HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 705 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 10, 2007 Directing the Virginia Housing Commission to study the availability of affordable housing for the work force. Report. ---------- Patron-- Amundson ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

WHEREAS, many in the nation's work force are doing all they can to earn a decent living; and

WHEREAS, affordable housing for much of the work force, including the Commonwealth's, is getting more difficult to locate; and

WHEREAS, several states are offering incentives and initiatives in order to provide affordable housing for those who cannot find it; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Housing Commission constantly strives to assist those needing housing; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia Housing Commission be directed to study the availability of affordable workforce housing.

In conducting its study, the Virginia Housing Commission shall (i) examine how other states provide affordable housing for their work force, including but not limited to income tax incentives such as deductions and credits as well as other tax and nontax initiatives, and (ii) determine what initiatives and incentives have been the most successful in providing affordable housing for the work force that may also be successful in the Commonwealth.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Virginia Housing Commission by the Department of Taxation. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Virginia Housing Commission for this study, upon request.

 The Virginia Housing Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2007, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2008 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Virginia Housing Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.