Chapter 6.3. Special Needs Housing of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 31. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 6.3.

(a) The primary purpose of this chapter is to provide an additional method of financing special needs housing.
  (b) (1) For purposes of this chapter, "special needs housing" means any housing, including supportive housing, intended to benefit, in whole or in part, persons identified as having special needs relating to any of the following:
  (A) Mental health.
  (B) Physical disabilities.
  (C) Developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism.
  (D) The risk of homelessness.
  (2) Special needs housing shall also mean housing intended to meet the housing needs of persons eligible for mental health services funded in whole or in part by the Mental Health Services Fund, created by Section 5890 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

The exercise of the powers granted by this chapter shall be in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state and for their health and welfare. Therefore, any bonds issued by the agency, pursuant to this chapter, their transfer, and the income therefrom shall at all times be free from taxation by the state or any political subdivision or other instrumentality of the state, excepting inheritance and gift taxes.

Subject only to the limitations of this chapter, the agency may, in addition to any other power conferred by this part, issue revenue bonds as provided in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 51350) for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, refinancing, or development of special needs housing, and for the provision of capital improvements in connection with, and determined necessary to, such housing.

Subject only to the limitations prescribed in this chapter, the agency, in addition to any other power conferred by this part with respect to housing, may make or undertake commitments to make loans to finance the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, refinancing, or development of special needs housing. For this purpose, the agency may enter into regulatory contracts and other agreements with the owners or operators of that housing to ensure compliance with this chapter.

Subject only to the limitations prescribed in this chapter, the agency, in addition to any other power conferred by this part, may purchase, or undertake, directly or indirectly through lending institutions, commitments to purchase, construction loans, mortgage loans, or other types of loans originated in accordance with a financing agreement with the agency to finance the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, refinancing, or development of special needs housing, and for the provision of capital improvements in connection with, and determined necessary to, such housing.

For the purposes of this chapter, the agency shall have the power to issue its bonds to defray, in whole or in part, the costs of studies and surveys, insurance premiums, underwriting fees, legal, accounting and marketing services incurred in connection with the issuance and sale of bonds, including bond and operating reserve accounts, trustee, custodian, and rating agency fees, and such other costs as are reasonably related to the foregoing.

This chapter constitutes a complete, additional, and alternative method to issue bonds to finance the costs of special needs housing.