Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 430 Second Substitute (2018GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Edwards, R.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2018

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• creates the Commission on Housing Affordability in the Department of Workforce Services;
• describes the membership, duties, and reporting requirements of the commission; and
• provides a sunset date.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Rebecca P. Edwards
Senate Sponsor: 
Jacob L. Anderegg
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates a commission in the Department of Workforce Services.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ creates the Commission on Housing Affordability in the Department of Workforce
Services;
▸ describes the membership, duties, and reporting requirements of the commission;
and
▸ provides a sunset date.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-1-235
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapters 128 and 469
ENACTS:
35A-8-2101
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35A-8-2102
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35A-8-2103
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35A-8-2104
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
35A-8-2101
 is enacted to read:
Part 21. Commission on Housing Affordability
 35A-8-2101.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Commission" means the Commission on Housing Affordability created in Section
35A-8-2102
.
(2) "Housing affordability" means the ability of a household to occupy a housing unit
paying no more than 30% of the household's income for gross housing costs, including utilities.
Section 2. Section 
35A-8-2102
 is enacted to read:
 35A-8-2102.
Commission on Housing Affordability.
(1) There is created within the department the Commission on Housing Affordability.
(2) The commission shall consist of 20 members as follows:
(a) one senator appointed by the president of the Senate;
(b) two representatives appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
(c) the executive director of the department or the executive director's designee;
(d) the director of the division;
(e) the executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development or the
executive director's designee;
(f) the president of the Utah Transit Authority or the president's designee;
(g) the president of the Utah Housing Corporation or the president's designee; and
(h) 12 members appointed by the governor as follows:
(i) one individual representing the land development community with experience and
expertise in affordable, subsidized multi-family development, recommended by the Utah
Homebuilders Association;
(ii) one individual representing the real estate industry, recommended by the Utah
Association of Realtors;
(iii) one individual representing the banking industry, recommended by the Utah
Bankers Association;
(iv) one individual representing public housing authorities, recommended by the
director of the division;
(v) two individuals representing municipal government, recommended by the Utah
League of Cities and Towns;
(vi) one individual representing redevelopment agencies and community reinvestment
agencies, recommended by the Utah Redevelopment Association;
(vii) two individuals representing county government, recommended by the Utah
Association of Counties, where:
(A) one of the individuals is from a county of the first class; and
(B) one of the individuals is from a county of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class;
(viii) one individual representing a nonprofit organization that addresses issues related
to housing affordability;
(ix) one individual with expertise on housing affordability issues in rural communities;
and
(x) one individual representing the Salt Lake Chamber, recommended by the Salt Lake
Chamber.
(3) (a) When a vacancy occurs in a position appointed by the governor under
Subsection (2)(h), the governor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy.
(b) Members appointed under Subsection (2)(h) may be removed by the governor for
cause.
(c) A member appointed under Subsection (2)(h) shall be removed from the
commission and replaced by an appointee of the governor if the member is absent for three
consecutive meetings of the commission without being excused by a cochair of the
commission.
(d) A member serves until the member's successor is appointed.
(4) (a) The commission shall select two members to serve as cochairs, one of whom
shall be a legislator.
(b) Subject to the other provisions of this Subsection (4), the cochairs are responsible
for the call and conduct of meetings.
(c) The cochairs shall call and hold meetings of the commission at least four times each
year.
(d) One or more additional meetings may be called upon request by a majority of the
commission's members.
(5) (a) A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum.
(b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the commission.
(6) (a) A member of the commission described in Subsections (2)(c) through (h) may
not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but may receive per diem and
travel expenses in accordance with:
(i) Section 
63A-3-106
;
(ii) Section 
63A-3-107
; and
(iii) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 
63A-3-106
 and
63A-3-107
.
(b) Compensation and expenses of a member who is a legislator are governed by
Section 
36-2-2
 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Legislative Compensation and Expenses.
(7) The division shall provide staff support to the commission.
Section 3. Section 
35A-8-2103
 is enacted to read:
 35A-8-2103.
Duties of the commission.
(1) The commission's duties include:
(a) increasing public and government awareness and understanding of the housing
affordability needs of the state and how those needs may be most effectively and efficiently
met, through empirical study and investigation;
(b) identifying and recommending implementation of specific strategies, policies,
procedures, and programs to address the housing affordability needs of the state;
(c) facilitating the communication and coordination of public and private entities that
are involved in developing, financing, providing, advocating for, and administering affordable
housing in the state;
(d) studying, evaluating, and reporting on the status and effectiveness of policies,
procedures, and programs that address housing affordability in the state;
(e) studying and evaluating the policies, procedures, and programs implemented by
other states that address housing affordability;
(f) providing a forum for public comment on issues related to housing affordability;
and
(g) providing recommendations to the governor and Legislature on strategies, policies,
procedures, and programs to address the housing affordability needs of the state.
(2) To accomplish its duties, the commission may:
(a) request and receive from a state or local government agency or institution summary
information relating to housing affordability, including:
(i) reports;
(ii) audits;
(iii) projections; and
(iv) statistics; and
(b) appoint one or more advisory groups to advise and assist the commission.
(3) (a) A member of an advisory group described in Subsection (2)(b):
(i) shall be appointed by the commission;
(ii) may be:
(A) a member of the commission; or
(B) an individual from the private or public sector; and
(iii) notwithstanding Section 
35A-8-2102
, may not receive reimbursement or pay for
any work done in relation to the advisory group.
(b) An advisory group described in Subsection (2)(b) shall report to the commission on
the progress of the advisory group.
Section 4. Section 
35A-8-2104
 is enacted to read:
 35A-8-2104.
Annual report.
(1) The commission shall annually prepare a report for inclusion in the department's
annual written report described in Section 
35A-1-109
.
(2) The report described in Subsection (1) shall:
(a) describe how the commission fulfilled its statutory duties during the year; and
(b) contain recommendations on how the state should act to address issues relating to
housing affordability.
Section 5. Section 
63I-1-235
 is amended to read:
63I-1-235.
Repeal dates, Title 35A.
(1)
 Subsection 
35A-4-312
(5)(p) is repealed July 1, 2019.
(2) Title 35A, Chapter 8, Part 21, Commission on Housing Affordability, is repealed
July 1, 2023.