The department shall adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, for the administration of this chapter. The rules and regulations shall give priority in the allocation of funds available for the purposes of this chapter to the following:

(a)  Rental housing developments which are of the lowest possible cost, given local market conditions.

(b)  Rental housing developments which incorporate innovative or energy-efficient design and construction techniques and higher densities that will result in lower costs while retaining quality.

(c)  Rental housing developments which complement the implementation of a local housing program of increased housing supply for persons and families of low or moderate income.

(d)  Rental housing developments for which the housing sponsor, whether public or private, has contributed or received funds, services, or land or for which Community Development Block Grant Funds have been allocated under Title I of Federal Public Law 93-383 for eligible expenditures, including, but not limited to, rent subsidies, site acquisition, development costs, or construction costs.

(e)  Rental housing developments which utilize available funds in the most efficient manner to produce the maximum number of housing units.

(f)  To the extent feasible and consistent with the other priorities contained in this section, rental housing developments which are located within existing public transit corridors as defined in Section 50093.5. However, this priority shall not apply to rental housing developments located in rural areas which are assisted pursuant to this chapter.

(Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1154, Sec. 3.2.)