HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3170        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1127

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Kevin G. Honan

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act financing the production and preservation of housing for low and moderate income residents.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Kevin G. Honan

17th Suffolk

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/22/2013

Gloria L. Fox

7th Suffolk

1/25/2013

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

1/29/2013

Cory Atkins

14th Middlesex

1/29/2013

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

 

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

1/30/2013

John J. Binienda

17th Worcester

1/31/2013

Michael D. Brady

9th Plymouth

1/30/2013

Paul Brodeur

32nd Middlesex

1/31/2013

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

1/18/2013

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

1/18/2013

Sonia Chang-Diaz

Second Suffolk

1/31/2013

Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera

10th Hampden

1/31/2013

Thomas P. Conroy

13th Middlesex

1/30/2013

Edward F. Coppinger

10th Suffolk

2/1/2013

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

2/1/2013

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

1/24/2013

Stephen L. DiNatale

3rd Worcester

 

Paul J. Donato

35th Middlesex

1/18/2013

Kenneth J. Donnelly

Fourth Middlesex

2/1/2013

Benjamin B. Downing

Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden

1/30/2013

Lori A. Ehrlich

8th Essex

1/30/2013

Christopher G. Fallon

33rd Middlesex

1/28/2013

Robert F. Fennell

10th Essex

2/1/2013

John V. Fernandes

10th Worcester

1/31/2013

Michael J. Finn

6th Hampden

1/22/2013

Jennifer L. Flanagan

Worcester and Middlesex

1/31/2013

Linda Dorcena Forry

12th Suffolk

2/1/2013

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

1/30/2013

Patricia A. Haddad

5th Bristol

2/1/2013

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

1/30/2013

Bradford Hill

4th Essex

1/31/2013

Donald Humason

 

1/31/2013

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

1/31/2013

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

1/28/2013

Jay R. Kaufman

15th Middlesex

1/29/2013

John D. Keenan

7th Essex

1/31/2013

Thomas P. Kennedy

Second Plymouth and Bristol

2/1/2013

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

1/29/2013

Michael R. Knapik

Second Hampden and Hampshire

1/31/2013

Peter V. Kocot

1st Hampshire

1/21/2013

Robert M. Koczera

11th Bristol

1/28/2013

Stephen Kulik

1st Franklin

1/30/2013

John J. Lawn, Jr.

10th Middlesex

1/29/2013

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

 

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

1/29/2013

Brian R. Mannal

2nd Barnstable

2/1/2013

Paul W. Mark

2nd Berkshire

1/29/2013

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

1/28/2013

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

1/30/2013

Frank A. Moran

17th Essex

1/31/2013

Rhonda Nyman

5th Plymouth

2/1/2013

Marc R. Pacheco

First Plymouth and Bristol

2/1/2013

Sarah K. Peake

4th Barnstable

 

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

1/30/2013

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

1/30/2013

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

1/31/2013

Dennis A. Rosa

4th Worcester

1/30/2013

Byron Rushing

9th Suffolk

2/1/2013

Jeffrey Sánchez

15th Suffolk

1/29/2013

Tom Sannicandro

7th Middlesex

1/30/2013

Paul A. Schmid, III

8th Bristol

2/1/2013

John W. Scibak

2nd Hampshire

1/30/2013

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

34th Middlesex

1/31/2013

Frank I. Smizik

15th Norfolk

 

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

1/29/2013

Ellen Story

3rd Hampshire

1/31/2013

Benjamin Swan

11th Hampden

1/30/2013

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/1/2013

Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.

26th Middlesex

1/31/2013

Cleon H. Turner

1st Barnstable

1/25/2013

Aaron Vega

5th Hampden

1/31/2013

Joseph F. Wagner

8th Hampden

2/1/2013

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

2/1/2013

Martin J. Walsh

13th Suffolk

2/1/2013

Steven M. Walsh

11th Essex

1/29/2013

Martha M. Walz

8th Suffolk

1/29/2013

James T. Welch

Hampden

1/31/2013

Daniel A. Wolf

Cape and Islands

2/1/2013


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3170        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1127

By Mr. Honan of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1127) of Kevin G. Honan and others for legislation to provide financing for the production and preservation of housing for low and moderate income residents.  Housing.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act financing the production and preservation of housing for low and moderate income residents.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to authorize forthwith the financing of the production and preservation of housing for low and moderate income citizens of the commonwealth and to make related changes in certain laws, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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. To provide for a capital outlay program to rehabilitate, produce and modernize state-owned public housing developments; to preserve the affordability and the income mix of state-assisted multifamily developments; to support home ownership and rental housing opportunities for low and moderate income citizens; to stem urban blight through the implementation of housing stabilization programs; to support housing production for the elderly, disabled and homeless; to preserve housing for the elderly, the homeless and low and moderate income citizens and people with disabilities; and to promote economic reinvestment through the funding of infrastructure improvements, the sums set forth in section 2, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act, are hereby made available subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds.

SECTION 2.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary.

7004-0028.. For a program of loan guarantees or interest subsidies to assist homeowners with blindness or severe disabilities in making modifications to their primary residence for the purpose of improved accessibility or to allow those homeowners to live independently in the community; provided, that the secretary shall take all steps necessary to minimize the program’s administrative costs; provided further, that the loan guarantees shall be available on the basis of a sliding scale that relates the homeowner’s income and assets to the cost of home modifications; provided further, that interest subsidies shall be means-tested and may be for 0 per cent pursuant to income standards developed by the secretary; provided further, that the repayment of the loans may be delayed until the sale of the principal residence by the homeowner; provided further, that persons residing in a development covered by section 4 of chapter 151B of the General Laws shall not be eligible for the program unless the owner can show that the modification is an undue financial burden; provided further, that the secretary shall consult with the Massachusetts commission for the blind and the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission in developing the rules, regulations and guidelines for the program; provided further, that nothing herein shall give rise to enforceable legal rights in any party or an enforceable entitlement to services; and provided further, that the secretary shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing detailing the status of the program established herein............................ $50,000,000

7004-0029.. For state financial assistance in the form of loans for the development of community-based housing or supportive housing for the mentally ill and mentally retarded; provided, that the loan program shall be administered by the department of housing and community development, hereinafter referred to in this item as the department, through contracts with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency established in chapter 23G of the General Laws, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation established in chapter 40H of the General Laws, operating agencies established pursuant to chapter 121B of the General Laws and the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency established in chapter 708 of the acts of 1966; provided further, that those agencies may develop or finance community-based housing or supportive housing, or may enter into subcontracts with nonprofit organizations established pursuant to chapter 180 of the General Laws or organizations in which such nonprofit corporations have a controlling financial or managerial interest or for-profit organizations; provided, however, that preference for the subcontracts shall be given to nonprofit organizations; provided further, that the department shall consider a balanced geographic plan for such community-based housing or supportive housing when issuing the loans; provided further, that the department shall consider development of a balanced range of housing models by prioritizing funds for integrated housing as defined by the appropriate housing and service agencies including, but not limited to, the department of housing and community development, the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission, the department of mental health and the department of developmental services, in consultation with relevant and interested clients, their families, advocates and other parties as necessary; provided further, that loans issued pursuant to this item shall: (1) not exceed 50 per cent of the financing of the total development costs; (2) be issued only when a contract or agreement for the use of the property for such housing provides for repayment to the commonwealth at the time of disposition of the property in an amount equal to the commonwealth’s proportional contribution from the Facilities Consolidation Fund to the cost of the development through payments made by the state agency making the contract; (3) only be issued when a contract or agreement for the use of the property for the purposes of such housing provides for the recording of a deed restriction in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the real property is located, for the benefit of the departments, running with the land, that the land be used to provide community-based housing or supportive housing for eligible individuals as determined by the department of mental health and the department of developmental services; provided, that the property shall not be released from such restriction until the balance of the principal and interest for the loan has been repaid in full or until a mortgage foreclosure deed has been recorded; (4) be issued for a term not to exceed 30 years during which time repayment may be deferred by the loan issuing authority unless, at the end of any fiscal year, cash collections from all sources in connection with a community-based housing project or supportive housing project, except for contributions, donations or grant moneys, exceed 105 per cent of cash expenditures on behalf of the project, including debt service, operating expenses and capital reserves, in which event such excess cash shall be paid to the commonwealth within 45 days of the end of the fiscal year, payable first to interest due hereunder and thereafter to principal advanced pursuant to the loan; provided further, that if on the date the loans become due and payable to the commonwealth an outstanding balance exists, and if, on such date, the department, in consultation with the executive office of health and human services, determines that there still exists a need for such housing and that there is continued funding available for the provision of services to such development, the department may, by agreement with the owner of the development, extend the loans for such periods, each period not to exceed 10 years, as the department shall determine; provided, however, that the project shall remain affordable housing for the duration of the loan term, including any extension thereof, as set forth in the contract or agreement entered into by the department; and provided further, that in the event the terms of repayment detailed in this item would cause a project authorized by this item to become ineligible to receive federal funds which would otherwise assist in the development of that project, the department may waive the terms of repayment which would cause the project to become ineligible; and (5) have interest rates fixed at a rate, to be determined by the department, in consultation with the state treasurer; provided further, that expenditures from this item shall not be made for the purpose of refinancing outstanding mortgage loans for community-based housing or supportive housing in existence prior to the effective date of this act; provided further, that community-based housing projects or supportive housing projects developed pursuant to this item shall not be refinanced during the term of any loan issued pursuant to this item unless the balance of the principal and interest for such loan has been repaid in full at the time of such refinancing; provided further, that the community-based housing projects or supportive housing projects may be refinanced if the refinancing would result in a reduction of costs paid by the commonwealth; provided further, that a refinanced loan shall be due and payable on a date not later than the date on which the original loan was due and payable, except in accordance with clause (4) when necessary to effect extraordinary repairs or maintenance which shall be approved by the commissioner of mental retardation or the commissioner of mental health, as the case may be, and the department; provided further, that the loans shall be provided only for projects conforming to the provisions of this item; provided further, that the loans shall be issued in accordance with a facilities consolidation plan prepared by the secretary of health and human services, reviewed and approved by the department and filed with the secretary for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing; provided further, that no expenditure shall be made from this item without the prior approval of the secretary for administration and finance; provided further, that the department, the department of mental health and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation may identify appropriate financing mechanisms and guidelines for grants or loans from this item to promote private development to produce housing, to provide for independent integrated living opportunities, to write down building and operating costs and to serve households at or below 15 per cent of area median income for the benefit of department of mental health clients; provided further, that not more than $10,000,000 may be expended from this item for a pilot program of community-based housing or supportive housing loans to serve mentally ill homeless individuals in the current or former care of the department of mental health; provided further, that in implementing the pilot program, the department shall consider a balanced geographic plan when establishing community-based residences; provided further, that the housing services made available pursuant to such loans shall not be construed as a right or an entitlement for any individual or class of persons to the benefits of the pilot program; provided further, that eligibility for the pilot program shall be established by regulations promulgated by the department; provided further, that the department shall promulgate regulations pursuant to chapter 30A of the General Laws for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this item, consistent with the facilities consolidation plan prepared by the secretary of health and human services, and after consultation with the secretary and the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance......................... $42,000,000

7004-0030.. For state financial assistance in the form of loans for the development and redevelopment of community-based housing or supportive housing for persons with disabilities who are institutionalized or at risk of being institutionalized, who are not eligible for housing developed pursuant to item 7004-0029; provided, that the loan program shall be administered by the department of housing and community development, hereinafter referred to in this item as the department, through contracts with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency established in chapter 23G of the General Laws, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation established in chapter 40H of the General Laws, operating agencies established pursuant to chapter 121B of the General Laws and the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency established in chapter 708 of the acts of 1966; provided further, that the agencies may develop or finance the community-based housing or supportive housing, or may enter into subcontracts with nonprofit organizations established pursuant to chapter 180 of the General Laws or organizations in which such nonprofit corporations have a controlling financial or managerial interest or for-profit organizations; provided, however, that preference for such subcontracts shall be given to nonprofit organizations; provided further, that the department shall consider a balanced geographic plan for such community-based housing or supportive housing when issuing the loans; provided further, that all housing developed with these funds shall be integrated housing as defined by the appropriate state housing and service agencies including, but not limited to, the department, the department of mental health, and the department of developmental services in consultation with relevant and interested clients, their families, advocates, and other parties as necessary; provided further, that loans issued pursuant to this item shall: (1) not exceed 50 per cent of the financing of the total development costs; (2) be issued only when a contract or agreement for the use of the property for the purposes of such housing provides for repayment to the commonwealth at the time of disposition of the property in an amount equal to the commonwealth’s proportional contribution from community based housing to the cost of the development through payments made by the state agency making the contract; (3) only be issued when a contract or agreement for the use of the property for the purposes of such community-based housing or supportive housing provides for the recording of a deed restriction in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the real property is located, for the benefit of the departments, running with the land, that the land be used to provide community-based housing or supportive housing for eligible individuals as determined by the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission or other agency of the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that the property shall not be released from such restrictions until the balance of the principal and interest for the loan has been repaid in full or until a mortgage foreclosure deed has been recorded; (4) be issued for a term not to exceed 30 years during which time repayment may be deferred by the loan issuing authority unless, at the end of any fiscal year, cash collections from all sources in connection with a community-based housing project or supportive housing project, except for contributions, donations or grant moneys, exceed 105 per cent of cash expenditures on behalf of the project, including debt service, operating expenses, and capital reserves, in which event such excess cash shall be paid to the commonwealth within 45 days of the end of the fiscal year, payable first to interest due hereunder and thereafter to principal advanced pursuant to the loan; provided further, that if on the date the loans become due and payable to the commonwealth an outstanding balance exists, and if on that date, the department, in consultation with the executive office of health and human services, determines that there still exists a need for such housing, the department may, by agreement with the owner of the development, extend the loans for such periods, each period not exceed 10 years, as the department shall determine; provided, however, that the project shall continue to remain affordable housing for the duration of the loan term, including any extensions thereof, as set forth in the contract or agreement entered into by the department; and provided further, that in the event the terms of repayment detailed in this item would cause a project authorized by this item to become ineligible to receive federal funds which would otherwise assist in the development of that project, that commissioner may waive the terms of repayment which would cause the project to become ineligible; and (5) have interest rates fixed at a rate, to be determined by the department, in consultation with the state treasurer; provided further, that expenditures from this item shall not be made for the purpose of refinancing outstanding mortgage loans for community-based housing or supportive housing in existence before the effective date of this act; provided further, that community-based housing projects or supportive housing projects developed pursuant to this item shall not be refinanced during the term of any loan issued pursuant to this item unless the balance of the principal and interest for such loan is repaid in full at the time of such refinancing; provided further, that the community-based housing projects or supportive housing projects may be refinanced if the refinancing would result in a reduction of costs paid by the commonwealth; provided further, that a refinanced loan shall be due and payable not later than the date on which the original loan was due and payable, except in accordance with clause (4) of this item or when necessary to effect extraordinary repairs or maintenance which shall be approved by the commissioner of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission or other agency of the executive office of health and human services, as appropriate, and the department; provided further, the loans shall be provided only for projects conforming to this item; provided further, that the loans shall be issued in accordance with an enhancing community-based services plan prepared by the secretary of health and human services, in consultation with the department and filed with the secretary for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing; provided further, that no expenditure shall be made from this item without the prior approval of the secretary for administration and finance; provided further, that the department shall promulgate regulations pursuant to chapter 30A of the General Laws for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this item, consistent with the enhancing community-based services plan prepared by the secretary of health and human services after consultation with the secretary and the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance........................................... $33,000,000

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Department of Housing and Community Development.

7004-0031.. For the capitalization of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, established in section 2 of chapter 121D of the General Laws..... $320,000,000

7004-0032.. For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for the Housing Stabilization and Investment Trust Fund established in section 2 of chapter 121F of the General Laws and awarded only pursuant to the criteria established therein; provided, that not less than 25 per cent shall be used to fund projects which preserve and produce housing for families and individuals with incomes of not more than 30 per cent of the area median income, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; provided further, that if the department of housing and community development has not been able to meet the spending authorized under the bond cap for this program, at the end of each year following the effective date of this act, the department may award the remaining funds to projects that serve households earning more than 30 per cent of the area median income, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; provided further, that not less than $5,000,000 shall be expended for the production or preservation of housing for people age 60 and over; and provided further, that not less than $10,000,000 shall be expended to stabilize and promote reinvestment, through homeownership, in areas the department has determined to be weak markets as indicated by a high concentration of assisted rental housing or a low rate of homeownership or low median family income or low average sales prices or high levels of unpaid property taxes or vacant or abandoned buildings and, after making the finding, the department may waive the requirements of this section and said chapter 121F which are found to be inconsistent with promoting homeownership in weak markets and take other steps necessary to promote homeownership in the weak market including, but not limited to, reducing the length of required affordability to not less than 10 years and permitting the funded property to be purchased by a household whose income at the time of purchase does not exceed 135 per cent of the area median income, adjusted for family size, or both; provided however, that the purchaser shall own and occupy the property as his primary residence................... $135,000,000

7004-0033.. For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants for projects undertaken pursuant to clause (j) of section 26 of chapter 121B of the General Laws; provided, that contracts entered into by the department of housing and community development for those projects may include, but shall not be limited to, projects providing for renovation, remodeling, reconstruction, redevelopment and hazardous material abatement, including asbestos and lead paint, and for compliance with state codes and laws and for adaptations necessary for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the provision of day care facilities, learning centers and teen service centers and the adaptation of units for families and persons with disabilities; provided further, that priority shall be given to projects undertaken for the purpose of compliance with state codes and laws or for other purposes related to the health and safety of residents; provided further, that funds may be expended from this item to make such modifications to congregate housing units as may be necessary to increase the occupancy rate of those units; provided further, that the department, in consultation with housing authorities, may establish a program to provide predictable funds to be used flexibly by housing authorities for capital improvements to extend the useful life of state-assisted public housing; provided further, that not less than 25 per cent shall be used to fund projects which preserve or produce housing for families and individuals with incomes of not more than 30 per cent of the area median income, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and provided further, that a capital reserve account shall be administered by the department........................................... $500,000,000

7004-0034.. For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants for a 5 year demonstration program, administered by the department of housing and community development to demonstrate cost effective revitalization methods for state-aided family and elderly-disabled public housing that seek to reduce the need for future state modernization funding; provided further, that housing authorities with state-aided housing developments pursuant to chapter 200 of the acts of 1948, chapter 667 of the acts of 1954 or chapter 705 of the acts of 1966 shall be eligible to participate in demonstration program; provided further, that the department shall establish a 7-member advisory committee, to consist of the director of the department or his designee, 1 member selected by Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, 1 member selected by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, 1 member selected by the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants and 3 additional members chosen by the department to provide advice and recommendations to the department regarding regulations to implement the demonstration program; provided further, that grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis; provided further, that the department may exempt a recipient of demonstration grants from the requirements of chapter 7 and chapter 121B of the General Laws upon a showing by the recipient that such exemptions are necessary to accomplish the effective revitalization of public housing and will not adversely affect public housing residents or applicants of any income who are otherwise eligible; provided further, that the department may provide to recipients of demonstration grants such additional regulatory relief as is required to further the objectives of the demonstration program; provided further, that funds shall be made available for technical assistance provided by the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation established in chapter 40H of the General Laws or the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund established pursuant to section 35 of chapter 405 of the acts of 1985 to recipients of demonstration grants and for evaluation of the demonstration; provided further, that the department shall promulgate regulations for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this item within 90 days after the effective date of this act; provided, however, that the regulations shall: (i) require that housing authorities selected demonstrate innovative, replicable solutions to the management, marketing or capital needs of state-aided family and elderly-disabled public housing developments and contribute to the continued viability of the housing as a resource for public housing eligible residents; (ii) encourage proposals that demonstrate regional collaborations among housing authorities; and (iii) encourage proposals that propose new affordable housing units on municipally-owned land, underutilized public housing sites or other land owned by the housing authority; and provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing on the progress of the demonstration program within 90 days after promulgation of the regulations and annually thereafter………. $50,000,000

7004-0035.. For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for the Housing Innovations Trust Fund established in section 2 of chapter 121E of the General Laws; provided, however, that not less than 25 per cent shall be used to fund projects which preserve and produce housing for families and individuals with incomes of not more than 30 per cent of the area median income, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development........... $80,000,000

7004-0036.. For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for the Capital Improvement and Preservation Trust Fund for expiring use properties established in section 2 of chapter 121G of the General Laws............... $100,000,000

7004-0037.. For the purpose of providing financial support for developing residential housing units and mixed use developments that include both residential housing units and commercial or retail space and are located within neighborhood commercial areas including, but not limited to, those areas designated as Main street areas by providing necessary financial assistance to the commercial components of these projects; provided, however, that the developments may include projects which have residential units above commercial space and shall be located in areas characterized by a predominance of commercial land uses, a high daytime or business population or a high concentration of daytime traffic and parking; provided further that the financial subsidy for the commercial portion of a project shall not exceed 25% of the total development cost of the commercial portion of the project or $1 million, whichever is smaller,  ; provided, further, that $15,000,000 shall be used to fund transit-oriented housing developments in proximity to public transit nodes; provided further, that eligible activities for transit-oriented development shall include, without limitation, planning grants, financing subsidies and environmental assessment; and provided further, that not less than 50 per cent of the beneficiaries of housing in projects assisted by this item shall be persons whose income is not more than 80 per cent of the area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development,.... $45,000,000

7004-0038.. For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for the Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund for the development of eligible facilities for licensed early care and education and out of school time programs established in section 3 of chapter 121H of the General Laws; provided, that the grant or loan program shall be administered by the department through contracts with the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation established in Chapter 40H of the General Laws, provided further that the agency may develop or finance eligible facilities, or may enter into subcontracts with nonprofit organizations established pursuant to Chapter 180 of the General Laws , or organizations in which such nonprofit corporations have a controlling financial or managerial interest; provided further that the department shall: (1) consider a balanced geographic plan for such eligible facilities when issuing the funding commitments; (2) that the department shall consider funding large group and school age child care centers as defined by the department of early education and care ; (3) that the services made available pursuant to such loans or grants shall not be construed as a right or entitlement for any individual or class of persons to the benefits financing;  provided further that no expenditure shall be made from this item without the prior approval of the secretary for administration and finance; provided further that eligibility shall be established by regulations promulgated by the department; pursuant to chapter 30A for the General Laws for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this item……………… $45,000,000

SECTION 3. Subsection (b) of section 6I of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (1) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

(1) There shall be a Massachusetts low-income housing tax credit. The department may authorize annually under this section together with section 31H of chapter 63 the total sum of: (i) $20,000,000; (ii) unused Massachusetts low-income housing tax credits, if any, for the preceding calendar years; and (iii) Massachusetts low-income housing tax credits returned to the department by a qualified Massachusetts project.

SECTION 4. Subsection (b) of section 31H of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (1) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

(1) There shall be a Massachusetts low-income housing tax credit. The department may authorize annually under this section together with section 6I of chapter 62 the total sum of: (i) $20,000,000; (ii) unused Massachusetts low-income housing tax credits, if any, for the preceding calendar years; and (iii) any Massachusetts low-income housing tax credits returned to the department by a qualified Massachusetts project.

SECTION 5. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 121G the following chapter:-

CHAPTER 121H

Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund

Section 1. As used in this chapter the following words shall unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Department”, the Department of Housing and Community Development.

“EEC”, the Department of Early Education and Care.

“Eligible project”, the acquisition, design, construction, repair, renovation, rehab, or other capital improvement or deferred maintenance of an eligible facility.

“Eligible facility”, a building, structure or site that is, or will be, owned, leased, or otherwise used by 1 or more Eligible Organization(s) and licensed by EEC.  At least 25% of the slots in the facility shall serve low income families who are eligible for public subsidy.  Leased facilities shall have a lease term that is consistent with the scale of the capital investment, but under no circumstances should the lease term be less than fifteen years. Municipally owned buildings are eligible provided that there is dedicated single purpose space for licensed early education or out of school time programs.

“Eligible organization”, a non-profit corporation that is exempt from income taxation pursuant to chapter 180 of the organizations in which such nonprofit corporations have a controlling financial or managerial interest.

“Grant”, a direct grant of capital funds to an applicant for payment of the costs of an eligible project.

“Loan”, a direct loan of capital funds to an applicant to finance a portion of the cost of an eligible project.

Section 2. Each recipient of a loan or grant from the Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund established in section 3 shall be an eligible project that demonstrates: (i) need for such a project; (ii) project benefits to low-income children and the effected community; (iii) financial need for assistance in the form of such a loan or grant; and (iv) local support for the project.

Section 3.  There shall be within the department a separate fund to be known as the Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund.  The department shall administer the fund for the purpose of making grants or loans for the development of eligible facilities for licensed early care and education and out of school time programs.

SECTION 6. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of housing and economic development and the secretary for administration and finance shall jointly submit a report on the progress of all projects and expenditures related to the funds available in this act or any outstanding authorizations from prior authorization act for housing projects, and undertaken by the executive office of housing and economic development or any of its constituent agencies to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets and the joint committee on housing. This report shall include, but not be limited to: the address, the nature of the work and scope of work of each project funded in this act, the total amount allocated for each project broken down by fiscal year in which the allocation occurred, the total estimated cost of each project, the amount expended for the planning and design of each project up to the time the report is filed, the amount expended on construction of each project up to the time the report is filed, the total amount currently expended on each project, a schedule of life cycle standards for each completed project, the original estimated completion date of each project, the current anticipated completion date of each project and, if the project has been de-authorized, the reason for and date of de-authorization. The information required in this report shall be current as of 30 days before the submission of the report and the report shall be submitted bi-annually for 6 years after the effective date of this act.

SECTION 7. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, to meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2, the state treasurer shall, upon receipt of a request by the governor, issue and sell bonds of the commonwealth in an amount to be specified by the governor from time to time but not exceeding, in the aggregate, $1,400,000,000. All bonds issued by the commonwealth, as aforesaid, shall be designated on their face, Housing Production, Preservation, Modification and Neighborhood Development Loan Act of 2014, and shall be issued for a maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as the governor may recommend to the general court pursuant to Section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution; provided, however, that all such bonds shall be payable not later than June 30, 2049. All interest and payments on account of principal on such obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Bonds and interest thereon issued under the authority of this section shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this act, be general obligations of the commonwealth. An amount not to exceed 2 per cent of the authorizations may be expended by the department of housing and community development for administrative costs directly attributable to the purposes of this act, including costs of clerical and support personnel. The director of the department of housing and community development shall file an annual spending plan with the fiscal affairs division, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on bonding, capital expenditures and states assets and the joint committee on housing which details, by subsidiary, all personnel costs and any administrative costs charged to expenditures made pursuant to this act.

SECTION 8. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 120 days after the expiration of affordability restrictions on housing assisted under items 7004-0029 and 7004-0030 of section 2, the department of housing and community development or its assignee, who is a qualified developer selected pursuant to the terms of said items 7004-0029 and 7004-0030 of said section 2 under the guidelines of the department, shall have an option to purchase any such housing at its current appraised value reduced by any remaining obligation of the owner upon the expiration of the affordability restrictions. The department or its assignee may purchase or acquire such housing only for the purposes of preserving or providing affordable housing. The department or its assignee shall hold such purchase option for the first 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restrictions. Failure to exercise the purchase option within 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restriction shall constitute a waiver of the purchase option by the department or its assignee. Two impartial appraisers shall determine, within 60 days after the expiration of the affordability restrictions, the current appraised value in accordance with recognized professional standards. Two professionals in the field of multi-unit residential housing shall each select an appraiser. The owner and the department, respectively, shall each designate a professional within 30 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions. If there is a difference in the valuations, the valuations shall be added together and divided by 2 to determine the current appraised value of the property. No sale, transfer or other disposition of the property shall be consummated until either the purchase option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified, in writing, by the department or its assignee that the option will not be exercised. The option shall be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at address specified in the notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period. If the purchase option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to said items 7004-0029 and 7004-0030 of section 2, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment. Before any sale or transfer or other disposition of the housing where the department has not previously exercised an option to purchase, an owner shall offer the department or its assignee, who shall be a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section, a first refusal option to meet a bona fide offer to purchase the property. The owner shall provide to the department or its assignee written notice by regular and certified mail, return receipt requested, of the owner’s intention to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property. The department or its assignee shall hold the first refusal option for the first 120 days after receipt of the owner’s written notice of intent to transfer the property. Failure to respond to the written notice of intent to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property within the 120-day period shall constitute a waiver of the right of first refusal by the department. No sale, transfer or other disposition of the property shall be consummated until either this first refusal option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or its assignee that the option will not be exercised. The option shall be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at the address specified in the notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period. If the first refusal option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to said items 7004-0029 and 7004-0030 of section 2, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment. An affidavit before a notary public that the notice of intent was mailed on behalf of an owner shall conclusively establish the manner and time of the giving of notice the affidavit and notice that the option shall not be exercised shall be recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located. Each notice of intention, notice of exercise of the purchase option or first refusal option and notice that the purchase option or first refusal option shall not be exercised shall contain the name of the record owner of the property and a reasonable description of the premises to be sold or converted of and each affidavit signed before a notary public, shall have attached to it a copy of the notice of intention to which it relates. The notices of intention shall be mailed to the relevant parties, in the care of the keeper of records for the party in question. Upon notifying the owner in writing of its intention to exercise its purchase option or first refusal option during the 120-day period, the department or its assignee shall have an additional 120 days, beginning on the date the purchase option period or first refusal option period expires, to purchase the property. Those time periods may be extended by mutual agreement between the department or its assignee and the owner of the property. Any extension agreed upon shall be recorded in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located. Within a reasonable time after requesting an extension, the owner shall make available to the department or its assignee any information that is reasonably necessary for the department to exercise its options.

SECTION 9. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than July 1, 2014, and annually thereafter, the director of housing and community development shall submit to the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on housing and the joint committee on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets a capital plan for fiscal years 2015 to 2019, inclusive, for capital funds authorized in section 2.

SECTION 10. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a private entity engaged in a construction, development, renovation, remodeling, reconstruction, rehabilitation or redevelopment project receiving funds pursuant to this act shall properly classify individuals employed on the project and shall comply with all laws concerning workers’ compensation insurance coverage, unemployment insurance, social security taxes and income taxes with respect to all such employees. All construction contractors engaged by an entity on any such project shall furnish documentation to the appointing authority showing that all employees employed on the project have hospitalization and medical benefits that meet the minimum requirements of the connector board established in chapter 176Q of the General Laws.