12-5220. Legislative findings; declaration of necessity. It is hereby found and declared that there exists within the state of Kansas a serious shortage of decent, safe and sanitary housing which persons and families of low and moderate income can afford. It is hereby further declared that:

(a) Such shortage is injurious to the safety, health and welfare of the citizens and residents of this state;

(b) the cost of financing such additional housing is a major and substantial factor affecting the supply and availability of decent, safe and sanitary housing within the financial means of persons and families of low and moderate income;

(c) the shortage of such housing is not transitory and self-curing and the resources of private enterprise are not adequate to provide necessary additional decent, safe and sanitary housing which will be within the financial resources of persons and families of low and moderate income;

(d) the construction of additional residential housing is closely correlated with general economic activity and the availability of residential housing which persons of low and moderate income can afford will assist materially in promoting and maintaining full employment and promoting the economic development of the state of Kansas and of cities and counties within the state;

(e) it is necessary and in the best interests of the state and of the cities and counties in the state: (1) To provide for and promote the public health, safety and welfare; (2) to encourage the expansion of industrial and commercial activities and the economic development of the state's cities and counties; and (3) to assist persons and families of low and moderate income in acquiring, owning and occupying decent, safe and sanitary housing which they can afford;

(f) an adequate supply of decent, safe and sanitary residential housing is essential to the promotion of increased productivity of the residents of the cities and counties of the state, for retaining existing industry and commercial activities near or within the cities and counties in the state, and for attracting additional industry and commercial activities to the cities and counties in the state, thereby enhancing the economic development of the state;

(g) in order to remedy the existing shortage of residential housing within the financial means of persons and families of low and moderate income and to realize the social, economic and other benefits which will result therefrom, it is necessary and desirable to provide for the implementation of public programs designed to provide alternative means of financing the acquisition, rehabilitation, improvement and purchase of safe, decent and sanitary housing by persons and families of low and moderate income;

(h) it is necessary and desirable that the state's cities and counties be authorized to issue revenue bonds to provide funds necessary, in whole or in part, to reduce the costs of financing the acquisition, rehabilitation, improvement and purchase of safe, decent and sanitary housing by persons and families of low and moderate income;

(i) the implementation of such programs and the issuance of revenue bonds pursuant to this act are in the public interest and constitute essential governmental functions of cities and counties of the state.

History: L. 1982, ch. 60, § 2; L. 1983, ch. 71, § 1; May 5.