California Surplus Land Unit.

Existing law establishes the California Housing Finance Agency within the Department of Housing and Community Development, with the primary purpose of meeting the housing needs of persons and families of low or moderate income. Existing law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency. Existing law defines "surplus land" for these purposes to mean land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency's governing body takes formal action in a regular public meeting declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency's use. Existing law authorizes the governing board of any school district to sell or lease, for a term not exceeding 99 years, any real property belonging to the school district which is not or will not be needed by the district for school classroom buildings at the time of delivery of title or possession. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, establish the California Surplus Land Unit within the Department of Housing and Community Development with the primary purpose of facilitating the development and construction of residential housing on local surplus land, as defined. In this regard, the bill would authorize the unit to, among other things, facilitate agreements between housing developers and local agencies that seek to dispose of surplus land; provide advice, technical assistance, and consultative and technical service to local agencies with surplus land and developers that seek to develop housing on the surplus land; and collaborate with specified state agencies to assist housing developers and local agencies with obtaining grants, loans, tax credits, credit enhancements, and other types of financing that facilitate the construction of housing on surplus land. The bill would require the unit to, by December 31 of each year, submit an annual report of its activities under these provisions for the preceding year to the Governor, the Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing, the Director of Housing and Community Development, the Treasurer, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Legislative Analyst, and the Legislature, as specified.