Bill Text: CA SB1444 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 1444 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Joint powers authorities: South Bay Regional Housing Trust.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 672, Statutes of 2022. [SB1444 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SB1444-Chaptered.html

Senate Bill No. 1444

CHAPTER 672

An act to add Section 6539.9 to the Government Code, relating to joint powers.

[ Approved by Governor September 28, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2022. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1444, Allen. Joint powers authorities: South Bay Regional Housing Trust.

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. The act authorizes the agreement to set forth the manner by which the joint powers authority will be governed. The act specifically authorizes the establishment of specified joint powers authorities, including the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, for the purposes of funding housing specifically assisting the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income, as specified.

This bill would similarly authorize the establishment of the South Bay 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 South Bay Cities 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 South Bay. The bill would authorize the South Bay Regional Housing Trust to fund the planning and construction of housing, receive public and private financing and funds, and authorize and issue bonds. The bill would require that the joint powers agreement establishing the South Bay Regional Housing Trust incorporate specified annual financial reporting and auditing requirements.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the South Bay Cities region of the County of Los Angeles.

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

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

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(a) California has an affordable housing crisis, which is especially acute in the South Bay Cities region of the County of Los Angeles due to the high cost of housing in that area, even in formerly affordable communities.

(b) The establishment of the South Bay Regional Housing Trust to receive available public and private funds could help finance affordable housing projects for homeless and low-income populations.

SEC. 2.

Section 6539.9 is added to the Government Code, to read:

6539.9.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the County of Los Angeles and any or all of the cities within the jurisdiction of the South Bay Cities 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 South Bay Cities region.

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

(b) (1) The South Bay Regional Housing Trust shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of an appropriate number of directors to be determined by the governing board of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments.

(2) (A) The board of directors shall be appointed by the governing board of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments and shall include mayors, council members, or County of Los Angeles supervisors that represent 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 South Bay Cities 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.

(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 South Bay Regional Housing Trust. Actual expenses shall be approved before they are incurred.

(5) If a vacancy occurs on the board of directors, the governing board of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments shall appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy within 60 days of the vacancy.

(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 South Bay Regional Housing Trust.

(d) The South Bay 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 South Bay Regional Housing Trust.

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

SEC. 3.

The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances, described in Section 1 of this act, in the South Bay Cities region of the County of Los Angeles.