(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the County of Orange and any of the cities within the County of Orange may enter into a joint powers agreement pursuant to this chapter to create and operate a joint powers agency to fund housing to assist the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, within the County of Orange.

(2) The joint powers agency created pursuant to this section shall be known as the Orange County Housing Finance Trust, and shall be created and operate in accordance with this section.

(b) The Orange County Housing Finance Trust shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of elected officials representing the County of Orange and representative cities that are party to the joint powers agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the Orange County Housing Finance Trust may do any of the following:

(1) Fund the planning and construction of housing of all types and tenures for the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, including, but not limited to, permanent supportive housing.

(2) Receive public and private financing and funds.

(3) Authorize and issue bonds, certificates of participation, or any other debt instrument repayable from funds and financing received pursuant to paragraph (2) and pledged by the Orange County Housing Finance Trust.

(d) The Orange County Housing Finance Trust shall incorporate into its joint powers agreement annual financial reporting and auditing requirements that shall maximize transparency and public information as to the receipt and use of funds by the agency. The annual financial report shall show how the funds have furthered the purposes of the Orange County Housing Finance Trust.

(e) The Orange County Housing Finance Trust shall comply with the regulatory guidelines of each specific state funding source received.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 336, Sec. 2. (AB 448) Effective January 1, 2019.)