Right Column
Legislative Announcements
October 2007
New: Housing element law amended — (Adobe PDF)
On October 15, 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law SB 2 by Senator Gilbert Cedillo, which amends GC Sections 65582, 65583, and 65589.5 of State Housing Element Law. This legislation requires local jurisdictions to strengthen provisions for addressing the housing needs of the homeless, including the identification a zone or zones where emergency shelters are allowed as a permitted use without a conditional use permit. This legislation will take effect January 1, 2008 and will apply to jurisdictions with housing elements due June 30, 2008 and after. To assist jurisdictions in meeting this new requirement, the State Department of Housing and Community Development will issue a technical assistance memo by December 31, 2007.
May 2006
Water and Sewer Service Priority for Housing Affordable to Lower-Income Households — (Adobe PDF)
Recent legislation (SB 1087, Statutes of 2005) immediately effects the responsibilities of local governments and water and sewer service providers. Existing law required water and sewer providers to grant priority for service allocations to proposed developments that include housing units affordable to lower-income households. SB 1087 was enacted to improve the effectiveness of the law in facilitating housing development for lower-income families and workers. This memorandum notifies pertinent agencies of these existing and new responsibilities.
Legislative Division
Mission Statement
The mission of the Legislative Division for the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is to advise the Director and the Administration on legislative housing issues and to advocate and promote the Administration’s housing policies and programs by testifying before the legislative committees and negotiating with members and interest groups.
For information, including analyses, on legislative bills of interest to HCD please see www.leginfo.ca.gov.
HCD Programs
HCD has three main divisions: the Codes and Standards Division, the Division of Financial Assistance, and the Housing Policy Division.
Codes and Standards: This division is responsible for seven programs including state housing law, registration and titling of mobilehomes, mobilehome inspections, occupational licensing of dealers and manufacturers, employee housing, factory built housing, and manufactured housing. For more information see its website (www.hcd.ca.gov/codes).Legislative Analyst/Contact: Victoria King – (916) 323-6174 or vking@hcd.ca.gov
Financial Assistance: This division implements approximately 21 different loan and grant programs primarily funded through Proposition 46 and Proposition 1C housing bonds. These programs include the Multifamily Housing Program, CalHome, Farmworker Housing Program, and the Enterprise Zone Program. For more information see its website (www.hcd.ca.gov/fa).
Legislative Analyst/Contact: Thomas Lankard – (916) 324-8659 or tlankard@hcd.ca.gov
Housing Policy: This division is responsible for identifying California’s housing needs and develops policies to meet those needs. It administers the housing element law, which includes the review of housing elements. This division also produces an annual report on redevelopment agencies housing activities and provides technical assistance. For more information see its website (www.hcd.ca.gov/hpd).
Legislative Analyst/Contact: Martin Riley – (916) 327-0618 or mriley@hcd.ca.gov
Contact Information:
Jolena Voorhis
Director of Legislation
Department of Housing and Community Development
1800 Third Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 323-0169
(916) 327-4235 (fax)
jvoorhis@hcd.ca.gov
Deborah Spurgeon
Legislative Coordinator
1800 Third Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 323-0169
(916) 327-4235 (fax)
dspurgeon@hcd.ca.gov
Debbie Richardson
Executive Assistant
1800 Third Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 323-0169
(916) 327-4235 (fax)
drichardson@hcd.ca.gov