Sts. & Hy. Code, § 135.5

(a) As used in this section, “relocation assistance” means, and shall be limited to, that assistance reasonably necessary to place low-income individuals and families who lack the financial ability and income to obtain replacement housing without relocation assistance, and who own and reside in housing in an economically depressed area and who are displaced because of the acquisition or clearance of right-of-way for a project on the state highway system, in replacement housing in the same relative economic ownership position as before displacement by transferring or exchanging their right, title, and interest in property required for state highway purposes for the right, title, and interest in replacement housing.

(b) The department is authorized to provide relocation assistance to low-income individuals and families who own and reside in housing in an economically depressed area and who are displaced because of the acquisition or clearance of rights-of-way for a project on the state highway system, which project is located in an economically depressed area.

(c) The department is authorized to adopt rules and regulations to implement this section. Such rules and regulations shall include provisions relating to:

(1) The methods and priorities for placing such low-income individuals and families in replacement housing.

(2) The standards for determining the relative economic ownership position of such low-income individuals and families before displacement. The department in determining such standards shall consider the equity value and monthly payments of principal and interest, the availability of federal housing programs, and such other similar ownership factors.

(3) The standards for determining which of such low-income individuals and families lack the financial ability and income necessary to obtain replacement housing without relocation assistance.

(4) The procedure for transferring or exchanging right, title, and interest in property required for state highway purposes for the right, title, and interest in replacement housing.