Density Bonus Law: residential care facilities for the elderly.

Existing law, commonly referred to as the Density Bonus Law, requires a city or county to provide a developer that proposes a housing development, as defined, within the city or county with a density bonus and other incentives or concessions, as specified, if the developer agrees to construct, among other options, a senior citizen housing development, as defined. The Density Bonus Law defines a "development" for these purposes to include a shared housing development, and defines various other terms, including "shared housing unit." This bill would expand the definition of a development for the above-described purposes to include a residential care facility for the elderly, as defined. The bill would also specify that, in the case of a residential care facility, a "shared housing unit" includes a unit without an individual kitchen where a room may be shared by unrelated and a unit where a room may be shared by unrelated persons that meets the minimum room area requirements, as specified. By expanding a city or county's duty to administer the Density Bonus Law, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 65915 of the Government Code proposed by AB 3116 to be operative only if this bill and AB 3116 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.