Bill Text: MS SB2598 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Affordable housing crisis; create task force to study.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2020-03-03 - Died In Committee [SB2598 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2020-SB2598-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Housing; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Senator(s) Blackmon

Senate Bill 2598

AN ACT TO CREATE SECTION 43-33-801, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND DEVELOP A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE RELATIVE TO THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  The following shall be codified as Section 43-33-801, Mississippi Code of 1972:

     43-33-801.  (1)  The Legislature finds and declares that there exists in the state a need to:

          (a)  Assist extremely low-income to moderate-income persons in accessing affordable rental and home ownership housing;

          (b)  Provide for the development, rehabilitation and preservation of decent, safe and affordable housing for extremely low-income to moderate-income persons;

          (c)  Revitalize distressed neighborhoods and build healthy, vibrant communities; and

          (d)  Leverage additional private investment in state communities and contribute to economic growth through increased housing production, employment and tax revenues.

     (2)  To address these needs, there is hereby established the Mississippi Affordable Housing Task Force.  The Mississippi Affordable Housing Task Force shall consist of eight (8) members appointed as follows:

          (a)  One member of the Senate, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

          (b)  One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House.

          (c)  The Chairman of the Senate Housing Committee;

          (d)  The Chairman of the House Public Health and Welfare Committee;

          (e)  The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee; and

          (f)  The Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

     (3)  Legislative appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act.  Within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated jointly by the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor, the task force shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman.  The vice chairman shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the task force.  A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum.  In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force shall be required.  All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, and those notices shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held.

     (4)  Legislative members of the task force shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same manner as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session.  However, no per diem or expenses for attending meetings of the task force will be paid to legislative members of the task force while the Legislature is in session.

     (5)  The task force shall have the duty and responsibility to develop and make an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature beginning at the 2021 Regular Session regarding the following:

          (a)  Fill the growing gap in the state's ability to build affordable rental and ownership housing by the dedication of public revenue sources to fund additional needed housing activities;

          (b)  Promote home ownership, address and prevent homelessness, and produce, rehabilitate and preserve affordable housing throughout the state for extremely low-income to moderate-income individuals and families;

          (c)  Develop affordable rental housing for extremely low-income to moderate-income individuals and families both in mixed-income areas and in areas with the greatest economic opportunities;

          (d)  Promote accessible housing for individuals with disabilities, down-payment assistance for eligible homebuyers, housing and foreclosure counseling, technical assistance and capacity building for nonprofit housing organizations; and

          (e)  Review and submit comments with recommendations on the corporation's annual report on the status of affordable housing in Mississippi.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.