SB 27-09: Housing Reform Act for Needy Atlasians (Passed)

[Mike Thick]

AN ACT
The Housing Reform Act for Needy Atlasians

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

Section I. Title & Definitions
i. The long title of this Act shall be the "The Housing Reform Act for Needy Atlasians"

Section II: Fair Rent Provisions
i. All disabled and SSI/SSDI recipients shall not pay more security deposit within the Republic of Atlasia because of their disability or needs.
ia. This includes people with little rental history.
ii Landlords shall be banned from setting monthly rent to income requirements higher than 2-1 within their rental agreements or policies to get into an apartment.
iii. All waitlists shall exclude factors such as income requirements higher than twice the rent or rental history.
iv. All peoples making less then $25,000 per year shall be included within the needy category and shall be included within section ii and iii above.
iva. All people within the needy category must be employed or actively seeking employment.

Section III: Federal Housing
i. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is granted $80 billion to construct affordable modular home complexes.
ii. These complexes will provide housing for those who cannot adequately provide for themselves.
iii. The complexes should be able to house up to 10,000 people.
iiia. The recommended locations for construction of the complexes are Colby, KS, Ellisville, MS; Grayson, KY; just outside of Gresham, OR; just outside of Tacoma, WA; just outside of Boise, ID; just outside of Dallas, TX; just outside of San Fransisco, CA; just outside New York, NY; just outside of Chicago, IL; and just outside of Fort Meyers, FL. Federal and local leaders may recommend additional locations. All recommended locations shall be subject to HUD approval based on federal and local assessment of their suitability for added housing.
iiib. Each unit shall be between 400 and 500 square feet of living space.
iiic. Each unit shall meet the electrical and plumbing requirements determined by HUD.
iiid. "Just outside" means within 75 miles of labeled city.
iv. Residents will receive a monthly stipend of $700.
iva. Residents will have access to work opportunities to earn more money.
v. HUD shall work with the regional and local governments to ensure that homeless populations are matched with a home.

Section IV. Expansion of Subsidies
i. HUD is granted $10 billion to expand rent subsidies for low-income and disabled Atlasians
ia. Preference will be given to SSI/SSDI recipients.
ii. These subsidies shall not exceed 50% of rent or $700 per renter, whichever is greater.

Section V: Transportation Subsidies
I. For Transportation for all disabled and needy approved residents of section III.
II. All that are approved shall get free government paid airplane, grayhound bus or train tickets.
III. The government shall grant 30 million dollars yearly for this program.
IIIa money shall be doled out by HUD.

People's House of Representatives
Passed 7-1-0-1 in the House of Representatives

Sponsor: Yankee
Status: Final Vote

[Mike Thick]

Senators have 24 hours to object to Scott's sponsorship motions.

Seeing no objection, Scott is recognized as sponsor.

[Mike Thick]

24 hours for objections to Blair’s amendment.

[Mike Thick]

24 hours for objections to Blair’s amendment.

Seeing no objections, the amendment is adopted.

[Mike Thick]

Not that Scott would have objected necessarily but do try to get public feedback from the sponsor before calling for amendment objections.

Right, okay.

The amendment is adopted.

[Mike Thick]

Is it currently legal for landlords to deny tenant applications because of housing voucher status? That could be something to address here.

[Mike Thick]

[Mike Thick]

Looks great, but what’s with the Colby/Ellisville/Grayson locations? Understand that this just reflects how the bill was before, but I’d like to have a conversation about why we would concentrate public housing in areas that are likely to be pretty far from where jobs are

[Mike Thick]

Because I think there's some middle ground we can reach here, and because the sponsor of the amendment is no longer in the Senate, I'm actually not going to open an amendment vote and just say that the current amendment is voided by Scott resigning.

Maybe we could do some housing in big metros, and some housing in growing mid-size metros in rural areas? I'm thinking, like, St. George UT, Jonesboro AR, Fargo ND, etc.

[Mike Thick]

I'm going to be honest & say that I would rather have one bill (as currently drafted) to deal with reforming the law around tenant/housing rights & have a seperate bill that deals with a house-building program.

I'd want that second bill to be much larger & more in detail than a stapled on part of a bill; if we're going to spend a large sum of money I'd want it to be worthwhile.

I'm also aware that this has been on the floor for a long-time & has been one of the few bills that this Senate has been guilty of kicking around where no-one has really opposed it but no-one has championed it.

So I'm going to make myself unpopular & say I'll be motioning for a final vote on the 'skinny' version of the bill within 24 hours unless shouts loadly!

24 hours to object to Blair's motion.

[Mike Thick]

I have to say that at this point, I would rather get the bill off the floor and do a house-building program separately.

It makes more sense for the housing to be allocated by some sort of formula and empirical data, instead of us just "kicking around," to paraphrase Blair, different cities. That deserves a full legislative debate in and of itself.

[Mike Thick]

Alright folks. A final vote is now open on this bill. Please vote aye, nay, or abstain.

[Mike Thick]

This is gonna be one of those votes huh

[Mike Thick]

If you guys fail this and reintroduce an amended version, I can suspend rules and move it to the top of the queue