(a) The Commissioner of Housing and Community Development shall establish guidelines for the provision of affordable housing by municipalities with plans that have not been approved under this chapter. These guidelines shall be consistent with goals established in section 4302 of this title.

(b) On a periodic basis, commencing in 1996, the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development, or a designee, shall review the planning process of municipalities that do not have approved plans, for compliance with the affordable housing criteria established under this section and shall issue a report to the municipality and to the regional planning commission. Each review shall include a public hearing which is noticed at least 15 days in advance by posting in the office of the municipal clerk and at least one public place within the municipality and by publication in a newspaper or newspapers of general publication in the region affected. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 15a, eff. July 1, 1989; amended 1989, No. 101, § 5; 1989, No. 280 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2003, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 88; 2009, No. 146 (Adj. Sess.), § G5, eff. June 1, 2010.)