Bill > H3903

This bill establishes a special commission to investigate and study the need for accessible homes for specific groups, including the elderly, returning veterans with disabilities, and families with disabled members. The commission will examine "Visitability," also known as "Basic Home Design," which refers to incorporating basic accessibility features into homes to allow people with mobility limitations to visit friends and family. The study will assess the current housing situation, the rate of new construction, and the potential for adapting homes to meet the needs of people as they age or acquire disabilities. The commission is tasked with identifying demographic trends, evaluating existing housing stock and new construction designs, considering the long-term occupancy of homes, and reviewing other relevant studies. It will also explore strategies to raise public awareness about visitable homes, assess the costs and benefits of increasing their availability, and review current publicly funded housing programs to see how Visitability can be integrated as a minimum standard. The commission will make recommendations for policy changes, potentially including legislative proposals, by considering best practices from other jurisdictions and comparing the effectiveness of incentives versus building code mandates. The commission will be composed of members from the senate and house of representatives, along with representatives from various state agencies, disability advocacy groups, housing organizations, and the building industry, as well as a specialized architect.