BILL NUMBER: AB 290INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Davis FEBRUARY 13, 2009 An act relating to housing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 290, as introduced, Davis. Neighborhood Stabilization Program grants: funding priorities and criteria. Existing law establishes various statewide housing and community development plans and projects. Existing federal law establishes a Neighborhood Stabilization Program that assists state and local governments in redeveloping abandoned and foreclosed upon homes. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that directs a portion of the federal program's funding to accomplish specified objectives relating to the building and green-collar trades, the provision of affordable, energy-efficient housing, and the revitalization of low -to moderate-income areas. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that does both of the following: (a) Directs a portion of federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program grants, established pursuant to the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289) from the state to cities and counties, in a manner that fosters the training and employment of at-risk and foster youth, ex-offenders, and other disenfranchised populations in the building and green-collar trades, and provides affordable, energy-efficient housing for low -to moderate-income California residents. (b) Establishes funding priorities and criteria for purposes of subdivision (a) that do all of the following: (1) Require housing and redevelopment agencies to engage nonprofit developers in converting home renters to owners by allocating a portion of rent to an escrow account for downpayment usage after an appropriate period of time. (2) Permit a portion of grant administration funds to be used for training and posttraining home building and home rehabilitation-related employment purposes in a manner that demonstrates training-activity collaboration with workforce investment boards, community colleges, and other job training entities to coordinate necessary funding and training resources. (3) Incorporate smart growth, land use, public transportation, and greenhouse gas reduction principles. (4) Incorporate housing development, job training, and placement activities in tax incentive areas, including, but not limited to, enterprise zones, that are aligned with a local or statewide strategy for revitalizing low -to moderate-income areas.