SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1163        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 719

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

_________________

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 relative to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

 

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Bristol

1/30/2017

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

1/30/2017

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

1/30/2017

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

1/30/2017

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

1/30/2017

David Paul Linsky

5th Middlesex

1/31/2017

John J. Lawn, Jr.

10th Middlesex

2/1/2017

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

2/1/2017

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

2/1/2017

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

2/1/2017

Byron Rushing

9th Suffolk

2/1/2017

Jack Lewis

7th Middlesex

2/2/2017

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

2/3/2017

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

2/3/2017

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

2/3/2017

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/3/2017

Dylan Fernandes

Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket

2/3/2017

Jennifer L. Flanagan

Worcester and Middlesex

2/14/2017

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

2/14/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1163        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 719

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 719) of James B. Eldridge, Michael D. Brady, Marjorie C. Decker, Jose F. Tosado and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.  Housing.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.

 

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. Chapter 121B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 61. (a) The department of housing and community development shall, subject to appropriation, establish and administer the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, a program of rental assistance for low-income families and elderly persons through mobile and project-based vouchers.

(b) To be eligible for the program, (1) incomes for households shall not exceed 50 per cent of the area median income, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and (2) households shall meet eligibility requirements as required by the Legislature and applicable regulations and guidance.

(c) The monthly dollar amount of each voucher shall be the department-approved monthly rent of the unit less the monthly amount paid for rent by the household, provided that the department may adjust household rent for those paying separately for utilities. Each household holding a voucher shall pay at least 30 percent, but not more than 40 per cent, of its income as rent. The department shall take into consideration the current fair market rent as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development when determining the monthly dollar amount of each voucher.

(d) The department shall promulgate regulations and guidance to implement this section.

(e) The department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and joint committee on housing annually on the utilization of rental vouchers in each fiscal year under this program. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the number and average value of rental vouchers currently distributed in the commonwealth, in each county and in each municipality. The report shall comply with state and federal privacy standards.