(a) The Napa County Farmworker Centers Account is hereby established, to be administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, through its Office of Migrant Services pursuant to the authority granted in Sections 50406 and 50710, to assist in the financing, maintenance, and operation of the Napa County Housing Authority’s Farmworker Centers for year-round use by migrant or nonmigrant farm labor employees. The Napa County Housing Authority shall continue to own and operate the farmworker centers pursuant to the local ordinances, regulations, or bylaws currently applicable thereto.
(b) The department shall award, annually, up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in matching funds, pursuant to this section, to the Napa County Housing Authority upon demonstration that the Napa County Housing Authority is capable of continuing to effectively serve the housing needs of migrant or other farmworkers in Napa County. To be eligible for funding, the Napa County Housing Authority shall provide equal or greater funds from local sources to support financing, maintenance, and operations of the housing assisted under this section. The Napa County Housing Authority shall also demonstrate its capability, upon receiving the funds awarded pursuant to this section, of ensuring the fiscal integrity of the farmworker centers and maintaining the project in a decent, safe, and sanitary manner for at least 25 years.
(c) The year-round use provided for in subdivision (a) for farmworker centers may be interrupted, as necessary, to close the housing for maintenance purposes, to allow new migrant farmworkers to obtain housing, or for any other purpose the Napa County Housing Authority deems necessary.
(d) The department shall use funds allocated from the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 50470, as provided by Senate Bill 2 of the 2017–18 Regular Session, if that bill is enacted. If Senate Bill 2 of the 2017–18 Regular Session is not enacted, this section shall be inoperative until a funding source is identified. Funds made available pursuant to this subdivision may be used for the costs permitted by or pursuant to subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, of Section 50712.5. For purposes of soliciting and awarding funds pursuant to this section, the department shall not be required to promulgate regulations.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 469, Sec. 1. (AB 317) Effective January 1, 2018.)