Bill Text: CA SB1212 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 1212 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Joint powers authorities: San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust: board of directors.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2020-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 206, Statutes of 2020. [SB1212 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB1212-Chaptered.html

Senate Bill No. 1212

CHAPTER 206

An act to amend Section 6539.6 of the Government Code, relating to joint powers.

[ Approved by Governor September 28, 2020. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2020. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1212, Rubio. Joint powers authorities: San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust: board of directors.

The Joint Exercise of Powers Act authorizes 2 or more public agencies, by agreement, to form a joint powers authority to exercise any power common to the contracting parties, as specified. Existing law authorizes the agreement to set forth the manner by which the joint powers authority will be governed.

Existing law authorizes the creation of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, a joint powers authority, by the County of Los Angeles and any or all of the cities within the jurisdiction of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, with the stated purpose of funding housing to assist the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income within the San Gabriel Valley. Existing law requires the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust to be governed by a board of directors that serve 2-year terms, and requires 7 of the 9 members to also be a member of the governing board of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments that represents either a city that is a party to the joint powers agreement or a specified County of Los Angeles board of supervisors district that is a party to the joint powers agreement.

This bill would instead require 7 of the 9 board members to be either a local elected official from the County of Los Angeles or a member of a city council from a city that is a member the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, and to represent either a city that is a party to the joint powers agreement or a specified County of Los Angeles board of supervisors district that is a party to the joint powers agreement. The bill would require each member of the board of directors that represents a city that is a party to the joint powers agreement be a resident of a different city. The bill would require that staggered terms for the board of directors be established, as specified.

Existing law requires that 2 of the members be experts in homeless or housing policy.

This bill would set forth eligibility criteria for these experts, including that they have at least 5 years of experience in homeless or housing policy.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 6539.6 of the Government Code is amended to read:

6539.6.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the County of Los Angeles and any or all of the cities within the jurisdiction of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments may enter into a joint powers agreement pursuant to this chapter to create and operate a joint powers agency to fund housing to assist the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, within the San Gabriel Valley region.

(2) The joint powers agency created pursuant to this section shall be known as the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, and shall be created and operate in accordance with this section.

(b) (1) The San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of nine directors appointed by the governing board of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.

(2) (A) Seven members of the board of directors shall be local elected officials from the County of Los Angeles or members of a city council from a city that is a member of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments that represents either of the following:

(i) A city that is a party to the joint powers agreement.

(ii) A County of Los Angeles board of supervisors district that is located wholly or partially within the territory of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, if the county is a party to the joint powers agreement.

(B) Two members of the board of directors shall be experts in homeless or housing policy. These experts shall meet all of the following criteria:

(i) They shall not be local elected officials or employees of a city that currently has a representative on the board of directors.

(ii) They shall have regional experience with affordable housing projects in multiple San Gabriel Valley cities.

(iii) They shall have at least five years of experience in homeless or housing policy.

(3) The board of directors shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson from among its members at the first meeting held in each calendar year.

(4) (A) Members of the board of directors shall serve without compensation.

(B) Members of the board of directors may be reimbursed for actual expenses subject to the approval of the governing board of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. Actual expenses shall be approved before they are incurred.

(5) (A) A member of the board of directors shall serve a term of two years. After initial members of the board are selected, the governing board of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments shall designate staggered terms for the board of directors to require five members to be appointed in odd-numbered years and four members to be appointed in even-numbered years.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), staggered terms shall be established by drawing lots at the first meeting of the board so that a simple majority of the members shall initially serve a two-year term, and the remainder shall initially serve a one-year term.

(C) If a vacancy occurs on the board of directors, the governing board of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments shall appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy within 60 days of the vacancy. An appointment to fill a vacancy pursuant to this subparagraph shall be effective only for the remainder of the term of the office that became vacated.

(6) Each member of the board of directors that represents a city that is a party to the joint powers agreement shall be a resident of a different city.

(1) Fund the planning and construction of housing of all types and tenures for the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, including, but not limited to, permanent supportive housing.

(2) Receive public and private financing and funds.

(3) Authorize and issue bonds, certificates of participation, or any other debt instrument repayable from funds and financing received pursuant to paragraph (2) and pledged by the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust.

(d) The San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust shall incorporate into its joint powers agreement annual financial reporting and auditing requirements that shall maximize transparency and public information as to the receipt and use of funds by the agency. The annual financial report shall show how the funds have furthered the purposes of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust.

(e) The San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust shall comply with the regulatory guidelines of each specific state funding source received.