HB 65-SENIOR CITIZEN HOUSING DEV. FUND GRANTS    3:36:18 PM CHAIR OLSON announced the consideration of HB 65. 3:36:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE BRYCE EDGMON, sponsor of HB 65, said this bill adds the housing authorities into Title 18 [AS 18.55.996] to directly participate in the Senior Citizens Housing Development Fund (SCHDF) grants through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). This grant has, in the past, been available to municipalities and not-for-profit corporations. HB 65 speeds up the ability for AHFC to work with the housing authorities to build senior housing units. He noted that the SCHDF grant is in the budget for $4.5 million. HB 65 passed the House 38 to 0 and there was no opposition to the bill in the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee or the House Finance Standing Committee. The bill is also supported by AHFC, the housing authorities, the Alaska Commission on Aging, and the Association of American Retired Persons. He added that HB 65 comes with a zero fiscal note. CHAIR OLSON asked what the housing authorities have been doing in the mean time in order to address the senior housing issue. REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON answered that of the 14 housing authorities, seven have gone through the process of forming not- for-profit corporations in order to participate in this loan program. HB 65 allows these additional seven housing authorities to be directly eligible for the program. He said, in the mean time, the housing authorities have been building senior housing units using a range of funds, including the Denali Commission, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Native American Housing Assistance and the Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), and others. This bill provides a more direct conduit between the housing authorities and the housing grant through AHFC. CHAIR OLSON asked what percentage of the funding for the grant are state moneys and what percentage are federal moneys. 3:40:21 PM ELAINE MELLO, Recipient Project Manager, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), replied that this depends on the project. She explained that the amount varies depending on how the particular sponsor decides to structure the funding. CHAIR OLSON asked what type of inhibition caused HB 65 to be drawn up and put before the legislature. MS. MELO replied that AHFC is trying to make it as easy as possible for the regional housing authorities to access the SCHDF. She explained that in the past these housing authorities have been able to do this through developing either a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4). This can be a fairly long and arduous process and is an extra step to take in order to access this money. 3:42:58 PM CHAIR OLSON announced he would hold HB 65 in committee.