(a) California community colleges may submit requests for planning grants for campuses that are exploring or determining if it is feasible to offer affordable student rental housing. It is the intent of the Legislature to use up to twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) of the total amount described in subdivisions (l) of Section 17201 to support planning grants.

(b) The selection process for planning grants shall include both of the following requirements:

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(1) To the extent feasible, ensure a reasonable geographic distribution of funds.

(2) Require that the planning activities related to the proposed affordable student rental housing project be reasonable compared to the costs of comparable projects in the area.

(c) A campus that receives a grant pursuant to this section may use those grant moneys for one or more of the following purposes in connection with an affordable rental student housing project:

(1) Feasibility studies.

(2) Engineering studies.

(3) Financing studies.

(4) Environmental impact studies.

(5) Architectural plans.

(6) Application fees.

(7) Legal services.

(8) Permitting costs.

(9) Bonding.

(10) Site preparation.

(d) A community college applying for a planning grant shall not apply for a construction grant for the same project in the same application cycle.

(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Affordable student rental housing” means housing for students that would be charged at below market rate that would be consistent with the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 17201.

(2) “Feasible” means that a project may be accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social, and technological factors.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 54, Sec. 3. (AB 183) Effective June 30, 2022.)