1 New Section; New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority; Low and Moderate Income Housing Loan Program; Green Building Standards Rehabilitation Initiative. Amend RSA 204-C by inserting after section 65 the following new section:

204-C:65-a Green Building Standards Rehabilitation Initiative. The second priority of the low and moderate income housing loan program shall be to assist low and moderate income persons to complete rehabilitation and improvement projects designed to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. Qualifying projects shall be based on green building standards, designed to minimize environmental impacts, reduce waste, and promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Qualifying projects may include the installation of solar panels and the replacement of lead pipes.

2 Appropriation; Green Building Standards Rehabilitation Initiative. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 is hereby appropriated to the New Hampshire housing finance authority for the purpose of funding the green building standards rehabilitation initiative. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 New Section; New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority; Commission to Study Green Housing and Utility Source Options. Amend RSA 204-C by inserting after section 70 the following new section:

204-C:70-a Commission Established. There is established a commission to study green housing and utility source options.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) One representative of the New Hampshire housing finance authority, appointed by that entity.

(d) One representative of a utility company, jointly appointed by the senate president and the speaker of the house of representatives.

(e) Two members appointed by the president of the New Hampshire Building Trades, one of whom shall work for a utility company.

(f) Two public members, one of whom shall be a tenant and one of whom shall be a homeowner, appointed by the executive director of Rights and Democracy New Hampshire.

(g) One representative of New Hampshire Legal Assistance, appointed by that organization.

(h) One representative of a community action program that administers a weatherization program, appointed by the New Hampshire Community Action Partnership.

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

III. The commission shall study the development and expansion of green housing initiatives in New Hampshire. The commission shall:

(a) Consider how to encourage development projects that create well-compensated jobs renovating affordable housing units, installing rooftop solar panels, and carrying out environmental remediation projects, such as building micro-grids and replacing lead pipes, in front line communities.

(b) Determine how to make electricity more affordable for low and moderate income communities through an initiative that directs utility companies to complete a percentage of retrofits over a multi-year period, and ensures the cost of the retrofits is not passed on to low-income housing residents.

(c) Study how to ensure that fair labor standards are upheld for all those conducting green housing rehabilitation, including $15/hour or prevailing wages, whichever is higher, and access to collective bargaining.

(d) Plan for workforce development training, with a priority given to building trades as trainers, and the recruitment of community members where the work will be conducted.

IV. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall report 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 November 1, 2021.

4 Repeal. RSA 204-C:70-a, relative to the commission to study green housing and utility source options, is repealed.

5 Effective Date.

I. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

II. Section 4 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2021.

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

1 New Section; New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority; Low and Moderate Income Housing Loan Program; Green Building Standards Rehabilitation Initiative. Amend RSA 204-C by inserting after section 65 the following new section:

204-C:65-a Green Building Standards Rehabilitation Initiative. The second priority of the low and moderate income housing loan program shall be to assist low and moderate income persons to complete rehabilitation and improvement projects designed to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. Qualifying projects shall be based on green building standards, designed to minimize environmental impacts, reduce waste, and promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Qualifying projects may include the installation of solar panels and the replacement of lead pipes.

2 Appropriation; Green Building Standards Rehabilitation Initiative. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 is hereby appropriated to the New Hampshire housing finance authority for the purpose of funding the green building standards rehabilitation initiative. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 New Section; New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority; Commission to Study Green Housing and Utility Source Options. Amend RSA 204-C by inserting after section 70 the following new section:

204-C:70-a Commission Established. There is established a commission to study green housing and utility source options.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) One representative of the New Hampshire housing finance authority, appointed by that entity.

(d) One representative of a utility company, jointly appointed by the senate president and the speaker of the house of representatives.

(e) Two members appointed by the president of the New Hampshire Building Trades, one of whom shall work for a utility company.

(f) Two public members, one of whom shall be a tenant and one of whom shall be a homeowner, appointed by the executive director of Rights and Democracy New Hampshire.

(g) One representative of New Hampshire Legal Assistance, appointed by that organization.

(h) One representative of a community action program that administers a weatherization program, appointed by the New Hampshire Community Action Partnership.

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

III. The commission shall study the development and expansion of green housing initiatives in New Hampshire. The commission shall:

(a) Consider how to encourage development projects that create well-compensated jobs renovating affordable housing units, installing rooftop solar panels, and carrying out environmental remediation projects, such as building micro-grids and replacing lead pipes, in front line communities.

(b) Determine how to make electricity more affordable for low and moderate income communities through an initiative that directs utility companies to complete a percentage of retrofits over a multi-year period, and ensures the cost of the retrofits is not passed on to low-income housing residents.

(c) Study how to ensure that fair labor standards are upheld for all those conducting green housing rehabilitation, including $15/hour or prevailing wages, whichever is higher, and access to collective bargaining.

(d) Plan for workforce development training, with a priority given to building trades as trainers, and the recruitment of community members where the work will be conducted.

IV. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall report 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 November 1, 2021.

4 Repeal. RSA 204-C:70-a, relative to the commission to study green housing and utility source options, is repealed.

5 Effective Date.

I. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

II. Section 4 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2021.

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