(a)There is hereby created in the Department of Housing and Community Development the Tribal Housing Grant Program Fund Advisory Committee, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(b)(1) The membership of the committee shall be composed of members who are representatives of federally recognized tribal governments and have knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of tribal housing, tribal land, tribal government, tribal policy, and tribal law to close the gap of inconsistencies and barriers for tribes to successfully access state-funded grant programs. These members shall consist of at least the following:
(A) Three members from central
California.
(B) Three members from northern California.
(C) Three members from southern California.
(D) Four nonvoting members, as follows:
(i)The Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing or their designee.
(ii) The Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development or a designee.
(iii) The executive officer of the Interagency Council on Homelessness or a designee.
(iv) The executive director of the California Housing Finance Agency or a designee.
(2)The committee shall
be cochaired by both of the following:
(A)The Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development or a designee.
(B)A tribal representative voted upon by the committee members.
(3)(A) Subject to funding availability, a voting member of the committee who represents a tribe shall receive a per diem of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day during which the member is engaged in the performance of official duties and shall be reimbursed for travel and other expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of official duties.
(B)Notwithstanding any other law, assistance provided pursuant to this paragraph shall not be deemed to be income for purposes of the Personal Income Tax Law (Part 10 (commencing with Section
17001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code) or used to determine eligibility for any state program or local program financed wholly or in part by state funds.
(c)(1) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall appoint the voting members to the committee. Voting membership on the committee shall be served on a volunteer basis for four-year terms with no term limits so long as the member is active and does not miss three consecutive meetings.
(2)The Department of Housing and Community Development shall take into account both of the following when appointing members to be on the committee:
(A)Geographic diversity.
(B)Proven qualifying experience and expertise in tribal housing.
(3)An individual may apply to be a member on the committee by submitting an application with all of the following information to the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency:
(A)A letter of nomination and support from their respective tribal chairperson.
(B)A portfolio of qualifying experience, including, but not limited to, demonstrated expertise and experience in tribal housing.
(C)A defined region of representation.