It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to ensure that funds allocated to the state pursuant to the federal State Community Development Block Grant Program (42 U.S.C. Sec. 5306(d)), and administered by the department, be prioritized for the most effective activities in order to provide maximum benefit in meeting the housing and economic development needs of persons and families of low or moderate income. The Legislature intends that these funds be provided to eligible cities and counties that develop and preserve decent affordable housing and suitable living environments and expand economic development opportunities. It is the intent of the Legislature to reaffirm established state policy that each eligible city or county contribute to meeting the statewide housing goals, or contribute to meeting the state’s urgent need to halt the flow of jobs out of California by working to retain and expand existing businesses and attract new businesses that provide jobs to low- and moderate-income persons and families, or do both, and that funds allocated pursuant to this chapter be distributed accordingly.

It is the intent of the Legislature that program funding be prioritized for the most effective activities in order to provide that taxpayer contributions are efficiently deployed to foster housing and economic development. All funded eligible activities shall be consistent with the state’s consolidated plan and any annual update to the consolidated plan that is provided to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which details how the State of California intends to use federal program funds.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 96, Sec. 3. (SB 106) Effective July 21, 2017.)