1     
ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AND INVESTMENT

2     
AMENDMENTS

3     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Rebecca P. Edwards

6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill modifies provisions related to housing and community development.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     creates the Economic Revitalization and Investment Restricted Account;
15          ▸     establishes requirements for the distribution of funds from the account; and
16          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          This bill appropriates:
19          ▸     to the General Fund Restricted -- Economic Revitalization and Investment
20     Restricted Account, as a one-time appropriation:
21               •     from the General Fund, $10,000,000
22          ▸     to the Department of Workforce Services -- Housing and Community Development,
23     as a one-time appropriation:
24               •     from the General Fund Restricted -- Economic Revitalization and Investment
25     Restricted Account, $10,000,000.
26     Other Special Clauses:
27          None

28     Utah Code Sections Affected:
29     AMENDS:
30          35A-8-501, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 212
31          35A-8-506, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 212
32          63J-1-602.2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapters 86, 93, and 189
33     ENACTS:
34          35A-8-509, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35          35A-8-510, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36          35A-8-511, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37          35A-8-512, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38          35A-8-513, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39     

40     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
41          Section 1. Section 35A-8-501 is amended to read:
42          35A-8-501. Definitions.
43          As used in this part:
44          (1) "Affordable housing" means housing occupied or reserved for occupancy by
45     households whose incomes are at or below certain income requirements at rental rates
46     affordable to such households.
47          [(1)] (2) "Board" means the Housing Board created by this part.
48          [(2)] (3) "Fund" means the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund created by this part.
49          (4) (a) "Housing sponsor" means a person who constructs, develops, rehabilitates,
50     purchases, or owns a housing development that is or will be subject to legally enforceable
51     restrictive covenants that require the housing development to provide, at least in part,
52     affordable housing.
53          (b) "Housing sponsor" may include:
54          (i) a local public body;
55          (ii) a nonprofit, limited profit, or for profit corporation;
56          (iii) a limited partnership;
57          (iv) a limited liability company;
58          (v) a joint venture;

59          (vi) a subsidiary of the Utah Housing Corporation;
60          (vii) a cooperative;
61          (viii) a mutual housing organization;
62          (ix) a local government;
63          (x) a local housing authority;
64          (xi) a regional or statewide nonprofit housing or assistance organization; or
65          (xii) any other entity that helps provide affordable housing.
66          (5) "Restricted account" means the Economic Revitalization and Investment Restricted
67     Account created in Section 35A-8-509.
68          [(3)] (6) "Rural" means a county in the state other than Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, or
69     Weber.
70          Section 2. Section 35A-8-506 is amended to read:
71          35A-8-506. Entities authorized to receive fund money.
72          [(1)] The executive director, with the approval of the board, may grant or lend fund
73     money to a housing [sponsors] sponsor.
74          [(2) "Housing sponsor" includes a person who constructs, develops, rehabilitates,
75     purchases, or owns a housing development that is or will be subject to legally enforceable
76     restrictive covenants that require the housing development to provide, at least in part,
77     residential housing to low and moderate income persons.]
78          [(3) A housing sponsor includes:]
79          [(a) a local public body;]
80          [(b) a nonprofit, limited profit, or for profit corporation;]
81          [(c) a limited partnership;]
82          [(d) a limited liability company;]
83          [(e) a joint venture;]
84          [(f) a subsidiary of the Utah Housing Corporation or any subsidiary of the subsidiary of
85     the Utah Housing Corporation;]
86          [(g) a cooperative;]
87          [(h) a mutual housing organization;]
88          [(i) a local government;]
89          [(j) a local housing authority;]

90          [(k) a regional or statewide nonprofit housing or assistance organization; or]
91          [(l) any other type of entity or arrangement that helps provide affordable housing for
92     low and moderate income persons.]
93          Section 3. Section 35A-8-509 is enacted to read:
94          35A-8-509. Economic Revitalization and Investment Restricted Account.
95          (1) There is created in the General Fund a restricted account known as the "Economic
96     Revitalization and Investment Restricted Account."
97          (2) The restricted account shall be funded by:
98          (a) money appropriated to the account by the Legislature;
99          (b) private contributions;
100          (c) donations or grants from public or private entities; and
101          (d) money returned to the department under Section 35A-8-512.
102          (3) The restricted account shall earn interest, which shall be deposited into the
103     restricted account.
104          (4) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the executive director shall distribute money
105     into the restricted account to fund one or more projects that:
106          (a) include affordable housing units for households:
107          (i) that make no more than 30% of the area median income for households of the same
108     size in the area where the project is located; and
109          (ii) at rental rates no greater than the rates described in Subsection 35A-8-511(2)(b);
110          (b) have not been awarded a 9% tax credit as part of the Low Income Housing Tax
111     Credit program administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
112     Development; and
113          (c) have been approved by the board as described in Section 35A-8-510.
114          (5) (a) A housing sponsor may apply to the department to receive a distribution in
115     accordance with Subsection (4).
116          (b) The application shall include:
117          (i) the location of the project;
118          (ii) the number and size of affordable housing units described in Subsection (4)(a) the
119     project will include; and
120          (iii) a written commitment to continue to reserve for a period of 30 years the affordable

121     housing units described in Subsection (5)(b)(ii) or their equivalent for occupancy by
122     households that meet the income requirement described in Subsection (4)(a).
123          (c) The commitment in Subsection (5)(b)(iii) shall be considered met if a housing unit
124     is:
125          (i) (A) occupied or reserved for occupancy by a household that makes no more than
126     30% of the area median income for households of the same size in the area where the project is
127     located; or
128          (B) occupied by a household that makes no more than 60% of the area median income
129     for households of the same size in the area where the project is located if that household met
130     the income requirement described in Subsection (4)(a) when the household originally entered
131     into the lease agreement for the housing unit; and
132          (ii) rented at a rate no greater than the rate described in Subsection 35A-8-511(2)(b).
133          (d) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
134     department may make additional rules providing procedures for a person to apply to the
135     department to receive a distribution described in Subsection (4).
136          (6) In accordance with Section 63J-1-602.2, appropriations from the account are
137     nonlapsing.
138          Section 4. Section 35A-8-510 is enacted to read:
139          35A-8-510. Housing loan fund board approval.
140          (1) The board shall review the project applications described in Subsection
141     35A-8-509(5).
142          (2) The board may approve a project that meets the requirements of Subsections
143     35A-8-509(4) and (5) to receive funds from the restricted account.
144          (3) The board shall give preference to projects:
145          (a) that include significant additional or matching funds from an individual, private
146     organization, or local government entity;
147          (b) with high recipient contributions to total project costs, including allied
148     contributions from other sources such as professional, craft, and trade services and lender
149     interest rate subsidies;
150          (c) with high local government project contributions in the form of infrastructure,
151     improvements, or other assistance;

152          (d) that encourage ownership, management, or other project-related responsibility
153     opportunities;
154          (e) where the applicant has demonstrated the ability, stability, and resources to
155     complete the project;
156          (f) that will serve the greatest need;
157          (g) that promote economic development benefits;
158          (h) that allow integration into a local government housing plan;
159          (i) that would mitigate or correct existing health, safety, or welfare concerns; and
160          (j) that remedy a gap in the supply of and demand for affordable housing.
161          Section 5. Section 35A-8-511 is enacted to read:
162          35A-8-511. Activities authorized to receive account money.
163          (1) Subject to appropriation, the executive director may distribute funds from the
164     Economic Revitalization and Investment Restricted Account for any of the following activities
165     undertaken as part of an approved project:
166          (a) the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of a building that includes
167     affordable housing units;
168          (b) the purchase of land for the construction of a building that will include affordable
169     housing units; or
170          (c) pre-development work, including planning, studies, design, and site work for a
171     building that will include affordable housing units.
172          (2) The maximum amount of money from the restricted account that may be distributed
173     for each affordable housing unit that has been committed in accordance with Subsection
174     35A-8-509(5)(b)(iii) is calculated by multiplying 15 times the difference between:
175          (a) the most recent annualized United States Department of Housing and Urban
176     Development fair market rent for a unit of the same size in the county or metropolitan area
177     where the project is located; and
178          (b) 9% of the area median annual income of the area where the project is located for a
179     household of:
180          (i) one person if the unit is an efficiency unit;
181          (ii) two people if the unit is a one-bedroom unit;
182          (iii) three people if the unit is a two-bedroom unit;

183          (iv) five people if the unit is a three-bedroom unit;
184          (v) six people if the unit is a four-bedroom unit; or
185          (vi) eight people if the unit is a five-bedroom or larger unit.
186          Section 6. Section 35A-8-512 is enacted to read:
187          35A-8-512. Repayment of funds.
188          (1) Upon sale or transfer of the affordable housing units acquired, constructed, or
189     rehabilitated as part of an approved project funded under Section 35A-8-511, the housing
190     sponsor shall remit to the department:
191          (a) the total amount of money distributed by the department to the housing sponsor for
192     the project; and
193          (b) an additional amount of money determined by contract with the department prior to
194     the initial disbursement of funds from the restricted account.
195          (2) Any claim arising under Subsection (1) is a lien against the real property funded
196     under this chapter.
197          (3) The housing sponsor is exempt from the requirements described in Subsection (1)
198     if the housing units are sold or transferred to another housing sponsor that provides a
199     commitment in writing to maintain the same number of affordable housing units agreed to in
200     the original housing sponsor's application and to fulfill all other requirements under the original
201     contract and this chapter.
202          Section 7. Section 35A-8-513 is enacted to read:
203          35A-8-513. Annual accounting.
204          (1) The executive director shall monitor the activities of recipients of funds from the
205     Economic Revitalization and Investment Restricted Account on a yearly basis to ensure
206     compliance with the terms and conditions imposed on the recipient by the executive director
207     with the approval of the board.
208          (2) An entity that receives funds from the restricted account shall provide the executive
209     director with an annual accounting of how the money the entity received from the Economic
210     Revitalization and Investment Restricted Account has been spent and evidence that the
211     commitment described in Subsection 35A-8-509(5) has been met.
212          (3) The executive director shall make an annual report to the board accounting for the
213     expenditures authorized by the board.

214          (4) The board shall submit a report to the department for inclusion in the annual
215     written report described in Section 35A-1-109 that includes:
216          (a) an accounting for expenditures authorized by the board; and
217          (b) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program.
218          Section 8. Section 63J-1-602.2 is amended to read:
219          63J-1-602.2. List of nonlapsing funds and accounts -- Title 31 through Title 45.
220          (1) Appropriations from the Technology Development Restricted Account created in
221     Section 31A-3-104.
222          (2) Appropriations from the Criminal Background Check Restricted Account created in
223     Section 31A-3-105.
224          (3) Appropriations from the Captive Insurance Restricted Account created in Section
225     31A-3-304, except to the extent that Section 31A-3-304 makes the money received under that
226     section free revenue.
227          (4) Appropriations from the Title Licensee Enforcement Restricted Account created in
228     Section 31A-23a-415.
229          (5) Appropriations from the Health Insurance Actuarial Review Restricted Account
230     created in Section 31A-30-115.
231          (6) Appropriations from the Insurance Fraud Investigation Restricted Account created
232     in Section 31A-31-108.
233          (7) Appropriations from the Underage Drinking Prevention Media and Education
234     Campaign Restricted Account created in Section 32B-2-306.
235          (8) Funding for the General Assistance program administered by the Department of
236     Workforce Services, as provided in Section 35A-3-401.
237          (9) The Economic Revitalization and Investment Restricted Account created in Section
238     35A-8-509.
239          [(9)] (10) The Youth Development Organization Restricted Account created in Section
240     35A-8-1903.
241          [(10)] (11) The Youth Character Organization Restricted Account created in Section
242     35A-8-2003.
243          [(11)] (12) Funding for a new program or agency that is designated as nonlapsing under
244     Section 36-24-101.

245          [(12)] (13) Appropriations to the Utah National Guard, created in Title 39, Militia and
246     Armories.
247          [(13)] (14) Appropriations from the Oil and Gas Conservation Account created in
248     Section 40-6-14.5.
249          [(14)] (15) Appropriations from the Electronic Payment Fee Restricted Account
250     created by Section 41-1a-121 to the Motor Vehicle Division.
251          [(15)] (16) Funds available to the Tax Commission under Section 41-1a-1201 for the:
252          (a) purchase and distribution of license plates and decals; and
253          (b) administration and enforcement of motor vehicle registration requirements.
254          [(16)] (17) Appropriations from the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division Temporary
255     Permit Restricted Account created by Section 41-3-110 to the Tax Commission.
256          Section 9. Appropriation.
257          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
258     the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017, the following sums of money
259     are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
260     previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
261     addition to amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2017.
262          To Fund and Account Transfers -- General Fund Restricted --
263           Economic Revitalization and Investment Restricted Account
264               From General Fund, one-time
$10,000,000

265               Schedule of Programs:
266                    General Fund Restricted -- Economic Revitalization
267                     and Investment Restricted Account          $10,000,000
268          To Department of Workforce Services -- Housing and Community Development
269               From General Fund Restricted -- Economic Revitalization
270                and Investment Restricted Account, one-time
$10,000,000

271               Schedule of Programs:
272                    Economic Revitalization and Investment Program     $10,000,000






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel