CA SB15

Creates a grant program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development to incentivize local governments that rezone idle big box retailer or commercial shopping center sites to allow affordable housing development.

Eligible local governments must rezone sites to allow housing as a "use by right," approve and issue certificates of occupancy for completed housing developments, and impose specified labor requirements on all applicants.

Grant amount equals 7 times the average annual sales and use tax revenue generated by each idle site over the 7 years preceding the local government's application, reduced proportionally for mixed-use developments and distributed as a one-time lump sum payment.

Requires all applicants to either use a skilled and trained workforce, enter into a project labor agreement, or comply with prevailing wage requirements depending on whether the applicant is a public or private entity.

Becomes operative January 1, 2023, contingent upon legislative appropriation in the annual Budget Act or other statute.