HB5551 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 20494 KTG 66045 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5551

Introduced 2/15/2012, by Rep. Cynthia Soto

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

310 ILCS 10/8.4	from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 8.4
310 ILCS 10/8.10	from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 8.10
310 ILCS 10/8.22
310 ILCS 10/9	from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 9
310 ILCS 10/30	from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 27c
310 ILCS 10/8.11 rep.

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Requires every Housing Authority located in a municipality of less than 1,000,000 inhabitants (rather than every Housing Authority) to present as part of its annual report specified financial statements detailing expenditures and disbursements for each housing project. Requires housing authorities located in municipalities of more than 1,000,000 inhabitants to compile information required under the Act under regulations prescribed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and to make such information available to the public upon request. Repeals a provision requiring the housing authorities to submit these statements to their respective city councils not later than 3 months following the close of the preceding fiscal year of the authorities. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning housing.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Housing Authorities Act is amended by changing Sections 8.4, 8.10, 8.22, 9, and 30 as follows:

(310 ILCS 10/8.4) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 8.4)

Sec. 8.4. An Authority has power to borrow money upon its bonds, notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness and to secure the same by pledges of its revenues, or in any other manner, and in connection with any loan by a government, to agree to limitations upon the exercise of any powers conferred upon the Authority by this Act; to invest any funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or in any funds not required for immediate disbursement in State or Federal securities; to make grants, loans, and advances on such terms as the Authority shall determine, subject to the approval of the Department, to any non-profit corporation referred to in Section 9 in order to assist such non-profit corporation in planning, preparing, constructing, reconstructing or improving housing to provide an additional supply of decent, safe and sanitary dwellings.

(Source: P.A. 81-1509.)

(310 ILCS 10/8.10) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 8.10)

Sec. 8.10. As a part of its annual report, every Housing Authority located in a municipality of less than 1,000,000 inhabitants shall present statements setting forth for each project of the Housing Authority a balance sheet, a classified statement of revenues and expenditures and of receipts and disbursements and a surplus statement, and also a consolidated balance sheet and consolidated classified statements of revenues and expenditures, and of receipts and disbursements and a surplus statement reflecting the financial status and condition of the Housing Authority as a whole as of the close of the immediately preceding fiscal year. All statements shall be made separately for bond interest and retirement, capital and operating accounts. The report for the Housing Authority in any municipality containing over 500,000 inhabitants shall also include a separate statement setting out the total amount of rent received for, and the amount of money expended on, each housing project as that term is defined in Section 17 (g) of this Act under the jurisdiction of the Housing Authority and shall also include a complete schedule of salaries in effect on the date of the report and to whom such salaries are paid. The report for Housing Authorities other than those in municipalities containing over 500,000 inhabitants shall include a separate statement setting out in detail the exact amount of rent received for, and the amount of money expended on, each housing project as that term is defined in Section 17 (g) of this Act under the jurisdiction of the Housing Authority and shall also include a complete schedule of the salaries in effect on the date of the report and to whom salaries are being paid. All statements shall be made separately for bond interest and retirement, capital and operating accounts. The annual report of every Housing Authority shall also include the amount or amounts of service charge or charges paid or proffered to the County Collector or to the appropriate officer or officers, of any municipal corporation in lieu of normal real estate taxes, identified to show the year or years and project or projects for which payment was made or proffered. The requirements of this Section can be fulfilled by the filing of an annual certified audit conducted in accordance with federal Housing and Urban Development requirements with the presiding officers and legislative authorities of the city, village, incorporated town or county.

In addition to all other information required herein, the Housing Authority in any municipality or county containing over 500,000 inhabitants shall prepare and maintain a summary tabulation for each project for the period covered by the annual report showing the number of and size of individual housing accommodations; the number of units occupied by families in the various income groups; the total number of persons; the age group of the head of the household of move-ins; the number of persons comprising the household; the rent schedules for determining contract rents; and the number of workers per family moving in; the year of admission of families to public housing; the number of move-ins with the size of family; income groups of families moving in; size of unit occupied by families moving in or out; and information as to family composition; and information as to number of families receiving public assistance or social security benefits.

For housing authorities located in municipalities of more than 1,000,000 inhabitants, information required by this Section shall be compiled under regulations prescribed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and shall be made available to the public upon request.

All housing authority annual reports containing information required by this Section shall be a matter of public record and shall be made available by the Housing Authority, upon request, in a manner prescribed by the federal Freedom of Information Act on request, at any reasonable time without fee or reward.

(Source: P.A. 87-200.)

(310 ILCS 10/8.22)

Sec. 8.22. Determination of income.

(a) Exclusions from income. In determining the income of a tenant for the purpose of determining rent, the Housing Authority shall exclude the following as provided in subsection (b):

(i) The amount of any income received by the tenant as a result of anti-drug, anti-crime, and related security initiatives conducted by the Housing Authority. Any activities or income excluded under this subdivision (i) must first be certified by the Housing Authority.

(ii) Any income earned by a tenant during the first 12 months of employment which follow a period of unemployment of 12 or more consecutive months if:

(A) a period of unemployment of 12 or more consecutive months or the income received within the 12 months prior to employment is less than 10 hours of work per week at the established minimum wage; or

(B) the income earned during those 12 months is received as a result of the tenant's participation in any economic self-sufficiency or other job training program; or

(C) the income earned during those 12 months is earned by a tenant due to new employment or increased earnings, during or within 6 months after receiving assistance under a State program for temporary assistance for needy families funded under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 and following), provided that the total amount of earned income received by the tenant within the previous 6 months was at least $500.

(b) Procedure for excluding income.

(i) Initial 12-month exclusion. Beginning on the first date the tenant is employed or the first date the tenant's family experiences an increase in annual income as determined under subdivision (a)(ii) of this Section, the Housing Authority must exclude the increase in annual income for each month in which the increase is received, but not for more than 12 months.

(ii) Second 12-month exclusion and phase-out. After the initial 12-month exclusion period under subdivision (b)(i) of this Section, the Housing Authority must exclude, for each month in which the increase in income is received, but not for more than 12 months, 50% of the increase in the annual income that is received due to the tenant's employment or the tenant's family experiencing an increase in annual income under subdivision (a)(ii).

(iii) Maximum 48-month period for exclusions. The exclusion of increases in income of an individual family member as provided in subdivision (b)(i) or (b)(ii) of this Section is limited to a lifetime 48-month period. The exclusion applies for a maximum of 12 months for the exclusion under subdivision (b)(i) and a maximum of 12 months for the exclusion under subdivision (b)(ii), during the 48-month period starting with the beginning of the initial exclusion period under subdivision (b)(i), which immediately follows 12 or more months of unemployment.

(c) Inapplicability of income exclusions to admission process. The exclusion of increases in income as a result of employment under this Section for the purpose of determining rent does not apply for purposes of determining eligibility for admission to any housing the program (including determinations of income eligibility and income targeting).

(d) Inapplicability of income exclusions to the HOME Investment Partnership Program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, the Supportive Housing Program, and the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The exclusion of increases in income as a result of employment as provided under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section is not applicable to the following programs: the HOME Investment Partnership Program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, the Supportive Housing Program, and the Housing Choice Voucher Program, except for a tenant family member who is a person with disabilities as defined in 42 U.S.C. 423.

(Source: P.A. 97-246, eff. 8-4-11.)

(310 ILCS 10/9) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 9)

Sec. 9. Whenever it shall be deemed necessary by an Authority in connection with the exercise of its powers herein conferred to take or acquire the fee of any real property in the area of operation or any interest therein or right with respect thereto, such Authority may acquire the same directly or through its agent or agents from the owner or owners thereof or may acquire the same by the exercise of eminent domain in the manner provided by the Eminent Domain Act.

If any of such property is devoted to a public use it may nevertheless be acquired, provided that no property belonging to a government may be acquired without its consent and that no property belonging to a corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission may be acquired without the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

The power of eminent domain shall apply not only to improved or unimproved property which may be acquired for or as an incident to the development or operation of a project or projects, but also to: (a) any improved or unimproved property the acquisition of which is necessary or appropriate for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of any blighted or slum area, or (b) any improved or unimproved property which the Authority may require to carry out the provisions of this Act. Such power may be exercised by the Housing Authority on its own initiative or as an agent of the city, village, incorporated town, county or counties, or any government, or for the purpose of sale or lease to: (a) a housing corporation operating under "An Act in relation to housing", approved July 12, 1933, as amended; (b) neighborhood redevelopment corporations operating under the "Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporation Law", approved July 9, 1941, as amended; (c) insurance companies operating under Section 125a of the "Illinois Insurance Code", approved June 29, 1937, as amended; (d) non-profit corporations organized for the purpose of constructing, managing and operating housing projects and for the improvement of housing conditions, including the rental or sale of housing units to persons in need thereof; or to any other individual, association or corporation desiring to engage in a development or redevelopment project.

For housing authorities located within municipalities having a population less than 1,000,000, no No sale or lease shall be made hereunder to any of the aforesaid corporations, associations or individuals unless a plan has been approved by the Authority and the Department for the development or redevelopment of such property and unless the purchaser or lessee furnishes the Authority a bond, with satisfactory sureties, in an amount not less than 10% of the cost of such development or redevelopment, conditioned on the completion of such development or redevelopment in accordance with the approved plan; provided that the requirement of the bond may be waived by the Department if it is satisfied of the financial ability of the purchaser or lessee to complete such development or redevelopment in accordance with the approved plan. To further assure that the real property so sold or leased shall be used in accordance with the plan, the Department may require the purchaser or lessee to execute in writing such undertakings as the Department deems necessary to obligate such purchaser or lessee (1) to use the property for the purposes presented in plans; (2) to commence and complete the building of the improvements designated in the plan within the periods of time that the Department fixes as reasonable; and (3) to comply with such other conditions as are necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act. Any such property may be sold pursuant to this section for any legal consideration in an amount to be approved by the Department.

If the area of operation of a housing authority includes a city, village or incorporated town having a population in excess of 500,000 as determined by the last preceding Federal census, no real property or interest in real property shall be acquired in such municipality by the housing authority until such time as the housing authority has advised the governing body of such municipality of the description of the real property, or interest therein, proposed to be acquired, and the governing body of the municipality has approved the acquisition thereof by the housing authority.

A "blighted or slum area" means any area of not less, in the aggregate, than one acre, excepting that in any municipality having a population in excess of 500,000, as determined by the last preceding Federal census, a "blighted or slum area" means any area of not less in the aggregate of2 acres which area, in either case, has been designated by municipal ordinance or by the Authority as an integrated project for rehabilitation, development or redevelopment, where (a) buildings or improvements, by reason of dilapidation, obsolescence, overcrowding, faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, excessive land coverage, deleterious land use or layout or any combination of these factors, are a detriment to public safety, health or morals, or welfare, or (b) there exists platted land which is predominantly open and which, because of obsolete platting, diversity of ownership, deterioration of structures or of site improvements, or otherwise substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of the community and which is to be developed for predominantly residential uses, or (c) there exists open unplatted land necessary for sound community growth which is to be developed for predominantly residential uses, or (d) parcels of land remain undeveloped because of improper platting, delinquent taxes or special assessments, scattered or uncertain ownerships, clouds on title, artificial values due to excessive utility costs, or any other impediment to the use of such area for predominantly residential uses; provided, that if in any city, village or incorporated town there exists a land clearance commission, created under the "Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947", having the same area of operation as a housing authority created in and for any such municipality, such housing authority shall have no power to acquire land of the character described in sub-paragraphs (b), (c) or (d) of the definition of "blighted or slum area", in this paragraph for the purpose of development or redevelopment by private enterprise.

The Housing Authority shall have power to hold or use any such property for uses authorized by this Act, or to sell, lease or exchange such property as is not required for such uses by the Authority. In case of sale or lease to other than a public corporation or public agency, notice shall be given and bids shall be received in the manner provided by Section 11-76-2 of the Illinois Municipal Code, as amended, and bids may be accepted by vote of three of the five Commissioners of the Authority; provided, however, that such requirement of notice and bidding shall not apply to a sale or lease to any individual, association or corporation described in the preceding paragraph; nor to a sale or lease of an individual dwelling unit in a project, to be used by the purchaser as a dwelling for his family; nor to a sale or lease of a project or part thereof to an association to be so used by its members. In case of exchange of property for property privately owned, three disinterested appraisers shall be appointed to appraise the value of the property to be exchanged, and such exchange shall not be made unless the property to be received by the Authority is equal or greater in value than the property to be exchanged therefor, or if less than such value, that the difference shall be paid in money.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(310 ILCS 10/30) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 27c)

Sec. 30. Housing authorities may jointly exercise any or all of the powers conferred on such housing authorities, for the purpose of financing, planning, undertaking, constructing or operating a housing project or projects located within the "area of operation" of any one or more of such housing authorities; and may with respect to each other exercise any powers enumerated in "An Act in relation to aid of housing projects and cooperation with housing authorities and the Federal government by municipal corporations, political subdivisions and other public bodies of this State", filed July 13, 1937, as amended, in addition to powers conferred by this Act.

A housing authority may operate outside of its area of operation (1) by contract with another housing authority, or (2) by contract with a state public body not within the area of operation of another housing authority, if the Department shall first have found a shortage of safe or sanitary dwellings within the area of such State public body, in the manner provided by Section 3 of this Act, and shall have issued a certificate to this effect to such housing authority and to such State public body.

(Source: P.A. 81-1509.)

(310 ILCS 10/8.11 rep.)

Section 10. The Housing Authorities Act is amended by repealing Section 8.11.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.