(a) The Alabama Housing Trust Fund shall be maintained and administered by ADECA. ADECA is authorized and directed to do all the following:

(1) Invest and reinvest all money held in the trust fund in investments under ADECA's investment policies, pending its use for the purposes described in Section 24-10-6.

(2) Keep books and records relating to the investment, interest earnings, and uses of monies deposited into the trust fund.

(3) Establish procedures for the withdrawal, allocation, and use of the monies held in the trust fund for the purposes described in Section 24-10-6.

(4) Publish, on an annual basis, criteria for determining the distribution of funds.

(5) Conduct an annual independent audit of the trust fund.

(6) Prepare, in collaboration with the advisory committee, an annual performance report, which shall be provided to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, outlining the use of the trust fund monies, including, but not limited to, the trust fund's success in meeting its intended purposes.

(7) Conduct, or hire an outside entity to conduct a statewide housing needs assessment, once every five years to inform ADECA, its director, and the advisory committee of the affordable housing needs in Alabama. The assessment should include the housing needs for individuals with disabilities, those living with HIV/AIDS, intellectual disability, individuals experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence, veterans, and the elderly.

(8) Enter into contracts and agreements in connection with the operation of the trust fund, including contracts and agreements with federal agencies, local governmental entities, community developers, and other not-for-profit groups. This provision shall not authorize contracts and agreements with for-profit entities.

(9) Engage in ongoing efforts to increase funding sources for the trust fund, including any additional ongoing state-dedicated funding source.

(b) ADECA shall seek the input of the Alabama Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee, outlined in Section 24-10-8, but the Director of ADECA has final decision-making authority on all matters relating to the trust fund and the programs administered under Section 24-10-4.

(c) ADECA shall be periodically paid a reasonable fee from amounts deposited to the trust fund to reimburse ADECA for its services in administering the trust fund. On an annual basis, ADECA shall not be paid in excess of 10 percent of the total annual deposits to the trust fund.