Civil actions: housing development projects.

Existing law provides that in a civil action brought by a plaintiff to challenge a housing development project that meets or exceeds the requirements for low- or moderate-income housing, a defendant may seek an order requiring the plaintiff to furnish an undertaking as security for costs and damages that may be incurred by the defendant if the bringing of the action would result in preventing or delaying the project, as specified. Existing law authorizes the court to limit the amount of the undertaking or to decline to require the plaintiff to furnish an undertaking if the court determines that, based on evidence submitted by the plaintiff, furnishing an undertaking would cause the plaintiff to suffer undue economic hardship. This bill would make these provisions applicable to a student housing development, as defined. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 529.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure proposed by SB 1344 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1344 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.