HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3483        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3941

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Mike Connolly

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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 housing first programs and housing for all in Massachusetts.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3483        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3941

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act financing housing first programs and housing for all in Massachusetts.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to authorize forthwith supplemental financing of housing first programs, state public housing renovations, and other housing programs 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, subsidize and modernize housing developments to achieve functional zero homelessness in the commonwealth and to help resolve the ongoing affordable housing emergency 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 HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

7004-XXXX. For state financial assistance in the form of loans and grants for the development of housing to eliminate homelessness in the commonwealth; provided, that the department may develop or finance such 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 housing when issuing the loans and grants; and provided further, that the department shall promulgate regulations under chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement, administer and enforce this item...............................................$2,000,000,000

7004-XXXX. For the further capitalization of the proposed Social Housing Production Fund established in section 13C of chapter 708 of the acts of 1966 to provide state financial assistance in the form of loans and grants for the purpose of facilitating the development of mixed income social housing; for the initial costs of establishing a “right to counsel” program in the department for free legal assistance and full representation to eligible individuals in eviction proceedings; provided, that the department shall contract with the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation for the administration of the program; for support of community land trusts; for programs administered by cities and towns throughout the commonwealth for the preservation and production of income restricted housing affordable to households at or below 80 per cent of median income; and for the initial costs of an expansion of the Massachusetts rental voucher program and the rental assistance for families in transition program administered by the department; and provided further, that the department shall promulgate regulations under chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement, administer and enforce this item............................................................................................$2,000,000,000

7004-XXXX. For renovation, maintenance, and upgrades to state funded public housing, including efforts to address the accumulated backlog of deferred capital projects; and provided further, that the department shall promulgate regulations under chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement, administer and enforce this item.............................................................$8,500,000,000

SECTION 3. 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, $12,500,000,000. All bonds issued by the commonwealth, as aforesaid, shall be designated on their face “Commonwealth Housing First and Housing for All Act of 2023”, 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, 2058. 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.

SECTION 4. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any project of construction and development activity pursuant to this act shall be deemed to be a public work under section 26 of chapter 149 of the General Laws and shall be subject to all laws, rules and regulations related to the payment of wages at rates set by the director of the department of labor standards pursuant to said chapter 149.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any contract for construction, reconstruction, installation, demolition, maintenance or repair of any building for the purposes of development of social housing pursuant to this act shall be subject to public procurement and bidding laws, including section 44A to section 44J, inclusive, of chapter 149 of the General Laws.