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AB-1978 Department of Housing and Community Development: powers.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 09/29/2022 02:00 PM
AB1978:v94#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1978
CHAPTER 644

An act to add Sections 50406.9 and 50461 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to housing.

[ Approved by Governor  September 28, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State  September 28, 2022. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1978, Ward. Department of Housing and Community Development: powers.
Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development and requires it to, among other things, administer various programs intended to fund the acquisition of property to develop or preserve affordable housing. Existing law grants the department various powers and duties, including, among other things, the power to provide advice, technical information, and consultative and technical services.
This bill would authorize the department, in administering federally funded grant programs administered by the department, to (1) publish a notice of funding availability and application deadlines ahead of, and contingent upon, availability of funding, (2) issue funding to an award recipient up-front rather than as a reimbursement, and (3) provide technical assistance to applicants that meet program submission deadlines to correct technical errors or provide missing information. The bill would require the department to establish and publish on its internet website a tracking system for the programs it administers that provides the deadlines for each step of a program application.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 50406.9 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

50406.9.
 The department may do any of the following in administering federally funded grant programs administered by the department, including, but not limited to, the Federal Housing Trust Fund (Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 50676)), Community Development Block Grant Program Funds (Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 50825)), the HOME Investment Partnerships Act (Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 50896)), or the California Emergency Solutions Grants Program (Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 50899.1)) established under this part unless specifically prohibited by other applicable law:
(a) Publish a notice of funding availability and application deadlines ahead of, and contingent upon, the availability of funding.
(b) Issue funding to an award recipient up-front rather than as a reimbursement, provided that the department determines the awardee meets federal standards for program financial administration and provides ongoing support and monitoring of the funding.
(c) Provide technical assistance to applicants that meet program submission deadlines to correct technical errors or provide missing information, so that applications are not ultimately rejected because of a minor error or oversight, provided that the published method of distribution for that program or funding source allows for postsubmittal modifications. This subdivision does not require a program that uses a competitive method of distribution to allow postsubmittal modifications.

SEC. 2.

 Section 50461 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

50461.
 The department shall establish a tracking system for all programs established under this part and administered by the department. The tracking system shall, at a minimum, include the deadlines for each step of a program application. The tracking system shall be published on the department’s internet website.