64718. (a) The board shall form a citizens’ oversight committee that adheres to the guiding principles of ensuring that the region produce enough housing at all income levels, particularly at the lowest levels of affordability, while preserving affordable housing, and protecting residents from displacement. The committee shall be composed of 11 voting members and 1 nonvoting member with knowledge and experience in the areas of affordable housing finance and development, or tenant protection, or housing preservation. The citizens’ oversight committee shall meet as necessary and provide substantial assistance in the development of funding guidelines and the overall implementation of agency programs. The committee shall have a vote to approve the annual organizational expenditure plan prior to approval by the board pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 64717. The committee shall report directly to the board and the public. Consistent with the provisions of this chapter, the committee shall provide consultation and make recommendations to the board. The committee shall meet as often as is necessary to fulfill its roles and responsibilities.
(b) Committee members shall carry out the responsibilities laid out in this section and play a valuable and constructive role in the ongoing improvement and enhancement of the agency. Committee members will offer their unique knowledge and experience in the areas of affordable housing finance and development, tenant protection, and housing preservation. The committee members shall meet the following requirements:
(1) All members shall reside in Los Angeles County.
(2) All members shall be subject to conflict-of-interest provisions. No person currently serving as an elected or appointed city, county, special district, state, or federal public officeholder, or currently employed by a city or county agency, shall be eligible for membership on the committee.
(3) In addition to all conflict-of-interest provisions all members shall be required to divest of any investments from which their participation on the committee may further their personal or institutional financial interests.
(c) A person may apply to the Office of the Inspector General to become a member of the committee. The Office of the Inspector General shall select the members of the committee by a date set by the board. The committee shall have at least one member representing each of the following professions or areas of expertise, except as provided in subdivision (d):
(1) A person with experience in the field of municipal or public finance and budgeting with a minimum of five years of relevant experience in that field.
(2) A person with experience in senior-level decisionmaking in affordable housing development, preservation, and operations and with a minimum of five years of relevant experience in that field.
(3) A person with experience in housing finance and with a minimum of five years of experience in that field.
(4) A person with experience in tenant rights organizing or advocacy and with a minimum of five years of experience in that field.
(5) A person with experience in housing seniors or people with disabilities and with a minimum of five years of experience in that field.
(6) A person with experience as a legal expert advancing or enforcing fair housing policies on behalf of a community-based organization and with a minimum of five years of experience in that field.
(7) A person with experience in the management of large-scale housing construction projects and associated labor practices and with a minimum of five years of experience in that field.
(8) A person with a minimum of five years of lived experience as a low- or moderate-income tenant who has experienced being homeless for a minimum of one year.
(9) A person with a minimum of five years of lived experience as a low- or moderate-income tenant or who has experienced being homeless for a minimum of one year.
(10) A recognized representative of employees at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
(11) A person with experience in managing, forming, serving, or operating community land trusts or community development corporations and with a minimum of five years of experience in that field.
(12) A young person between 18 and 24 years of age with demonstrated lived experience of homelessness, experience as a low- or moderate-income tenant, or demonstrated experience as an organizer or advocate for tenant rights with community based organizations, who shall be a nonvoting member.
(d) If, after making a good faith effort to select individuals who meet the requirements of subdivision (c), the Office of the Inspector General is unable to identify individuals who meet the requirements of subdivision (c), then no more than two members from one or more of the remaining areas of expertise may be selected, except in the case of paragraphs (8) and (9) of subdivision (c), which positions shall remain vacant until filled.
(e) A committee member may be removed from their position if a majority of the committee members votes for removal upon finding that the committee member has violated a federal or state law, a regulation, a local ordinance, or a policy or practice of the agency, relative to ethical practices.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 661, Sec. 1. (SB 679) Effective January 1, 2023.)