Amendment ID: S2842-55-R1

Redraft Amendment 55

Attainable Housing in Seasonal Communities

Mr. Cyr moves that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 19 the following section:-

“SECTION 19A. Chapter 59 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 5N the following section:-

Section 5O. In any city or town that accepts this section, the board of selectmen of a town, or in a municipality having a town council form of government, the town council, or in a city, the mayor, with the approval of the city council, may establish a property tax exemption for residential real estate in the city or town that is affordable for, and rented and occupied by, persons whose household income is not more than the area’s median income. The exemption shall be for an amount determined by each city or town; provided, however, that the amount shall not be more than the tax otherwise due on the parcel based on the full and fair assessed value, multiplied by the square footage of the housing units rented to and occupied by a persons whose household income is not more than the area’s median income, divided by the total square footage of a structure located on the parcel. For rental housing, assessment of such property, if by an income approach to value, shall assume fair market rent for all units. To be eligible for the exemption, the housing unit shall be leased to persons whose household income is not more than area median income at rents for the entire fiscal year for which the exemption is sought. The owner of the residential real estate shall submit to the city or town documentation including, but not limited to, a signed lease and any other documentation necessary to confirm the eligibility of the residential real estate.

A municipality shall have the power to create local rules and procedures for implementing this section in a way that is consistent with the intent of this section.”; and

by inserting after section 31 the follow section:-

“SECTION 31A. There shall be a special legislative commission to review and investigate the unique challenges facing the housing market for year-round residents and families in the counties of barnstable, dukes and nantucket. The commission shall consist of: 4 members appointed by the senate president, 1 of whom shall represent a housing advocacy organization in the commonwealth; 1 member representing the cape cod and islands association of realtors; 4 members who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be a member of a union representing health care workers and 1 of whom shall be a planning director for a municipality; the chief executive officer of the cape cod chamber of commerce or their designee; the chief executive officer of the Martha’s Vineyard chamber of commerce or their designee; the chief executive officer of the Nantucket Chamber of commerce or their designee; the executive director of the cape cod commission or their designee; the executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard commission or their designee; the town manager of Nantucket or their designee; the Chief executive officer of the housing assistance corporation or their designee; the executive director of the island housing trust or their designee; the executive director of Housing Nantucket or their designee. An appointee of the senate president and an appointee of the speaker shall be appointed to serve as co-chairs.

The commission shall: (i) review the housing challenges facing year-round families within the counties of Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket; (ii) study unique solutions that could be applied within the counties of Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket to build more affordable and workforce housing; (iii) study policy solutions that include, but are not limited to, allowance of tiny homes, the building of special housing developments for municipal employees and the allowance of a local option transfer fee on certain real estate transactions; and (iv) draft proposed policy changes to the legislature for the creation of legislation and to the department of housing and community development for potential regulatory change.

The task force shall file a report of its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing not later than July 31, 2021.”.