50450-50465
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 50450-50465
50450. There is a California Statewide Housing Plan that was developed in cooperation with the private housing industry as well as regional and local housing and planning agencies and other agencies of the state. The plan serves as a state housing plan for all relevant purposes. 50451. The California Statewide Housing Plan shall incorporate a statement of housing goals, policies, and objectives, as well as all of the following segments: (a) An evaluation and summary of housing conditions throughout the state, with particular emphasis upon the availability of housing for all economic segments of the state. The evaluation shall include summary statistics for all counties, all multicounty metropolitan areas, and rural areas, as defined and designated by the Bureau of the Census of the United States Department of Commerce, rather than as defined in Section 50101. The evaluation shall include the existing distribution of housing by type, size, gross rent, value, and, to the extent data is available, condition, and the existing distribution of households by gross income, size, and ethnic character for each of those areas. (b) A determination of the statewide need for housing development for the year the plan is revised and projected four additional years ahead. The determination of statewide need shall be established as the minimum number of units necessary to be built or rehabilitated in order to provide sufficient housing to house all residents of the state in standard, uncrowded units in suitable locations. (c) Goals for the provision of housing assistance for the year the plan is revised and projected four additional years ahead. The goals shall be established as the minimum number of households to be assisted that will result in achieving, by the fourth subsequent year, a substantial reduction in the number of very low income households and other persons and families of low or moderate income constrained to pay more than 30 percent of their gross income for housing. Income groups to be considered in establishing the goals shall be designated by the department and shall include households a significant number of which are required to pay more than 30 percent of their gross income for housing in the fiscal year the plan is revised, as determined by the department. (d) An identification of governmental and nongovernmental constraints and obstacles and specific recommendations for their removal. (e) An analysis of state and local housing and building codes and their enforcement. The analysis shall include consideration of whether those codes contain sufficient flexibility to respond to new methods of construction and new materials. (f) Recommendations for actions by federal, state, and local governments and the private sector that will contribute to the attainment of the housing goals established for California. (g) A housing strategy that coordinates the housing assistance and activities of state and local agencies, including the provision of housing assistance for various population groups including, but not limited to, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, large families, families where a female is the head of the household, farmworker households, and other specific population groups as deemed appropriate by the department. To inform the strategy, the department shall, to the extent possible, do the following: (1) Consider information compiled by the University of California pursuant to Section 9101.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and from provider and consumer organizations as available. (2) Consult with various state departments, including the California Department of Aging, the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Services, the State Department of Mental Health, the Employment Development Department, the State Department of Developmental Services, and other state departments or agencies to obtain information deemed relevant to the housing needs of populations addressed in the housing strategy. This paragraph shall not be construed to require activity beyond the customary scope of the department's planning process. (h) A review of housing assistance policies, goals, and objectives affecting the homeless. 50452. The department shall update and provide a revision of the California Statewide Housing Plan to the Legislature by January 1, 2006, by January 1, 2009, and every four years thereafter. The revisions shall contain all of the following segments: (a) A comparison of the housing need for the preceding four years with the amount of building permits issued and mobilehome units sold in those fiscal years. (b) A revision of the determination of the statewide need for housing development specified in subdivision (b) of Section 50451 for the current year and projected four additional years ahead. (c) A revision of the housing assistance goals specified in subdivision (c) of Section 50451 for the current year and projected four additional years ahead. (d) A revision of the evaluation required by subdivision (a) of Section 50451 as new census or other survey data become available. The revision shall contain an evaluation and summary of housing conditions throughout the state and may highlight data for multicounty or regional areas, as determined by the department. The revision shall include a discussion of the housing needs of various population groups, including, but not limited to, the elderly persons, disabled persons, large families, families where a female is the head of the household, and farmworker households. (e) An updating of recommendations for actions by federal, state, and local governments and the private sector which will facilitate the attainment of housing goals established for California. The Legislature may review the plan and the updates of the plan and transmit its comments on the plan or updates of the plan to the Governor, the Secretary of the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency, and the Director of Housing and Community Development. 50453. The California Statewide Housing Plan developed pursuant to Section 50450 shall provide a reference guide for local housing market studies and for local housing elements required by Section 65302 of the Government Code. It is also intended to provide a framework for local housing plans. 50454. The goals and recommendations adopted for the California Statewide Housing Plan shall be published once adopted, and shall be republished as revisions are adopted. Sufficient copies shall be made available for distribution to concerned persons throughout the state. 50455. (a) The department shall develop a statewide farm labor housing assistance plan and related policies, goals, and objectives for inclusion in the California Statewide Housing Plan. (b) The farm labor housing assistance plan shall include, but not be limited to, an identification of impediments to the production of housing affordable to farm laborers, federal, state, and local sources of financing, private sources of funding, innovative approaches to financing that could be used as a model, the analysis of the need for permanent and migrant housing, and measures that need to be implemented to address the need for farm labor housing. (c) The department shall establish a task force to assist in the development of the farm labor housing assistance plan. The task force shall include representatives of state housing departments and agencies involved in the planning and production of housing, infrastructure, and services to farm laborers and representatives from local government, agricultural organizations, organizations of farm laborers, and organizations serving farm laborers and low-income residents in rural areas. (d) The department shall develop or revise the farm labor housing assistance plan on or before July 1, 2002. In the event the department does not update or provide the next revision of the California Statewide Housing Plan pursuant to Section 50452 on or before July 1, 2002, the department shall release the farm labor housing assistance plan separately from the California Statewide Housing Plan. 50455.6. The Legislature finds and declares that a severe shortage of affordable housing exists for low- and moderate-income households, including the elderly, disabled persons, and other special needs populations. It is the intent of the Legislature that housing designed especially for low- and moderate-income elderly, disabled persons, and other special needs populations be given due consideration in the administration of the development, preservation, and rehabilitation of housing, and other housing programs, including encouraging the inclusion of supportive services to meet the unique housing needs of these populations. 50456. The department shall collect, publish, and make available to the public information about federal, state, and local laws regarding housing and community development. The department may provide a statistics and research service for the collection and dissemination of information affecting housing and community development. 50457. The department shall develop specifications for the structure, functions, and organization of a housing and community development information system for this state. Such system shall include statistical, demographic, and community development data which will be of assistance to local public entities in the planning and implementation of housing and community development programs. The department shall, subject to the availability of moneys therefor, establish prototype housing and community development information systems in two or more counties or multiple-county areas. The department shall operate the prototype systems, or it may contract with one or more counties, or with one or more counties and with one or more cities, or with a regional agency including one or more counties for operation of one or more prototype systems and shall report to the Legislature thereon. 50458. The department shall assist and advise the Office of Planning and Research on the performance of functions specified in Section 65040.3 of the Government Code. 50459. (a) The department may adopt, and from time to time revise, guidelines for any of the following: (1) The preparation of housing elements required by Section 65302 and Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. (2) The preparation of a document that meets both of the following sets of requirements: (A) Requirements for housing elements pursuant to Section 65302 and Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. (B) Requirements for the Consolidated Submissions for Community Planning and Development Programs required by Part 91 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (b) The department shall review housing elements and amendments for substantial compliance with Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code and report its findings pursuant to Section 65585 of the Government Code. (c) On or before April 1, 1995, and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the Legislature on the status of housing elements and the extent to which they comply with the requirements of Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. The department shall also make this report available to any other public agency, group, or person who requests a copy. (d) The department may, in connection with any loan or grant application submitted to the agency, require submission to the department for review of any housing element and any local housing assistance plan adopted pursuant to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383). 50460. The department shall adopt guidelines relating to relocation assistance by public entities, as defined in Section 7260 of the Government Code, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code. The department may provide consulting and technical assistance to these public entities in drafting and amending rules and regulations relating to relocation assistance. The department may require these public entities to reimburse the department for any assistance the department provides. The department shall, at intervals of two years, review relocation plans prepared pursuant to Section 33411, and the progress in implementation of the plans. 50462. The department may initiate, develop, and propose regulations for adoption by the agency and review regulations proposed by the board prior to their taking effect, with respect to the following: (a) Standards for affirmative marketing programs of housing sponsors seeking financial assistance from the agency. (b) Criteria for certifying that the sale or conveyance of real property pursuant to Section 51061 or Section 51251 will primarily benefit persons and families of low or moderate income living in a housing development or a residential structure. (c) Regulations permitting grants to be made by the agency to housing sponsors for the purpose of attaining affordable rents in housing developments financed by the agency. Such grants shall not be made with moneys derived from the sale of bonds. (d) Regulations governing payments, procedures, and eligibility for relocation assistance for individuals and families displaced by actions of the agency or of housing sponsors of housing developments or neighborhood improvement loans. (e) Criteria for qualification of persons, families, and households as persons and families of low or moderate income, lower income households, or very low income households. (f) Regulations establishing the maximum percentage of income which may be paid by persons and families of low or moderate income for housing cost within the meaning of the term affordable housing cost, as defined in Section 50052.5. (g) Regulations designating geographical areas of need throughout the state for housing construction or rehabilitation, as identified in the California Statewide Housing Plan, identifying housing markets in which insufficient financing is available for purchase or rehabilitation of existing housing, identifying types of households with particularly severe housing needs, or establishing priority criteria for the selection of homes and projects to be financed as housing developments or neighborhood improvement loans. (h) Criteria for inclusion of nonhousing facilities in housing developments financed by the agency. Regulations proposed by the agency in such areas of responsibility shall not take effect without concurrence of the director, the Secretary of the Business and Transportation Agency, or a representative of the secretary specifically designated for such review and approval. 50463. The department may certify local housing agents, and may periodically review, recertify, and decertify such local housing agents as provided in Section 51252. 50464. The department may: (a) Make investigations of housing and community development in California. (b) Call conferences of representatives of all levels of government, industry, and private groups, to discuss housing and community development problems of California. (c) Investigate and report upon substandard housing and the problems resulting therefrom and the work being done to remedy such conditions. (d) Study the operation and enforcement of housing, building, zoning, and subdivision laws and regulations, of housing finance, taxes, redevelopment programs and public housing projects, as related to housing and community development. (e) Examine the records of housing authorities and redevelopment agencies, and secure from them reports and copies of their records at any time. (f) Promote the formation of organizations intended to increase the supply of adequate housing and the proper living environment for all the people of the state. (g) With the Department of Transportation, investigate and report upon the consistency between state, local, and federal housing plans and programs and state, local, and federal transportation plans and programs. 50465. (a) On or before January 1, 2009, the Department of Water Resources shall propose for adoption and approval by the California Building Standards Commission updated requirements to the California Building Standards Code for construction in areas protected by the facilities of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan where flood levels are anticipated to exceed three feet for the 200-year flood event. The amendments to the California Building Standards Code shall be sufficient to reduce the risk of flood damage and to protect life, safety, and the construction in those areas. (b) Before the department proposes the amendments to the California Building Standards Code required pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall consult with the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, the Division of the State Architect, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.