SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1724        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 620

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the counting of certain residences as affordable housing.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 15 of Chapter 19, of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding the following clause:- (k) to collect and maintain information of the number of group home units in each community and report such information, including the location of such group home units, to the department of housing and economic development on an annual basis.  Such location shall be held by the department of housing and economic development subject to chapter 66A.

SECTION 2. Clause (b) of section 15 of chapter 19B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:- The department of developmental services shall report the number of group home units in each city or town on an annual basis to the department of housing and economic development.  The department of developmental services shall also report the location of such group homes to the department of housing and economic development.  Such location shall be held by the department of housing and economic development subject to chapter 66A.

SECTION 3. Section 20 of Chapter 40B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting the following language at the end thereof:- “Group Homes”, all group home units with twelve or less residents of the department of mental health or the department of developmental services in each city or town as reported by said departments shall be reported annually to the department of housing and economic development and be eligible to be included toward the city or town’s affordable housing threshold.”