To allow state agencies to identify surplus, state-owned land that could be sold to housing organizations. The purpose would be to provide more affordable housing. The bill defines the criteria from which surplus land could be sold for lower than market rates.   Official Text and Analysis.

To change the date by which agencies must provide their first inventories to the DCTED from September 2007 to June 2008. The terms "non-profit housing organizations" and "eligible public agencies" are replaced with "eligible organizations" which must have experience developing housing. The requirement for surplus properties to include the current zoning classification and current market price of the properties is removed. The time period in which a development must be completed is extended from five to eight years. School districts are required to inventory property and provide that inventory to counties as property becomes available. A statement is made that cities, towns, counties and school districts have the sole authority to classify surplus property as suitable for affordable housing.

To removing the following: requirement that public entities have to sell a property at a discounted price; requirement for the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development to collect, compile and publish the inventories; requirement for a report from agencies and local governments to the state regarding what surplus properties were sold for affordable housing. In addition the substitute adds that only "known" information about the property need be reported in agency and local government inventories and the inventories are required to be updated once per year. Only buildable lands counties and counties with populations over 400,000; cities and towns with populations at or above 5,000 within buildable lands counties and within counties with populations over 400,000; and school districts with enrollment over 5,000 are required to complete inventories and are subject to the sale requirement. Agencies, commissions and local governments subject to this section have the sole authority to determine what constitutes option and purchase conditions. The Department of Transportation is added to the list of agencies that must offer surplus land to eligible organizations for affordable housing development pursuant to this act. A federal severability clause was added. The requirement of public entities to offer surplus property for affordable housing or special needs housing development is expanded from 90 to 180 days. A null and void clause was added so that this legislation is not enacted unless referenced in the budget.

To require that a school districts must offer suitable surplus property to eligible organizations, which includes nonprofit early learning providers, for the development of community schools, in addition to offering such land for the development of affordable or special needs housing.