SB 71 CREATE OFFICE OF HOUSING

Sen Michael Padilla

Actions: [1] SCC/SHPAC/SFC-SCC [2]germane-SHPAC [7] w/o rec-SFC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 Senate Bill 71 (SB 71) creates the office of housing, providing powers and duties, providing for the development and updating of the state housing plan, and adding the director of the office of housing to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. An emergency is declared. 

 Senate Bill 71 (SB 71) creates the Office of Housing which is to be administratively attached to the Department of Finance and Administration. The purpose of the office is to study, evaluate and coordinate housing statewide, including housing investment, development, infrastructure, revitalization, equity, stability, quality and standards. 

The director is to be appointed by the governor and is charged with submitting and updating housing plans; assisting local governments and developers in assembling funding packages and addressing project management, infrastructure and partnership issues; providing assistance and training to local governments and Indian nations, tribes and pueblos in developing housing plans; identifying programs to build competency in housing finance and the construction trade workforce; assisting in coordinating funding for housing projects; promoting regional plans or programs that support the state housing plan; collecting/reporting data; and establishing housing goals.
Specific requirements for the state housing plan are detailed.

Section 58-18-4 NMSA 1978 is amended to add the director of the office of housing to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.

An emergency is declared, stating that it is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that the act take effect immediately.
 

 No specific office exists within current state government that has the responsibilities and resources delineated within the act. If the bill does not pass, functions described will need to be handled as they currently are, without the framework and resources of the office of housing.