(a) A “limited-equity housing cooperative” or a “workforce housing cooperative trust” is a corporation that meets the criteria of Section 11003.2 and that also meets the criteria of Sections 817 and 817.1 of the Civil Code, as applicable. Except as provided in subdivision (b), a limited-equity housing or workforce housing cooperative trust shall be subject to all the requirements of this chapter pertaining to stock cooperatives.

(b) A limited-equity housing cooperative or a workforce housing cooperative trust shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter if the limited-equity housing cooperative or workforce housing cooperative trust complies with all the following conditions:

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(1) The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Consumers Cooperative Bank, the California Housing Finance Agency, the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), the State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS), the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Federal Home Loan Bank System or any of its member institutions, a state or federally chartered credit union, a state or federally certified community development financial institution, or the city, county, school district, housing authority, community development commission, or redevelopment agency in which the cooperative is located, alone or in any combination with each other, directly finances or subsidizes at least 50 percent of the total construction or development cost or one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), whichever is less; or the real property to be occupied by the cooperative was sold or leased by the Transportation Agency, other state agency, a city, a county, or a school district for the development of the cooperative and has a regulatory agreement meeting standards of the Department of Housing and Community Development for the term of the permanent financing, notwithstanding the source of the permanent subsidy or financing.

(2) No more than 20 percent of the total development cost of a limited-equity mobilehome park, and no more than 10 percent of the total development cost of other limited-equity housing cooperatives, is provided by purchasers of membership shares.

(3) A regulatory agreement that covers the cooperative for a term of at least as long as the duration of the permanent financing or subsidy, notwithstanding the source of the permanent subsidy or financing, has been duly executed between the recipient of the financing and either one of the lenders or funding sources specified in paragraph (1) or a local public agency in whose jurisdiction the cooperative is or will be located. The regulatory agreement shall meet standards of the Department of Housing and Community Development and make provision for at least all of the following:

(A) Assurances for completion of the common areas and facilities to be owned or leased by the limited-equity housing cooperative, unless a construction agreement between the same parties contains written assurances for completion.

(B) Governing instruments for the organization and operation of the housing cooperative by the members.

(C) The ongoing fiscal management of the project by the cooperative, including an adequate budget, reserves, and provisions for maintenance and management.

(D) Distribution of a membership information report to any prospective purchaser of a membership share, prior to purchase of that share. The membership information report shall contain full disclosure of the financial obligations and responsibilities of cooperative membership, the resale of shares, the financing of the cooperative including any arrangements made with any partners, membership share accounts, occupancy restrictions, management arrangements, and any other information pertinent to the benefits, risks, and obligations of cooperative ownership.

(4) Each party that executes the regulatory agreement shall satisfy itself that the bylaws, articles of incorporation, occupancy agreement, subscription agreement, any lease of the regulated premises, any arrangement with partners, and arrangement for membership share accounts provide adequate protection of the rights of cooperative members.

(5) Each provider of financing or subsidies shall receive from the attorney for the recipient of the financing or subsidy a legal opinion that the cooperative meets the requirements of § 817 of the Civil Code and the exemption provided by this section, including that the regulatory agreement meets the standards of the Department of Housing and Community Development.

(c) Any limited-equity cooperative, or workforce housing cooperative trust that meets the requirements for exemption pursuant to subdivision (b) may elect to be subject to all provisions of this chapter.

(d) The developer of the cooperative shall notify the Department of Real Estate, on a form provided by the department, that an exemption is claimed under this section. The Department of Real Estate shall retain this form for at least four years for statistical purposes.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 770, Sec. 1. (AB 1764) Effective January 1, 2024.)