California Assembly Bill AB2685 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2685AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 11, 2016 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 25, 2016 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 18, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Lopez FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to amend Section 65585 of the Government Code, relating to housing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2685, as amended, Lopez. Housing elements: adoption. The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the city or county and of any land outside its boundaries that bears relation to its planning. That law also requires the general plan to contain specified mandatory elements, including a housing element for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing. Existing law prescribes requirements for the preparation of the housing element, including a requirement that a planning agency submit a draft of the element or draft amendment to the element to the Department of Housing and Community Development prior to the adoption of the element or amendment to the element. This bill would require the planning agency  staff  to  circulate   collect and compile  public comments  and provide them to each member of the legislative body  prior to the adoption of the housing element. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 65585 of the Government Code is amended to read: 65585. (a) In the preparation of its housing element, each city and county shall consider the guidelines adopted by the department pursuant to Section 50459 of the Health and Safety Code. Those guidelines shall be advisory to each city or county in the preparation of its housing element. (b) (1) At least 90 days prior to adoption of its housing element, or at least 60 days prior to the adoption of an amendment to this element, the planning agency shall submit a draft element or draft amendment to the department. (2) The planning agency  staff  shall  circulate   collect and compile the  public comments  regarding the housing element  received by  the city, county, or city and county, and provide these comments to each member of  the legislative body before it adopts the housing element. (3) The department shall review the draft and report its written findings to the planning agency within 90 days of its receipt of the draft in the case of an adoption or within 60 days of its receipt in the case of a draft amendment. (c) In the preparation of its findings, the department may consult with any public agency, group, or person. The department shall receive and consider any written comments from any public agency, group, or person regarding the draft or adopted element or amendment under review. (d) In its written findings, the department shall determine whether the draft element or draft amendment substantially complies with this article. (e) Prior to the adoption of its draft element or draft amendment, the legislative body shall consider the findings made by the department. If the department's findings are not available within the time limits set by this section, the legislative body may act without them. (f) If the department finds that the draft element or draft amendment does not substantially comply with this article, the legislative body shall take one of the following actions: (1) Change the draft element or draft amendment to substantially comply with this article. (2) Adopt the draft element or draft amendment without changes. The legislative body shall include in its resolution of adoption written findings which explain the reasons the legislative body believes that the draft element or draft amendment substantially complies with this article despite the findings of the department. (g) Promptly following the adoption of its element or amendment, the planning agency shall submit a copy to the department. (h) The department shall, within 90 days, review adopted housing elements or amendments and report its findings to the planning agency. SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.