§ 2JJJJJJ — Fair Housing Fund

[ Text of section added by 2024, 248, Sec. 7 effective December 4, 2024.Section 2JJJJJJ. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund known as the Fair Housing Fund. There shall be credited to the fund: (i) revenue from appropriations or other funds authorized by the general court and specifically designated for the fund; (ii) any gifts, grants or private contributions; (iii) any interest on the fund's assets; and (iv) other amounts credited or transferred to the fund from any other sources. Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended without further appropriation. Any balance in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall be available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years and shall not be transferred to any other fund or revert to the General Fund; provided, however, that the comptroller shall report the amount remaining in the fund at the end of each fiscal year to the house and senate committees on ways and means.(b) The fund shall be administered by the office of fair housing established in section 31 of chapter 23B and funds shall be expended for the purpose of eliminating housing discrimination. Activities eligible for assistance from the fund shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) private enforcement initiatives; (ii) education and outreach initiatives; (iii) fair housing testing; (iv) lending discrimination; (v) affirmatively furthering fair housing; and (vi) special projects.(c) Grantees eligible for assistance shall include, but shall not be limited to, fair housing assistance programs and fair housing initiative programs, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, any private, non-profit agency or any state-funded public housing authority.