(a)  The department may set aside the amount of funds authorized by subdivision (d) for the purposes of curing or averting a default on the terms of any loan or other obligation by the recipient of financial assistance, or bidding at any foreclosure sale where the default or foreclosure sale would jeopardize the department’s security in the dwelling unit assisted pursuant to this chapter.

(b)  The department may use the set-aside funds made available pursuant to this chapter to repair or maintain any dwelling unit assisted pursuant to this chapter that was acquired to protect the department’s security interest in the dwelling unit.

(c)  The payment or advance of funds by the department pursuant to this section shall be exclusively within the department’s discretion, and no person shall be deemed to have any entitlement to the payment or advance of those funds. The amount of any funds expended by the department for the purposes of curing or averting a default shall be added to any grant amount secured by the lien and shall be payable to the department upon demand.

(d)  On the effective date of the act that adds this section, the department may set aside up to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) from the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Fund for the purposes authorized by this section. On July 1 of each subsequent fiscal year, the department may set aside, for the purposes of this section, up to 1.5 percent of the funds available in the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Fund on that date.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 159, Sec. 13. (AB 101) Effective July 31, 2019.)