It is the intent of the Legislature that the creation of the districts should not ordinarily lead to the removal of existing dwelling units. If, however, any dwelling units are proposed to be removed or destroyed in the course of public works construction within the area of the district or private development within the area of the district that is subject to a written agreement with the district or that is financed in whole or in part by the district then the infrastructure financing plan adopted pursuant to Section 53398.69 shall contain provisions to do all of the following:

(a) If the dwelling units to be removed or destroyed are or were inhabited by persons or families of very low, low, or moderate income, as defined in Sections 50105 and 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, at any time within five years prior to establishment of the district, cause or require the construction or rehabilitation of an equal number of replacement dwelling units, within one-half mile of the location of the units to be removed or destroyed, that have an equal or greater number of bedrooms as those removed or destroyed units, within two years of the removal or destruction of the dwelling units. The replacement dwelling units shall be available for rent or sale to persons or families of very low, low, or moderate income, at affordable rent, as defined in Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, or at affordable housing cost, as defined in Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, to persons in the same or a lower income category (extremely low, very low, low, or moderate), as the persons displaced from, or who last occupied, the removed or destroyed dwelling units.

(b) If the dwelling units to be removed or destroyed were not inhabited by persons of low or moderate income within the period of time specified in subdivision (a), cause or require the construction or rehabilitation within one-half mile of the location of the units to be removed or destroyed of at least one unit but not less than 25 percent of the total dwelling units removed or destroyed, within two years of the removal or destruction of the dwelling units. The units constructed or rehabilitated pursuant to this subdivision shall be of equivalent size and type to the units to be removed or destroyed. An equal percentage of the replacement dwelling units constructed or rehabilitated pursuant to this subdivision shall be available for rent or sale at affordable rent, as defined in Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, or affordable housing cost, as defined in Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, to extremely low and very low income persons or families, as defined in Sections 50106 and 50105 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) Comply with all relocation assistance requirements of Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1, for persons displaced from dwelling units by any public works construction within the area of the district or private development within the area of the district that is subject to a written agreement with the district or that is financed in whole or in part by the district as a result of the infrastructure financing plan adopted pursuant to Section 53398.69. The displacement of any persons from a dwelling unit as a result of the plan shall be deemed to be the result of public action.

(d) Ensure that removal or destruction of any dwelling units occupied by persons or families of low or moderate income not take place unless and until there has been full compliance with the relocation assistance requirements of this section, Section 53398.63, and Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1.

(e) (1) The district shall require, by recorded covenants or restrictions, that all dwelling units constructed or rehabilitated pursuant to this section shall remain available at affordable rent or housing cost to, and occupied by, persons and families of the same income categories as required by subdivision (a) or (b), as applicable, for the longest feasible time, but for not less than 55 years for rental units and 45 years for owner-occupied units.

(2) The district may permit sales of owner-occupied units prior to the expiration of the 45-year period for a price in excess of that otherwise permitted under this subdivision pursuant to an adopted program which protects the district’s investment of moneys in the unit or units, including, but not limited to, an equity sharing program, not in conflict with another public funding source or law, which establishes a schedule of equity sharing that permits retention by the seller of a portion of those excess proceeds based on the length of occupancy. For purposes of this paragraph, the terms of the equity sharing program shall be consistent with the provisions of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 65915, provided, however, that the program shall require any amounts recaptured by the district to be used within five years for any of the affordable housing purposes described in Section 34176.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 320, Sec. 4. (AB 313) Effective January 1, 2016.)