1Because the Legislature firmly supports affordable housing in Florida for all economic classes:14(1) 15There is created the Affordable Housing Study Commission, which shall be composed of 21 members to be appointed by the Governor:36(a) 37One citizen actively engaged in the residential home building industry.
47(b) 48One citizen actively engaged in the home mortgage lending profession.
58(c) 59One citizen actively engaged in the real estate sales profession.
69(d) 70One citizen actively engaged in apartment development.
77(e) 78One citizen actively engaged in the management and operation of a rental housing development.
92(f) 93Two citizens who represent very-low-income and low-income persons.
101(g) 102One citizen representing a community-based organization with experience in housing development.
113(h) 114One citizen representing a community-based organization with experience in housing development in a community with a population of less than 50,000 persons.
137(i) 138Two citizens who represent elderly persons’ housing interests.
146(j) 147One representative of regional planning councils.
153(k) 154One representative of the Florida League of Cities.
162(l) 163One representative of the Florida Association of Counties.
171(m) 172Two citizens representing statewide growth management organizations.
179(n) 180One citizen of the state to serve as chair of the commission.
192(o) 193One citizen representing a residential community developer.
200(p) 201One member who is a resident of the state.
210(q) 211One representative from a local housing authority.
218(r) 219One citizen representing the housing interests of homeless persons.
228(2)(a) 229Members shall be appointed for 4-year staggered terms, except that the citizen serving as chair shall be appointed to serve a 2-year term and except that a vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses in the performance of their duties, including travel expenses, in accordance with s. 297112.061298. 299(b) 300The Governor may remove or suspend a member for cause, including, but not limited to, failure to attend at least 3 meetings of the commission during any 12-month period.
329(3) 330The corporation shall supply such information, assistance, and facilities as are deemed necessary for the commission to carry out its duties under this section and shall provide such staff assistance as is necessary for the performance of required clerical and administrative functions of the commission.
375(4) 376The commission shall analyze those solutions and programs which could begin to address the state’s acute need for housing for the homeless; for very-low-income, low-income, and moderate-income persons; and for elderly persons, including programs or proposals which provide for:415(a) 416Offering low-interest and zero-interest loans for the development or rehabilitation of housing;
428(b) 429Use of publicly owned lands and buildings as affordable housing sites;
440(c) 441Coordination with federal initiatives, including development of an approved housing strategy;
452(d) 453Streamlining the various state, regional, and local regulations, and housing and building codes governing the housing industry;
470(e) 471Stimulation of public and private cooperative housing efforts;
479(f) 480Implementation or expansion of the programs authorized in this chapter;
490(g) 491Discovery and assessment of funding sources for low-cost housing construction and rehabilitation; and
504(h) 505Development of such other solutions and programs as the commission deems appropriate.
517In performing its analysis, the commission shall consider both homeownership and rental housing as viable options for the provision of housing. The commission shall also give consideration to various types of residential construction, including but not limited to, manufactured housing.
557(5) 558The commission shall review, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding existing and proposed housing programs and initiatives. The commission shall provide these and any other housing recommendations to the director of the department and the executive director of the corporation.
597(6) 598The commission shall distribute its meeting notices, minutes, and recommendations to state agencies responsible for the delivery of services to or the analysis of issues concerning the elderly.
626(7) 627By July 15 of each year, the commission shall prepare and submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report detailing its findings and making specific program, legislative, and funding recommendations and any other recommendations it deems appropriate.
675(8) 676The commission shall recommend studies to be conducted for affordable housing.
