HOUSE BILL No. 4657

 

April 24, 2007, Introduced by Rep. Tobocman and referred to the Committee on New Economy and Quality of Life.

 

     A bill to amend 2004 PA 479, entitled

 

"Michigan housing and community development fund act,"

 

by amending sections 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 (MCL 125.2822, 125.2823,

 

125.2825, 125.2826, and 125.2828).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 2. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Authority" means the Michigan state housing development

 

authority created in section 21 of the state housing development

 

authority act of 1966, 1966 PA 346, MCL 125.1421.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of treasury.

 

     (c) "Eligible applicant" means that term as defined in section

 

58 of the Michigan state housing development authority act of 1966,

 

1966 PA 346, MCL 125.1458.

 

     (d) "Low income household", "very low income household", and


 

"extremely low income household", and "downtown area" mean those

 

terms as defined in section 58 of the Michigan state housing

 

development authority act of 1966, 1966 PA 346, MCL 125.1458.

 

     (e) "Michigan housing and community development fund" or

 

"fund" means the Michigan housing and community development fund

 

created in section 3.

 

     Sec. 3. (1) The Michigan housing and community development

 

fund is created as a separate fund in the department.

 

     (2) The fund shall be administered by the authority, and money

 

in the fund shall be expended only as provided in this act.

 

     (3) The department shall credit to the fund all amounts

 

appropriated from restricted revenues for the purposes under this

 

act. and any money received as contributions for purposes under

 

this act.

 

     (4) The state treasurer shall invest the money in the fund and

 

credit the earnings from the investments to the fund.

 

     (4) (5) Money appropriated or money received as a contribution

 

under this section to the fund shall be available for disbursement

 

upon appropriation.

 

     Sec. 5. (1) Money in the fund shall be allocated to eligible

 

applicants for housing projects if the eligible applicant has

 

conducted a market study or review to ensure that there is a demand

 

and need for the housing project proposed.

 

     (2) Housing developed with money from the fund shall be

 

consistent in nature with housing already provided in the area to

 

be developed.

 

     (3) The authority shall encourage housing projects that are


 

part of a planned community revitalization strategy.

 

     Sec. 6. (1) Money from the fund shall be used to provide

 

grants, mortgage loans, and other loans including, but not limited

 

to, construction loans, bridge loans, and predevelopment loans to

 

provide housing for low income, very low income, and extremely low

 

income households and to provide for revitalization of downtown

 

areas.

 

     (2) Money from the fund may be used to provide single-family

 

or multifamily housing.

 

     (2) (3) A portion of the allocation each year, as determined

 

by the authority, shall be used to provide housing for all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) Homeless persons.

 

     (b) Persons with physical and mental disabilities.

 

     (c) Persons living in distressed or rural areas.

 

     (3) (4) Money in the fund may be used according to the

 

provisions of section 58c(1) of the Michigan state housing

 

development authority act of 1966, 1966 PA 346, MCL 125.1458c.

 

     Sec. 8. (1) The authority shall develop an allocation plan

 

each year based on the annual priorities developed under section 7

 

that includes, but is not limited to, how the authority will

 

identify, select, and make financing available to applicants to

 

develop fundable projects. The plan shall include how the authority

 

will allocate money to provide technical assistance to eligible

 

applicants.

 

     (2) The allocation plan shall include all of the following:

 

     (a) A list of the organizations and types of organizations


 

eligible to receive money from the fund.

 

     (b) Any preference for identified special population groups.

 

     (c) Any geographic targeting in designated revitalization

 

areas including, but not limited to, the authority's neighborhood

 

preservation program areas, renaissance zones, federally designated

 

empowerment and enterprise zones, and community or homeownership

 

zones.

 

     (d) The allocation funding formula as prescribed in subsection

 

(3).

 

     (3) The authority shall determine a formula for allocating

 

money throughout the state using all of the following factors:

 

     (a) The number of persons in poverty in a geographic area.

 

     (b) The level of housing distress in a geographic area.

 

     (c) Any other factor that supports the need for affordable

 

housing and revitalization of downtown areas as determined by the

 

authority and included in the allocation plan.