and in compliance with Rev. Proc. 96- |
| 192 | 32, 1996-1 C.B. 717, or a Florida-based limited partnership, the |
| 193 | sole general partner of which is a corporation not for profit |
| 194 | which is qualified as charitable under s. 501(c)(3) of the |
| 195 | Internal Revenue Code and which complies with Rev. Proc. 96-32, |
| 196 | 1996-1 C.B. 717, shall be considered property owned by an exempt |
| 197 | entity and used for a charitable purpose, and those portions of |
| 198 | the affordable housing property which provide housing to natural |
| 199 | persons or families classified as extremely low income, very low |
| 200 | income, low income, or moderate income under s. 420.0004 shall |
| 201 | be exempt from ad valorem taxation to the extent authorized in |
| 202 | s. 196.196. All property identified in this section shall comply |
| 203 | with the criteria for determination of exempt status to be |
| 204 | applied by property appraisers on an annual basis as defined in |
| 205 | s. 196.195. The Legislature intends that any property owned by a |
| 206 | limited liability company or limited partnership which is |
| 207 | disregarded as an entity for federal income tax purposes |
| 208 | pursuant to Treasury Regulation 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) shall be |
| 209 | treated as owned by its sole member or sole general partner. |
| 210 | Section 5. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section |
| 211 | 212.055, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: |
| 212 | 212.055 Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent; |
| 213 | authorization and use of proceeds.-It is the legislative intent |
| 214 | that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales |
| 215 | surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a |
| 216 | subsection of this section, irrespective of the duration of the |
| 217 | levy. Each enactment shall specify the types of counties |
| 218 | authorized to levy; the rate or rates which may be imposed; the |
| 219 | maximum length of time the surtax may be imposed, if any; the |
| 220 | procedure which must be followed to secure voter approval, if |
| 221 | required; the purpose for which the proceeds may be expended; |
| 222 | and such other requirements as the Legislature may provide. |
| 223 | Taxable transactions and administrative procedures shall be as |
| 224 | provided in s. 212.054. |
| 225 | (2) LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX.- |
| 226 | (d) The proceeds of the surtax authorized by this |
| 227 | subsection and any accrued interest shall be expended by the |
| 228 | school district, within the county and municipalities within the |
| 229 | county, or, in the case of a negotiated joint county agreement, |
| 230 | within another county, to finance, plan, and construct |
| 231 | infrastructure; to acquire land for public recreation, |
| 232 | conservation, or protection of natural resources; or to finance |
| 233 | the closure of county-owned or municipally owned solid waste |
| 234 | landfills that have been closed or are required to be closed by |
| 235 | order of the Department of Environmental Protection. Any use of |
| 236 | the proceeds or interest for purposes of landfill closure before |
| 237 | July 1, 1993, is ratified. The proceeds and any interest may not |
| 238 | be used for the operational expenses of infrastructure, except |
| 239 | that a county that has a population of fewer than 75,000 and |
| 240 | that is required to close a landfill may use the proceeds or |
| 241 | interest for long-term maintenance costs associated with |
| 242 | landfill closure. Counties, as defined in s. 125.011, and |
| 243 | charter counties may, in addition, use the proceeds or interest |
| 244 | to retire or service indebtedness incurred for bonds issued |
| 245 | before July 1, 1987, for infrastructure purposes, and for bonds |
| 246 | subsequently issued to refund such bonds. Any use of the |
| 247 | proceeds or interest for purposes of retiring or servicing |
| 248 | indebtedness incurred for refunding bonds before July 1, 1999, |
| 249 | is ratified. |
| 250 | 1. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term |
| 251 | "infrastructure" means: |
| 252 | a. Any fixed capital expenditure or fixed capital outlay |
| 253 | associated with the construction, reconstruction, or improvement |
| 254 | of public facilities that have a life expectancy of 5 or more |
| 255 | years and any related land acquisition, land improvement, |
| 256 | design, and engineering costs. |
| 257 | b. A fire department vehicle, an emergency medical service |
| 258 | vehicle, a sheriff's office vehicle, a police department |
| 259 | vehicle, or any other vehicle, and the equipment necessary to |
| 260 | outfit the vehicle for its official use or equipment that has a |
| 261 | life expectancy of at least 5 years. |
| 262 | c. Any expenditure for the construction, lease, or |
| 263 | maintenance of, or provision of utilities or security for, |
| 264 | facilities, as defined in s. 29.008. |
| 265 | d. Any fixed capital expenditure or fixed capital outlay |
| 266 | associated with the improvement of private facilities that have |
| 267 | a life expectancy of 5 or more years and that the owner agrees |
| 268 | to make available for use on a temporary basis as needed by a |
| 269 | local government as a public emergency shelter or a staging area |
| 270 | for emergency response equipment during an emergency officially |
| 271 | declared by the state or by the local government under s. |
| 272 | 252.38. Such improvements are limited to those necessary to |
| 273 | comply with current standards for public emergency evacuation |
| 274 | shelters. The owner must enter into a written contract with the |
| 275 | local government providing the improvement funding to make the |
| 276 | private facility available to the public for purposes of |
| 277 | emergency shelter at no cost to the local government for a |
| 278 | minimum of 10 years after completion of the improvement, with |
| 279 | the provision that the obligation will transfer to any |
| 280 | subsequent owner until the end of the minimum period. |
| 281 | e. Any land acquisition expenditure for a residential |
| 282 | housing project in which at least 30 percent of the units are |
| 283 | affordable to individuals or families whose total annual |
| 284 | household income does not exceed 120 percent of the area median |
| 285 | income adjusted for household size, if the land is owned by a |
| 286 | local government or by a special district that enters into a |
| 287 | written agreement with the local government to provide such |
| 288 | housing. The local government or special district may enter into |
| 289 | a ground lease with a public or private person or entity for |
| 290 | nominal or other consideration for the construction of the |
| 291 | residential housing project on land acquired pursuant to this |
| 292 | sub-subparagraph. |
| 293 | 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, |
| 294 | a local government infrastructure surtax imposed or extended |
| 295 | after July 1, 1998, may allocate up to 15 percent of the surtax |
| 296 | proceeds for deposit in a trust fund within the county's |
| 297 | accounts created for the purpose of funding economic development |
| 298 | projects having a general public purpose of improving local |
| 299 | economies, including the funding of operational costs and |
| 300 | incentives related to economic development. The ballot statement |
| 301 | must indicate the intention to make an allocation under the |
| 302 | authority of this subparagraph. |
| 303 | Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 163.3202, Florida |
| 304 | Statutes, is reenacted to read: |
| 305 | 163.3202 Land development regulations.- |
| 306 | (2) Local land development regulations shall contain |
| 307 | specific and detailed provisions necessary or desirable to |
| 308 | implement the adopted comprehensive plan and shall at a minimum: |
| 309 | (a) Regulate the subdivision of land. |
| 310 | (b) Regulate the use of land and water for those land use |
| 311 | categories included in the land use element and ensure the |
| 312 | compatibility of adjacent uses and provide for open space. |
| 313 | (c) Provide for protection of potable water wellfields. |
| 314 | (d) Regulate areas subject to seasonal and periodic |
| 315 | flooding and provide for drainage and stormwater management. |
| 316 | (e) Ensure the protection of environmentally sensitive |
| 317 | lands designated in the comprehensive plan. |
| 318 | (f) Regulate signage. |
| 319 | (g) Provide that public facilities and services meet or |
| 320 | exceed the standards established in the capital improvements |
| 321 | element required by s. 163.3177 and are available when needed |
| 322 | for the development, or that development orders and permits are |
| 323 | conditioned on the availability of these public facilities and |
| 324 | services necessary to serve the proposed development. A local |
| 325 | government may not issue a development order or permit that |
| 326 | results in a reduction in the level of services for the affected |
| 327 | public facilities below the level of services provided in the |
| 328 | local government's comprehensive plan. |
| 329 | (h) Ensure safe and convenient onsite traffic flow, |
| 330 | considering needed vehicle parking. |
| 331 | (i) Maintain the existing density of residential |
| 332 | properties or recreational vehicle parks if the properties are |
| 333 | intended for residential use and are located in the |
| 334 | unincorporated areas that have sufficient infrastructure, as |
| 335 | determined by a local governing authority, and are not located |
| 336 | within a coastal high-hazard area under s. 163.3178. |
| 337 | Section 7. Subsection (25) of section 420.503, Florida |
| 338 | Statutes, is reenacted to read: |
| 339 | 420.503 Definitions.-As used in this part, the term: |
| 340 | (25) "Moderate rehabilitation" means repair or restoration |
| 341 | of a dwelling unit when the value of such repair or restoration |
| 342 | is 40 percent or less of the value of the dwelling unit but not |
| 343 | less than $10,000. |
| 344 | Section 8. Subsection (47) of section 420.507, Florida |
| 345 | Statutes, is reenacted to read: |
| 346 | 420.507 Powers of the corporation.-The corporation shall |
| 347 | have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and |
| 348 | effectuate the purposes and provisions of this part, including |
| 349 | the following powers which are in addition to all other powers |
| 350 | granted by other provisions of this part: |
| 351 | (47) To provide by rule in connection with any corporation |
| 352 | competitive program, criteria establishing a preference for |
| 353 | developers and general contractors domiciled in this state and |
| 354 | for developers and general contractors, regardless of domicile, |
| 355 | who have substantial experience in developing or building |
| 356 | affordable housing through the corporation's programs. |
| 357 | (a) In evaluating whether a developer or general |
| 358 | contractor is domiciled in this state, the corporation shall |
| 359 | consider whether the developer's or general contractor's |
| 360 | principal office is located in this state and whether a majority |
| 361 | of the developer's or general contractor's principals and |
| 362 | financial beneficiaries reside in Florida. |
| 363 | (b) In evaluating whether a developer or general |
| 364 | contractor has substantial experience, the corporation shall |
| 365 | consider whether the developer or general contractor has |
| 366 | completed at least five developments using funds either provided |
| 367 | by or administered by the corporation. |
| 368 | Section 9. Paragraphs (c) and (l) of subsection (6) of |
| 369 | section 420.5087, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: |
| 370 | 420.5087 State Apartment Incentive Loan Program.-There is |
| 371 | hereby created the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program for |
| 372 | the purpose of providing first, second, or other subordinated |
| 373 | mortgage loans or loan guarantees to sponsors, including for- |
| 374 | profit, nonprofit, and public entities, to provide housing |
| 375 | affordable to very-low-income persons. |
| 376 | (6) On all state apartment incentive loans, except loans |
| 377 | made to housing communities for the elderly to provide for |
| 378 | lifesafety, building preservation, health, sanitation, or |
| 379 | security-related repairs or improvements, the following |
| 380 | provisions shall apply: |
| 381 | (c) The corporation shall provide by rule for the |
| 382 | establishment of a review committee composed of the department |
| 383 | and corporation staff and shall establish by rule a scoring |
| 384 | system for evaluation and competitive ranking of applications |
| 385 | submitted in this program, including, but not limited to, the |
| 386 | following criteria: |
| 387 | 1. Tenant income and demographic targeting objectives of |
| 388 | the corporation. |
| 389 | 2. Targeting objectives of the corporation which will |
| 390 | ensure an equitable distribution of loans between rural and |
| 391 | urban areas. |
| 392 | 3. Sponsor's agreement to reserve the units for persons or |
| 393 | families who have incomes below 50 percent of the state or local |
| 394 | median income, whichever is higher, for a time period to exceed |
| 395 | the minimum required by federal law or the provisions of this |
| 396 | part. |
| 397 | 4. Sponsor's agreement to reserve more than: |
| 398 | a. Twenty percent of the units in the project for persons |
| 399 | or families who have incomes that do not exceed 50 percent of |
| 400 | the state or local median income, whichever is higher; or |
| 401 | b. Forty percent of the units in the project for persons |
| 402 | or families who have incomes that do not exceed 60 percent of |
| 403 | the state or local median income, whichever is higher, without |
| 404 | requiring a greater amount of the loans as provided in this |
| 405 | section. |
| 406 | 5. Provision for tenant counseling. |
| 407 | 6. Sponsor's agreement to accept rental assistance |
| 408 | certificates or vouchers as payment for rent. |
| 409 | 7. Projects requiring the least amount of a state |
| 410 | apartment incentive loan compared to overall project cost except |
| 411 | that the share of the loan attributable to units serving |
| 412 | extremely-low-income persons shall be excluded from this |
| 413 | requirement. |
| 414 | 8. Local government contributions and local government |
| 415 | comprehensive planning and activities that promote affordable |
| 416 | housing. |
| 417 | 9. Project feasibility. |
| 418 | 10. Economic viability of the project. |
| 419 | 11. Commitment of first mortgage financing. |
| 420 | 12. Sponsor's prior experience, including whether the |
| 421 | developer and general contractor have substantial experience, as |
| 422 | provided in s. 420.507(47). |
| 423 | 13. Sponsor's ability to proceed with construction. |
| 424 | 14. Projects that directly implement or assist welfare-to- |
| 425 | work transitioning. |
| 426 | 15. Projects that reserve units for extremely-low-income |
| 427 | persons. |
| 428 | 16. Projects that include green building principles, |
| 429 | storm-resistant construction, or other elements that reduce |
| 430 | long-term costs relating to maintenance, utilities, or |
| 431 | insurance. |
| 432 | 17. Domicile of the developer and general contractor, as |
| 433 | provided in s. 420.507(47). |
| 434 | (l) The proceeds of all loans shall be used for new |
| 435 | construction, moderate rehabilitation, or substantial |
| 436 | rehabilitation which creates or preserves affordable, safe, and |
| 437 | sanitary housing units. |
| 438 | Section 10. Subsection (5) of section 420.622, Florida |
| 439 | Statutes, is reenacted to read: |
| 440 | 420.622 State Office on Homelessness; Council on |
| 441 | Homelessness.- |
| 442 | (5) The State Office on Homelessness, with the concurrence |
| 443 | of the Council on Homelessness, may administer moneys |
| 444 | appropriated to it to provide homeless housing assistance grants |
| 445 | annually to lead agencies for local homeless assistance |
| 446 | continuum of care, as recognized by the State Office on |
| 447 | Homelessness, to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate |
| 448 | transitional or permanent housing units for homeless persons. |
| 449 | These moneys shall consist of any sums that the state may |
| 450 | appropriate, as well as money received from donations, gifts, |
| 451 | bequests, or otherwise from any public or private source, which |
| 452 | are intended to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate transitional |
| 453 | or permanent housing units for homeless persons. |
| 454 | (a) Grant applicants shall be ranked competitively. |
| 455 | Preference must be given to applicants who leverage additional |
| 456 | private funds and public funds, particularly federal funds |
| 457 | designated for the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation |
| 458 | of transitional or permanent housing for homeless persons; who |
| 459 | acquire, build, or rehabilitate the greatest number of units; |
| 460 | and who acquire, build, or rehabilitate in catchment areas |
| 461 | having the greatest need for housing for the homeless relative |
| 462 | to the population of the catchment area. |
| 463 | (b) Funding for any particular project may not exceed |
| 464 | $750,000. |
| 465 | (c) Projects must reserve, for a minimum of 10 years, the |
| 466 | number of units acquired, constructed, or rehabilitated through |
| 467 | homeless housing assistance grant funding to serve persons who |
| 468 | are homeless at the time they assume tenancy. |
| 469 | (d) No more than two grants may be awarded annually in any |
| 470 | given local homeless assistance continuum of care catchment |
| 471 | area. |
| 472 | (e) A project may not be funded which is not included in |
| 473 | the local homeless assistance continuum of care plan, as |
| 474 | recognized by the State Office on Homelessness, for the |
| 475 | catchment area in which the project is located. |
| 476 | (f) The maximum percentage of funds that the State Office |
| 477 | on Homelessness and each applicant may spend on administrative |
| 478 | costs is 5 percent. |
| 479 | Section 11. Section 420.628, Florida Statutes, is |
| 480 | reenacted to read: |
| 481 | 420.628 Affordable housing for children and young adults |
| 482 | leaving foster care; legislative findings and intent.- |
| 483 | (1)(a) The Legislature finds that there are many young |
| 484 | adults who, through no fault of their own, live in foster |
| 485 | families, group homes, and institutions, and face numerous |
| 486 | barriers to a successful transition to adulthood. Young adults |
| 487 | who are leaving the child welfare system may enter adulthood |
| 488 | lacking the knowledge, skills, attitudes, habits, and |
| 489 | relationships that will enable them to become productive members |
| 490 | of society. |
| 491 | (b) The Legislature further finds that the main barriers |
| 492 | to safe and affordable housing for such young adults are cost, |
| 493 | lack of availability, the unwillingness of landlords to rent to |
| 494 | such youth due to perceived regulatory barriers, and a lack of |
| 495 | knowledge about how to be a good tenant. These barriers cause |
| 496 | young adults to be at risk of becoming homeless. |
| 497 | (c) The Legislature also finds that young adults who leave |
| 498 | the child welfare system are disproportionately represented in |
| 499 | the homeless population. Without the stability of safe and |
| 500 | affordable housing, all other services, training, and |
| 501 | opportunities provided to such young adults may not be |
| 502 | effective. Making affordable housing available will decrease the |
| 503 | chance of homelessness and may increase the ability of such |
| 504 | young adults to live independently. |
| 505 | (d) The Legislature intends that the Florida Housing |
| 506 | Finance Corporation, agencies within the State Housing |
| 507 | Initiative Partnership Program, local housing finance agencies, |
| 508 | public housing authorities, and their agents, and other |
| 509 | providers of affordable housing coordinate with the Department |
| 510 | of Children and Family Services, their agents, and community- |
| 511 | based care providers who provide services under s. 409.1671 to |
| 512 | develop and implement strategies and procedures designed to make |
| 513 | affordable housing available whenever and wherever possible to |
| 514 | young adults who leave the child welfare system. |
| 515 | (2) Young adults who leave the child welfare system meet |
| 516 | the definition of eligible persons under ss. 420.503(17) and |
| 517 | 420.9071(10) for affordable housing, and are encouraged to |
| 518 | participate in federal, state, and local affordable housing |
| 519 | programs. Students deemed to be eligible occupants under 26 |
| 520 | U.S.C. s. 42(i)(3)(D) shall be considered eligible persons for |
| 521 | purposes of all projects funded under this chapter. |
| 522 | Section 12. Subsections (4), (8), (16), (25), (29), and |
| 523 | (30) of section 420.9071, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to |
| 524 | read: |
| 525 | 420.9071 Definitions.-As used in ss. 420.907-420.9079, the |
| 526 | term: |
| 527 | (4) "Annual gross income" means annual income as defined |
| 528 | under the Section 8 housing assistance payments programs in 24 |
| 529 | C.F.R. part 5; annual income as reported under the census long |
| 530 | form for the recent available decennial census; or adjusted |
| 531 | gross income as defined for purposes of reporting under Internal |
| 532 | Revenue Service Form 1040 for individual federal annual income |
| 533 | tax purposes or as defined by standard practices used in the |
| 534 | lending industry as detailed in the local housing assistance |
| 535 | plan and approved by the corporation. Counties and eligible |
| 536 | municipalities shall calculate income by annualizing verified |
| 537 | sources of income for the household as the amount of income to |
| 538 | be received in a household during the 12 months following the |
| 539 | effective date of the determination. |
| 540 | (8) "Eligible housing" means any real and personal |
| 541 | property located within the county or the eligible municipality |
| 542 | which is designed and intended for the primary purpose of |
| 543 | providing decent, safe, and sanitary residential units that are |
| 544 | designed to meet the standards of the Florida Building Code or |
| 545 | previous building codes adopted under chapter 553, or |
| 546 | manufactured housing constructed after June 1994 and installed |
| 547 | in accordance with the installation standards for mobile or |
| 548 | manufactured homes contained in rules of the Department of |
| 549 | Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, for home ownership or rental |
| 550 | for eligible persons as designated by each county or eligible |
| 551 | municipality participating in the State Housing Initiatives |
| 552 | Partnership Program. |
| 553 | (16) "Local housing incentive strategies" means local |
| 554 | regulatory reform or incentive programs to encourage or |
| 555 | facilitate affordable housing production, which include at a |
| 556 | minimum, assurance that permits as defined in s. 163.3164(7) and |
| 557 | (8) for affordable housing projects are expedited to a greater |
| 558 | degree than other projects; an ongoing process for review of |
| 559 | local policies, ordinances, regulations, and plan provisions |
| 560 | that increase the cost of housing prior to their adoption; and a |
| 561 | schedule for implementing the incentive strategies. Local |
| 562 | housing incentive strategies may also include other regulatory |
| 563 | reforms, such as those enumerated in s. 420.9076 or those |
| 564 | recommended by the affordable housing advisory committee in its |
| 565 | triennial evaluation of the implementation of affordable housing |
| 566 | incentives, and adopted by the local governing body. |
| 567 | (25) "Recaptured funds" means funds that are recouped by a |
| 568 | county or eligible municipality in accordance with the recapture |
| 569 | provisions of its local housing assistance plan pursuant to s. |
| 570 | 420.9075(5)(h) from eligible persons or eligible sponsors, which |
| 571 | funds were not used for assistance to an eligible household for |
| 572 | an eligible activity, when there is a default on the terms of a |
| 573 | grant award or loan award. |
| 574 | (29) "Assisted housing" or "assisted housing development" |
| 575 | means a rental housing development, including rental housing in |
| 576 | a mixed-use development, that received or currently receives |
| 577 | funding from any federal or state housing program. |
| 578 | (30) "Preservation" means actions taken to keep rents in |
| 579 | existing assisted housing affordable for extremely-low-income, |
| 580 | very-low-income, low-income, and moderate-income households |
| 581 | while ensuring that the property stays in good physical and |
| 582 | financial condition for an extended period. |
| 583 | Section 13. Subsections (6) and (7) of section 420.9072, |
| 584 | Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: |
| 585 | 420.9072 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program.- |
| 586 | The State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program is created for |
| 587 | the purpose of providing funds to counties and eligible |
| 588 | municipalities as an incentive for the creation of local housing |
| 589 | partnerships, to expand production of and preserve affordable |
| 590 | housing, to further the housing element of the local government |
| 591 | comprehensive plan specific to affordable housing, and to |
| 592 | increase housing-related employment. |
| 593 | (6) The moneys that otherwise would be distributed |
| 594 | pursuant to s. 420.9073 to a local government that does not meet |
| 595 | the program's requirements for receipts of such distributions |
| 596 | shall remain in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to be |
| 597 | administered by the corporation. |
| 598 | (7) A county or an eligible municipality must expend its |
| 599 | portion of the local housing distribution only to implement a |
| 600 | local housing assistance plan or as provided in this subsection. |
| 601 | (a) A county or an eligible municipality may not expend |
| 602 | its portion of the local housing distribution to provide rent |
| 603 | subsidies; however, this does not prohibit the use of funds for |
| 604 | security and utility deposit assistance. |
| 605 | (b) A county or an eligible municipality may expend a |
| 606 | portion of the local housing distribution to provide a one-time |
| 607 | relocation grant to persons who meet the income requirements of |
| 608 | the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program and who are |
| 609 | subject to eviction from rental property located in the county |
| 610 | or eligible municipality due to the foreclosure of the rental |
| 611 | property. In order to receive a grant under this paragraph, a |
| 612 | person must provide the county or eligible municipality with |
| 613 | proof of meeting the income requirements of a very-low-income |
| 614 | household, a low-income household, or a moderate-income |
| 615 | household; a notice of eviction; and proof that the rent has |
| 616 | been paid for at least 3 months before the date of eviction, |
| 617 | including the month that the notice of eviction was served. |
| 618 | Relocation assistance under this paragraph is limited to a one- |
| 619 | time grant of not more than $5,000 and is not limited to persons |
| 620 | who are subject to eviction from projects funded under the State |
| 621 | Housing Initiatives Partnership Program. This paragraph expires |
| 622 | July 1, 2010. |
| 623 | Section 14. Subsections (1), (2), (5), (6), and (7) of |
| 624 | section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: |
| 625 | 420.9073 Local housing distributions.- |
| 626 | (1) Distributions calculated in this section shall be |
| 627 | disbursed on a quarterly or more frequent basis by the |
| 628 | corporation pursuant to s. 420.9072, subject to availability of |
| 629 | funds. Each county's share of the funds to be distributed from |
| 630 | the portion of the funds in the Local Government Housing Trust |
| 631 | Fund received pursuant to s. 201.15(9) shall be calculated by |
| 632 | the corporation for each fiscal year as follows: |
| 633 | (a) Each county other than a county that has implemented |
| 634 | the provisions of chapter 83-220, Laws of Florida, as amended by |
| 635 | chapters 84-270, 86-152, and 89-252, Laws of Florida, shall |
| 636 | receive the guaranteed amount for each fiscal year. |
| 637 | (b) Each county other than a county that has implemented |
| 638 | the provisions of chapter 83-220, Laws of Florida, as amended by |
| 639 | chapters 84-270, 86-152, and 89-252, Laws of Florida, may |
| 640 | receive an additional share calculated as follows: |
| 641 | 1. Multiply each county's percentage of the total state |
| 642 | population excluding the population of any county that has |
| 643 | implemented the provisions of chapter 83-220, Laws of Florida, |
| 644 | as amended by chapters 84-270, 86-152, and 89-252, Laws of |
| 645 | Florida, by the total funds to be distributed. |
| 646 | 2. If the result in subparagraph 1. is less than the |
| 647 | guaranteed amount as determined in subsection (3), that county's |
| 648 | additional share shall be zero. |
| 649 | 3. For each county in which the result in subparagraph 1. |
| 650 | is greater than the guaranteed amount as determined in |
| 651 | subsection (3), the amount calculated in subparagraph 1. shall |
| 652 | be reduced by the guaranteed amount. The result for each such |
| 653 | county shall be expressed as a percentage of the amounts so |
| 654 | determined for all counties. Each such county shall receive an |
| 655 | additional share equal to such percentage multiplied by the |
| 656 | total funds received by the Local Government Housing Trust Fund |
| 657 | pursuant to s. 201.15(9) reduced by the guaranteed amount paid |
| 658 | to all counties. |
| 659 | (2) Distributions calculated in this section shall be |
| 660 | disbursed on a quarterly or more frequent basis by the |
| 661 | corporation pursuant to s. 420.9072, subject to availability of |
| 662 | funds. Each county's share of the funds to be distributed from |
| 663 | the portion of the funds in the Local Government Housing Trust |
| 664 | Fund received pursuant to s. 201.15(10) shall be calculated by |
| 665 | the corporation for each fiscal year as follows: |
| 666 | (a) Each county shall receive the guaranteed amount for |
| 667 | each fiscal year. |
| 668 | (b) Each county may receive an additional share calculated |
| 669 | as follows: |
| 670 | 1. Multiply each county's percentage of the total state |
| 671 | population, by the total funds to be distributed. |
| 672 | 2. If the result in subparagraph 1. is less than the |
| 673 | guaranteed amount as determined in subsection (3), that county's |
| 674 | additional share shall be zero. |
| 675 | 3. For each county in which the result in subparagraph 1. |
| 676 | is greater than the guaranteed amount, the amount calculated in |
| 677 | subparagraph 1. shall be reduced by the guaranteed amount. The |
| 678 | result for each such county shall be expressed as a percentage |
| 679 | of the amounts so determined for all counties. Each such county |
| 680 | shall receive an additional share equal to this percentage |
| 681 | multiplied by the total funds received by the Local Government |
| 682 | Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 201.15(10) as reduced by the |
| 683 | guaranteed amount paid to all counties. |
| 684 | (5) Notwithstanding subsections (1)-(4), the corporation |
| 685 | may withhold up to $5 million of the total amount distributed |
| 686 | each fiscal year from the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to |
| 687 | provide additional funding to counties and eligible |
| 688 | municipalities where a state of emergency has been declared by |
| 689 | the Governor pursuant to chapter 252. Any portion of the |
| 690 | withheld funds not distributed by the end of the fiscal year |
| 691 | shall be distributed as provided in subsections (1) and (2). |
| 692 | (6) Notwithstanding subsections (1)-(4), the corporation |
| 693 | may withhold up to $5 million from the total amount distributed |
| 694 | each fiscal year from the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to |
| 695 | provide funding to counties and eligible municipalities to |
| 696 | purchase properties subject to a State Housing Initiative |
| 697 | Partnership Program lien and on which foreclosure proceedings |
| 698 | have been initiated by any mortgagee. Each county and eligible |
| 699 | municipality that receives funds under this subsection shall |
| 700 | repay such funds to the corporation not later than the |
| 701 | expenditure deadline for the fiscal year in which the funds were |
| 702 | awarded. Amounts not repaid shall be withheld from the |
| 703 | subsequent year's distribution. Any portion of such funds not |
| 704 | distributed under this subsection by the end of the fiscal year |
| 705 | shall be distributed as provided in subsections (1) and (2). |
| 706 | (7) A county receiving local housing distributions under |
| 707 | this section or an eligible municipality that receives local |
| 708 | housing distributions under an interlocal agreement shall expend |
| 709 | those funds in accordance with the provisions of ss. 420.907- |
| 710 | 420.9079, rules of the corporation, and the county's local |
| 711 | housing assistance plan. |
| 712 | Section 15. Subsections (1), (3), (5), and (8), paragraphs |
| 713 | (a) and (h) of subsection (10), paragraph (b) of subsection |
| 714 | (13), and subsection (14) of section 420.9075, Florida Statutes, |
| 715 | are reenacted to read: |
| 716 | 420.9075 Local housing assistance plans; partnerships.- |
| 717 | (1)(a) Each county or eligible municipality participating |
| 718 | in the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program shall |
| 719 | develop and implement a local housing assistance plan created to |
| 720 | make affordable residential units available to persons of very |
| 721 | low income, low income, or moderate income and to persons who |
| 722 | have special housing needs, including, but not limited to, |
| 723 | homeless people, the elderly, migrant farmworkers, and persons |
| 724 | with disabilities. Counties or eligible municipalities may |
| 725 | include strategies to assist persons and households having |
| 726 | annual incomes of not more than 140 percent of area median |
| 727 | income. The plans are intended to increase the availability of |
| 728 | affordable residential units by combining local resources and |
| 729 | cost-saving measures into a local housing partnership and using |
| 730 | private and public funds to reduce the cost of housing. |
| 731 | (b) Local housing assistance plans may allocate funds to: |
| 732 | 1. Implement local housing assistance strategies for the |
| 733 | provision of affordable housing. |
| 734 | 2. Supplement funds available to the corporation to |
| 735 | provide enhanced funding of state housing programs within the |
| 736 | county or the eligible municipality. |
| 737 | 3. Provide the local matching share of federal affordable |
| 738 | housing grants or programs. |
| 739 | 4. Fund emergency repairs, including, but not limited to, |
| 740 | repairs performed by existing service providers under |
| 741 | weatherization assistance programs under ss. 409.509-409.5093. |
| 742 | 5. Further the housing element of the local government |
| 743 | comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to s. 163.3184, specific to |
| 744 | affordable housing. |
| 745 | (3)(a) Each local housing assistance plan shall include a |
| 746 | definition of essential service personnel for the county or |
| 747 | eligible municipality, including, but not limited to, teachers |
| 748 | and educators, other school district, community college, and |
| 749 | university employees, police and fire personnel, health care |
| 750 | personnel, skilled building trades personnel, and other job |
| 751 | categories. |
| 752 | (b) Each county and each eligible municipality is |
| 753 | encouraged to develop a strategy within its local housing |
| 754 | assistance plan that emphasizes the recruitment and retention of |
| 755 | essential service personnel. The local government is encouraged |
| 756 | to involve public and private sector employers. Compliance with |
| 757 | the eligibility criteria established under this strategy shall |
| 758 | be verified by the county or eligible municipality. |
| 759 | (c) Each county and each eligible municipality is |
| 760 | encouraged to develop a strategy within its local housing |
| 761 | assistance plan that addresses the needs of persons who are |
| 762 | deprived of affordable housing due to the closure of a mobile |
| 763 | home park or the conversion of affordable rental units to |
| 764 | condominiums. |
| 765 | (d) Each county and each eligible municipality shall |
| 766 | describe initiatives in the local housing assistance plan to |
| 767 | encourage or require innovative design, green building |
| 768 | principles, storm-resistant construction, or other elements that |
| 769 | reduce long-term costs relating to maintenance, utilities, or |
| 770 | insurance. |
| 771 | (e) Each county and each eligible municipality is |
| 772 | encouraged to develop a strategy within its local housing |
| 773 | assistance plan which provides program funds for the |
| 774 | preservation of assisted housing. |
| 775 | (5) The following criteria apply to awards made to |
| 776 | eligible sponsors or eligible persons for the purpose of |
| 777 | providing eligible housing: |
| 778 | (a) At least 65 percent of the funds made available in |
| 779 | each county and eligible municipality from the local housing |
| 780 | distribution must be reserved for home ownership for eligible |
| 781 | persons. |
| 782 | (b) At least 75 percent of the funds made available in |
| 783 | each county and eligible municipality from the local housing |
| 784 | distribution must be reserved for construction, rehabilitation, |
| 785 | or emergency repair of affordable, eligible housing. |
| 786 | (c) Not more than 20 percent of the funds made available |
| 787 | in each county and eligible municipality from the local housing |
| 788 | distribution may be used for manufactured housing. |
| 789 | (d) The sales price or value of new or existing eligible |
| 790 | housing may not exceed 90 percent of the average area purchase |
| 791 | price in the statistical area in which the eligible housing is |
| 792 | located. Such average area purchase price may be that calculated |
| 793 | for any 12-month period beginning not earlier than the fourth |
| 794 | calendar year prior to the year in which the award occurs or as |
| 795 | otherwise established by the United States Department of the |
| 796 | Treasury. |
| 797 | (e)1. All units constructed, rehabilitated, or otherwise |
| 798 | assisted with the funds provided from the local housing |
| 799 | assistance trust fund must be occupied by very-low-income |
| 800 | persons, low-income persons, and moderate-income persons except |
| 801 | as otherwise provided in this section. |
| 802 | 2. At least 30 percent of the funds deposited into the |
| 803 | local housing assistance trust fund must be reserved for awards |
| 804 | to very-low-income persons or eligible sponsors who will serve |
| 805 | very-low-income persons and at least an additional 30 percent of |
| 806 | the funds deposited into the local housing assistance trust fund |
| 807 | must be reserved for awards to low-income persons or eligible |
| 808 | sponsors who will serve low-income persons. This subparagraph |
| 809 | does not apply to a county or an eligible municipality that |
| 810 | includes, or has included within the previous 5 years, an area |
| 811 | of critical state concern designated or ratified by the |
| 812 | Legislature for which the Legislature has declared its intent to |
| 813 | provide affordable housing. The exemption created by this act |
| 814 | expires on July 1, 2013, and shall apply retroactively. |
| 815 | (f) Loans shall be provided for periods not exceeding 30 |
| 816 | years, except for deferred payment loans or loans that extend |
| 817 | beyond 30 years which continue to serve eligible persons. |
| 818 | (g) Loans or grants for eligible rental housing |
| 819 | constructed, rehabilitated, or otherwise assisted from the local |
| 820 | housing assistance trust fund must be subject to recapture |
| 821 | requirements as provided by the county or eligible municipality |
| 822 | in its local housing assistance plan unless reserved for |
| 823 | eligible persons for 15 years or the term of the assistance, |
| 824 | whichever period is longer. Eligible sponsors that offer rental |
| 825 | housing for sale before 15 years or that have remaining |
| 826 | mortgages funded under this program must give a first right of |
| 827 | refusal to eligible nonprofit organizations for purchase at the |
| 828 | current market value for continued occupancy by eligible |
| 829 | persons. |
| 830 | (h) Loans or grants for eligible owner-occupied housing |
| 831 | constructed, rehabilitated, or otherwise assisted from proceeds |
| 832 | provided from the local housing assistance trust fund shall be |
| 833 | subject to recapture requirements as provided by the county or |
| 834 | eligible municipality in its local housing assistance plan. |
| 835 | (i) The total amount of monthly mortgage payments or the |
| 836 | amount of monthly rent charged by the eligible sponsor or her or |
| 837 | his designee must be made affordable. |
| 838 | (j) The maximum sales price or value per unit and the |
| 839 | maximum award per unit for eligible housing benefiting from |
| 840 | awards made pursuant to this section must be established in the |
| 841 | local housing assistance plan. |
| 842 | (k) The benefit of assistance provided through the State |
| 843 | Housing Initiatives Partnership Program must accrue to eligible |
| 844 | persons occupying eligible housing. This provision shall not be |
| 845 | construed to prohibit use of the local housing distribution |
| 846 | funds for a mixed income rental development. |
| 847 | (l) Funds from the local housing distribution not used to |
| 848 | meet the criteria established in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) |
| 849 | or not used for the administration of a local housing assistance |
| 850 | plan must be used for housing production and finance activities, |
| 851 | including, but not limited to, financing preconstruction |
| 852 | activities or the purchase of existing units, providing rental |
| 853 | housing, and providing home ownership training to prospective |
| 854 | home buyers and owners of homes assisted through the local |
| 855 | housing assistance plan. |
| 856 | 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and |
| 857 | (b), program income as defined in s. 420.9071(24) may also be |
| 858 | used to fund activities described in this paragraph. |
| 859 | 2. When preconstruction due-diligence activities conducted |
| 860 | as part of a preservation strategy show that preservation of the |
| 861 | units is not feasible and will not result in the production of |
| 862 | an eligible unit, such costs shall be deemed a program expense |
| 863 | rather than an administrative expense if such program expenses |
| 864 | do not exceed 3 percent of the annual local housing |
| 865 | distribution. |
| 866 | 3. If both an award under the local housing assistance |
| 867 | plan and federal low-income housing tax credits are used to |
| 868 | assist a project and there is a conflict between the criteria |
| 869 | prescribed in this subsection and the requirements of s. 42 of |
| 870 | the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the county or |
| 871 | eligible municipality may resolve the conflict by giving |
| 872 | precedence to the requirements of s. 42 of the Internal Revenue |
| 873 | Code of 1986, as amended, in lieu of following the criteria |
| 874 | prescribed in this subsection with the exception of paragraphs |
| 875 | (a) and (e) of this subsection. |
| 876 | 4. Each county and each eligible municipality may award |
| 877 | funds as a grant for construction, rehabilitation, or repair as |
| 878 | part of disaster recovery or emergency repairs or to remedy |
| 879 | accessibility or health and safety deficiencies. Any other |
| 880 | grants must be approved as part of the local housing assistance |
| 881 | plan. |
| 882 | (8) Pursuant to s. 420.531, the corporation shall provide |
| 883 | training and technical assistance to local governments regarding |
| 884 | the creation of partnerships, the design of local housing |
| 885 | assistance strategies, the implementation of local housing |
| 886 | incentive strategies, and the provision of support services. |
| 887 | (10) Each county or eligible municipality shall submit to |
| 888 | the corporation by September 15 of each year a report of its |
| 889 | affordable housing programs and accomplishments through June 30 |
| 890 | immediately preceding submittal of the report. The report shall |
| 891 | be certified as accurate and complete by the local government's |
| 892 | chief elected official or his or her designee. Transmittal of |
| 893 | the annual report by a county's or eligible municipality's chief |
| 894 | elected official, or his or her designee, certifies that the |
| 895 | local housing incentive strategies, or, if applicable, the local |
| 896 | housing incentive plan, have been implemented or are in the |
| 897 | process of being implemented pursuant to the adopted schedule |
| 898 | for implementation. The report must include, but is not limited |
| 899 | to: |
| 900 | (a) The number of households served by income category, |
| 901 | age, family size, and race, and data regarding any special needs |
| 902 | populations such as farmworkers, homeless persons, persons with |
| 903 | disabilities, and the elderly. Counties shall report this |
| 904 | information separately for households served in the |
| 905 | unincorporated area and each municipality within the county. |
| 906 | (h) Such other data or affordable housing accomplishments |
| 907 | considered significant by the reporting county or eligible |
| 908 | municipality or by the corporation. |
| 909 | (13) |
| 910 | (b) If, as a result of its review of the annual report, |
| 911 | the corporation determines that a county or eligible |
| 912 | municipality has failed to implement a local housing incentive |
| 913 | strategy, or, if applicable, a local housing incentive plan, it |
| 914 | shall send a notice of termination of the local government's |
| 915 | share of the local housing distribution by certified mail to the |
| 916 | affected county or eligible municipality. |
| 917 | 1. The notice must specify a date of termination of the |
| 918 | funding if the affected county or eligible municipality does not |
| 919 | implement the plan or strategy and provide for a local response. |
| 920 | A county or eligible municipality shall respond to the |
| 921 | corporation within 30 days after receipt of the notice of |
| 922 | termination. |
| 923 | 2. The corporation shall consider the local response that |
| 924 | extenuating circumstances precluded implementation and grant an |
| 925 | extension to the timeframe for implementation. Such an extension |
| 926 | shall be made in the form of an extension agreement that |
| 927 | provides a timeframe for implementation. The chief elected |
| 928 | official of a county or eligible municipality or his or her |
| 929 | designee shall have the authority to enter into the agreement on |
| 930 | behalf of the local government. |
| 931 | 3. If the county or the eligible municipality has not |
| 932 | implemented the incentive strategy or entered into an extension |
| 933 | agreement by the termination date specified in the notice, the |
| 934 | local housing distribution share terminates, and any uncommitted |
| 935 | local housing distribution funds held by the affected county or |
| 936 | eligible municipality in its local housing assistance trust fund |
| 937 | shall be transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund |
| 938 | to the credit of the corporation to administer. |
| 939 | 4.a. If the affected local government fails to meet the |
| 940 | timeframes specified in the agreement, the corporation shall |
| 941 | terminate funds. The corporation shall send a notice of |
| 942 | termination of the local government's share of the local housing |
| 943 | distribution by certified mail to the affected local government. |
| 944 | The notice shall specify the termination date, and any |
| 945 | uncommitted funds held by the affected local government shall be |
| 946 | transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to the |
| 947 | credit of the corporation to administer. |
| 948 | b. If the corporation terminates funds to a county, but an |
| 949 | eligible municipality receiving a local housing distribution |
| 950 | pursuant to an interlocal agreement maintains compliance with |
| 951 | program requirements, the corporation shall thereafter |
| 952 | distribute directly to the participating eligible municipality |
| 953 | its share calculated in the manner provided in s. 420.9072. |
| 954 | c. Any county or eligible municipality whose local |
| 955 | distribution share has been terminated may subsequently elect to |
| 956 | receive directly its local distribution share by adopting the |
| 957 | ordinance, resolution, and local housing assistance plan in the |
| 958 | manner and according to the procedures provided in ss. 420.907- |
| 959 | 420.9079. |
| 960 | (14) If the corporation determines that a county or |
| 961 | eligible municipality has expended program funds for an |
| 962 | ineligible activity, the corporation shall require such funds to |
| 963 | be repaid to the local housing assistance trust fund. Such |
| 964 | repayment may not be made with funds from the State Housing |
| 965 | Initiatives Partnership Program. |
| 966 | Section 16. Paragraph (h) of subsection (2), subsections |
| 967 | (5) and (6), and paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section |
| 968 | 420.9076, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: |
| 969 | 420.9076 Adoption of affordable housing incentive |
| 970 | strategies; committees.- |
| 971 | (2) The governing board of a county or municipality shall |
| 972 | appoint the members of the affordable housing advisory committee |
| 973 | by resolution. Pursuant to the terms of any interlocal |
| 974 | agreement, a county and municipality may create and jointly |
| 975 | appoint an advisory committee to prepare a joint plan. The |
| 976 | ordinance adopted pursuant to s. 420.9072 which creates the |
| 977 | advisory committee or the resolution appointing the advisory |
| 978 | committee members must provide for 11 committee members and |
| 979 | their terms. The committee must include: |
| 980 | (h) One citizen who actively serves on the local planning |
| 981 | agency pursuant to s. 163.3174. If the local planning agency is |
| 982 | comprised of the governing board of the county or municipality, |
| 983 | the governing board may appoint a designee who is knowledgeable |
| 984 | in the local planning process. |
| 985 |
|
| 986 | If a county or eligible municipality whether due to its small |
| 987 | size, the presence of a conflict of interest by prospective |
| 988 | appointees, or other reasonable factor, is unable to appoint a |
| 989 | citizen actively engaged in these activities in connection with |
| 990 | affordable housing, a citizen engaged in the activity without |
| 991 | regard to affordable housing may be appointed. Local governments |
| 992 | that receive the minimum allocation under the State Housing |
| 993 | Initiatives Partnership Program may elect to appoint an |
| 994 | affordable housing advisory committee with fewer than 11 |
| 995 | representatives if they are unable to find representatives who |
| 996 | meet the criteria of paragraphs (a)-(k). |
| 997 | (5) The approval by the advisory committee of its local |
| 998 | housing incentive strategies recommendations and its review of |
| 999 | local government implementation of previously recommended |
| 1000 | strategies must be made by affirmative vote of a majority of the |
| 1001 | membership of the advisory committee taken at a public hearing. |
| 1002 | Notice of the time, date, and place of the public hearing of the |
| 1003 | advisory committee to adopt its evaluation and final local |
| 1004 | housing incentive strategies recommendations must be published |
| 1005 | in a newspaper of general paid circulation in the county. The |
| 1006 | notice must contain a short and concise summary of the |
| 1007 | evaluation and local housing incentives strategies |
| 1008 | recommendations to be considered by the advisory committee. The |
| 1009 | notice must state the public place where a copy of the |
| 1010 | evaluation and tentative advisory committee recommendations can |
| 1011 | be obtained by interested persons. The final report, evaluation, |
| 1012 | and recommendations shall be submitted to the corporation. |
| 1013 | (6) Within 90 days after the date of receipt of the |
| 1014 | evaluation and local housing incentive strategies |
| 1015 | recommendations from the advisory committee, the governing body |
| 1016 | of the appointing local government shall adopt an amendment to |
| 1017 | its local housing assistance plan to incorporate the local |
| 1018 | housing incentive strategies it will implement within its |
| 1019 | jurisdiction. The amendment must include, at a minimum, the |
| 1020 | local housing incentive strategies required under s. |
| 1021 | 420.9071(16). The local government must consider the strategies |
| 1022 | specified in paragraphs (4)(a)-(k) as recommended by the |
| 1023 | advisory committee. |
| 1024 | (7) The governing board of the county or the eligible |
| 1025 | municipality shall notify the corporation by certified mail of |
| 1026 | its adoption of an amendment of its local housing assistance |
| 1027 | plan to incorporate local housing incentive strategies. The |
| 1028 | notice must include a copy of the approved amended plan. |
| 1029 | (a) If the corporation fails to receive timely the |
| 1030 | approved amended local housing assistance plan to incorporate |
| 1031 | local housing incentive strategies, a notice of termination of |
| 1032 | its share of the local housing distribution shall be sent by |
| 1033 | certified mail by the corporation to the affected county or |
| 1034 | eligible municipality. The notice of termination must specify a |
| 1035 | date of termination of the funding if the affected county or |
| 1036 | eligible municipality has not adopted an amended local housing |
| 1037 | assistance plan to incorporate local housing incentive |
| 1038 | strategies. If the county or the eligible municipality has not |
| 1039 | adopted an amended local housing assistance plan to incorporate |
| 1040 | local housing incentive strategies by the termination date |
| 1041 | specified in the notice of termination, the local distribution |
| 1042 | share terminates; and any uncommitted local distribution funds |
| 1043 | held by the affected county or eligible municipality in its |
| 1044 | local housing assistance trust fund shall be transferred to the |
| 1045 | Local Government Housing Trust Fund to the credit of the |
| 1046 | corporation to administer the local government housing program. |
| 1047 | Section 17. Section 420.9078, Florida Statutes, is |
| 1048 | repealed. |
| 1049 | Section 18. Section 420.9079, Florida Statutes, is |
| 1050 | reenacted to read: |
| 1051 | 420.9079 Local Government Housing Trust Fund.- |
| 1052 | (1) There is created in the State Treasury the Local |
| 1053 | Government Housing Trust Fund, which shall be administered by |
| 1054 | the corporation on behalf of the department according to the |
| 1055 | provisions of ss. 420.907-420.9076 and this section. There shall |
| 1056 | be deposited into the fund a portion of the documentary stamp |
| 1057 | tax revenues as provided in s. 201.15, moneys received from any |
| 1058 | other source for the purposes of ss. 420.907-420.9076 and this |
| 1059 | section, and all proceeds derived from the investment of such |
| 1060 | moneys. Moneys in the fund that are not currently needed for the |
| 1061 | purposes of the programs administered pursuant to ss. 420.907- |
| 1062 | 420.9076 and this section shall be deposited to the credit of |
| 1063 | the fund and may be invested as provided by law. The interest |
| 1064 | received on any such investment shall be credited to the fund. |
| 1065 | (2) The corporation shall administer the fund exclusively |
| 1066 | for the purpose of implementing the programs described in ss. |
| 1067 | 420.907-420.9076 and this section. With the exception of |
| 1068 | monitoring the activities of counties and eligible |
| 1069 | municipalities to determine local compliance with program |
| 1070 | requirements, the corporation shall not receive appropriations |
| 1071 | from the fund for administrative or personnel costs. For the |
| 1072 | purpose of implementing the compliance monitoring provisions of |
| 1073 | s. 420.9075(9), the corporation may request a maximum of one- |
| 1074 | quarter of 1 percent of the annual appropriation per state |
| 1075 | fiscal year. When such funding is appropriated, the corporation |
| 1076 | shall deduct the amount appropriated prior to calculating the |
| 1077 | local housing distribution pursuant to ss. 420.9072 and |
| 1078 | 420.9073. |
| 1079 | Section 19. Subsection (12) of section 1001.43, Florida |
| 1080 | Statutes, is reenacted to read: |
| 1081 | 1001.43 Supplemental powers and duties of district school |
| 1082 | board.-The district school board may exercise the following |
| 1083 | supplemental powers and duties as authorized by this code or |
| 1084 | State Board of Education rule. |
| 1085 | (12) AFFORDABLE HOUSING.-A district school board may use |
| 1086 | portions of school sites purchased within the guidelines of the |
| 1087 | State Requirements for Educational Facilities, land deemed not |
| 1088 | usable for educational purposes because of location or other |
| 1089 | factors, or land declared as surplus by the board to provide |
| 1090 | sites for affordable housing for teachers and other district |
| 1091 | personnel and, in areas of critical state concern, for other |
| 1092 | essential services personnel as defined by local affordable |
| 1093 | housing eligibility requirements, independently or in |
| 1094 | conjunction with other agencies as described in subsection (5). |
| 1095 | Section 20. This act shall take effect upon becoming a |
| 1096 | law, and those portions of this act which were amended, created, |
| 1097 | or repealed by chapter 2009-96, Laws of Florida, shall operate |
| 1098 | retroactively to June 1, 2009. If such retroactive application |
| 1099 | is held by a court of last resort to be unconstitutional, this |
| 1100 | act shall apply prospectively from the date that this act |
| 1101 | becomes a law. |