1. Provide a means of citizen access to the Department.

2. Provide a means of publicizing the policies and programs of the Department in order to educate the public and elicit public support for Department activities.

3. Monitor the policies and activities of the Department and have the right of access to departmental information.

4. Advise the Governor and the Director on matters relating to housing and community development.

5. Make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out its responsibilities and repeal or amend such rules when necessary.

6. Issue a certificate of competence concerning the content, application, and intent of specified subject areas of the building and fire prevention regulations promulgated by the Board to present or prospective personnel of local governments and to any other persons seeking to become qualified to perform inspections pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 36-97 et seq.), Chapter 9 (§ 27-94 et seq.) of Title 27, and any regulations adopted thereunder, who have completed training programs or in other ways demonstrated adequate knowledge.

7. Levy by regulation up to two percent of permit fees authorized pursuant to §§ 36-98.3 and 36-105 to support training programs of the Building Code Academy established pursuant to § 36-139. Local building departments shall collect such levy and transmit it quarterly to the Department of Housing and Community Development. Localities that maintain, individual or regional, training academies accredited by the Department of Housing and Community Development shall retain such levy. However, such localities may send employees to training programs of the Building Code Academy upon payment of a fee calculated to cover the cost of such training. Any unspent balance shall be reappropriated each year for the continued operation of the Building Code Academy.The Board shall appoint a Building Code Academy Advisory Committee (the Committee) comprised of representatives of code enforcement personnel and construction industry professions affected by the provisions of the building and fire prevention regulations promulgated by the Board. Members of the Committee shall receive no compensation but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with § 2.2-2813. The Committee shall advise the Board and the Director on policies, procedures, operations, and other matters pertinent to enhancing the delivery of training services provided by the Building Code Academy.

8. Establish general policies, procedures, and programs for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund established in Chapter 9 (§ 36-141 et seq.).

9. Determine the categories of housing programs, housing sponsors and persons and families of low and moderate income eligible to participate in grant or loan programs of the Virginia Housing Trust Fund and designate the proportion of such grants or loans to be made available in each category.

10. Advise the Director of the Department on the program guidelines required to accomplish the policies and procedures of the Virginia Housing Trust Fund.

11. Advise the Virginia Housing Development Authority and the Director of the Department on matters relating to the administration and management of loans and grants from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund.

12. Establish the amount of the low-income housing credit, the terms and conditions for qualifying for such credit, and the terms and conditions for computing any credit recapture amount for the Virginia income tax return.

13. Serve in an advisory capacity to the Center for Housing Research established by § 23-135.7:14.

Serve in an advisory capacity to the Center for Housing Research established by § 23.1-2633.

14. Advise the Department in the development of the Consolidated Plan Strategy to guide and coordinate the housing programs of the Department, the Virginia Housing Development Authority, and other state agencies and instrumentalities.

15. Advise the Governor and the Department on the expansion of affordable, accessible housing for older Virginians and Virginians with disabilities, including supportive services.

16. Establish guidelines for the allocation of private activity bonds to local housing authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Private Activity Bonds program in Chapter 50 (§ 15.2-5000 et seq.) of Title 15.2.