2012 -- S 2203

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LC00663

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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

     Introduced By: Senators Tassoni, Ottiano, Metts, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2012

     Referred To: Senate 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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LC00663

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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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LC00663

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