to adopt the amendments to HB 4420 (H-2).
Representative Tate moved to adopt the amendments to HB 4420 (H-2). The motion did not prevail 12-17-0: UNFAVORABLE ROLL CALL Yeas: Reps. Tate, Hammoud, Peterson, Sabo, Tyrone Carter, Hood, Cynthia Johnson, Brabec, O'Neal, Steckloff, Thanedar, Weiss. Nays: Reps. Albert, Whiteford, Allor, Brann, Hornberger, VanSingel, Yaroch, Bollin, Glenn, Huizenga, Lightner, Maddock, Slagh, VanWoerkom, Beson, Borton, Fink. Pass: None. Representative Cynthia Johnson offered the following amendments to HB 4420 (H-2): 1. Amend page 13, following line 23, by inserting: "Statewide blight elimination initiative…………………………… 12,000,000." 2. Amend page 14, line 2, after "fund" by striking out "186,300,000" and inserting "198,300,000" and adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly. 3. Amend page 39, following line 18, by inserting: "Sec. 455. (1) The funds appropriated in part 1 for statewide blight elimination initiative must be used to provide public safety and social and economic benefits to rural and urban communities through the removal of blighted residential, commercial, industrial, and public structures, and environmental remediation. The goal of the program is to establish a basis for the property to be made available for future productive use with a focus on creating economic opportunities for the communities as well as improving the safety of residents and first responders. (2) Eligible applicants must certify that the projects will be led by a county land bank or will include a land bank partnership. The projects must retain land bank staff as the administrative program manager. (3) The state land bank authority must distribute at least 25% of the funds to each of the following: (a) Communities with a population of greater than 50,000 according to the most recent federal decennial census. (b) Communities with a population of between 15,000 and 50,000 according to the most recent federal decennial census. (c) Communities with a population of less than 15,000 according to the most recent federal decennial census. (4) Publicly owned or controlled vacant, abandoned, and blighted residential or commercial structures are automatically eligible for demolition provided that the local government or partner is not the cause of the neglect. (5) The state land bank authority shall give priority to the following: (a) Eligible applicants that are or include redevelopment-ready certified local governments. (b) Eligible applicants that include properties with government-declared dangerous and condemnation status. (c) Eligible applicants that include redevelopment plans or projects approved or pending. (d) Eligible applicants that can demonstrate they can leverage additional funding sources. (e) Eligible applicants that include projects with committed local funds or in-kind match funds. (6) Eligible applicants who certify to the following shall receive additional priority when awarding grants: (a) The municipal or county brownfield redevelopment authority has identified the site as eligible and either has approved the site in a brownfield plan or has committed to designating the site in a brownfield plan. (b) The demolition and other related activities proposed in the grant request are, or will be, included within the current or proposed brownfield plan. (c) The municipal or county brownfield redevelopment authority agrees that they will capture taxes under the brownfield plan equal to the difference between the project amount and the grant amount under this section. (d) The municipal or county brownfield redevelopment authority agrees to deposit the captured taxes into a fund for use on future local demolition projects. Future certifications must indicate how these funds were used and must be reported by the state land bank authority. (7) Grants provided under this section must be capped at $50,000.00 per residential parcel or structure and $200,000.00 per commercial or industrial parcel or structure. The project maximum could not exceed $500,000.00. (8) As used in this section: (a) "Blighted structure" means a structure that meets any of the following: (i) Is a public nuisance according to local codes or ordinances. (ii) Is a fire hazard or otherwise dangerous to the safety of persons or property. (iii) Has utilities, plumbing, heating, or sewerage disconnected, destroyed removed, or rendered ineffective so that the property is unfit for its intended use. (iv) Is owned by, or under a pending sales agreement, or under control of a land bank authority. (b) "Eligible applicant" means local units of government, county land banks, and county brownfield redevelopment authorities.".