HOUSE BILL NO. 520
INTRODUCED BY ERICKSON, FRITZ, BRANAE, CARNEY, COHENOUR, CYR, FORRESTER, HAINES, KAUFMANN, LASLOVICH, BOHLINGER, ELLINGSON, SCHMIDT, STONINGTON
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING THE BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING; ESTABLISHING THE MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE; REQUIRING A REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Blue ribbon committee on affordable housing -- membership. (1) There is a blue ribbon committee on affordable housing. The committee is attached to the department of commerce for administrative purposes only as provided in 2-15-121.
(2) The committee is composed of the following members:
(a) one member of the senate appointed by the committee on committees;
(b) one member of the senate appointed by the senate minority leader;
(c) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker;
(d) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the house minority leader; and
(e) the following members, who are appointed by a majority of the four legislative members;
(i) one representative of the housing development community, including but not limited to the Montana building industry association;
(ii) one representative of the Montana association of realtors;
(iii) one representative of the housing division within the department of commerce;
(iv) one representative of a private, nonprofit entity that is primarily engaged in providing affordable housing;
(v) one representative of a private lending institution that regularly engages in providing financing for housing; and
(vi) one representative of a local housing authority.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Officers -- meetings -- compensation -- vacancy. (1) (a) The legislative members of the blue ribbon committee on affordable housing listed in [section 1(2)(a) through (2)(d)] must be:
(i) appointed before the 90th legislative day of the 58th legislature or within 10 days following adjournment sine die of the 58th legislature, whichever occurs earlier; and
(ii) compensated as provided in 5-2-302.
(b) The nonlegislative members listed in [section 1(2)(e)] must be:
(i) appointed before June 1, 2003, or 20 days following adjournment sine die of the 58th legislature, whichever occurs later; and
(ii) compensated in the same manner as a member of an advisory council under 2-15-122.
(2) The members of the committee shall select a presiding officer and a vice presiding officer from among the nonlegislative members. If additional officers are considered to be necessary by the committee, the members may select any other member as an officer.
(3) (a) The committee shall hold its first meeting after June 30, 2003, at the call of the senior senator, who shall act as the presiding officer until the election of officers has been completed. For the purposes of this subsection (3)(a), seniority is determined by the number of regular legislative sessions served in the senate. If there is a tie, the tiebreaker is the number of regular legislative sessions in the house of representatives. If the result of the tiebreaker is still a tie, seniority must be determined by a random method.
(b) After the first meeting, the committee shall meet at the call of the presiding officer or a majority of the members.
(4) If a committee member misses more than two committee meetings or hearings without just cause, the member is considered to have resigned and the vacancy must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Any other vacancy must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Purpose -- duties. (1) The purpose of the blue ribbon committee on affordable housing is to identify and analyze:
(a) governmental regulations, processes, and costs that may hinder the construction of affordable housing in Montana;
(b) specific impediments to housing affordability in the private housing market;
(c) programs that have been used successfully in other jurisdictions to increase the number of affordable housing units; and
(d) funding sources for the affordable housing revolving loan account established in 90-6-133.
(2) (a) The housing division within the department of commerce shall provide or arrange for administrative support, including secretarial services, for the committee.
(b) The committee may request information, research, analysis, or other assistance from any agency of state or local government, from private nonprofit entities involved in affordable housing issues, or from any other source that may have information relevant to the purposes of the committee.
(3) (a) Prior to August 1, 2004, the committee shall have prepared for consideration by the economic affairs interim committee described in 5-5-223 a report of the blue ribbon committee's findings and conclusions that must include the options considered and a summary of the reasons for adopting or rejecting the options. If considered appropriate, a minority report may also be prepared by the blue ribbon committee for consideration by the economic affairs interim committee.
(b) The report must include for consideration by the economic affairs interim committee and by the 59th legislature the blue ribbon committee's recommendations, including any legislation that, if passed and approved, will:
(i) mitigate or eliminate impediments to increasing the number of affordable housing units in Montana; and
(ii) establish or enhance programs, institutions, processes, or funding sources to expand the number of affordable housing units in Montana.
(4) The committee shall keep a complete record of its activities. Upon completing its duties and no later than June 30, 2005, the committee shall transfer the complete record to the legislative services division. The legislative services division shall retain the committee's records for 5 years, after which the records may be transferred to the Montana historical society or disposed of.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Termination. [This act] terminates June 30, 2005.
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Latest Version of HB 520 (HB0520.02)
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