Chapter 234

234.29 234.29 Equality of occupancy and employment. The authority shall require that occupancy of housing projects assisted under this chapter be open to all regardless of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (u), or creed, and that contractors and subcontractors engaged in the construction of economic development or housing projects, shall provide an equal opportunity for employment, without discrimination as to sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or creed.

234.29 History History: 1971 c. 287; 1975 c. 94; 1981 c. 112; 1983 a. 83; 2009 a. 95.

234.30 234.30 Cooperation. The heads of all departments, boards, councils, committees and commissions in the administrative branch, and the heads of the various divisions, sections and departments thereunder, shall extend their full and unlimited cooperation, including but not limited to the providing of personnel and facilities, to the authority.

234.30 History History: 1971 c. 287.

234.31 234.31 Construction of chapter. This chapter is necessary for the welfare of this state and its inhabitants; therefore, it shall be liberally construed to effect its purpose.

234.31 History History: 1971 c. 287.

234.32 234.32 Laws not applicable to authority.

234.32(1) (1) Chapter 138 shall not apply to the authority.

234.32(2) (2) The authority may adopt by resolution ch. 34, or any section, subsection, paragraph or subdivision of ch. 34. If adopted by resolution of the authority, ch. 34, or any section, subsection, paragraph or subdivision of ch. 34 shall apply to the authority.

234.32 History History: 1975 c. 221; 1977 c. 320.

234.35 234.35 Minority financial interests.

234.35(1) (1) In this section, “minority business,” “minority financial adviser,” and “minority investment firm” mean a business, financial adviser, and investment firm, respectively, certified by the department of administration under s. 16.287 (2).

234.35(2) (2) The authority shall annually report to the department of administration the total amount purchased from and contracted or subcontracted under contracts made by the authority to minority businesses, the total amount of bonds and notes issued by the authority with the underwriting services of minority investment firms and the total amount of moneys expended by the authority for the services of minority financial advisers during the preceding state fiscal year.

234.35 History History: 1987 a. 27; 1995 a. 27 s. 9116 (5); 1997 a. 27 s. 3374; Stats. 1997 s. 234.35; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 196.

234.36 234.36 Disabled veteran-owned business financial interests.

234.36(1) (1) In this section, “business,” “financial adviser,” and “investment firm” mean a business, financial adviser, and investment firm certified by the department of administration under s. 16.283 (3).

234.36(2) (2) The authority shall annually report to the department of administration the total amount purchased from and contracted or subcontracted under contracts made by the authority to businesses, the total amount of bonds and notes issued by the authority with the underwriting services of investment firms, and the total amount of moneys expended by the authority for the services of financial advisers during the preceding state fiscal year.

234.36 History History: 2009 a. 299; 2011 a. 32; 2011 a. 260 s. 80.

234.40 234.40 Bonds for veterans housing loans and other veterans assistance programs.

234.40(1) (1) The authority shall issue its negotiable bonds in such principal amount and length of maturity as to provide sufficient funds for veterans housing loans made pursuant to s. 45.37, 2017 stats.

234.40(2) (2) Bonds issued under the authority of this section are payable out of revenues or moneys received from the repayment of veterans housing loans and related funds made available in ss. 234.42 and 234.43. All assets and liabilities created through the issuance of bonds to purchase mortgage loans representing veterans housing loans are to be separate from all other assets and liabilities of the authority. No funds of the veterans housing loan program may be commingled with any other funds of the authority.

234.40(3) (3) It is the intent of the legislature that the authority be used to finance the veterans housing program.

234.40(4) (4) The limitations established in ss. 234.18, 234.50, 234.60, 234.61, and 234.65 are not applicable to bonds issued under the authority of this section. The authority may not have outstanding at any one time bonds for veterans housing loans in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $61,945,000, excluding bonds being issued to refund outstanding bonds.

234.40 History History: 1973 c. 208, 333; 1975 c. 26; 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 102; 1981 c. 349 s. 32; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (20); 1983 a. 81 s. 13; 1983 a. 83 s. 22; 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (28); 1985 a. 334; 1993 a. 437; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 22, 75, 487; 2007 a. 125; 2009 a. 2; 2019 a. 9.

234.41 234.41 Veterans housing loan fund; establishment and use.

234.41(1) (1) There is established under the jurisdiction of the authority a veterans housing loan fund. All moneys resulting from the sale of bonds for the purpose of veterans housing pursuant to s. 45.37, 2017 stats., unless credited to the veterans capital reserve fund, shall be credited to the fund.

234.41(2) (2) The authority shall use moneys in the fund for the purpose of purchasing loans representing veterans housing loans pursuant to s. 45.37, 2017 stats. All disbursements of funds under this section for purchasing mortgage loans shall be made payable to authorized lenders as defined in s. 45.31 (3), 2017 stats., and eligible persons as defined in s. 45.31 (5), 2017 stats.

234.41(3) (3) Moneys of the veterans housing loan fund may be invested as provided in s. 234.03 (18). All such investments shall be the exclusive property of the fund. All earnings on or income from such investments shall be credited to the fund, paid over to the department of veterans affairs and deposited in the veterans trust fund after payment or repayment of any deficits arising in the veterans capital reserve fund and after payment of expenses contained in sub. (4).

234.41(4) (4) The authority may use moneys in the fund to cover actual and necessary expenses incurred in the sale and investment of bonds and bond revenues.

234.41(5) (5) Any moneys remaining in the veterans housing loan fund and not needed for purposes of the veterans capital reserve fund shall be transferred to the veterans housing bond redemption fund.

234.41 History History: 1973 c. 208, 333, 336; 1991 a. 39; 2005 a. 22; 2019 a. 9.

234.42 234.42 Veterans capital reserve fund.

234.42(1g) (1g) In this section “veterans capital reserve fund requirement” means an amount equal to the maximum amount, in any succeeding year, of principal and interest, other than principal and interest for which sinking fund payments are specified in any resolution of the authority authorizing veterans housing bonds of the authority then outstanding, maturing and becoming due in that succeeding year on all veterans housing bonds of the authority then outstanding, except veterans housing bonds due in that succeeding year issued to provide funds for mortgage loans through the purchase of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the United States or an agency or instrumentality of the United States, plus all amounts specified in any resolution of the authority authorizing veterans housing bonds of the authority then outstanding as payable as a sinking fund payment in such year.

234.42(1s) (1s) The authority shall establish the veterans capital reserve fund to secure the veterans housing bonds sold pursuant to s. 234.40, and shall pay into the veterans capital reserve fund any moneys appropriated and made available by the state for the purposes of such fund, any proceeds of sale of bonds, to the extent provided in the resolution of the authority authorizing the issuance thereof and any other moneys which are made available to the authority for the purpose of such fund from any other source.

234.42(2) (2) 

234.42(2)(a) (a) All moneys held in the veterans capital reserve fund, except as otherwise specifically provided, shall be used solely for any of the following purposes:

234.42(2)(a)1. 1. The payment of the principal of veterans housing bonds of the authority as the same mature.

234.42(2)(a)2. 2. The making of sinking fund payments with respect to veterans housing bonds of the authority.

234.42(2)(a)3. 3. The purchase of veterans housing bonds of the authority.

234.42(2)(a)4. 4. The payment of interest on veterans housing bonds of the authority.

234.42(2)(a)5. 5. The payment of any redemption premium required to be paid when veterans housing bonds are redeemed prior to maturity.

234.42(2)(b) (b) Except for the purpose of paying principal of and interest on veterans housing bonds of the authority maturing and becoming due and for the payment of which other moneys of the authority are not available, and except for making sinking fund payments with respect to veterans housing bonds of the authority and for the payment of which other moneys of the authority are not available, moneys in the veterans capital reserve fund shall not be withdrawn at any time in an amount that would reduce the fund to less than the veterans capital reserve fund requirement. Any income or interest earned by, or increment to, the veterans capital reserve fund due to the investment of the fund may be transferred by the authority to the veterans housing bond redemption fund to the extent it does not reduce the amount of the veterans capital reserve fund below the veterans capital reserve fund requirement.

234.42(3) (3) The authority shall not issue bonds at any time, other than bonds issued to provide funds for mortgage loans through the purchase of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the United States or an agency or instrumentality of the United States, if the veterans capital reserve fund requirement, after such issuance, will exceed the amount of the veterans capital reserve fund at the time of issuance unless the authority, at the time of issuance of such bonds, shall deposit in the capital reserve fund from the proceeds of the bonds so to be issued, or from another available source, an amount which, together with the amount then in the veterans capital reserve fund, will be not less than the veterans capital reserve fund requirement after such issuance.

234.42(4) (4) To assure the continued operation and solvency of the authority for the carrying out of the veterans housing loan program of this chapter, the authority shall accumulate in the veterans capital reserve fund an amount equal to the veterans capital reserve fund requirement. If at any time the veterans capital reserve fund requirement exceeds the amount of the veterans capital reserve fund, the chairperson of the authority shall certify to the secretary of administration, the governor and the joint committee on finance, the amount necessary to restore the veterans capital reserve fund to an amount equal to the veterans capital reserve fund requirement. If such certification is received by the secretary of administration in an even-numbered year prior to the completion of the budget compilation under s. 16.43, the secretary shall include the certified amount in the budget compilation. In any case, the joint committee on finance shall introduce in either house, in bill form, an appropriation of the amount so certified to the veterans capital reserve fund of the authority. Recognizing its moral obligation to do so, the legislature hereby expresses its expectation and aspiration that, if ever called upon to do so, it shall make such appropriation.

234.42(5) (5) In computing the amount of the veterans capital reserve fund for the purposes of this section, securities in which all or a portion of the veterans capital reserve fund is invested shall be valued at par, or if purchased at less than par, at their cost to the authority.

234.42 History History: 1973 c. 208; 1977 c. 418 s. 924 (22); 1999 a. 85.

234.43 234.43 Veterans housing bond redemption fund.

234.43(1) (1) The authority shall establish the veterans housing bond redemption fund. All mortgages purchased with moneys from the veterans housing loan fund shall be the exclusive property of the bond redemption fund. All moneys received by the authority from the repayment of veterans housing loans shall be deposited into such fund to be used for the repayment of veterans housing bonds issued pursuant to s. 234.40.

234.43(2) (2) Subject to agreements with bondholders, disbursements shall be made:

234.43(2)(a) (a) For the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds issued by the authority when the same become due whether at maturity or on call for redemption and for the payment of any redemption premium required to be paid where such bonds are redeemed prior to their stated maturities, and to purchase bonds;

234.43(2)(b) (b) To pay administrative costs, expenses and charges to service outstanding bonds including fees and expenses of trustees and paying agents;

234.43(2)(c) (c) For repayment of advances from the state made through s. 20.485 (3) (b), 2017 stats.;

234.43(2)(d) (d) For transfer to the veterans capital reserve fund; and

234.43(2)(e) (e) Any surplus remaining after satisfaction of all obligations of pars. (a) to (d) shall be paid over to the department of veterans affairs and deposited in the veterans trust fund.

234.43 History History: 1973 c. 208; 1975 c. 200; 1979 c. 34; 1991 a. 39; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 239 s. 74.

234.44 234.44 Validation of certain obligations and proceedings. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any other law, in the absence of fraud, all obligations issued prior to May 4, 1976 purportedly pursuant to this chapter, and all proceedings prior to such time taken purportedly pursuant to this chapter for the authorization and issuance of such obligations or of obligations not yet issued, and the sale, execution and delivery of such obligations issued prior to May 4, 1976, are hereby validated, ratified, approved and confirmed, notwithstanding any lack of power, however patent, other than constitutional, of the issuing authority or the governing body or officer thereof, to authorize such obligations, or to sell, execute, deliver the same, and notwithstanding any defects or irregularities, however patent, other than constitutional, in such proceeding or in such sale, execution or delivery of such obligations. All such obligations issued prior to May 4, 1976 are binding, legal obligations in accordance with their terms.

234.44 History History: 1975 c. 221.

234.45 234.45 Low-income housing tax credits.

234.45(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

234.45(1)(a) (a) “Allocation certificate” means a statement issued by the authority certifying that a qualified development is eligible for a state tax credit and specifying the amount of the credit that the owners of the qualified development may claim.

234.45(1)(b) (b) “Compliance period” means the 15-year period beginning with the first taxable year of the credit period.

234.45(1)(c) (c) “Credit period” means the period of 6 taxable years beginning with the taxable year in which a qualified development is placed in service. For purposes of this paragraph, if a qualified development consists of more than one building, the qualified development is placed in service in the taxable year in which the last building of the qualified development is placed in service.

234.45(1)(d) (d) “Qualified allocation plan” means the qualified allocation plan adopted by the authority pursuant to section 42 (m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

234.45(1)(e) (e) “Qualified development” means a qualified low-income housing project under section 42 (g) of the Internal Revenue Code that is financed with tax-exempt bonds, pursuant to section 42 (i) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, and located in this state.

234.45(1)(f) (f) “State tax credit” means a tax credit under s. 71.07 (8b), 71.28 (8b), 71.47 (8b), or 76.639.

234.45(2) (2) Establishment of program. The authority shall establish a program to certify persons to claim state tax credits under this section.

234.45(3) (3) Certification. The authority may certify a person to claim a state tax credit in an amount determined by the authority by issuing the person an allocation certificate for the qualified development that is eligible for the state tax credit. The allocation certificate shall state the amount the authority determines the person is eligible to claim for each year of the credit period. The authority may issue an allocation certificate under this subsection only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

234.45(3)(a) (a) The allocation certificate is issued to a person who has an ownership interest in the qualified development.

234.45(3)(b) (b) The state tax credit is necessary for the financial feasibility of the qualified development.

234.45(3)(c) (c) The qualified development is the subject of a recorded restrictive covenant requiring that, for the compliance period or for a longer period agreed to by the authority and the owner of the qualified development, the development shall be maintained and operated as a qualified development and shall be in compliance with Title VIII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended.

234.45(3)(d) (d) The allocation certificate is issued in accordance with the authority’s qualified allocation plan. If practicable, the authority shall begin issuing allocation certificates in conjunction with the authority’s implementation of its 2018 qualified allocation plan as if the state tax credits were included in that plan.

234.45(4) (4) Allocation limits. In any calendar year, the aggregate amount of all state tax credits for which the authority certifies persons in allocation certificates issued under sub. (3) in that year may not exceed $42,000,000, including all amounts each person is eligible to claim for each year of the credit period, plus the total amount of all unallocated state tax credits from previous calendar years and plus the total amount of all previously allocated state tax credits that have been revoked or cancelled or otherwise recovered by the authority.

234.45(5) (5) Preference for smaller municipalities. In issuing allocation certificates under sub. (3), the authority shall give preference to qualified developments located in a city, village, or town with a population of fewer than 150,000.

234.45(6) (6) Report. No later than December 31 of each year, the authority shall submit a report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that includes all of the following:

234.45(6)(a) (a) A statement of the number of qualified developments for which the authority issued allocation certificates that year.

234.45(6)(b) (b) A description of each qualified development for which the authority issued an allocation certificate that year, including the geographic location of the development, the household type and any specific demographic information available concerning the residents intended to be served by the development, the income levels of residents intended to be served by the development, and the rents or set-asides authorized for each development.

234.45(6)(c) (c) An analysis of housing market and demographic information that shows how the qualified developments for which the authority has issued allocation certificates at any time are addressing the need for affordable housing within the communities those developments are intended to serve and an analysis of any remaining disparities in the affordability of housing within those communities.

234.45(7) (7) Policies and procedures. The authority, in consultation with the department of revenue, shall establish policies and procedures to administer this section. The policies and procedures established under this subsection shall, to the extent practicable, incorporate the authority’s policies and procedures for awarding federal low-income housing credits under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code. The authority shall issue allocation certificates annually, on a rolling basis, based on eligibility, as determined by the authority, except that the authority may develop a competitive process to award allocation certificates as a part of its qualified allocation plan.

234.45 History History: 2017 a. 176.

234.49 234.49 Housing rehabilitation.

234.49(1) (1) Definitions. In ss. 234.49 to 234.55:

234.49(1)(b) (b) “Authorized lender” means any lender authorized under sub. (2) (a) 4. to make or service housing rehabilitation loans but does not include a person licensed under s. 138.09.

234.49(1)(c) (c) “Eligible beneficiary” means any of the following:

234.49(1)(c)1. 1. A person whose name does not appear on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), except that a person whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket is an “eligible beneficiary” if the person provides to the authority a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).

234.49(1)(c)2. 2. A family who or which falls within the income limits specified in par. (fm).

234.49(1)(d) (d) “Eligible rehabilitation” means additions, alterations, or repairs to housing to maintain it in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition or to restore it to that condition, to reduce the cost of owning or occupying dwelling units, to conserve energy, and to extend the economic or physical life of structures. “Eligible rehabilitation” includes the purchase of home appliances that satisfy the energy efficiency criteria established by the federal environmental protection agency for the energy star designation, as determined by the authority, but does not include construction of fireplaces, except for necessary repairs or the addition of permanently attached energy-efficient equipment to an existing fireplace.

234.49(1)(e) (e) “Housing” means a residential structure having not more than 4 dwelling units in which at least one unit is occupied by the owner as a principal residence and, if a housing rehabilitation loan is granted for the property to implement energy conservation improvements, the structure is not subject to rules adopted under s. 101.02, 101.63, or 101.73.

234.49(1)(f) (f) “Housing rehabilitation loan” means a loan to finance eligible rehabilitation or a property tax deferral loan. Housing rehabilitation loans, except property tax deferral loans, include low interest loans.

234.49(1)(fm) (fm) “Low interest loans” means loans that meet or exceed the rate of interest required to pay the costs incurred by the authority for making and servicing such loans, but do not exceed the rate of interest specified in sub. (2) (a) 6. No low interest or other loan may be made to a person or family whose income exceeds 120 percent of the median income for a family of 4, except that in a designated reinvestment neighborhood or area as defined in s. 66.1107 no low interest loan at the highest rate of interest authorized by this paragraph may be made to a person or family whose income exceeds 140 percent of the median income for a family of 4, and except that the authority may increase or decrease the income limit for low interest loans by no more than 10 percent of the limit for each person more or less than 4.