(a) (1) Subject to the requirements set forth in paragraph (2), there is exempt from taxation under this part that portion of the assessed value of property, owned and operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe or its tribally designated housing entity, that corresponds to that portion of the property that is continuously available to, or occupied by, lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code or applicable federal, state, or local financing agreements, at rents that do not exceed those prescribed by Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, or rents that do not exceed those prescribed by the terms of the applicable federal, state, or local financing agreements or financial assistance agreements.

(2) The exemption set forth in subdivision (a) applies only if the property and entity meet the following requirements:

(A) At least 30 percent of the property’s housing units are either continuously available to, or occupied by, lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code or applicable federal, state, or local financing agreements, at rents that do not exceed those prescribed by Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, or rents that do not exceed those prescribed by the terms of the applicable federal, state, or local financing agreements or financial assistance agreements.

(B) The housing entity is nonprofit.

(C) No part of the net earnings of the housing entity inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

(b) In lieu of the tax imposed by this part, a tribe or tribally designated housing entity may agree to make payments to a county, city, city and county, or political subdivision of the state for services, improvements, or facilities provided by that entity for the benefit of a low-income housing project owned and operated by the tribe or tribally designated housing entity. Any payments in lieu of tax may not exceed the estimated cost to the city, county, city and county, or political subdivision of the state of the services, improvements, or facilities to be provided.

(c) A tribe or tribally designated housing entity applying for an exemption under this section shall provide the following documents to the assessor:

(1) Documents establishing that the designating tribe is federally recognized.

(2) Documents establishing that the housing entity has been designated by the tribe.

(3) Documents establishing that there is a deed restriction, agreement, or other legally binding document requiring that the property be used in compliance with subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(d) This exemption shall be known as the “tribal housing exemption.”

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 775, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2003.)