Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S871 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2353 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 871
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	James B. Eldridge
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to promote housing cooperatives.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2353 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 871
18	18	By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 871) of James B. Eldridge for
19	19	legislation to promote housing cooperatives. Housing.
20	20	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
21	21	_______________
22	22	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
23	23	(2023-2024)
24	24	_______________
25	25	An Act to promote housing cooperatives.
26	26	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
27	27	of the same, as follows:
28	28	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 40H of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
29	29	2following section:-
30	30	3 Section 10.
31	31	4 There is hereby established a Massachusetts center for housing cooperatives within
32	32	5CEDAC. The Massachusetts center for housing cooperatives shall provide education, conduct
33	33	6outreach and promote efforts to create an overall environment in the commonwealth to: (i)
34	34	7expand and enhance cooperative resident ownership; (ii) preserve the existing and increase the
35	35	8number of cooperatively owned properties; (iii) publicize and promote the benefits of resident
36	36	9cooperative housing to policy makers and the general public; (iv) encourage collaborative
37	37	10outreach efforts regarding involvement and cooperative housing ownership; (v) research and
38	38	11evaluate cooperative housing ownership in the commonwealth; (vi) showcase cooperative
39	39	12housing initiatives in the commonwealth; (vii) facilitate and coordinate the sharing of existing 2 of 3
40	40	13information and resources; and (viii) provide grants pursuant to this chapter. The Massachusetts
41	41	14center for housing cooperatives within CEDAC shall focus its efforts to promote housing
42	42	15cooperatives for low to moderate income people in the commonwealth.
43	43	16 (1) The director of the Massachusetts center for housing cooperatives shall have the
44	44	17power to hire staff, appoint any specific committee or task force and contract with consultants,
45	45	18agents or advisors deemed necessary to further the purposes of this section.
46	46	19 (2) The director may accept gifts or grants of money or property from any source to
47	47	20further the work of the center; provided, however, that any money received shall be deposited
48	48	21with the state treasurer to be kept in a separate fund in the treasury to be named the
49	49	22Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives Fund dedicated to the center and for expenditure
50	50	23without appropriation by the director of the center in accordance with the conditions of such a
51	51	24gift or grant. Amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the
52	52	25General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years.
53	53	26 (3) The director shall issue rules, regulations and procedures governing the application
54	54	27for and delivery of services which are deemed necessary for the proper performance of the duties
55	55	28of the center.
56	56	29 (4) Annually, the director shall file a report with the clerks of the house of representatives
57	57	30and senate, including an inventory of housing cooperatives in the state and the specific activities
58	58	31taken by the center to support and promote the transition of traditionally structured properties to
59	59	32a cooperative resident ownership model.
60	60	33 (5) The director shall be a full-time employee of CEDAC and shall be appointed by and
61	61	34report directly to the director of CEDAC. 3 of 3
62	62	35 SECTION 2. The commonwealth shall appropriate $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 for a
63	63	36reserve to promote housing cooperatives throughout the commonwealth for low to moderate
64	64	37income people, including, but not limited to acquiring real estate to establish housing
65	65	38cooperatives, preserving, rehabilitating and satisfying the capital needs of existing cooperatives
66	66	39through programs administered by the department of housing and community development
67	67	40directly or through 1 or more of the following: (i) Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency; (ii)
68	68	41Massachusetts Housing Partnership; and (iii) Community Economic Development Assistance
69	69	42Corporation; provided further, that within 180 days of the effective date of this Act, the
70	70	43department shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the
71	71	44joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies on recommendations for
72	72	45creating and preserving housing cooperatives throughout the commonwealth.