State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > California > Hsc > 50199.4-50199.22

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 50199.4-50199.22



50199.4.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The federal Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-514) and
subsequent amendments to the Internal Revenue Code, including, but
not limited to, the federal Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989,
establishes a low-income housing tax credit to stimulate the
production and rehabilitation of shelter for lower income individuals
and families.
   (b) The federal law allows credit of approximately 9 percent each
year over a 10-year or 15-year period for expenses for new
construction and rehabilitation of each qualifying low-income unit. A
credit of approximately 4 percent each year over a 10-year or
15-year period is provided for the expenses of the acquisition of an
existing building generally not placed in service within the last 10
years, and the construction and rehabilitation of each qualifying
low-income unit financed with tax-exempt bonds or certain other
federal subsidies.
   (c) The federal law limits the low-income housing tax credits that
can be annually allocated by each state. This credit authorization
is to be allocated by the state housing credit agency. Not less than
10 percent of that amount is required to be set aside for projects
involving nonprofit organizations.
   (d) Federal law requires a plan for allocation of credit among
projects, including selection criteria to be used to determine
housing priorities that are appropriate to local conditions.
   (e) Federal law requires that the credit dollar amount allocated
to a project not exceed the amount necessary for the financial
feasibility of the project and its viability as a qualified
low-income housing project throughout the credit period. This
analysis shall include a determination of the reasonableness of
developmental and operational costs.
   (f) The credit agency is required to perform certain other
functions under federal tax law to ensure the availability of the
credits and to ensure compliance with federal tax law.
   (g) It is necessary to designate the state housing credit agency
and to establish an allocation system for the low-income housing
credit.


50199.5.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code has been modified by
the federal Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989 to require that the
housing credit agency establish a qualified allocation plan which
sets forth selection criteria to be used to determine housing
priorities that are appropriate to local conditions, and which gives
preference in allocating housing credit dollar amounts to projects
serving the lowest income tenants and projects obligated to serve
low-income tenants for the longest periods.
   (b) The qualified allocation plan shall encompass and incorporate
the criteria and requirements set forth in Section 50199.14.
   (c) Certain provisions of the California Tax Credit should be
modified to conform to the changes to the federal low-income housing
tax credit.
   (d) The Tax Credit Allocation Committee should, to the extent
possible, allocate the California low-income housing tax credit using
the same criteria and requirements used in allocating the federal
tax credit.
   (e) The public interest is best served by the dissemination of
information regarding the low-income housing tax credit program to
all areas of the state, with special efforts in rural areas, to
ensure greater knowledge and participation in the program.



50199.6.  (a) This chapter is enacted to implement the low-income
housing tax credit established by Section 42 of the Internal Revenue
Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42) as it may be amended from time to time.
   (b) To the extent that any provision of this chapter is held to be
inconsistent with, or repugnant to, federal law, the provision shall
be given effect in accordance with its terms to the greatest extent
possible and consistent with the federal law and inconsistency shall
have no effect on the remaining provisions of this chapter.



50199.7.  As used in this chapter:
   (a) "Committee" means the Mortgage Bond and Tax Credit Allocation
Committee, which is renamed the California Tax Credit Allocation
Committee. All references to "committee" shall mean the California
Tax Credit Allocation Committee.
   (b) "Household" has the same meaning as defined in Section 7602 of
Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.
   (c) "Housing credit" means the tax credit for low-income rental
housing provided under Section 42 of the federal Internal Revenue
Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42).
   (d) "Housing credit applicant" means any owner, sponsor, or
developer of a qualifying low-income building or project who applies
to the committee for either of the following:
   (1) An allocation of a portion of the current state housing credit
ceiling.
   (2) A reservation of a portion of the anticipated state housing
credit ceiling of a subsequent year.
   (e) "Housing credit ceiling" means the amount specified in Section
42(h)(3)(C) of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42
(h)(3)(C)).
   (f) "Qualified low-income building" or "project" has the meaning
specified in Section 42(c)(2) of the federal Internal Revenue Code
(26 U.S.C. Sec. 42(c)(2)).
   (g) "Agricultural worker" or "farmworker" shall have the same
meaning as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the
Labor Code.
   (h) "Farmworker housing" means housing for agricultural workers
that is available to, and occupied by, only farmworkers and their
households. The committee may permit an owner to temporarily house
nonfarmworkers in vacant units in the event of a disaster or other
critical occurrence. However, such emergency shelter shall only be
permitted if there are no pending qualified farmworker household
applications for residency.



50199.8.  The committee is composed of the Governor, or in the
Governor's absence, the Director of Finance, the Controller, and the
Treasurer. The Director of Housing and Community Development, the
Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency, and two
representatives of local government, one representative of the
counties appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, and one
representative of the cities appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members. The Treasurer shall be
the chairperson of the committee. The members of the committee shall
serve without compensation. A majority of voting members shall be
empowered to act for the committee. The committee may employ an
executive director to carry out its duties under this chapter. The
committee may, by resolution, delegate to one or more of its members,
its executive director, or any other official or employee of the
committee any powers and duties that it may deem proper, including,
but not limited to, the power to enter into contracts on behalf of
the committee.



50199.9.  (a) The committee shall establish and charge fees which it
determines are reasonably sufficient to cover all of the costs of
the committee in carrying out its responsibilities under this
chapter. The Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account is hereby established
in the State Treasury. The fees shall be deposited by the committee
in the Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account and shall be available, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to the committee for the purpose
of covering all of those costs, except that fees may be shared, in an
amount determined by the committee, with any state or local agency
that assists the committee in performing its duties.
   (b) Funds deposited in the Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account are
continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal year for purposes
of sharing with state and local agencies pursuant to subdivision (a).
   (c) Until the time that sufficient fee revenue is received by the
committee, the committee may borrow any money as may be required for
the purpose of meeting necessary expenses of the operation of the
committee, not to exceed the amount appropriated. Any loan made to
the committee pursuant to this subdivision shall be repayable solely
from moneys appropriated to the committee from the Tax Credit
Allocation Fee Account and shall not constitute a general obligation
for which the faith and credit of the state are pledged.
   (d) There shall be established a subaccount within the Tax Credit
Allocation Fee Account named the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring
Account.
   (e) Fees collected for the purpose of paying the costs of
monitoring projects with allocations of tax credits for compliance
with federal and state law, as required by Section 42(m) of the
federal Internal Revenue Code, and Section 50199.15, shall be
deposited in the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring Account to be used
solely for this purpose. Any performance deposits forfeited to the
committee shall be deposited in the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring
Account.
   (f) Notwithstanding any other law, the Controller may use the fees
deposited in the accounts established by this section for daily cash
flow loans to the General Fund or the General Cash Revolving Fund,
as provided in Sections 16310 and 16381 of the Government Code.



50199.10.  (a) For purposes of allocating low-income housing
credits, the committee is hereby designated as this state's only
housing credit agency for purposes of Section 42(h) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42(h)). The committee shall
annually determine and shall allocate the state ceiling in accordance
with this chapter and in conformity with federal law. The committee
shall determine the housing credit ceiling as soon as possible
following the effective date of this chapter and thereafter following
the commencement of each calendar year. The committee shall
undertake any and all responsibilities of housing credit agencies
under Section 42 of Title 26 of the United States Code, including
entering into regulatory agreements relating to projects that are
granted awards.
   (b) The committee shall develop and provide application forms for
use by housing credit applicants. The committee shall adopt uniform
procedures for submission and review of applications of housing
credit applicants, including fees to defray the committee's costs in
administering this chapter. In the committee's discretion, the fees
shall be charged to a housing credit applicant as a condition of
submitting an application or as a condition of receiving an
allocation or reservation of the state's current or anticipated
housing credit ceiling, or both.
   (c) In addition to allocating the current housing credit ceiling,
the committee may reserve a portion of the state's anticipated
housing credit ceiling for a subsequent year for a housing credit
applicant.
   (d) As a condition to making an allocation of the housing credit
ceiling or a reservation of the anticipated housing credit ceiling
for a subsequent year, the committee may require the housing credit
applicant receiving the allocation or reservation to deposit with the
committee an amount of money as a good-faith undertaking. The
committee shall adopt policies for determining when deposits will be
required, prescribing procedures for return of deposits, and
specifying the circumstances under which the deposits will be
forfeited in whole or in part for failure to timely utilize the
allocation or reservation provided to the housing credit applicant.
   (e) (1) The committee may make any allocation or reservation of
the state's housing credit ceiling to a housing credit applicant
subject to terms and conditions in furtherance of the purposes of
this part. The committee may condition an allocation or reservation
on the execution of a contract between the housing credit applicant
and the committee requiring the housing credit applicant to comply
with all the terms of Section 42 of the federal Internal Revenue
Code, any applicable state laws, and any additional requirements the
committee deems necessary or appropriate to serve the purposes of
this chapter, and providing for legal action to obtain specific
performance or monetary damages for breach of contract.
   (2) No allocations or reservations shall be made pursuant to this
subdivision with respect to projects that do not meet the
requirements of the qualified allocation plan, and no allocations or
reservations shall be made in amounts that do not meet the
requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of
Title 26 of the United States Code.



50199.11.  The committee may also contract with other entities,
including the department and the agency, to aid in the processing and
review of applications.


50199.12.  The committee shall adopt and supply forms for eliciting
information for purposes of this chapter from housing credit
applicants. Housing credit applicants shall provide the committee
with any information requested by the committee in performing its
duties and responsibilities under this chapter.



50199.13.  Except as specified in the application and as approved by
the committee at initial reservation, no allocation or reservation
of the housing credit ceiling under this chapter may be transferred
by the housing credit applicant, unless the specific, written
approval of the committee is obtained prior to the proposed transfer.
Any transfer of an allocation or reservation shall be in writing and
shall be subject to terms and conditions established by the
committee.


50199.14.  (a) The committee shall allocate the housing credit on a
regular basis consisting of two or more periods in each calendar year
during which applications may be filed and considered. The committee
shall establish application filing deadlines, the maximum percentage
of federal and state low-income housing tax credit ceiling that may
be allocated by the committee in that period, and the approximate
date on which allocations shall be made. If the enactment of federal
or state law, or the adoption of rules or regulations, or other
similar events prevent the use of two allocation periods, the
committee may reduce the number of periods and adjust the filing
deadlines, maximum percentage of credit allocated, and the allocation
dates.
   (b) The committee shall adopt a qualified allocation plan, as
provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of Title 26
of the United States Code. In adopting this plan, the committee
shall comply with the provisions of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of
paragraph (1) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of Title 26 of the
United States Code.
   (c) In order to promote the provision of affordable low-income
housing within and throughout the state, the committee shall allocate
housing credits in accordance with the qualified allocation plan and
regulations, which shall include the following provisions:
   (1) All housing credit applicants shall demonstrate at the time
the application is filed with the committee, that the project meets
the following threshold requirements:
   (A) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate there is a need
and demand for low-income housing in the community or region for
which it is proposed.
   (B) The project's proposed financing, including tax credit
proceeds, shall be sufficient to complete the project and that the
proposed operating income shall be adequate to operate the project
for the extended use period.
   (C) The project shall have enforceable financing commitments,
either construction or permanent financing, for at least 50 percent
of the total estimated financing of the project.
   (D) The housing credit applicant shall have and maintain control
of the site for the project.
   (E) The housing sponsor shall demonstrate that the project
complies with all applicable local land use and zoning ordinances.
   (F) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate that the
project development team has the experience and the financial
capacity to ensure project completion and operation for the extended
use period.
   (G) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate the amount of
tax credit that is necessary for the financial feasibility of the
project and its viability as a qualified low-income housing project
throughout the extended use period, taking into account operating
expenses, supportable debt service, reserves, funds set aside for
rental subsidies, and required equity, and a development fee that
does not exceed a specified percentage of the eligible basis of the
project prior to inclusion of the development fee in the basis, as
determined by the committee.
   (2) The committee shall give a preference to those projects
satisfying all of the threshold requirements of paragraph (1) if:
   (A) The project serves the lowest income tenants at rents
affordable to those tenants; and
   (B) The project is obligated to serve qualified tenants for the
longest period.
   (3) In addition to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subdivision (c), the committee shall use the following criteria in
allocating housing credits:
   (A) Projects serving large families in which a substantial number,
as defined by the committee, of all residential units are comprised
of low-income units with three and more bedrooms.
   (B) Projects providing single room occupancy units serving very
low income tenants.
   (C) Existing projects that are "at risk of conversion," as defined
by paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 17058 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code.
   (D) Projects for which a public agency provides direct or indirect
long-term financial support for at least 15 percent of the total
project development costs or projects for which the owner's equity
constitutes at least 30 percent of the total project development
costs.
   (E) Projects that provide tenant amenities not generally available
to residents of low-income housing projects.
   (d) For purposes of allocating credits pursuant to this section,
the committee shall not give preference to any project by virtue of
the date of submission of its application, except to break a tie when
two or more of the projects have the same rating.
   (e) The committee shall allocate credits to a project under this
section prior to allocating credit to that project under Sections
12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (f) The committee shall allocate credits to a project only if the
housing sponsor enters into a regulatory agreement that provides for
an "extended use period" as defined in subparagraph (D) of paragraph
(6) of subsection (h) of Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code,
which shall terminate on the date specified in the regulatory
agreement or the date the project is acquired in foreclosure,
including any instrument in lieu of foreclosure, whichever occurs
first, and subclause (II) of subparagraph (E) of clause (i) of
paragraph (6) of subsection (h) of Section 42 shall not apply.



50199.15.  (a) The committee shall annually submit to the
Legislature by April 1 of each year a report specifying, with respect
to its activities under this chapter during the previous calendar
year, (1) the total amount of low-income housing credits allocated by
the committee, (2) the total number of units assisted by the credit
that are, or are to be, occupied by households whose income is 60
percent or less of area median gross income, (3) the amount of the
credit allocated to each project, the other financing available to
the project, and the number of units that are, or are to be, therein
occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or less of area
median gross income, and (4) sufficient information to identify the
project.
   (b) The committee shall also include in its annual report to the
Legislature, an aggregation of the information which shall be
submitted annually by housing sponsors for all projects which have
received an allocation in previous years, specifying all of the
following:
   (1) Information sufficient to identify the project.
   (2) The total number of units in the project.
   (3) The total number of units assisted by the credit that are
required to be occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or
less of the area median gross income as a condition of receiving a
tax credit.
   (4) The total number of units assisted by the credit that are
occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or less of the area
median gross income.
   (c) The committee shall also include in its annual report to the
Legislature, any recommendations for improvement in the low-income
housing tax credit.



50199.16.  All acts and proceedings taken by the committee prior to
the effective date of this chapter to allocate the housing credit
ceiling for 1987 under the Governor's proclamation dated February 27,
1987, are hereby confirmed, validated, and declared legally
effective.



50199.17.  (a) The committee may adopt, amend, or repeal rules and
regulations for the allocation of housing credits pursuant to this
chapter and Sections 12206, 17053.14, 17058, 23608.2, 23608.3, and
23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code without complying with the
procedural requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
except as described in subdivision (b).
   (b) The committee shall provide a notice of proposed action as
described in Section 11346.5 of the Government Code. The notice of
proposed action shall be provided to the public at least 21 days
before the close of the public comment period, and the committee
shall schedule at least one public hearing as described in Section
11346.8 of the Government Code before the close of the public comment
period. The committee shall maintain a rulemaking file as described
in Section 11347.3 of the Government Code. The final version of the
regulations shall be accompanied by a final statement of reasons as
described in subdivision (a) of Section 11346.9 of the Government
Code.
   (c) These rules and regulations shall be effective immediately
upon adoption by the committee.
   (d) The committee may also adopt, amend, or repeal emergency rules
and regulations pursuant to this chapter and pursuant to Sections
12206, 17053.14, 17058, 23608.2, 23608.3, and 23610.5 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code. The adoption, amendment, or repeal of these
regulations shall be conclusively presumed to be necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or
general welfare within the meaning or purposes of Section 11346.1 of
the Government Code.



50199.18.  This chapter shall remain in effect as long as Section 42
of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing
credits, remains in effect. However, repeal of this chapter shall not
invalidate or in any way affect the duration of any previously
allocated low-income tax credits.



50199.20.  (a) Not less than 20 percent of the federal ceiling on
low-income housing tax credits shall be set aside for allocation to
rural areas as defined in Section 50199.21. Any amount of credit set
aside for rural areas remaining after the ranking of credits in the
final cycle of any calendar year shall be available for allocation to
any eligible project.
   (b) Up to 2 percent of the low-income housing tax credit available
under this chapter and Sections 12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the
Revenue and Taxation Code may be set aside for small developments as
determined by the committee. Any amount of credit set aside for small
developments remaining after the ranking of projects in the final
cycle of any calendar year shall be available for allocation to any
eligible project.
   (c) Not less than the amount specified in paragraph (4) of
subdivision (g) of Sections 12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code shall be set aside to provide farmworker housing,
as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and
Safety Code.



50199.21.  "Rural area" for the purpose of this chapter and Sections
17058 and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, means an area,
which, on January 1 of any calendar year satisfies any of the
following criteria:
   (a) The area is eligible for financing under the Section 515
program, or successor program, of the Rural Development
Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture.
   (b) The area is located in a nonmetropolitan area as defined in
Section 50090.
   (c) The area is either (1) an incorporated city having a
population of 40,000 or less as identified in the most recent Report
E-1 published by the Demographic Research Unit of the Department of
Finance, or (2) an unincorporated area which adjoins a city having a
population of 40,000 or less, provided that the city and its
adjoining unincorporated area are not located within a census tract
designated as an urbanized area by the United States Census Bureau.
The department shall assist in determinations of eligibility pursuant
to this subdivision upon request. With respect to areas eligible
under subdivision (b) and this subdivision, the committee may rely
upon the recommendations made by the department. Any inconsistencies
between areas eligible under subdivisions (a) and (b), and this
subdivision, shall be resolved in favor of considering the area a
rural area. Eligible and ineligible areas need not be established by
regulation.


50199.22.  (a) Upon being informed that information, supplied by a
housing credit applicant, or any person acting on behalf of a housing
credit applicant, pursuant to this chapter or Section 12206, 17058,
or 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, is false or is no longer
true, upon finding that false information has been submitted or the
information submitted is no longer true.
   (b) Appropriate action, which the committee may pursue upon
finding that false information or information that is no longer true
is submitted in connection with a housing credit application,
includes the following:
   (1) Requiring the submission of certified, notarized, or
third-party documents in support of the application.
   (2) Rejecting the application.
   (3) Cancelling a reservation of housing credits.
   (4) Bringing a judicial action to enjoin the use of the federal
housing credit and the state tax credit authorized by Sections 12206,
17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (5) Disqualifying the housing credit applicant, its principals,
and any person acting on behalf of the housing credit applicant from
filing applications with the committee for a one-year period.
   (6) Reporting promptly, in writing, to the Internal Revenue
Service and the Franchise Tax Board, any noncompliance with federal
and state requirements or misrepresentations the committee finds were
made by the housing credit applicant or any person acting on behalf
of a housing credit applicant, pursuant to subdivision (a).


State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > California > Hsc > 50199.4-50199.22

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 50199.4-50199.22



50199.4.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The federal Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-514) and
subsequent amendments to the Internal Revenue Code, including, but
not limited to, the federal Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989,
establishes a low-income housing tax credit to stimulate the
production and rehabilitation of shelter for lower income individuals
and families.
   (b) The federal law allows credit of approximately 9 percent each
year over a 10-year or 15-year period for expenses for new
construction and rehabilitation of each qualifying low-income unit. A
credit of approximately 4 percent each year over a 10-year or
15-year period is provided for the expenses of the acquisition of an
existing building generally not placed in service within the last 10
years, and the construction and rehabilitation of each qualifying
low-income unit financed with tax-exempt bonds or certain other
federal subsidies.
   (c) The federal law limits the low-income housing tax credits that
can be annually allocated by each state. This credit authorization
is to be allocated by the state housing credit agency. Not less than
10 percent of that amount is required to be set aside for projects
involving nonprofit organizations.
   (d) Federal law requires a plan for allocation of credit among
projects, including selection criteria to be used to determine
housing priorities that are appropriate to local conditions.
   (e) Federal law requires that the credit dollar amount allocated
to a project not exceed the amount necessary for the financial
feasibility of the project and its viability as a qualified
low-income housing project throughout the credit period. This
analysis shall include a determination of the reasonableness of
developmental and operational costs.
   (f) The credit agency is required to perform certain other
functions under federal tax law to ensure the availability of the
credits and to ensure compliance with federal tax law.
   (g) It is necessary to designate the state housing credit agency
and to establish an allocation system for the low-income housing
credit.


50199.5.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code has been modified by
the federal Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989 to require that the
housing credit agency establish a qualified allocation plan which
sets forth selection criteria to be used to determine housing
priorities that are appropriate to local conditions, and which gives
preference in allocating housing credit dollar amounts to projects
serving the lowest income tenants and projects obligated to serve
low-income tenants for the longest periods.
   (b) The qualified allocation plan shall encompass and incorporate
the criteria and requirements set forth in Section 50199.14.
   (c) Certain provisions of the California Tax Credit should be
modified to conform to the changes to the federal low-income housing
tax credit.
   (d) The Tax Credit Allocation Committee should, to the extent
possible, allocate the California low-income housing tax credit using
the same criteria and requirements used in allocating the federal
tax credit.
   (e) The public interest is best served by the dissemination of
information regarding the low-income housing tax credit program to
all areas of the state, with special efforts in rural areas, to
ensure greater knowledge and participation in the program.



50199.6.  (a) This chapter is enacted to implement the low-income
housing tax credit established by Section 42 of the Internal Revenue
Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42) as it may be amended from time to time.
   (b) To the extent that any provision of this chapter is held to be
inconsistent with, or repugnant to, federal law, the provision shall
be given effect in accordance with its terms to the greatest extent
possible and consistent with the federal law and inconsistency shall
have no effect on the remaining provisions of this chapter.



50199.7.  As used in this chapter:
   (a) "Committee" means the Mortgage Bond and Tax Credit Allocation
Committee, which is renamed the California Tax Credit Allocation
Committee. All references to "committee" shall mean the California
Tax Credit Allocation Committee.
   (b) "Household" has the same meaning as defined in Section 7602 of
Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.
   (c) "Housing credit" means the tax credit for low-income rental
housing provided under Section 42 of the federal Internal Revenue
Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42).
   (d) "Housing credit applicant" means any owner, sponsor, or
developer of a qualifying low-income building or project who applies
to the committee for either of the following:
   (1) An allocation of a portion of the current state housing credit
ceiling.
   (2) A reservation of a portion of the anticipated state housing
credit ceiling of a subsequent year.
   (e) "Housing credit ceiling" means the amount specified in Section
42(h)(3)(C) of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42
(h)(3)(C)).
   (f) "Qualified low-income building" or "project" has the meaning
specified in Section 42(c)(2) of the federal Internal Revenue Code
(26 U.S.C. Sec. 42(c)(2)).
   (g) "Agricultural worker" or "farmworker" shall have the same
meaning as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the
Labor Code.
   (h) "Farmworker housing" means housing for agricultural workers
that is available to, and occupied by, only farmworkers and their
households. The committee may permit an owner to temporarily house
nonfarmworkers in vacant units in the event of a disaster or other
critical occurrence. However, such emergency shelter shall only be
permitted if there are no pending qualified farmworker household
applications for residency.



50199.8.  The committee is composed of the Governor, or in the
Governor's absence, the Director of Finance, the Controller, and the
Treasurer. The Director of Housing and Community Development, the
Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency, and two
representatives of local government, one representative of the
counties appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, and one
representative of the cities appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members. The Treasurer shall be
the chairperson of the committee. The members of the committee shall
serve without compensation. A majority of voting members shall be
empowered to act for the committee. The committee may employ an
executive director to carry out its duties under this chapter. The
committee may, by resolution, delegate to one or more of its members,
its executive director, or any other official or employee of the
committee any powers and duties that it may deem proper, including,
but not limited to, the power to enter into contracts on behalf of
the committee.



50199.9.  (a) The committee shall establish and charge fees which it
determines are reasonably sufficient to cover all of the costs of
the committee in carrying out its responsibilities under this
chapter. The Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account is hereby established
in the State Treasury. The fees shall be deposited by the committee
in the Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account and shall be available, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to the committee for the purpose
of covering all of those costs, except that fees may be shared, in an
amount determined by the committee, with any state or local agency
that assists the committee in performing its duties.
   (b) Funds deposited in the Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account are
continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal year for purposes
of sharing with state and local agencies pursuant to subdivision (a).
   (c) Until the time that sufficient fee revenue is received by the
committee, the committee may borrow any money as may be required for
the purpose of meeting necessary expenses of the operation of the
committee, not to exceed the amount appropriated. Any loan made to
the committee pursuant to this subdivision shall be repayable solely
from moneys appropriated to the committee from the Tax Credit
Allocation Fee Account and shall not constitute a general obligation
for which the faith and credit of the state are pledged.
   (d) There shall be established a subaccount within the Tax Credit
Allocation Fee Account named the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring
Account.
   (e) Fees collected for the purpose of paying the costs of
monitoring projects with allocations of tax credits for compliance
with federal and state law, as required by Section 42(m) of the
federal Internal Revenue Code, and Section 50199.15, shall be
deposited in the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring Account to be used
solely for this purpose. Any performance deposits forfeited to the
committee shall be deposited in the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring
Account.
   (f) Notwithstanding any other law, the Controller may use the fees
deposited in the accounts established by this section for daily cash
flow loans to the General Fund or the General Cash Revolving Fund,
as provided in Sections 16310 and 16381 of the Government Code.



50199.10.  (a) For purposes of allocating low-income housing
credits, the committee is hereby designated as this state's only
housing credit agency for purposes of Section 42(h) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42(h)). The committee shall
annually determine and shall allocate the state ceiling in accordance
with this chapter and in conformity with federal law. The committee
shall determine the housing credit ceiling as soon as possible
following the effective date of this chapter and thereafter following
the commencement of each calendar year. The committee shall
undertake any and all responsibilities of housing credit agencies
under Section 42 of Title 26 of the United States Code, including
entering into regulatory agreements relating to projects that are
granted awards.
   (b) The committee shall develop and provide application forms for
use by housing credit applicants. The committee shall adopt uniform
procedures for submission and review of applications of housing
credit applicants, including fees to defray the committee's costs in
administering this chapter. In the committee's discretion, the fees
shall be charged to a housing credit applicant as a condition of
submitting an application or as a condition of receiving an
allocation or reservation of the state's current or anticipated
housing credit ceiling, or both.
   (c) In addition to allocating the current housing credit ceiling,
the committee may reserve a portion of the state's anticipated
housing credit ceiling for a subsequent year for a housing credit
applicant.
   (d) As a condition to making an allocation of the housing credit
ceiling or a reservation of the anticipated housing credit ceiling
for a subsequent year, the committee may require the housing credit
applicant receiving the allocation or reservation to deposit with the
committee an amount of money as a good-faith undertaking. The
committee shall adopt policies for determining when deposits will be
required, prescribing procedures for return of deposits, and
specifying the circumstances under which the deposits will be
forfeited in whole or in part for failure to timely utilize the
allocation or reservation provided to the housing credit applicant.
   (e) (1) The committee may make any allocation or reservation of
the state's housing credit ceiling to a housing credit applicant
subject to terms and conditions in furtherance of the purposes of
this part. The committee may condition an allocation or reservation
on the execution of a contract between the housing credit applicant
and the committee requiring the housing credit applicant to comply
with all the terms of Section 42 of the federal Internal Revenue
Code, any applicable state laws, and any additional requirements the
committee deems necessary or appropriate to serve the purposes of
this chapter, and providing for legal action to obtain specific
performance or monetary damages for breach of contract.
   (2) No allocations or reservations shall be made pursuant to this
subdivision with respect to projects that do not meet the
requirements of the qualified allocation plan, and no allocations or
reservations shall be made in amounts that do not meet the
requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of
Title 26 of the United States Code.



50199.11.  The committee may also contract with other entities,
including the department and the agency, to aid in the processing and
review of applications.


50199.12.  The committee shall adopt and supply forms for eliciting
information for purposes of this chapter from housing credit
applicants. Housing credit applicants shall provide the committee
with any information requested by the committee in performing its
duties and responsibilities under this chapter.



50199.13.  Except as specified in the application and as approved by
the committee at initial reservation, no allocation or reservation
of the housing credit ceiling under this chapter may be transferred
by the housing credit applicant, unless the specific, written
approval of the committee is obtained prior to the proposed transfer.
Any transfer of an allocation or reservation shall be in writing and
shall be subject to terms and conditions established by the
committee.


50199.14.  (a) The committee shall allocate the housing credit on a
regular basis consisting of two or more periods in each calendar year
during which applications may be filed and considered. The committee
shall establish application filing deadlines, the maximum percentage
of federal and state low-income housing tax credit ceiling that may
be allocated by the committee in that period, and the approximate
date on which allocations shall be made. If the enactment of federal
or state law, or the adoption of rules or regulations, or other
similar events prevent the use of two allocation periods, the
committee may reduce the number of periods and adjust the filing
deadlines, maximum percentage of credit allocated, and the allocation
dates.
   (b) The committee shall adopt a qualified allocation plan, as
provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of Title 26
of the United States Code. In adopting this plan, the committee
shall comply with the provisions of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of
paragraph (1) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of Title 26 of the
United States Code.
   (c) In order to promote the provision of affordable low-income
housing within and throughout the state, the committee shall allocate
housing credits in accordance with the qualified allocation plan and
regulations, which shall include the following provisions:
   (1) All housing credit applicants shall demonstrate at the time
the application is filed with the committee, that the project meets
the following threshold requirements:
   (A) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate there is a need
and demand for low-income housing in the community or region for
which it is proposed.
   (B) The project's proposed financing, including tax credit
proceeds, shall be sufficient to complete the project and that the
proposed operating income shall be adequate to operate the project
for the extended use period.
   (C) The project shall have enforceable financing commitments,
either construction or permanent financing, for at least 50 percent
of the total estimated financing of the project.
   (D) The housing credit applicant shall have and maintain control
of the site for the project.
   (E) The housing sponsor shall demonstrate that the project
complies with all applicable local land use and zoning ordinances.
   (F) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate that the
project development team has the experience and the financial
capacity to ensure project completion and operation for the extended
use period.
   (G) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate the amount of
tax credit that is necessary for the financial feasibility of the
project and its viability as a qualified low-income housing project
throughout the extended use period, taking into account operating
expenses, supportable debt service, reserves, funds set aside for
rental subsidies, and required equity, and a development fee that
does not exceed a specified percentage of the eligible basis of the
project prior to inclusion of the development fee in the basis, as
determined by the committee.
   (2) The committee shall give a preference to those projects
satisfying all of the threshold requirements of paragraph (1) if:
   (A) The project serves the lowest income tenants at rents
affordable to those tenants; and
   (B) The project is obligated to serve qualified tenants for the
longest period.
   (3) In addition to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subdivision (c), the committee shall use the following criteria in
allocating housing credits:
   (A) Projects serving large families in which a substantial number,
as defined by the committee, of all residential units are comprised
of low-income units with three and more bedrooms.
   (B) Projects providing single room occupancy units serving very
low income tenants.
   (C) Existing projects that are "at risk of conversion," as defined
by paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 17058 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code.
   (D) Projects for which a public agency provides direct or indirect
long-term financial support for at least 15 percent of the total
project development costs or projects for which the owner's equity
constitutes at least 30 percent of the total project development
costs.
   (E) Projects that provide tenant amenities not generally available
to residents of low-income housing projects.
   (d) For purposes of allocating credits pursuant to this section,
the committee shall not give preference to any project by virtue of
the date of submission of its application, except to break a tie when
two or more of the projects have the same rating.
   (e) The committee shall allocate credits to a project under this
section prior to allocating credit to that project under Sections
12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (f) The committee shall allocate credits to a project only if the
housing sponsor enters into a regulatory agreement that provides for
an "extended use period" as defined in subparagraph (D) of paragraph
(6) of subsection (h) of Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code,
which shall terminate on the date specified in the regulatory
agreement or the date the project is acquired in foreclosure,
including any instrument in lieu of foreclosure, whichever occurs
first, and subclause (II) of subparagraph (E) of clause (i) of
paragraph (6) of subsection (h) of Section 42 shall not apply.



50199.15.  (a) The committee shall annually submit to the
Legislature by April 1 of each year a report specifying, with respect
to its activities under this chapter during the previous calendar
year, (1) the total amount of low-income housing credits allocated by
the committee, (2) the total number of units assisted by the credit
that are, or are to be, occupied by households whose income is 60
percent or less of area median gross income, (3) the amount of the
credit allocated to each project, the other financing available to
the project, and the number of units that are, or are to be, therein
occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or less of area
median gross income, and (4) sufficient information to identify the
project.
   (b) The committee shall also include in its annual report to the
Legislature, an aggregation of the information which shall be
submitted annually by housing sponsors for all projects which have
received an allocation in previous years, specifying all of the
following:
   (1) Information sufficient to identify the project.
   (2) The total number of units in the project.
   (3) The total number of units assisted by the credit that are
required to be occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or
less of the area median gross income as a condition of receiving a
tax credit.
   (4) The total number of units assisted by the credit that are
occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or less of the area
median gross income.
   (c) The committee shall also include in its annual report to the
Legislature, any recommendations for improvement in the low-income
housing tax credit.



50199.16.  All acts and proceedings taken by the committee prior to
the effective date of this chapter to allocate the housing credit
ceiling for 1987 under the Governor's proclamation dated February 27,
1987, are hereby confirmed, validated, and declared legally
effective.



50199.17.  (a) The committee may adopt, amend, or repeal rules and
regulations for the allocation of housing credits pursuant to this
chapter and Sections 12206, 17053.14, 17058, 23608.2, 23608.3, and
23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code without complying with the
procedural requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
except as described in subdivision (b).
   (b) The committee shall provide a notice of proposed action as
described in Section 11346.5 of the Government Code. The notice of
proposed action shall be provided to the public at least 21 days
before the close of the public comment period, and the committee
shall schedule at least one public hearing as described in Section
11346.8 of the Government Code before the close of the public comment
period. The committee shall maintain a rulemaking file as described
in Section 11347.3 of the Government Code. The final version of the
regulations shall be accompanied by a final statement of reasons as
described in subdivision (a) of Section 11346.9 of the Government
Code.
   (c) These rules and regulations shall be effective immediately
upon adoption by the committee.
   (d) The committee may also adopt, amend, or repeal emergency rules
and regulations pursuant to this chapter and pursuant to Sections
12206, 17053.14, 17058, 23608.2, 23608.3, and 23610.5 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code. The adoption, amendment, or repeal of these
regulations shall be conclusively presumed to be necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or
general welfare within the meaning or purposes of Section 11346.1 of
the Government Code.



50199.18.  This chapter shall remain in effect as long as Section 42
of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing
credits, remains in effect. However, repeal of this chapter shall not
invalidate or in any way affect the duration of any previously
allocated low-income tax credits.



50199.20.  (a) Not less than 20 percent of the federal ceiling on
low-income housing tax credits shall be set aside for allocation to
rural areas as defined in Section 50199.21. Any amount of credit set
aside for rural areas remaining after the ranking of credits in the
final cycle of any calendar year shall be available for allocation to
any eligible project.
   (b) Up to 2 percent of the low-income housing tax credit available
under this chapter and Sections 12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the
Revenue and Taxation Code may be set aside for small developments as
determined by the committee. Any amount of credit set aside for small
developments remaining after the ranking of projects in the final
cycle of any calendar year shall be available for allocation to any
eligible project.
   (c) Not less than the amount specified in paragraph (4) of
subdivision (g) of Sections 12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code shall be set aside to provide farmworker housing,
as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and
Safety Code.



50199.21.  "Rural area" for the purpose of this chapter and Sections
17058 and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, means an area,
which, on January 1 of any calendar year satisfies any of the
following criteria:
   (a) The area is eligible for financing under the Section 515
program, or successor program, of the Rural Development
Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture.
   (b) The area is located in a nonmetropolitan area as defined in
Section 50090.
   (c) The area is either (1) an incorporated city having a
population of 40,000 or less as identified in the most recent Report
E-1 published by the Demographic Research Unit of the Department of
Finance, or (2) an unincorporated area which adjoins a city having a
population of 40,000 or less, provided that the city and its
adjoining unincorporated area are not located within a census tract
designated as an urbanized area by the United States Census Bureau.
The department shall assist in determinations of eligibility pursuant
to this subdivision upon request. With respect to areas eligible
under subdivision (b) and this subdivision, the committee may rely
upon the recommendations made by the department. Any inconsistencies
between areas eligible under subdivisions (a) and (b), and this
subdivision, shall be resolved in favor of considering the area a
rural area. Eligible and ineligible areas need not be established by
regulation.


50199.22.  (a) Upon being informed that information, supplied by a
housing credit applicant, or any person acting on behalf of a housing
credit applicant, pursuant to this chapter or Section 12206, 17058,
or 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, is false or is no longer
true, upon finding that false information has been submitted or the
information submitted is no longer true.
   (b) Appropriate action, which the committee may pursue upon
finding that false information or information that is no longer true
is submitted in connection with a housing credit application,
includes the following:
   (1) Requiring the submission of certified, notarized, or
third-party documents in support of the application.
   (2) Rejecting the application.
   (3) Cancelling a reservation of housing credits.
   (4) Bringing a judicial action to enjoin the use of the federal
housing credit and the state tax credit authorized by Sections 12206,
17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (5) Disqualifying the housing credit applicant, its principals,
and any person acting on behalf of the housing credit applicant from
filing applications with the committee for a one-year period.
   (6) Reporting promptly, in writing, to the Internal Revenue
Service and the Franchise Tax Board, any noncompliance with federal
and state requirements or misrepresentations the committee finds were
made by the housing credit applicant or any person acting on behalf
of a housing credit applicant, pursuant to subdivision (a).



State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > California > Hsc > 50199.4-50199.22

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 50199.4-50199.22



50199.4.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The federal Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-514) and
subsequent amendments to the Internal Revenue Code, including, but
not limited to, the federal Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989,
establishes a low-income housing tax credit to stimulate the
production and rehabilitation of shelter for lower income individuals
and families.
   (b) The federal law allows credit of approximately 9 percent each
year over a 10-year or 15-year period for expenses for new
construction and rehabilitation of each qualifying low-income unit. A
credit of approximately 4 percent each year over a 10-year or
15-year period is provided for the expenses of the acquisition of an
existing building generally not placed in service within the last 10
years, and the construction and rehabilitation of each qualifying
low-income unit financed with tax-exempt bonds or certain other
federal subsidies.
   (c) The federal law limits the low-income housing tax credits that
can be annually allocated by each state. This credit authorization
is to be allocated by the state housing credit agency. Not less than
10 percent of that amount is required to be set aside for projects
involving nonprofit organizations.
   (d) Federal law requires a plan for allocation of credit among
projects, including selection criteria to be used to determine
housing priorities that are appropriate to local conditions.
   (e) Federal law requires that the credit dollar amount allocated
to a project not exceed the amount necessary for the financial
feasibility of the project and its viability as a qualified
low-income housing project throughout the credit period. This
analysis shall include a determination of the reasonableness of
developmental and operational costs.
   (f) The credit agency is required to perform certain other
functions under federal tax law to ensure the availability of the
credits and to ensure compliance with federal tax law.
   (g) It is necessary to designate the state housing credit agency
and to establish an allocation system for the low-income housing
credit.


50199.5.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code has been modified by
the federal Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989 to require that the
housing credit agency establish a qualified allocation plan which
sets forth selection criteria to be used to determine housing
priorities that are appropriate to local conditions, and which gives
preference in allocating housing credit dollar amounts to projects
serving the lowest income tenants and projects obligated to serve
low-income tenants for the longest periods.
   (b) The qualified allocation plan shall encompass and incorporate
the criteria and requirements set forth in Section 50199.14.
   (c) Certain provisions of the California Tax Credit should be
modified to conform to the changes to the federal low-income housing
tax credit.
   (d) The Tax Credit Allocation Committee should, to the extent
possible, allocate the California low-income housing tax credit using
the same criteria and requirements used in allocating the federal
tax credit.
   (e) The public interest is best served by the dissemination of
information regarding the low-income housing tax credit program to
all areas of the state, with special efforts in rural areas, to
ensure greater knowledge and participation in the program.



50199.6.  (a) This chapter is enacted to implement the low-income
housing tax credit established by Section 42 of the Internal Revenue
Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42) as it may be amended from time to time.
   (b) To the extent that any provision of this chapter is held to be
inconsistent with, or repugnant to, federal law, the provision shall
be given effect in accordance with its terms to the greatest extent
possible and consistent with the federal law and inconsistency shall
have no effect on the remaining provisions of this chapter.



50199.7.  As used in this chapter:
   (a) "Committee" means the Mortgage Bond and Tax Credit Allocation
Committee, which is renamed the California Tax Credit Allocation
Committee. All references to "committee" shall mean the California
Tax Credit Allocation Committee.
   (b) "Household" has the same meaning as defined in Section 7602 of
Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.
   (c) "Housing credit" means the tax credit for low-income rental
housing provided under Section 42 of the federal Internal Revenue
Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42).
   (d) "Housing credit applicant" means any owner, sponsor, or
developer of a qualifying low-income building or project who applies
to the committee for either of the following:
   (1) An allocation of a portion of the current state housing credit
ceiling.
   (2) A reservation of a portion of the anticipated state housing
credit ceiling of a subsequent year.
   (e) "Housing credit ceiling" means the amount specified in Section
42(h)(3)(C) of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42
(h)(3)(C)).
   (f) "Qualified low-income building" or "project" has the meaning
specified in Section 42(c)(2) of the federal Internal Revenue Code
(26 U.S.C. Sec. 42(c)(2)).
   (g) "Agricultural worker" or "farmworker" shall have the same
meaning as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the
Labor Code.
   (h) "Farmworker housing" means housing for agricultural workers
that is available to, and occupied by, only farmworkers and their
households. The committee may permit an owner to temporarily house
nonfarmworkers in vacant units in the event of a disaster or other
critical occurrence. However, such emergency shelter shall only be
permitted if there are no pending qualified farmworker household
applications for residency.



50199.8.  The committee is composed of the Governor, or in the
Governor's absence, the Director of Finance, the Controller, and the
Treasurer. The Director of Housing and Community Development, the
Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency, and two
representatives of local government, one representative of the
counties appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, and one
representative of the cities appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members. The Treasurer shall be
the chairperson of the committee. The members of the committee shall
serve without compensation. A majority of voting members shall be
empowered to act for the committee. The committee may employ an
executive director to carry out its duties under this chapter. The
committee may, by resolution, delegate to one or more of its members,
its executive director, or any other official or employee of the
committee any powers and duties that it may deem proper, including,
but not limited to, the power to enter into contracts on behalf of
the committee.



50199.9.  (a) The committee shall establish and charge fees which it
determines are reasonably sufficient to cover all of the costs of
the committee in carrying out its responsibilities under this
chapter. The Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account is hereby established
in the State Treasury. The fees shall be deposited by the committee
in the Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account and shall be available, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to the committee for the purpose
of covering all of those costs, except that fees may be shared, in an
amount determined by the committee, with any state or local agency
that assists the committee in performing its duties.
   (b) Funds deposited in the Tax Credit Allocation Fee Account are
continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal year for purposes
of sharing with state and local agencies pursuant to subdivision (a).
   (c) Until the time that sufficient fee revenue is received by the
committee, the committee may borrow any money as may be required for
the purpose of meeting necessary expenses of the operation of the
committee, not to exceed the amount appropriated. Any loan made to
the committee pursuant to this subdivision shall be repayable solely
from moneys appropriated to the committee from the Tax Credit
Allocation Fee Account and shall not constitute a general obligation
for which the faith and credit of the state are pledged.
   (d) There shall be established a subaccount within the Tax Credit
Allocation Fee Account named the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring
Account.
   (e) Fees collected for the purpose of paying the costs of
monitoring projects with allocations of tax credits for compliance
with federal and state law, as required by Section 42(m) of the
federal Internal Revenue Code, and Section 50199.15, shall be
deposited in the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring Account to be used
solely for this purpose. Any performance deposits forfeited to the
committee shall be deposited in the Occupancy Compliance Monitoring
Account.
   (f) Notwithstanding any other law, the Controller may use the fees
deposited in the accounts established by this section for daily cash
flow loans to the General Fund or the General Cash Revolving Fund,
as provided in Sections 16310 and 16381 of the Government Code.



50199.10.  (a) For purposes of allocating low-income housing
credits, the committee is hereby designated as this state's only
housing credit agency for purposes of Section 42(h) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42(h)). The committee shall
annually determine and shall allocate the state ceiling in accordance
with this chapter and in conformity with federal law. The committee
shall determine the housing credit ceiling as soon as possible
following the effective date of this chapter and thereafter following
the commencement of each calendar year. The committee shall
undertake any and all responsibilities of housing credit agencies
under Section 42 of Title 26 of the United States Code, including
entering into regulatory agreements relating to projects that are
granted awards.
   (b) The committee shall develop and provide application forms for
use by housing credit applicants. The committee shall adopt uniform
procedures for submission and review of applications of housing
credit applicants, including fees to defray the committee's costs in
administering this chapter. In the committee's discretion, the fees
shall be charged to a housing credit applicant as a condition of
submitting an application or as a condition of receiving an
allocation or reservation of the state's current or anticipated
housing credit ceiling, or both.
   (c) In addition to allocating the current housing credit ceiling,
the committee may reserve a portion of the state's anticipated
housing credit ceiling for a subsequent year for a housing credit
applicant.
   (d) As a condition to making an allocation of the housing credit
ceiling or a reservation of the anticipated housing credit ceiling
for a subsequent year, the committee may require the housing credit
applicant receiving the allocation or reservation to deposit with the
committee an amount of money as a good-faith undertaking. The
committee shall adopt policies for determining when deposits will be
required, prescribing procedures for return of deposits, and
specifying the circumstances under which the deposits will be
forfeited in whole or in part for failure to timely utilize the
allocation or reservation provided to the housing credit applicant.
   (e) (1) The committee may make any allocation or reservation of
the state's housing credit ceiling to a housing credit applicant
subject to terms and conditions in furtherance of the purposes of
this part. The committee may condition an allocation or reservation
on the execution of a contract between the housing credit applicant
and the committee requiring the housing credit applicant to comply
with all the terms of Section 42 of the federal Internal Revenue
Code, any applicable state laws, and any additional requirements the
committee deems necessary or appropriate to serve the purposes of
this chapter, and providing for legal action to obtain specific
performance or monetary damages for breach of contract.
   (2) No allocations or reservations shall be made pursuant to this
subdivision with respect to projects that do not meet the
requirements of the qualified allocation plan, and no allocations or
reservations shall be made in amounts that do not meet the
requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of
Title 26 of the United States Code.



50199.11.  The committee may also contract with other entities,
including the department and the agency, to aid in the processing and
review of applications.


50199.12.  The committee shall adopt and supply forms for eliciting
information for purposes of this chapter from housing credit
applicants. Housing credit applicants shall provide the committee
with any information requested by the committee in performing its
duties and responsibilities under this chapter.



50199.13.  Except as specified in the application and as approved by
the committee at initial reservation, no allocation or reservation
of the housing credit ceiling under this chapter may be transferred
by the housing credit applicant, unless the specific, written
approval of the committee is obtained prior to the proposed transfer.
Any transfer of an allocation or reservation shall be in writing and
shall be subject to terms and conditions established by the
committee.


50199.14.  (a) The committee shall allocate the housing credit on a
regular basis consisting of two or more periods in each calendar year
during which applications may be filed and considered. The committee
shall establish application filing deadlines, the maximum percentage
of federal and state low-income housing tax credit ceiling that may
be allocated by the committee in that period, and the approximate
date on which allocations shall be made. If the enactment of federal
or state law, or the adoption of rules or regulations, or other
similar events prevent the use of two allocation periods, the
committee may reduce the number of periods and adjust the filing
deadlines, maximum percentage of credit allocated, and the allocation
dates.
   (b) The committee shall adopt a qualified allocation plan, as
provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of Title 26
of the United States Code. In adopting this plan, the committee
shall comply with the provisions of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of
paragraph (1) of subsection (m) of Section 42 of Title 26 of the
United States Code.
   (c) In order to promote the provision of affordable low-income
housing within and throughout the state, the committee shall allocate
housing credits in accordance with the qualified allocation plan and
regulations, which shall include the following provisions:
   (1) All housing credit applicants shall demonstrate at the time
the application is filed with the committee, that the project meets
the following threshold requirements:
   (A) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate there is a need
and demand for low-income housing in the community or region for
which it is proposed.
   (B) The project's proposed financing, including tax credit
proceeds, shall be sufficient to complete the project and that the
proposed operating income shall be adequate to operate the project
for the extended use period.
   (C) The project shall have enforceable financing commitments,
either construction or permanent financing, for at least 50 percent
of the total estimated financing of the project.
   (D) The housing credit applicant shall have and maintain control
of the site for the project.
   (E) The housing sponsor shall demonstrate that the project
complies with all applicable local land use and zoning ordinances.
   (F) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate that the
project development team has the experience and the financial
capacity to ensure project completion and operation for the extended
use period.
   (G) The housing credit applicant shall demonstrate the amount of
tax credit that is necessary for the financial feasibility of the
project and its viability as a qualified low-income housing project
throughout the extended use period, taking into account operating
expenses, supportable debt service, reserves, funds set aside for
rental subsidies, and required equity, and a development fee that
does not exceed a specified percentage of the eligible basis of the
project prior to inclusion of the development fee in the basis, as
determined by the committee.
   (2) The committee shall give a preference to those projects
satisfying all of the threshold requirements of paragraph (1) if:
   (A) The project serves the lowest income tenants at rents
affordable to those tenants; and
   (B) The project is obligated to serve qualified tenants for the
longest period.
   (3) In addition to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subdivision (c), the committee shall use the following criteria in
allocating housing credits:
   (A) Projects serving large families in which a substantial number,
as defined by the committee, of all residential units are comprised
of low-income units with three and more bedrooms.
   (B) Projects providing single room occupancy units serving very
low income tenants.
   (C) Existing projects that are "at risk of conversion," as defined
by paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 17058 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code.
   (D) Projects for which a public agency provides direct or indirect
long-term financial support for at least 15 percent of the total
project development costs or projects for which the owner's equity
constitutes at least 30 percent of the total project development
costs.
   (E) Projects that provide tenant amenities not generally available
to residents of low-income housing projects.
   (d) For purposes of allocating credits pursuant to this section,
the committee shall not give preference to any project by virtue of
the date of submission of its application, except to break a tie when
two or more of the projects have the same rating.
   (e) The committee shall allocate credits to a project under this
section prior to allocating credit to that project under Sections
12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (f) The committee shall allocate credits to a project only if the
housing sponsor enters into a regulatory agreement that provides for
an "extended use period" as defined in subparagraph (D) of paragraph
(6) of subsection (h) of Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code,
which shall terminate on the date specified in the regulatory
agreement or the date the project is acquired in foreclosure,
including any instrument in lieu of foreclosure, whichever occurs
first, and subclause (II) of subparagraph (E) of clause (i) of
paragraph (6) of subsection (h) of Section 42 shall not apply.



50199.15.  (a) The committee shall annually submit to the
Legislature by April 1 of each year a report specifying, with respect
to its activities under this chapter during the previous calendar
year, (1) the total amount of low-income housing credits allocated by
the committee, (2) the total number of units assisted by the credit
that are, or are to be, occupied by households whose income is 60
percent or less of area median gross income, (3) the amount of the
credit allocated to each project, the other financing available to
the project, and the number of units that are, or are to be, therein
occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or less of area
median gross income, and (4) sufficient information to identify the
project.
   (b) The committee shall also include in its annual report to the
Legislature, an aggregation of the information which shall be
submitted annually by housing sponsors for all projects which have
received an allocation in previous years, specifying all of the
following:
   (1) Information sufficient to identify the project.
   (2) The total number of units in the project.
   (3) The total number of units assisted by the credit that are
required to be occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or
less of the area median gross income as a condition of receiving a
tax credit.
   (4) The total number of units assisted by the credit that are
occupied by households whose income is 60 percent or less of the area
median gross income.
   (c) The committee shall also include in its annual report to the
Legislature, any recommendations for improvement in the low-income
housing tax credit.



50199.16.  All acts and proceedings taken by the committee prior to
the effective date of this chapter to allocate the housing credit
ceiling for 1987 under the Governor's proclamation dated February 27,
1987, are hereby confirmed, validated, and declared legally
effective.



50199.17.  (a) The committee may adopt, amend, or repeal rules and
regulations for the allocation of housing credits pursuant to this
chapter and Sections 12206, 17053.14, 17058, 23608.2, 23608.3, and
23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code without complying with the
procedural requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
except as described in subdivision (b).
   (b) The committee shall provide a notice of proposed action as
described in Section 11346.5 of the Government Code. The notice of
proposed action shall be provided to the public at least 21 days
before the close of the public comment period, and the committee
shall schedule at least one public hearing as described in Section
11346.8 of the Government Code before the close of the public comment
period. The committee shall maintain a rulemaking file as described
in Section 11347.3 of the Government Code. The final version of the
regulations shall be accompanied by a final statement of reasons as
described in subdivision (a) of Section 11346.9 of the Government
Code.
   (c) These rules and regulations shall be effective immediately
upon adoption by the committee.
   (d) The committee may also adopt, amend, or repeal emergency rules
and regulations pursuant to this chapter and pursuant to Sections
12206, 17053.14, 17058, 23608.2, 23608.3, and 23610.5 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code. The adoption, amendment, or repeal of these
regulations shall be conclusively presumed to be necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or
general welfare within the meaning or purposes of Section 11346.1 of
the Government Code.



50199.18.  This chapter shall remain in effect as long as Section 42
of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing
credits, remains in effect. However, repeal of this chapter shall not
invalidate or in any way affect the duration of any previously
allocated low-income tax credits.



50199.20.  (a) Not less than 20 percent of the federal ceiling on
low-income housing tax credits shall be set aside for allocation to
rural areas as defined in Section 50199.21. Any amount of credit set
aside for rural areas remaining after the ranking of credits in the
final cycle of any calendar year shall be available for allocation to
any eligible project.
   (b) Up to 2 percent of the low-income housing tax credit available
under this chapter and Sections 12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the
Revenue and Taxation Code may be set aside for small developments as
determined by the committee. Any amount of credit set aside for small
developments remaining after the ranking of projects in the final
cycle of any calendar year shall be available for allocation to any
eligible project.
   (c) Not less than the amount specified in paragraph (4) of
subdivision (g) of Sections 12206, 17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code shall be set aside to provide farmworker housing,
as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and
Safety Code.



50199.21.  "Rural area" for the purpose of this chapter and Sections
17058 and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, means an area,
which, on January 1 of any calendar year satisfies any of the
following criteria:
   (a) The area is eligible for financing under the Section 515
program, or successor program, of the Rural Development
Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture.
   (b) The area is located in a nonmetropolitan area as defined in
Section 50090.
   (c) The area is either (1) an incorporated city having a
population of 40,000 or less as identified in the most recent Report
E-1 published by the Demographic Research Unit of the Department of
Finance, or (2) an unincorporated area which adjoins a city having a
population of 40,000 or less, provided that the city and its
adjoining unincorporated area are not located within a census tract
designated as an urbanized area by the United States Census Bureau.
The department shall assist in determinations of eligibility pursuant
to this subdivision upon request. With respect to areas eligible
under subdivision (b) and this subdivision, the committee may rely
upon the recommendations made by the department. Any inconsistencies
between areas eligible under subdivisions (a) and (b), and this
subdivision, shall be resolved in favor of considering the area a
rural area. Eligible and ineligible areas need not be established by
regulation.


50199.22.  (a) Upon being informed that information, supplied by a
housing credit applicant, or any person acting on behalf of a housing
credit applicant, pursuant to this chapter or Section 12206, 17058,
or 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, is false or is no longer
true, upon finding that false information has been submitted or the
information submitted is no longer true.
   (b) Appropriate action, which the committee may pursue upon
finding that false information or information that is no longer true
is submitted in connection with a housing credit application,
includes the following:
   (1) Requiring the submission of certified, notarized, or
third-party documents in support of the application.
   (2) Rejecting the application.
   (3) Cancelling a reservation of housing credits.
   (4) Bringing a judicial action to enjoin the use of the federal
housing credit and the state tax credit authorized by Sections 12206,
17058, and 23610.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (5) Disqualifying the housing credit applicant, its principals,
and any person acting on behalf of the housing credit applicant from
filing applications with the committee for a one-year period.
   (6) Reporting promptly, in writing, to the Internal Revenue
Service and the Franchise Tax Board, any noncompliance with federal
and state requirements or misrepresentations the committee finds were
made by the housing credit applicant or any person acting on behalf
of a housing credit applicant, pursuant to subdivision (a).