1 Repeal; Housing Appeals Board. The following are repealed:

I. 2019, 346:259, relative to findings of the general court relative to the housing appeals board.

II. 2019, 346:262, relative to an appropriation to the housing appeals board.

III. RSA 679, relative to the housing appeals board.

2 New Section; Affordable Housing; Statutory Commission Established. Amend RSA 204-C by inserting after section 58 the following new section:

204-C:58-a Commission to Advance Affordable Housing Options in New Hampshire. There is established a commission to advance affordable housing options in New Hampshire.

I. The members of the commission shall consist of:

(a) One member from each of the following organizations, appointed by such organization:

(1) New Hampshire Municipal Association.

(2) New Hampshire Association of Regional Planning Commissions.

(3) New Hampshire Planners Association.

(4) New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions.

(5) New Hampshire Association of Realtors.

(6) New Hampshire Homebuilders Association.

(7) Seacoast Workforce Housing Coalition.

(b) The executive director, or designee, of the New Hampshire housing finance authority.

(c) The director, or designee, of the office of strategic initiatives.

(d) The department of justice, director of the division of charitable trusts, or designee.

(e) The commissioner, or designee, of the department of environmental services.

(f) A member of the New Hampshire senate, appointed by the senate president.

(g) A member of the New Hampshire house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(h) Two members of the public, appointed by the governor, who also have served at least one full, elected or appointed term on a local planning board.

II.(a) The commission shall identify and detail the issue of access to affordable housing options in New Hampshire. The commission may examine the issue statewide or identify areas in the state of the highest concern where the most focus could produce the best benefits.

(b) The commission shall consult with municipalities and regional planning commissions throughout the state to foster innovative ways to provide affordable housing choices for New Hampshire residents, including legislation, model ordinances, and other tools that can be used by municipalities to incentivise the development of affordable housing options.

(c) The commission shall determine the most appropriate ways to further implement the recommendations of the governor's taskforce on housing.

(d) The commission shall explore ways to inform municipalities, public housing industry providers, real estate owners, developers, building contractors, and housing advocates of their findings and recommendations on the creation of workforce housing in New Hampshire.

III. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. A majority of members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

IV. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

V. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before July 1, 2021.

3 Repeal. RSA 204-C:58-a, relative to the commission to advance affordable housing options in New Hampshire, is repealed.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Repeal; Housing Appeals Board. The following are repealed:

I. 2019, 346:259, relative to findings of the general court relative to the housing appeals board.

II. 2019, 346:262, relative to an appropriation to the housing appeals board.

III. RSA 679, relative to the housing appeals board.

2 New Section; Affordable Housing; Statutory Commission Established. Amend RSA 204-C by inserting after section 58 the following new section:

204-C:58-a Commission to Advance Affordable Housing Options in New Hampshire. There is established a commission to advance affordable housing options in New Hampshire.

I. The members of the commission shall consist of:

(a) One member from each of the following organizations, appointed by such organization:

(1) New Hampshire Municipal Association.

(2) New Hampshire Association of Regional Planning Commissions.

(3) New Hampshire Planners Association.

(4) New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions.

(5) New Hampshire Association of Realtors.

(6) New Hampshire Homebuilders Association.

(7) Seacoast Workforce Housing Coalition.

(b) The executive director, or designee, of the New Hampshire housing finance authority.

(c) The director, or designee, of the office of strategic initiatives.

(d) The department of justice, director of the division of charitable trusts, or designee.

(e) The commissioner, or designee, of the department of environmental services.

(f) A member of the New Hampshire senate, appointed by the senate president.

(g) A member of the New Hampshire house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(h) Two members of the public, appointed by the governor, who also have served at least one full, elected or appointed term on a local planning board.

II.(a) The commission shall identify and detail the issue of access to affordable housing options in New Hampshire. The commission may examine the issue statewide or identify areas in the state of the highest concern where the most focus could produce the best benefits.

(b) The commission shall consult with municipalities and regional planning commissions throughout the state to foster innovative ways to provide affordable housing choices for New Hampshire residents, including legislation, model ordinances, and other tools that can be used by municipalities to incentivise the development of affordable housing options.

(c) The commission shall determine the most appropriate ways to further implement the recommendations of the governor's taskforce on housing.

(d) The commission shall explore ways to inform municipalities, public housing industry providers, real estate owners, developers, building contractors, and housing advocates of their findings and recommendations on the creation of workforce housing in New Hampshire.

III. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. A majority of members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

IV. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

V. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before July 1, 2021.

3 Repeal. RSA 204-C:58-a, relative to the commission to advance affordable housing options in New Hampshire, is repealed.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.