2015 -- S 0646

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LC001519

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Paiva Weed, Felag, Crowley, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-128-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-128 entitled "Rhode

Island Housing Resources Act of 1998" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-128-2. Rhode Island housing resources agency created. -- There is created within

the executive department a housing resources agency with the following purposes, organization,

and powers:

      (1) Purposes:

      (i) To provide coherence to the housing programs of the state of Rhode Island and its

departments, agencies, commissions, corporations, and subdivisions.

      (ii) To provide for the integration and coordination of the activities of the Rhode Island

housing and mortgage finance corporation and the Rhode Island housing resources commission.

      (2) Coordinating committee -- Created -- Purposes and powers:

      (i) The coordinating committee of the housing resources agency shall be comprised of

the chairperson of the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation, the chairperson of

the Rhode Island housing resources commission, the director of the department of administration,

or the designee of the director, and the executive director of the Rhode Island housing and

mortgage finance corporation. The chairperson of the Rhode Island housing resources

commission shall be chairperson of the coordinating committee.

      (ii) The coordinating committee shall develop and shall implement, with the approval of

the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation and the Rhode Island housing

resources commission, a memorandum of agreement describing the fiscal and operational

relationship between the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation and the Rhode

Island housing resources commission and shall define which programs of federal assistance will

be applied for on behalf of the state by the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance

corporation and the Rhode Island housing resources commission.

      (3) There is hereby established a restricted receipt account within the general fund of the

state. Funds from this account shall be used to provide for the lead hazard abatement program,

housing rental subsidy, with priority given to homeless veterans and homeless prevention

assistance and housing retention assistance with priority to veterans.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT

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     This act would give veterans priority for housing rental subsidy and housing retention

assistance under the Rhode Island housing resource act.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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