2012 -- H 7237 | |
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LC00827 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING | |
RESOURCES ACT OF 1998 | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Ucci, Walsh, Ruggiero, Reilly, and Johnston | |
Date Introduced: January 25, 2012 | |
Referred To: House Finance | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
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SECTION 1. Section 42-128-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-128 entitled "Rhode |
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Island Housing Resources Act of 1998" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
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42-128-8. Powers and duties. -- In order to provide housing opportunities for all Rhode |
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Islanders, to maintain the quality of housing in Rhode Island, and to coordinate and make |
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effective the housing responsibilities of the agencies and subdivisions of the state, the |
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commission shall have the following powers and duties: |
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(1) Policy, planning and coordination of state housing functions. - The commission shall |
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have the power and duty: |
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(i) To prepare and adopt the state's plans for housing; provided, however, that this |
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provision shall not be interpreted to contravene the prerogative of the state planning council to |
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adopt a state guide plan for housing. |
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(ii) To prepare, adopt, and issue the state's housing policy. |
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(iii) To conduct research on and make reports regarding housing issues in the state. |
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(iv) To advise the governor and general assembly on housing issues and to coordinate |
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housing activities among government agencies and agencies created by state law or providing |
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housing services under government programs. |
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(2) Establish, implement, and monitor state performance measures and guidelines for |
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housing programs. - The commission shall have the power and the duty: |
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(i) To promulgate performance measures and guidelines for housing programs conducted |
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under state law. |
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(ii) To monitor and evaluate housing responsibilities established by state law, and to |
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establish a process for annual reporting on the outcomes of the programs and investments of the |
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state in housing for low and moderate income people. |
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(iii) To hear and resolve disputes pertaining to housing issues. |
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(3) Administer the programs pertaining to housing resources that may be assigned by |
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state law. - The commission shall have the power and duty to administer programs for housing, |
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housing services, and community development, including, but not limited to, programs pertaining |
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to: |
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(i) Abandoned properties and the remediation of blighting conditions. |
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(ii) Lead abatement and to manage a lead hazard abatement program in cooperation with |
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the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation. |
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(iii) Services for the homeless. |
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(iv) Rental assistance. |
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(v) Community development. |
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(vi) Outreach, education and technical assistance services. |
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(vii) Assistance, including financial support, to non-profit organizations and community |
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development corporations. |
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(viii) Tax credits that assist in the provision of housing or foster community development |
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or that result in support to non-profit organizations performing functions to accomplish the |
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purposes of this chapter. |
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(ix) The Supportive Services Program, the purpose of which is to help prevent and end |
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homelessness among those who have experienced long-term homelessness and for whom certain |
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services in addition to housing are essential. State funding for this program may leverage other |
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resources for the purpose of providing supportive services. Services provided pursuant to this |
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subsection may include, but not be limited to: assistance with budgeting and paying rent; access |
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to employment; encouraging tenant involvement in facility management and policies; medication |
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monitoring and management; daily living skills related to food, housekeeping and socialization; |
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counseling to support self-identified goals; referrals to mainstream health, mental health and |
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treatment programs; and conflict resolution. |
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(x) The neighborhood opportunities program, the purpose of which shall be to address the |
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housing and revitalization needs of the state's deteriorating neighborhoods. The neighborhood |
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opportunities program shall provide financial assistance to implement the following three (3) |
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components: |
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(A) The family affordable housing program, the purpose of which shall be to produce an |
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additional supply of housing units at rents affordable to families working at or near minimum |
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wage. State funding will leverage other resources for the production of housing, to create mixed |
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income housing, and to revitalize neighborhoods through the rehabilitation of existing |
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substandard units. |
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(B) The permanent supportive housing program, the purpose of which shall be to produce |
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additional housing for disabled individuals to be coupled with services and case management to |
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stabilize homeless individuals in permanent housing at affordable rents for persons receiving |
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supplemental social security income (SSI). |
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(C) The neighborhood revitalization program, the purpose of which shall be to provide |
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grants to local communities for renovation, demolition, and homeownership opportunities in |
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neighborhoods designated for revitalization. |
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SECTION 2. There is hereby appropriated out of a dedicated funding stream of money in |
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the treasury appropriated for the fiscal year 2012-2013, the sum of 12.5 million dollars |
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($12,500,000) for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act, and the state controller is |
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hereby authorized to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said |
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sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt by him or her of |
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properly authenticated vouchers. |
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SECTION 3. At the general election to be held on the Tuesday next after the first |
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Monday in November 2012, there shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection |
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the following proposition: |
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“Shall the action of the general assembly, by an act passed by the January 2012 session |
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authorizing the issuance of bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes of the State of Rhode |
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Island in the amount of seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) to provide funds to the housing |
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resources commission to be allocated to finance the cost of the neighborhood opportunities |
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program be approved, and the issuance of such bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in |
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accordance with the act be authorized?” |
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SECTION 4. Section 1, Section 2 and Section 4 shall take effect upon passage. Section 3 |
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of this act shall take effect upon the approval of this act by a majority of those voting on the |
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question at the election presented by the foregoing section. |
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LC00827 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING | |
RESOURCES ACT OF 1998 | |
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This act would appropriate out of a dedicated funding stream of money in the treasury |
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appropriated for the fiscal year 2012-2013, the sum of $12.5 million dollars for the purpose of |
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establishing the neighborhood opportunities program to address the housing and revitalization |
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needs of the state's deteriorating neighborhoods. |
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This act would also authorize at the general election to be held on Tuesday next after the |
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first Monday in November, 2012 to be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection the |
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proposition of whether by action of the general assembly which would authorize the issuance of |
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bonds refunding bonds and temporary notes in the amount of $75,000,000 million dollars to |
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provide funds to the housing resources commission. |
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Section 1, Section 2 and Section 4 would take effect upon passage. Section 3 of this act |
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would take effect upon the approval of this act by a majority of those voting on the question at the |
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election presented by the foregoing section. |
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This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC00827 | |
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