An Act financing the production and preservation of housing for low and moderate income residents.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to authorize forthwith the financing of the production and preservation of housing for low and moderate income citizens of the commonwealth 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 and modernize state-owned public housing developments; to preserve the affordability and the income mix of state-assisted multifamily developments; to support home ownership and rental housing opportunities for low and moderate income citizens of the commonwealth; to stem urban blight through the implementation of housing stabilization programs; to support housing production for the elderly, disabled and homeless; and preservation of housing for the elderly, the homeless, low and moderate income citizens of the commonwealth, and people with disabilities; and to promote economic reinvestment through the funding of infrastructure improvements, the sums set forth in section 2, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act, are hereby made available from the General Capital Projects Fund, subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds.

SECTION 2.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

Office of the Secretary.

4000-7997           For a program of loan guarantees or interest subsidies to assist homeowners with blindness or severe  disabilities in making modifications to their primary residence for the purpose of improved accessibility or to allow such homeowners to live independently in the community; provided, that said secretary shall take all steps necessary to minimize such program’s administrative costs; provided further, that such loan guarantees shall be available on the basis of a sliding scale that relates homeowner’s income and assets to the cost of home modifications; provided further, that interest subsidies shall be means-tested and may be for 0 interest loans pursuant to income standards developed by said secretary; provided further, that the repayment of any such loans may be delayed until the sale of the principal residence by any such homeowner; provided further, that persons residing in any development covered by section 4 of chapter 151B of the General Laws shall not be eligible for said program unless the owner can show that the modification is an undue financial burden; provided further, that said secretary shall consult with the Massachusetts commission for the blind and the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission in developing the rules, regulations and guidelines for such program; provided further, that nothing herein shall give rise to enforceable legal rights in any party or an enforceable entitlement to services; provided further, that nothing stated herein shall be construed as giving rise to enforceable legal rights or enforceable entitlement to any services; and provided further, that said secretary shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing detailing the status of the program herein established……………………………………………………………….…..$50,000,000.

4000-8200           For state financial assistance in the form of loans for the development of community-based housing for the mentally ill and mentally retarded; provided, that said loan program shall be administered by the department of housing and community development through contracts with authorities which shall be limited to housing authorities and redevelopment authorities duly organized and existing in accordance with chapter 121B of the General Laws, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, a body politic and corporate entity established by chapter 708 of the acts of 1966, as amended, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, a body politic and corporate entity established by chapter 40H of the General Laws, as amended, and the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, a body politic and corporate entity established by section 24 of chapter 289 of the acts of 1998; provided, that said loan issuing authorities may develop or finance said community-based housing, or may enter into subcontracts with non-profit organizations established pursuant to chapter 180 of the General Laws or organizations in which such non-profit corporations have a controlling financial or managerial interest; provided, however, that said department shall take due consideration of a balanced geographic plan for such community-based housing when issuing said loans; provided further, that said department shall take due consideration of development of a balanced range of housing models by prioritizing funds for integrated housing as defined by the appropriate state housing and service agencies including but not limited to; the department of housing and community development,  the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission, the department of mental health, and the department of mental retardation in consultation with relevant and interested clients, their families, advocates, and other parties as necessary; provided further, that loans issued pursuant to this item shall be subject to the following provisions: (1) said loans shall be limited to not more than 50 per cent of the financing of the total development costs; (2) said loans shall be issued only when any contract or agreement for the use of said property for the purposes of such housing provides for repayment to the commonwealth at the time of disposition of the property an amount equal to the commonwealth’s proportional contribution from the Facilities Consolidation Fund to the cost of the development through payments made by the state agency making the contract; (3) said loans shall only be issued when any contract or agreement for the use of said property for the purposes of such community-based housing provides for the recording of a restriction in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, for the benefit of the said departments, running with the land, that the land be used for the purpose of providing community-based housing for eligible individuals as determined by the departments of mental health and mental retardation; provided, that the property shall not be released from such restrictions until the balance of the principal and interest for the loan is repaid in full or until a mortgage foreclosure deed is recorded; (4) said loans shall be issued for a term of up to 30 years during which time repayment may be deferred by the loan issuing authority unless at the end of any fiscal year, cash collections from all sources in connection with a community-based housing project, except for contributions, donations, or grant moneys, exceed 105 per cent of cash expenditures on behalf of said project, including debt service, operating expenses, and capital reserves, in which event such excess cash shall be paid to the commonwealth within 45 days of the end of said fiscal year, payable first to interest due hereunder and thereafter to principal advanced pursuant to said loan, provided, that if on the date said loans become due and payable to the commonwealth an outstanding balance exists, and if, on such date, the department of housing and community development, in consultation with the executive office of health and human services, determines that there still exists a need for such housing and that there is continued funding available for the provision of services to such development, said department may, by agreement with the owner of the development, extend the loans for such periods, each period not to extend beyond 10 years, as the department determines; provided, however, that the project shall continue to remain affordable housing for the duration of the loan term, as extended, as set forth in the contract or agreement entered into by the department; and provided further, that, in the event that the terms of repayment detailed in this item would cause a project authorized by this item to become ineligible to receive federal funds which would otherwise assist in the development of that project, that commissioner may waive the terms of repayment which would cause the project to become ineligible; (5) interest rates for said loans shall be fixed at a rate, to be determined by the director of the department of housing and community development in consultation with the treasurer of the commonwealth; (6) expenditures from this item shall not be made for the purpose of refinancing outstanding mortgage loans for community-based housing in existence prior to the effective date of this act; (7) community-based housing projects developed pursuant to this act shall not be refinanced during the term of any loan issued pursuant to this item unless and until the balance of the principal and interest for such loan is repaid in full at the time of such refinancing; provided, that said community-based housing projects may be refinanced if such financing would result in a reduction of costs paid by the commonwealth; provided further, that any such refinanced loan shall be due and payable on a date no later than the date on which the original loan was due and payable, except in accordance with subsection (4) of this item, or is necessary to effect extraordinary repairs or maintenance to be approved by the commissioners of mental retardation, or mental health, as appropriate, and the director of the department of housing and community development; (8)  said loans shall be provided only for projects conforming to the provisions of this act; and (9) said loans shall be issued in accordance with a facilities consolidation plan prepared by the secretary of health and human services, reviewed and approved by the director of housing and community development and filed with the secretary for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means; provided further, that no expenditures shall be made pursuant to this item without the prior approval of the secretary for administration and finance; provided further, that the department of housing and community development, the department of mental health and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation may identify appropriate financing mechanisms and guidelines for grants or loans, from this item, to promote private development to produce housing, provide for independent integrated living opportunities, write down building and operating costs, and to serve households at or below 15 per cent of area median income for the benefit of department of mental health clients; provided further, that not more than $10,000,000 may be expended from this item for a pilot program of community-based housing loans to serve mentally ill homeless individuals in the current or former care of said department of mental health; provided further, that in implementing said pilot program, said department shall take due consideration of a balanced geographic plan when establishing community-based residences; provided further, that said housing services made available pursuant to such loans shall not be construed as a right or an entitlement for any individual or class of persons to the benefits of said pilot program; provided further, that eligibility for said pilot program shall be established by regulations promulgated by the said department; provided further, that the department of housing and community development is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate regulations pursuant to section 2 of chapter 30A of the General Laws for the implementation of this item, consistent with the facilities consolidation plan prepared by the secretary of health and human services and after consultation with said secretary and the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance. 

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 120 days after the expiration of affordability restrictions on housing assisted under this item, the department of housing and community development or its assignee, who is a qualified developer selected pursuant to the terms of this item under the guidelines of the department, shall have an option to purchase any such housing at its current appraised value reduced by any remaining obligation of the owner upon the expiration of the affordability restrictions.  The department or its assignee may purchase or acquire such housing only for the purposes of preserving or providing affordable housing.  The department or its assignee shall hold such purchase option for the first 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restrictions.  Failure to exercise the purchase option within 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restriction shall constitute a waiver of the purchase option by the department or its assignee.  Two impartial appraisers shall determine, within 60 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions, the current appraised value in accordance with recognized professional standards.  Two professionals in the field of multi-unit residential housing shall select each such appraiser.  The owner and the department, respectively, shall designate such professionals within 30 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions.  If there is a difference in the valuations provided by the appraisals, the 2 valuations shall be added together and divided by 2 to determine the current appraised value of the property.  No sale, transfer or other disposition of such land shall be consummated unless and until either this purchase option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or assignee in question that the option will not be exercised.  This option may be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at such address as may be specified in his notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period.  If the purchase option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to this item under guidelines issued by the department, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment.  Before any sale or transfer or other disposition of any such housing where the department has not previously exercised an option to purchase, an owner shall offer the department or its assignee, who shall be a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section under the guidelines of the department, a first refusal option to meet a bona fide offer to purchase the property.   The owner shall provide to the department or its assignee written notice by regular and certified mail, return receipt requested, of the owner’s intention to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property.  The department or its assignee shall hold such first refusal option for the first 120 days after receipt of the owner’s notice of intent to transfer the property.  Failure to respond to the written notice of the owner’s intent to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property within 120 days after the receipt thereof shall constitute a waiver of the right of first refusal by the department.   No sale, transfer or other disposition of such land shall be consummated unless and until either this first refusal option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or assignee in question that the option will not be exercised.  This option may be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at such address as may be specified in his notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period.  If the first refusal option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to this item under guidelines issued by the department, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment.  An affidavit before a notary public that he has so mailed this notice of intent on behalf of an owner shall conclusively establish the manner and time of the giving of such notice and such an affidavit, and such a notice that the option will not be exercised, shall be recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located.  Each notice of intention, notice of exercise of the purchase option or first refusal option and notice that the purchase option or first refusal option will not be exercised shall contain the name of the record owner of the land and description of the premises to be sold or converted adequate for identification thereof and each such affidavit before a notary public shall have attached to it a copy of the notice of intention to which it relates. Such notices of intention shall be duly mailed to the parties above specified if addressed to them in care of the keeper of records for the party in question. Upon notifying the owner in writing of its intention to pursue its purchase option or first refusal option during this 120-day period, the department or its assignee shall have an additional 120 days, beginning on the date of the termination of the purchase option period or first refusal option period, to purchase the property.  Such time periods may be extended by mutual agreement between the department or its assignee and the owner of the property.  Any such extension agreed upon shall be recorded in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located.  Within a reasonable time after request, the owner shall make available to the department or its assignee any information that is reasonably necessary for the department to exercise its rights………………………………………………………………...$25,000,000.

4000-8201           For state financial assistance in the form of loans for the development and redevelopment of community-based housing for persons with disabilities who are institutionalized or at risk of being institutionalized, who are not eligible for housing developed pursuant to item 4000-8200 of this act; provided, that said loan program shall be administered by the department of housing and community development through contracts with authorities which shall be limited to housing authorities and redevelopment authorities duly organized and existing in accordance with chapter 121B of the General Laws, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, a body politic and corporate entity established by chapter 708 of the acts of 1966, as amended, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, a body politic and corporate entity established by chapter 40H of the General Laws, as amended, and the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, a body politic and corporate entity established by section 24 of chapter 289 of the acts of 1998; provided, that said loan issuing authorities may develop or finance said community-based housing, or may enter into subcontracts with non-profit organizations established pursuant to chapter 180 of the General Laws or organizations in which such non-profit corporations have a controlling financial or managerial interest; provided, however, that said department shall take due consideration of a balanced geographic plan for such community-based housing when issuing said loans; provided further, that all housing developed with these funds shall be integrated housing as defined by the appropriate state housing and service agencies including, but not limited to, the department of housing and community development, the department of mental health, and the department of mental retardation in consultation with relevant and interested clients, their families, advocates, and other parties as necessary; provided further, that loans issued pursuant to this item shall be subject to the following provisions: (1) said loans shall be limited to not more than 50 per cent of the financing of the total development costs; (2) said loans shall be issued only when any contract or agreement for the use of said property for the purposes of such housing provides for repayment to the commonwealth at the time of disposition of the property an amount equal to the commonwealth’s proportional contribution from this item to the cost of the development through payments made by the state agency making the contract; (3) said loans shall only be issued when any contract or agreement for the use of said property for the purposes of such community-based housing provides for the recording of a restriction in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, for the benefit of the said departments, running with the land, that the land be used for the purpose of providing community-based housing for eligible individuals as determined by the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission or other agency of the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that the property shall not be released from such restrictions until the balance of the principal and interest for the loan is repaid in full or until a mortgage foreclosure deed is recorded; (4) said loans shall be issued for a term of up to 30 years during which time repayment may be deferred by the loan issuing authority unless at the end of any fiscal year, cash collections from all sources in connection with a community-based housing project, except for contributions, donations, or grant moneys, exceed 105 per cent of cash expenditures on behalf of said project, including debt service, operating expenses, and capital reserves, in which event such excess cash shall be paid to the commonwealth within 45 days of the end of said fiscal year, payable first to interest due hereunder and thereafter to principal advanced pursuant to said loan; provided further, that if on the date said loans become due and payable to the commonwealth an outstanding balance exists, and if, on such date, the department of housing and community development, in consultation with the executive office of health and human services, determines that there still exists a need for such housing, said department may, by agreement with the owner of the development, extend the loans for such periods, each period not to extend beyond 10 years, as the department determines; provided, however, that the project shall continue to remain affordable housing for the duration of the loan term, as extended, as set forth in the contract or agreement entered into by the department; and provided further, that, in the event that the terms of repayment detailed in this item would cause a project authorized by this item to become ineligible to receive federal funds which would otherwise assist in the development of that project, that commissioner may waive the terms of repayment which would cause the project to become ineligible; (5) interest rates for said loans shall be fixed at a rate, to be determined by the director of the department of housing and community development in consultation with the treasurer of the commonwealth; (6) expenditures from this item shall not be made for the purpose of refinancing outstanding mortgage loans for community-based housing in existence prior to the effective date of this act; (7) community-based housing projects developed pursuant to this act shall not be refinanced during the term of any loan issued pursuant to this item unless and until the balance of the principal and interest for such loan is repaid in full at the time of such refinancing; provided further, that said community-based housing projects may be refinanced if such financing would result in a reduction of costs paid by the commonwealth; provided further, that any such refinanced loan shall be due and payable on a date no later than the date on which the original loan was due and payable, except in accordance with subsection (4) of this item, or is necessary to effect extraordinary repairs or maintenance to be approved by the commissioners of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission or other agency of the executive office of health and human services, as appropriate, and the director of the department of housing and community development; (8) said loans shall be provided only for projects conforming to the provisions of this act; and (9) said loans shall be issued in accordance with an enhancing community-based services plan prepared by the secretary of health and human services, in consultation with the director of housing and community development and filed with the secretary for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means; provided, that no expenditures shall be made pursuant to this item without the prior approval of the secretary for administration and finance; provided further, that the department of housing and community development is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate  regulations pursuant to section 2 of chapter 30A of the General Laws for the implementation of this item, consistent with the enhancing community-based services plan prepared by the secretary of health and human services and after consultation with said secretary and the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 120 days after the expiration of affordability restrictions on housing assisted under this item, the department or its assignee, who is a qualified developer selected pursuant to the terms of this item under the guidelines of the department of housing and community development, shall have an option to purchase any such property at its current appraised value reduced by any remaining obligation of the owner upon the expiration of the affordability restrictions.  The department or its assignee may purchase or acquire such housing only for the purposes of preserving or providing affordable housing. The department of housing and community development or its assignee shall hold such purchase option for the first 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restrictions.  Failure to exercise the purchase option within 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restriction shall constitute a waiver of the purchase option by the department or its assignee.  Two impartial appraisers shall determine, within 60 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions, the current appraised value in accordance with recognized professional standards.  Two professionals in the field of multi-unit residential housing shall select each such appraiser.  The owner and the department, respectively, shall designate such professionals within 30 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions.  If there is a difference in the valuations provided by the appraisals, the 2 valuations shall be added together and divided by 2 to determine the current appraised value of the property.  No sale, transfer or other disposition of such land shall be consummated unless and until either this purchase option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or assignee in question that the option will not be exercised.  This option may be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at such address as may be specified in his notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period.  If the purchase option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to this item under guidelines issued by the department, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment.  Before any sale or transfer or other disposition of any such housing where the department has not previously exercised an option to purchase, an owner shall offer the department or its assignee, who shall be a qualified developer selected pursuant to this item under the guidelines of the department, a first refusal option to meet a bona fide offer to purchase the property.   The owner shall provide to the department or its assignee written notice by regular and certified mail, return receipt requested, of the owner’s intention to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property.  The department or its assignee shall hold such first refusal option for the first 120 days after receipt of the owner’s notice of intent to transfer the property.  Failure to respond to the written notice of the owner’s intent to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property within 120 days after the receipt thereof shall constitute a waiver of the right of first refusal by the department.   No sale, transfer or other disposition of such land shall be consummated unless and until either this first refusal option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or assignee in question that the option will not be exercised.  This option may be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at such address as may be specified in his notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period.  If the first refusal option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section under guidelines issued by the department, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment.  An affidavit before a notary public that he has so mailed this notice of intent on behalf of an owner shall conclusively establish the manner and time of the giving of such notice and such an affidavit, and such a notice that the option will not be exercised, shall be recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located.  Each notice of intention, notice of exercise of the purchase option or first refusal option and notice that the purchase option or first refusal option will not be exercised shall contain the name of the record owner of the land and description of the premises to be sold or converted adequate for identification thereof and each such affidavit before a notary public shall have attached to it a copy of the notice of intention to which it relates. Such notices of intention shall be duly mailed to the parties above specified if addressed to them in care of the keeper of records for the party in question. Upon notifying the owner in writing of its intention to pursue its purchase option or first refusal option during this 120-day period, the department or its assignee shall have an additional 120 days, beginning on the date of the termination of the purchase option period or first refusal option period, to purchase the property.  Such time periods may be extended by mutual agreement between the department or its assignee and the owner of the property.  Any such extension agreed upon shall be recorded in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located. 

Within a reasonable time after request, the owner shall make available to the department or its assignee any information that is reasonably necessary for the department to exercise its rights.…………………………………………………………………. $25,000,000.

Department of Housing and Community Development.

7004-0021           For the capitalization of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, established by chapter 121D of the General Laws………………………………..…$220,000,000.

7004-0022           For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for the housing stabilization and investment program established pursuant to section 6 of this act and awarded pursuant only to the criteria therein; provided, that not less than 25 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be used to fund projects which preserve and produce housing for families and individuals with incomes of not more than 30 per cent of the area median income, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; provided, that if the department has not been able to meet the spending allowable under the bond cap for this program, at the end of each year following the effective date of this act, the department shall be allowed to award the remaining funds to projects that serve households earning more than 30 per cent of the area median income, as defined by said United States Department of Housing and Urban Development…………………………………………….……………..…$125,000,000.

7004-7011           For the purposes of state financial assistance in the form of grants for projects undertaken pursuant to clause (j) of section 26 of chapter 121B of the General Laws; provided, that contracts entered into by the department for such projects may include, but shall not be limited to, projects providing for renovation, remodeling, reconstruction, redevelopment, and hazardous material abatement, including asbestos and lead paint, and for compliance with state codes and laws and for adaptations necessary for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so called, the provision of day care facilities, learning centers and teen service centers and the adaptation of units for families and persons with disabilities; provided further, that priority shall be given to projects undertaken for the purpose of compliance with state codes and laws or for other purposes related to the health and safety of residents; provided further, that funds may be expended from this item to make such modifications to congregate housing units as may be necessary to increase the occupancy rate of such units; provided further, that the department, in consultation with housing authorities, may establish a program to provide predictable funds to be used flexibly by housing authorities to provide for capital improvements to extend the useful life of state-assisted public housing; and provided further, that not less than 25 per cent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be used to fund projects which preserve and produce housing for families and individuals with incomes of not more than 30 per cent of the area median income, as defined by the United States Department  of Housing and Urban Development; and provided further that a capital reserve account shall be administered by the department…………$500,000,000.

7004-XXXX.  For the purposes of state financial assistance in the form of grants for a 5 year demonstration program, administered by the department of housing and community development, to demonstrate cost effective revitalization methods for state-aided family and elderly-disabled public housing that seek to reduce the need for future state modernization funding; provided, that housing authorities with chapter 200, chapter 705, or chapter 667 state-aided housing developments, so called, shall be eligible to participate in said demonstration program; provided further, that said department shall establish a 7 member advisory committee whose members shall include the director of the department or his or her designee, 1 representative selected by Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, 1 representative selected by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, 1 representative selected by the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants, and 3 additional members chosen by said department to provide advice and recommendations to the department regarding regulations to implement said demonstration program; provided further, that grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis; provided further, that the regulations shall require that housing authorities selected demonstrate innovative, replicable solutions to the management, marketing or capital needs of state-aided family and elderly-disabled public housing developments and contribute to the continued viability of the housing as a resource for public housing eligible residents; provided further, that the regulations shall encourage proposals that demonstrate regional collaborations among housing authorities; provided further, that the regulations shall encourage proposals that propose new affordable housing units on municipally owned land, underutilized public housing sites, or other land owned by the housing authority; provided further, that the department may exempt recipients of demonstration grants from requirements in chapter 7 and chapter 121B of the General Laws upon a showing by recipients that such exemptions are necessary to accomplish the effective revitalization of public housing and will not adversely effect public housing residents or applicants of any income who are otherwise eligible; provided further, that the department may provide to recipients of demonstration grants such additional regulatory relief as is required to further the objectives of the demonstration; provided further, that funds shall be made available for technical assistance provided by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund or the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation to recipients of demonstration grants and for evaluation of the demonstration; provided further, that the department shall promulgate regulations to implement this item within 90 days of the effective date of this act; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing on the progress of the demonstration within 90 days after regulations are promulgated and annually thereafter………………………$50,000,000.

7004-7012           For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of community development action grants to be awarded pursuant to section 57A of chapter 121B of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of section 57A of chapter 121B, any eligible city or town may designate a community development corporation organized in accordance with the provisions of chapter 40F of the General Laws to act on their behalf; provided, further, that not less than $2,000,000 of the amount authorized for expenditure in this item shall be used for projects in seriously distressed areas having a significant amount of vacant land or buildings, as defined by the department; provided, further, that the projects funded from this item shall be consistent with the principles of smart growth, so-called, as defined by the department………………………$55,000,000.

7004-7013           For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for the Housing Innovations Fund Program established pursuant to section 5; provided, that not less than 25 percent of the amount appropriated in this item shall be used to fund projects which preserve and produce housing for families and individuals with incomes of not more than 30 percent of the area median income, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development…………………………...$75,000,000.

7004-7015           For the purpose of state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for the Capital Improvement and Preservation Fund for expiring use properties established pursuant to section 7…………………………………………..$100,000,000.

7004-7016           For the purpose of providing financial support for developing residential housing units within neighborhood commercial areas including, but not limited to, those areas designated as Main Street areas; provided however, that the developments may include projects which have residential units above commercial space and shall be located in areas characterized by a predominance of commercial land uses, a high daytime or business population or a high concentration of daytime traffic and parking; provided further, that the department shall give priority to developments for which municipalities have adopted a housing tax increment financing plan in an urban housing center tax increment financing zone pursuant to section 60 of chapter 40 of the General Laws; provided further, that $15,000,000 of the amount authorized for expenditure in this item shall be used to fund transit-oriented housing developments in proximity to public transit nodes; provided further, that eligible activities for transit-oriented development shall include planning grants, financing subsidies and environmental assessment; and provided further, that not less than 50 per cent of the beneficiaries of such housing in projects assisted by this item shall be persons whose income is not more than 80 per cent of the area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development………………………………………………………….$30,000,000.

SECTION 3.  To meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2, the state treasurer shall, upon request of 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, $1,255,000,000.  All bonds issued by the commonwealth, as aforesaid, shall be designated on their face, Housing Production, Preservation, Modification and Neighborhood Development Loan Act of 2008, 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, 2042.  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 provisions of this act, be general obligations of the commonwealth.  An amount not to exceed 2 per cent of said authorizations may be expended by the department of housing and community development for administrative costs directly attributable to the purposes of this act, including costs of clerical and support personnel.  The director of housing and community development shall file an annual spending plan with the fiscal affairs division, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on bonding, capital expenditures and states assets and the joint committee on housing which details, by subsidiary, all personnel costs and any administrative costs charged to expenditures made pursuant to this act.

SECTION 4.  The department of housing and community development, may enter into contracts for state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans by the commonwealth acting by and through the department; provided, however, that grants made pursuant to this section shall be  made only to public or quasi-public agencies; provided further, that the department shall administer the Housing Innovations Fund Program for the purpose of facilitating the creation and retention of alternative forms of rental and ownership housing.  Such forms of housing shall include, but not be limited to: single room occupancy units; limited equity cooperative housing; transitional housing for the homeless; battered women's shelters; mutual housing; housing acquired by nonprofit entities pursuant to Title II of the National Emergency Low Income Housing Preservation Act of 1987 and Title VI of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990; employer assisted housing; lease to purchase housing; housing produced pursuant to a court approved receivership; innovative forms of housing which seek to mitigate the adverse impact on housing affordability in communities with high concentrations of college or university students; provided further, that the projects may include joint projects between municipalities or housing development agencies and institutions of higher education designed to create or preserve affordable units within those areas; and other innovative forms of housing; provided, however, that not less than 50 per cent of the beneficiaries of such housing shall be persons whose income is not more than 80 per cent of the area median income as determined from time to time by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and not less than 25 per cent of the beneficiaries of such housing shall be persons whose income is not more than 30 per cent of the area median income as determined from time to time by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The department shall give preference to those projects that provide transitional and permanent housing for homeless individuals and families and disabled persons.  Any such loan program shall be administered by the department through contracts with authorities which shall include housing authorities and redevelopment authorities duly organized and existing in accordance with chapter 121B of the General Laws, and may also include community development corporations duly organized and existing in accordance with chapter 40F of the General Laws, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, a body politic and corporate entity established by chapter 708 of the acts of 1966, nonprofit agencies certified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development  as community housing development organizations, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, a body politic and corporate entity established by chapter 40H of the General Laws and the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, a body politic and corporate entity established by chapter 23G of the General Laws.  Said organizations may, pursuant to the terms and conditions of contracts with the department, directly issue loans for the purposes of the program or may enter into subcontracts with nonprofit organizations established pursuant to chapter 180 of the General Laws for such purposes.  Loans issued directly or indirectly by such organizations shall be subject to the review and approval of the department.

     Loans issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to the following provisions:

     (1) such loans shall be limited to not more than 50 per cent of the financing of the total development costs; provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to loans provided for the creation of battered women's shelters which loans may be provided in amounts up to 80 per cent of the financing of total development costs; and provided further, that such loans shall not exceed $2,500,000 per project;

     (2) such loans shall only be issued when a contract or agreement for the use of the property for the purposes of such housing provides for the recording of a restriction in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court in the county in which the affected real property is located, for the benefit of said department, running with the land, that the land be used for the purpose of providing alternative forms of rental and ownership housing.  Such property shall not be released from such restriction until the balance of the principal and interest for any such loan shall be repaid in full or until a mortgage foreclosure deed shall be recorded;

     (3) such loans shall be issued for a term of up to 30 years during which time repayment may be deferred by the loan issuing authority unless, at the end of a fiscal year, cash collections from all sources in connection with such housing, except for contributions, donations or grant moneys, exceed 105 per cent of cash expenditures on behalf of such housing, including debt service, operating expenses, operating reserves and capital reserves.  Such excess cash shall be paid to the commonwealth within 45 days of the end of the fiscal year, payable first to interest due under this section and then to principal advanced pursuant to such loan.  If, on the date such loans become due and payable to the commonwealth, an outstanding balance exists, such loans may be extended for such periods, each period not to extend 10 years, as the department determines, provided that the project continues to remain affordable housing as set forth in the contract or agreement entered into for the duration of the project by the department.  In the event that the terms of repayment detailed in this section would cause a project authorized by this section to become ineligible to receive federal funds which would otherwise assist in the development of that project, the commissioner may waive the terms of repayment which would cause the project to become ineligible;

     (4) interest rates for such loans shall be fixed at  rates to be determined by the director of housing and community development, in consultation with the state treasurer;

     (5) said department shall take due consideration of a balanced geographic plan for such alternative forms of housing when issuing such loans; and

     (6) housing projects developed pursuant to this act shall not be refinanced during the term of a loan issued pursuant to this section unless the balance of the principal and interest for such loan is repaid in full at the time of such refinancing.  Such housing projects may be refinanced if such refinancing would result in a reduction of costs paid by the commonwealth.  Any such refinanced loan shall be due and payable on a date not later than the date on which the original loan was due and payable, except in accordance with clause (3), or when necessary to effect extraordinary repairs or maintenance to be approved by the director of housing and community development.

      Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 120 days after the expiration of affordability restrictions on housing assisted under this section, the department or its assignee, who is a qualified developer selected pursuant to the terms of this section under the guidelines of the department, shall have an option to purchase any such property at its current appraised value reduced by any remaining obligation of the owner upon the expiration of the affordability restrictions.  The department or its assignee may purchase or acquire such housing only for the purposes of preserving or providing affordable housing.  The department or its assignee shall hold such purchase option for the first 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restrictions.  Failure to exercise the purchase option within 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restriction shall constitute a waiver of the purchase option by the department or its assignee.  Two impartial appraisers shall determine, within 60 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions, the current appraised value in accordance with recognized professional standards.  Two professionals in the field of multi-unit residential housing shall select each such appraiser.  The owner and the department, respectively, shall designate such professionals within 30 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions.  If there is a difference in the valuations provided by the appraisals, the 2 valuations shall be added together and divided by 2 to determine the current appraised value of the property.  No sale, transfer or other disposition of such land shall be consummated unless and until either this purchase option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or assignee in question that the option will not be exercised.  This option may be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at such address as may be specified in his notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period.  If the purchase option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section under guidelines issued by the department, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment.  Before any sale or transfer or other disposition of any such housing where the department has not previously exercised an option to purchase, an owner shall offer the department or its assignee, who shall be a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section under the guidelines of the department, a first refusal option to meet a bona fide offer to purchase the property.  The owner shall provide to the department or its assignee written notice by regular and certified mail, return receipt requested, of the owner’s intention to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property.  The department or its assignee shall hold such first refusal option for the first 120 days after receipt of the owner’s notice of intent to transfer the property.  Failure to respond to the written notice of the owner’s intent to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property within 120 days after the receipt thereof shall constitute a waiver of the right of first refusal by the department.   No sale, transfer or other disposition of such land shall be consummated unless and until either this first refusal option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or assignee in question that the option will not be exercised.  This option may be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at such address as may be specified in his notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period.  If the first refusal option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section under guidelines issued by the department, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment.  An affidavit before a notary public that he has so mailed this notice of intent on behalf of an owner shall conclusively establish the manner and time of the giving of such notice and such an affidavit, and such a notice that the option will not be exercised, shall be recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located.  Each notice of intention, notice of exercise of the purchase option or first refusal option and notice that the purchase option or first refusal option will not be exercised shall contain the name of the record owner of the land and description of the premises to be sold or converted adequate for identification thereof and each such affidavit before a notary public shall have attached to it a copy of the notice of intention to which it relates. Such notices of intention shall be duly mailed to the parties above specified if addressed to them in care of the keeper of records for the party in question. Upon notifying the owner in writing of its intention to pursue its purchase option or first refusal option during this 120-day period, the department or its assignee shall have an additional 120 days, beginning on the date of the termination of the purchase option period or first refusal option period, to purchase the property.  Such time periods may be extended by mutual agreement between the department or its assignee and the owner of the property.  Any such extension agreed upon shall be recorded in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located.  Within a reasonable time after request, the owner shall make available to the department or its assignee any information that is reasonably necessary for the department to exercise its rights.

     The department shall promulgate regulations for the implementation of the housing loan program authorized by this section.

SECTION 5.  The department of housing and community development may enter into contracts for state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans by the commonwealth acting by and through the department of housing and community development for projects undertaken for the housing stabilization and investment program. The department shall be the sole administrator of the housing stabilization and investment program and shall ensure that funds are distributed in a balanced fashion  in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the commonwealth with a particular emphasis on the local and regional need for affordable housing for the purpose of undertaking projects to develop and support affordable housing developments and homeownership affordability, through the acquisition, preservation and rehabilitation of affordable housing; provided, however, that such program may include assistance for projects to stabilize and promote reinvestment in cities and towns including, but not limited to, acquisition, rehabilitation and preservation of foreclosed and distressed properties and any other techniques necessary to achieve such reinvestment; provided, further, that not less than $5,000,000 shall be expended for the production or preservation of housing for people age 60 and over. Assistance provided through such program may be made in a manner which qualifies the assistance as a matching contribution under Section 220 of the HOME Investment Partnership Act Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act including, in the case of assistance provided in the form of a loan, a commitment to repay such loan to the commonwealth's HOME Investment Trust Fund established pursuant to Section 92.5000(o) of the regulations of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Loans may be provided to any agency, department, board, commission, authority or instrumentality of the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, to housing authorities, nonprofit agencies certified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as community housing development organizations, community development corporations and limited equity cooperative housing corporations established pursuant to chapter 157B of the General Laws. Such recipients may enter into subcontracts to carry out the purposes of such contract with other for-profit or not-for-profit organizations. Prior to providing assistance, the department shall find that:- (1) the housing would not, by private enterprise alone and without government assistance, be available to lower income families and individuals; (2) the amount of assistance appears to be the minimum amount necessary to make the housing development feasible; (3) with respect to rental housing, the operations of the owner and its articles of organization and by-laws and any changes to either shall be subject to regulation by the department; and (4) the housing shall remain affordable for its useful life as determined by the department.  Such housing shall be considered affordable if, during the first 40 years after assistance is first provided, substantially all of the assisted units shall be rented to or owned by families and individuals whose income at initial occupancy is equal to or less than 80 per cent of the median income as determined by the secretary of Housing and Urban Development for the federal housing programs and that thereafter such units shall be rented or sold, subject to such restrictions on appreciation as determined by the department to be reasonable and necessary to maintain long term affordability, to families or individuals at incomes at or below 100 per cent of the median income; provided further, that not less than $10,000,000 shall be expended to stabilize and promote reinvestment, through homeownership, in areas the department has determined to be weak markets as indicated by a high concentration of assisted rental housing or low rate of homeownership or low median family income or low average sales prices or high levels of unpaid property taxes or vacant or abandoned buildings, and after making the finding, the director may waive requirements of this section found to be inconsistent with promoting homeownership in weak markets and take other steps necessary to promote homeownership in the weak market including, but not limited to, reducing the length of required affordability to not less than 10 years and permitting the funded property to be purchased by a household whose income at the time of purchase does not exceed 135 per cent of the area median income, adjusted for family size, or both; provided however, that the purchaser must own and occupy the property as his primary residence.

     Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 120 days after the expiration of affordability restrictions on housing assisted under this section, the department or its assignee, who is a qualified developer selected pursuant to the terms of this section under the guidelines of the department, shall have an option to purchase any such housing at its current appraised value reduced by any remaining obligation of the owner upon the expiration of the affordability restrictions.  The department or its assignee may purchase or acquire such housing only for the purposes of preserving or providing affordable housing.  The department or its assignee shall hold such purchase option for the first 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restrictions.  Failure to exercise the purchase option within 120 days after the expiration of the affordability restriction shall constitute a waiver of the purchase option by the department or its assignee.  Two impartial appraisers shall determine, within 60 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions, the current appraised value in accordance with recognized professional standards.  Two professionals in the field of multi-unit residential housing shall select each such appraiser.  The owner and the department, respectively, shall designate such professionals within 30 days after the expiration of these affordability restrictions.  If there is a difference in the valuations provided by the appraisals, the 2 valuations shall be added together and divided by 2 to determine the current appraised value of the property.  No sale, transfer or other disposition of such land shall be consummated unless and until either this purchase option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or assignee in question that the option will not be exercised.  This option may be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at such address as may be specified in his notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period.  If the purchase option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section under guidelines issued by the department, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment.  Before any sale or transfer or other disposition of any such housing where the department has not previously exercised an option to purchase, an owner shall offer the department or its assignee, who shall be a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section under the guidelines of the department, a first refusal option to meet a bona fide offer to purchase the property.   The owner shall provide to the department or its assignee written notice by regular and certified mail, return receipt requested, of the owner’s intention to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property.  The department or its assignee shall hold such first refusal option for the first 120 days after receipt of the owner’s notice of intent to transfer the property.  Failure to respond to the written notice of the owner’s intent to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the property within 120 days after the receipt thereof shall constitute a waiver of the right of first refusal by the department.   No sale, transfer or other disposition of such land shall be consummated unless and until either this first refusal option period shall have expired or the owner shall have been notified in writing by the department or assignee in question that the option will not be exercised.  This option may be exercised only by written notice signed by a designated representative of the department or its assignee, mailed to the owner by certified mail at such address as may be specified in his notice of intention and recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located, within the option period.  If the first refusal option has been assigned to a qualified developer selected pursuant to this section under guidelines issued by the department, the written notice shall state the name and address of the developer and the terms and conditions of the assignment.  An affidavit before a notary public that he has so mailed this notice of intent on behalf of an owner shall conclusively establish the manner and time of the giving of such notice and such an affidavit, and such a notice that the option will not be exercised, shall be recorded with the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located.  Each notice of intention, notice of exercise of the purchase option or first refusal option and notice that the purchase option or first refusal option will not be exercised shall contain the name of the record owner of the land and description of the premises to be sold or converted adequate for identification thereof and each such affidavit before a notary public shall have attached to it a copy of the notice of intention to which it relates.  Such notices of intention shall be duly mailed to the parties above specified if addressed to them in care of the keeper of records for the party in question. Upon notifying the owner in writing of its intention to pursue its purchase option or first refusal option during this 120-day period, the department or its assignee shall have an additional 120 days, beginning on the date of the termination of the purchase option period or first refusal option period, to purchase the property.  Such time periods may be extended by mutual agreement between the department or its assignee and the owner of the property.  Any such extension agreed upon shall be recorded in the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county in which the affected real property is located. 

Within a reasonable time after request, the owner shall make available to the department or its assignee any information that is reasonably necessary for the department to exercise its rights.

Funds provided for the Housing Stabilization and Investment Program shall give special attention to the preservation of affordable housing developments which are or were subject to prepayment or payment of a state or federally assisted mortgage or which are receiving project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, 42 U.S.C. section 1437f, and such rental assistance is expiring or which have received other project based federal or state subsidies which are terminating or have terminated.  Property eligible for assistance shall include housing where the prepayment or payment of a state or federally-assisted mortgage or the expiration of federal low income housing tax credits or other federal or state subsidies would lead or has led to the termination of a use agreement for low income housing or in which a project-based rental assistance contract is expiring or has expired.  The department, in consultation with nonprofit organizations, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund shall identify those projects at greatest risk of prepayment, payment, termination of subsidies and use restrictions, or non-renewal of rental assistance.  Funding priority shall be based on at-risk criteria to be determined by the department of housing and community development and set forth in regulations promulgated by the department.

Funds provided herein may be used for grants to cities and towns to assist with the costs of demolishing certain privately-owned vacant and abandoned buildings that have been found to be uninhabitable and not economically feasible to rehabilitate and which the city or town may demolish pursuant to sections 127A and 127B of chapter 111 of the General Laws or sections 6 to 9, inclusive, of chapter 143 of the General Laws and the regulations promulgated pursuant to each of said chapters or which have been taken by the city or town for taxes. Any such demolition shall be undertaken in accordance with a neighborhood revitalization plan adopted by the city or town after a public hearing and after approval by the department which provides for the rehabilitation and development of housing in the areas in which such demolition is being undertaken. The department of housing and community development shall promulgate regulations for the purpose of implementing this section including, but not limited to, grants to cities and towns for demolition of certain vacant and abandoned buildings and procedures for neighborhood revitalization plans.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in this section, funds provided for the Housing Stabilization and Investment Program shall be used for a revolving rehabilitation loan program to support the revitalization of certain abandoned or severely distressed privately-owned residential housing for which a court appointed, nonprofit receiver has been selected pursuant to chapter 111 of the General Laws. Such program may include activities necessary to make essential repairs and to pay operating expenses necessary to maintain habitability of such housing units in order to prevent abandonment and deterioration of such housing in primarily low and moderate income neighborhoods. Such loans may be administered by the department of housing and community development through contracts with the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, a body politic and corporate entity established in chapter 40H of the General Laws, and through contracts with the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund, an instrumentality of the commonwealth established in section 35 of chapter 405 of the acts of 1985. The recipients may enter into subcontracts to administer the purposes of such contracts with other for-profit or nonprofit organizations. The department of housing and community development shall promulgate regulations for the purpose of implementing this section.

The department shall provide loans to nonprofit developers for the acquisition of property to provide or preserve affordable housing. Such program of loans may be administered by the department of housing and community development through contracts with said Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation. Such program may include acquisition, financing and other holding costs, interim management and operating costs and may also be used by said Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation to secure, collateralize or reserve against other financing obtained by said Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation to support such costs. Not less than 50 per cent of the beneficiaries of such housing shall be persons of income not more than 80 per cent of the area median income as determined from time to time by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and not less than 25 per cent of the beneficiaries of such housing shall be persons whose income is not more than 30 per cent of the area median income as determined from time to time by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in this section, funds provided for the Housing Stabilization and Investment Program may be used to support the rehabilitation of owner-occupied 1 to 4-family properties and the acquisition and rehabilitation of such properties by persons of low or moderate income. The program may include, but shall not be limited to, direct loans, loan guarantees and loan loss reserves; provided, however, that the objective of such program shall include the following: (1) projects shall rely, to the greatest extent possible, on bank financing and other taxable financing to support the costs of such acquisition and rehabilitation; (2) coordinating the delivery of such financing and related rehabilitation services with cities and towns that provide such assistance utilizing federal community development block grants, federal HOME funds, and other resources; (3) expediting and simplifying the process by which home buyers may obtain financial and technical assistance for such acquisitions and rehabilitation; and (4) ensuring that adequate provisions are in place to assure that rehabilitation is completed in a timely and professional manner and to protect homeowners from excessive acquisition and rehabilitation costs.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in this section, funds provided for the Housing Stabilization and Investment Program may be used for deferred payment second mortgage loans to support the acquisition and rehabilitation or new construction of small multifamily rental properties pursuant to the Permanent PLUS Program to be administered by the department of housing and community development through contracts with the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund, an instrumentality of the commonwealth established by section 35 of chapter 405 of the acts of 1985. The Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund shall enter into binding agreements to ensure that at least 20 per cent of the units are affordable to persons whose income is less than 50 per cent of the area median income, at least 40 per cent of the units are affordable to persons whose income is less than 60 per cent of the area median income, or at least 50 per cent of such units are affordable to persons whose income is less than 80 per cent of the area median income, as such incomes are determined from time to time by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in this section, funds provided for the Housing Stabilization and Investment Program may be used for the purposes of the Soft Second Mortgage program described in item 3322-8880 of section 2 of chapter 110 of the acts of 1993.

Any money received from loan repayments pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the HOME Investment Trust Fund referred to in section 13 of chapter 257 of the acts of 1998 and may be expended by the department solely for the purposes set forth in this section.

SECTION 6.  The department of housing and community development may enter into contracts for state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans by the commonwealth acting by and through the department of housing and community development for a Capital Improvement and Preservation Fund for the purposes of preserving and improving existing privately-owned, state or federally assisted housing.  Property eligible for assistance shall include housing where the prepayment or payment of a state or federally-assisted mortgage or the expiration of federal or state low income housing tax credits or other federal or state subsidies would lead or has led to the termination of a use agreement for low income housing or in which a project-based rental assistance contract is expiring or has expired.  In allocating funds pursuant to this section, preference shall be given to nonprofit organizations and housing authorities seeking to purchase an eligible property.  The department, in consultation with nonprofit organizations, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund shall identify those projects at greatest risk of prepayment or non-renewal of rental assistance and shall grant preference in allocating funds pursuant to this section to such developments.  The department shall enter into binding agreements to ensure that not less than 50 per cent of the units in such housing shall be occupied and affordable to persons of income of 80 per cent or less of the area median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and that not less than 10 per cent of such affordable units in such housing is available and affordable to households with income of 50 per cent or less of the area median income as determined by said United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or such greater percentage of units as required by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency or the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations.  The department may enter into subcontracts with community development corporations, for-profit organizations or nonprofit organizations to carry out the purposes of such grants and loans and shall enter into contracts with the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund.  A portion of the funds may be allocated in the form of predevelopment grants or loans from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund to nonprofit purchasers of such housing.  Such housing shall remain affordable for not less than 40 years or for such longer period, based upon the useful life of the housing as determined by the department, as may be specified in the applicable recorded restriction at the registry of deeds or the registry district of the land court of the county or district in which the affected real property is located.

The department shall promulgate regulations for the purpose of implementing this section.

SECTION 7.  Subsection (b) of section 6I of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (1) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

(1) There shall be a Massachusetts low-income housing tax credit.  The department may authorize annually under this section, together with section 31H of chapter 63, the total sum of: (i) $10,000,000; (ii) unused Massachusetts low-income housing tax credits, if any, for the preceding calendar years; and (iii) Massachusetts low-income housing tax credits returned to the department by a qualified Massachusetts project.

SECTION 8. Subsection (b) of section 31H of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (1) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

(1) There shall be a Massachusetts low-income housing tax credit.  The department may authorize annually under this section, together with section 6I of chapter 62, the total sum of: (i) $10,000,000; (ii) unused Massachusetts low-income housing tax credits, if any, for the preceding calendar years; and (iii) Massachusetts low-income housing tax credits returned to the department by a qualified Massachusetts project.

SECTION 9.  Beginning July 1, 2008, the director of the department of housing and community development shall submit annually to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on housing and the joint committee on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets, a capital plan for fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for capital funds authorized by sections 1 to 7 inclusive.

SECTION 10. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the unexpended and unencumbered balances of the bond-funded authorizations in the following accounts shall cease to be available for expenditure 90 days after the effective date of this act:—3722-8865, 3722-8871, 3722-8872, 3722-8873, 3722-8875, 3722-8891, 3722-8892, 3722-8896, 4000-7998, 4000-8200, 4000-8201, 4000-8202, 7004-0021, 7004-0022, 7004-6666, 7004-7011, 7004-7012, 7004-7013, 7004-7014, 7004-7015, 7004-7016, 7004-7018, 7004-8984, 7004-8985.

     House, No.

BILL financing the production and preservation of housing for low and moderate income residents

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