Chapter 4. General Provisions of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 31. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 4.

The exercise of powers specified in this division will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state, for their well-being and prosperity, and for the improvement of their social and economic conditions. Therefore, this division shall be liberally construed to effect its purposes. In the event of conflict between this division and any other provision of law, the provisions of this division shall be deemed controlling. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or section of this division is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions.

Nothing in this division shall preclude the establishment of direct relationships between the federal government and local public entities or shall in any way alter the authority of local public entities to directly receive federal funds, nor shall anything in this division be construed to supersede or affect any other provision of law relating to the control of funds by local public entities. Further, nothing in this division shall affect the authority or reduce the obligations specified in Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code with respect to payment of relocation assistance or prevent the receipt or disbursement of federal funds made available to any governmental agency for such purpose.

Nothing in this division shall authorize the imposition of rent regulations or controls except by a regulatory contract between the agency or the department, as the case may be, and its housing sponsor or developer, for housing units financed, insured, coinsured or otherwise assisted by the agency or by the department, as the case may be. Except for the federal government, the right to control rent on such units shall reside exclusively in the agency or the department, as the case may be, and the housing sponsor or developer so regulated shall not otherwise be subject to controls on rent imposed by any state or local agency or other local public entity.

Nothing in this division shall be construed to authorize the creation of a debt or liability of the state within the meaning of Section 1 of Article XVI of the State Constitution.