Migrant farm labor centers.

Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development, through its Office of Migrant Services, to assist in the development, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or operation of migrant farm labor centers, as provided. Existing law authorizes the Director of Housing and Community Development to contract with specified local public and private entities, including school districts and housing authorities, for the procurement or construction of housing or shelter and to obtain specified services for migratory agricultural workers. This bill would require the department to allow in an operating contract the entity operating the contract to have flexibility in its opening date if needed to adjust for variable seasonal or climate changes and if certain requirements are met. The bill would authorize the department to enter into multiyear operating contracts with entities, and provide funding annually by making an amendment to that contract, as specified. Existing law authorizes any entity operating a migrant farm labor center to establish a reserve account comprised of the excess funds provided through the annual operating contract received from the department if the department certifies there is no need to address reasonable general maintenance requirements or repairs, rehabilitation, and replacement needs of the requesting migrant farm labor center which affect the immediate health and safety of residents, as specified. Existing law prohibits the cumulative balance of the reserve account from exceeding 10% of the annual operating funds annually committed to the entity by the department. This bill would instead require any entity operating a migrant farm labor center to establish a capital reserve account under the same conditions, as specified. The bill would permit the cumulative balance of the reserve account to exceed 10% of the annual operating funds annually committed to the entity by the department if authorized by the department, and would require the cumulative balance of the reserve account to be reported annually to the department.