2019 -- S 1005

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LC002858

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON HOUSING, TASKED WITH

CONDUCTING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF RHODE ISLAND'S HOUSING SYSTEM

     Introduced By: Senator Frank Lombardo

     Date Introduced: June 25, 2019

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, According to the Federal government, housing is recognized as affordable if

thirty percent or less of the household's yearly income is used on housing costs, and households

are considered "cost burdened" if more than thirty percent of their yearly income is used on

housing costs; and

     WHEREAS, Households are recognized as severely cost burdened when they spend more

than fifty percent of their yearly income on housing costs; and

     WHEREAS, The increase in the cost of housing and the scarcity of new housing has

caused more than one hundred and forty-five thousand households to be cost burdened in Rhode

Island; and

     WHEREAS, The one hundred and forty-five thousand households that are considered

cost burdened in Rhode Island represent thirty-five percent of all households in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Out of those one hundred and forty-five thousand households, forty-four

percent are severely cost burdened; and

     WHEREAS, Households that are cost burdened have greatly affected our state's

economy; and

     WHEREAS, In 2016, HousingWorksRI found that nearly one hundred and thirty-two

thousand households could have spent more than nine hundred and forty million dollars in the

economy, building equity in their homes, or affording daily necessities had they not been cost

burdened; and

     WHEREAS, If a household only earned a yearly income of fifty thousand dollars, there is

merely one municipality where it could affordably buy a median-priced home and only four

municipalities where it could affordably rent a two-bedroom apartment; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island State Law sets a goal that ten percent of every municipality's

housing units shall meet the guidelines of Low and Moderate Income Housing, but only six

municipalities meet this goal; and

     WHEREAS, The increase in low vacancy rates has decreased the number of days a house

or apartment is on the market, thereby increasing competition in the market and increasing sale

prices; and

     WHEREAS, From 2016 to 2017, Rhode Island's multifamily building permits decreased

by forty-four percent, while Boston and Connecticut saw drastic increases – such permits doubled

in Boston and increased by eighty-nine percent in Connecticut, according to the 2018 Housing

Facts Book by HousingWorksRI; and

     WHEREAS, Furthermore, in 2018, HousingWorksRI estimated that the projected need

for additional housing in Rhode Island by the year 2025 will range from 32,550 to 34,790

multifamily units and from 5,000 to 5,800 single-family homes; and

     WHEREAS, Research has shown that there are significant health and social benefits

when people are not constantly concerned about affordability and having to endure an unstable

living environment; and

     WHEREAS, Children are negatively impacted by not having a stable living environment;

for example, homeless children and youth have the highest rate of school absenteeism; and

     WHEREAS, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and other states have created task forces or

commissions to assess housing demands, address affordable housing concerns, and develop plans

to build housing units; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission on housing be and the same is hereby

created consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode

Island Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

President of the Senate; and at least twelve (12) of whom shall have relevant experience in

housing, business, finance, development, real estate, education, advocacy, academic research, or

for-profit or nonprofit experience related to the goals of the commission, to be appointed by the

President of the Senate; and

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator, provided that the Senate President or the Minority Leader of the political party that

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive review of Rhode

Island's housing system, evaluate concerns that may impede development, and make

recommendations to the Senate about ways to increase access to safe and affordable housing that

meets the needs of a wide range of incomes and improves housing opportunities within the state.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Chair of the commission, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     A quorum of the commission shall consist of a majority of its membership, and the

membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     The commission shall assemble no less than four (4) times, or more often at the call of

the Chair, upon written notice of each meeting stating the place, day, and time of the meeting,

along with the purpose and/or agenda of the meeting.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report initial findings, recommendations, and

potential legislative proposals on or before January 31, 2020, and a final report containing

additional recommendations on or before October 16, 2020, to the President of the Senate, and

said commission shall expire on December 31, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON HOUSING, TASKED WITH

CONDUCTING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF RHODE ISLAND'S HOUSING SYSTEM

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative commission on

housing, which would be tasked with making a comprehensive review of Rhode Island’s housing

system and providing initial recommendations and potential legislative proposals to the Senate on

or before January 31, 2020, and final recommendations on or before October 16, 2020, and said

commission shall expire on December 31, 2020.

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