SB 677

Existing law, the Housing Accountability Act (act), among other things, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project for very low, low-, or moderate-income households unless the local agency makes written findings as to one of certain sets of conditions, as specified. The act defines the term “disapprove the housing development project” for its purposes to include various actions, or inactions, by a local agency, as specified. This bill would expand the definition of “disapprove the housing development project” under the act to include, in the case of a housing development project that includes the issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds, a local agency’s failure to take the actions required by certain federal tax regulations in connection with the issuance of those tax-exempt private activity bonds. The bill would specify that these provisions do not require a local agency to take any action that would result in it incurring any financial liability, debt, or obligation. By mandating new duties on local agencies with respect to housing development projects that include the issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law, the Subdivision Map Act, provides for the approval of tentative and final parcel maps by various local officials, as specified. The act authorizes an appeal of the local official’s decision to the local legislative body, as provided. This bill would create an exception from the above-described authority as it applies to appeals by an interested person for maps that meet specified criteria, as provided. The bill would exempt from these provisions an appeal filed by an applicant, subdivider, tenant, advisory agency, or public agency or official, as specified. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.