,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ded ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #e1 #bjac ,mr4 ,reed 7for himself and ,mr4 ,blunt7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to promote the development of local strategies to coordinate use of assistance under sections #h and #i of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg with public and private resources1 to enable eligible families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,family ,self-,sufficiency ,act4 #b4 ,family ,self-,sufficiency ,program 7a7 ,in general ,section #bc of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcgu7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by striking public housing and2 and 7,b7 by striking the certificate and voucher programs under section #h and inserting sections #h and #i2 7#b7 by amending subsection 7b7 to read as follows3 7b7 ,continuation of prior mandatory programs 7#a7 ,in general ,each public housing agency that was required to administer a mandatory local ,family ,self-,sufficiency program on the date of enactment of the ,family ,self-,sufficiency ,act1 shall operate such local program for1 at a minimum1 the number of families the agency was required to serve on the date of enactment of such ,act1 subject only to the availability under appropriations ,acts of sufficient amounts for housing assistance and the requirements of paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,reduction ,the number of families for which an agency is required to operate such local program under paragraph 7#a7 shall be decreased by #a for each family that1 after the date of enactment of the ,family ,self-,sufficiency ,act fulfills its obligations under the contract of participation4 7#c7 ,exception ,the ,secretary shall not require a public housing agency to carry out a mandatory program for a period of time upon the request of the public housing agency and upon a determination by the ,secretary that implementation is not feasible because of local circumstances1 which may include-- 7,a7 lack of supportive services accessible to eligible families1 which shall include insufficient availability of resources for programs under title ,i of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhja et seq472 7,b7 lack of funding for reasonable administrative costs2 7,c7 lack of cooperation by other units of ,state or local government2 or 7,d7 any other circumstances that the ,secretary may consider appropriate4 2 7#c7 by striking subsection 7i72 7#d7 by redesignating subsections 7c71 7d71 7e71 7f71 7g71 and 7h7 as subsections 7d71 7e71 7f71 7g71 7h71 and 7i7 respectively2 7#e7 by inserting after subsection 7b71 as amended1 the following3 7c7 ,eligibility 7#a7 ,eligible families ,a family is eligible to participate in a local ,family ,self-,sufficiency program under this section if-- 7,a7 at least #a adult family member seeks to become and remain employed in suitable employment or to increase earnings2 and 7,b7 the family resides in a unit assisted under sections #h or #i4 7#b7 ,eligible entities ,the following entities are eligible to administer a local ,family ,self-,sufficiency program under this section3 7,a7 ,a public housing agency administering housing assistance to an eligible family under section #h or #i4 7,b7 ,the owner or sponsor of a multifamily property receiving rental assistance under section #h1 in accordance with the requirements under subsection 7l74 2 7#f7 in subsection 7d71 as so redesignated-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 by striking public housing agency the first time it appears and inserting eligible entity2 7ii7 in the first sentence1 by striking the certificate and voucher programs of the public housing agency under section #h or residing in public housing administered by the agency and inserting sections #h or #i2 and 7iii7 by striking the third sentence and inserting the following3 ,housing assistance may not be terminated as a consequence of either successful completion of the contract of participation or failure to complete such contract42 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,i7 in the first sentence1 by striking provide and inserting coordinate the provision of2 and 7,,ii7 in the second sentence-- 7aa7 by striking provided during and inserting for2 7bb7 by striking section #h or residing in public housing and inserting sections #h or #i2 and 7cc7 by inserting 1 but is not limited to after may include2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by inserting or attainment of a ,,ged after high school2 7iii7 by striking subparagraph 7,g72 7iv7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,e71 7,f71 7,i71 and 7,j7 as subparagraphs 7,f71 7,g71 7,j71 and 7,l7 respectively2 7v7 by adding the following after subparagraph 7,d73 7,e7 education in pursuit of a post-secondary degree or certification2 2 7vi7 by adding the following subparagraph after subparagraph 7,h73 7,i7 health and mental health services as needed2 2 7vii7 by adding the following subparagraph after subparagraph 7,j71 as so redesignated3 7,k7 homeownership education and assistance2 and 2 7viii7 by striking and at the end of subparagraph 7,j71 as so redesignated2 and 7ix7 in subparagraph 7,h71 by inserting financial literacy and after training in2 7,c7 in paragraph 7#c71 in the second sentence-- 7i7 by striking public housing agency and inserting eligible entity2 and 7ii7 by striking of the agency2 7,d7 by amending paragraph 7#d7 to read as follows3 7#d7 ,employment ,the contract of participation shall require participants to seek and maintain suitable employment4 2 and 7,e7 by adding at the end the following3 7#e7 ,nonparticipation ,assistance under sections #h or #i for a family that elects not to participate in a local program shall not be delayed by reason of such election4 2 7#g7 in subsection 7e71 as so redesignated-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking whose monthly adjusted income does not exceed #ej percent and all that follows through the period at the end of the third sentence1 and inserting shall be calculated under the rental provisions of section #c or section #h7o71 as applicable42 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 by striking the first sentence and inserting the following3 ,for each participating family1 an amount equal to any increase in the amount of rent paid by the family in accordance with the provisions of section #c or #h7o71 as applicable1 that is attributable to increases in earned income by the participating family1 shall be placed in an interest-bearing escrow account established by the eligible entity on behalf of the participating family4 ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 an eligible entity may use funds it controls under section #h or #i for purposes of making the escrow deposit for participating families residing in units assisted under section #h or #i1 respectively1 provided such funds are offset by the increase in the amount of rent paid by the participating family42 7ii7 by striking the second sentence1 and inserting the following3 ,all family self-sufficiency programs administered under this section shall include an escrow account42 7iii7 in the fourth sentence1 by striking subsection 7c7 and inserting subsection 7d72 and 7iv7 in the last sentence-- 7,i7 by striking ,a public housing agency and inserting ,an eligible entity2 and 7,,ii7 by striking the public housing agency and inserting such eligible entity2 and 7,c7 by amending paragraph 7#c7 to read as follows3 7#c7 ,forfeited escrow ,any amount placed in an escrow account established by an eligible entity for a participating family as required under paragraph 7#b71 that exists after the end of a contract of participation by a participant that does not qualify to receive the escrow1 shall be used for the purposes of this section in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the ,secretary4 2 7#h7 in subsection 7f71 as so redesignated1 by striking 1 unless the income of the family equals or exceeds #hj percent of the median income of the area 7as determined by the ,secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families72 7#i7 in subsection 7g71 as so redesignated-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 by striking public housing agency and inserting eligible entity2 7ii7 by striking the public housing agency and inserting such eligible entity2 and 7iii7 by striking subsection 7g7 and inserting subsection 7h72 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 by striking public housing agency and inserting eligible entity each place that term appears2 7ii7 by striking or the ,job ,opportunities and ,basic ,skills ,training ,program under part ,f of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 2 7iii7 by inserting primary1 secondary1 and post-secondary after public and private2 and 7iv7 in the second sentence1 by inserting and tenants served by the program after the unit of general local government2 7#aj7 in subsection 7h71 as so redesignated-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 by striking public housing agency and inserting eligible entity2 7ii7 by striking participating in the and inserting carrying out a local2 and 7iii7 by striking to the ,secretary1 for approval by the ,secretary12 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 by striking public housing agency and inserting eligible entity2 7ii7 by striking subsection 7f7 and inserting subsection 7g72 7iii7 by striking residents of the public housing and inserting the current and prospective participants of the program2 and 7iv7 by striking or the ,job ,opportunities and ,basic ,skills ,training ,program under part ,f of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act2 and 7,c7 in paragraph 7#c7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,c7-- 7,i7 by striking subsection 7c77#b7 and inserting subsection 7d77#b72 7,,ii7 by striking provided to and inserting coordinated on behalf of participating2 and 7,,iii7 by striking the section #h and public housing programs and inserting sections #h and #i2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,d7-- 7,i7 by striking subsection 7d7 and inserting subsection 7e72 and 7,,ii7 by striking public housing agency and inserting eligible entity2 7iii7 in subparagraph 7,e71 by striking deliver and inserting coordinate2 7iv7 in subparagraph 7,h71 by striking the ,job ,opportunities and ,basic ,skills ,training ,program under part ,f of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act and2 and 7v7 in subparagraph 7,i71 by striking public housing or section #h assistance and inserting assistance under section #h or #i2 7#aa7 by amending subsection 7i71 as so redesignated1 to read as follows3 7i7 ,family self-,sufficiency fees 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to appropriations1 the ,secretary shall establish a fee to be awarded by formula or as otherwise determined by the ,secretary for the costs incurred by an eligible entity in administering the self-sufficiency program under this section4 7#b7 ,eligibility for fee ,the fee established under paragraph 7#a7 shall provide funding for family self-sufficiency coordinators as follows3 7,a7 ,base fee ,an eligible entity serving #be or more participants in the ,family ,self-,sufficiency program under this section is eligible to receive a fee equal to the costs1 as determined by the ,secretary1 of #a full-time family self-sufficiency coordinator position4 ,the ,secretary may1 by regulation or notice1 determine the policy concerning the fee for an eligible entity serving fewer than #be such participants1 including providing prorated fees or allowing such entities to combine their programs under this section for purposes of employing a coordinator4 7,b7 ,additional fee ,an eligible entity that meets performance standards set by the ,secretary is eligible to receive an additional fee sufficient to cover the costs of filling a second family self-sufficiency coordinator position if such entity has #ge or more participating families1 and an additional coordinator for each additional #ej participating families1 or such other ratio as may be established by the ,secretary based on the fee allocation evaluation under subparagraph 7,f74 7,c7 ,initial year ,for the first year in which an eligible entity implements a ,family ,self-,sufficiency program under this section for its residents1 such entity is eligible for funding to cover the costs of up to #a family self-sufficiency coordinator1 based on the size specified in its action plan for such program in accordance with subparagraph 7,a74 7,d7 ,state and regional agencies ,for purposes of calculating the family self-sufficiency portion of the administrative fee under this paragraph1 each administratively distinct part of a ,state or regional eligible entity may be treated as a separate agency4 7,e7 ,determination of number of coordinators ,in determining whether an eligible entity meets a specific threshold for funding pursuant to this paragraph1 the ,secretary shall consider the number of participants enrolled by the eligible entity in its ,family ,self-,sufficiency program as well as other criteria determined by the ,secretary4 7,f7 ,fee allocation evaluation ,the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report evaluating the fee allocation under this subsection1 and make recommendations based on this evaluation and other related findings to modify such allocation within #d years after the date of enactment of the ,family ,self-,sufficiency ,act1 and not less frequently than every #d years thereafter4 ,the report requirement under this subparagraph shall terminate after the ,secretary has submitted #b such reports to ,congress4 7#c7 ,allocation 7,a7 ,in general ,funds allocated by the ,secretary under this subsection shall be allocated in the following order of priority3 7i7 ,first priority ,renewal of the full cost of all coordinators in the previous year at each eligible entity with an existing ,family ,self-,sufficiency program that meets applicable size and performance standards set by the ,secretary4 7ii7 ,second priority ,new or incremental coordinator funding authorized under this section1 up to #c coordinators per eligible entity4 7iii7 ,final priority ,any other new or incremental coordinator funding authorized under this section4 7,b7 ,guidance ,if the first priority1 as described in subparagraph 7,a77i71 cannot be fully satisfied1 the ,secretary may prorate the funding for each eligible entity1 as long as-- 7i7 each eligible entity that has received funding for at least #a part-time coordinator in the prior fiscal year is provided sufficient funding for at least #a part-time coordinator as part of any such proration2 and 7ii7 each eligible entity that has received funding for at least #a full-time coordinator in the prior fiscal year is provided sufficient funding for at least #a full-time coordinator as part of any such proration4 7#d7 ,recapture or offset ,any fees allocated under this subsection by the ,secretary in a fiscal year that have not been spent by the end of the subsequent fiscal year or such other time period as determined by the ,secretary may be recaptured by the ,secretary and shall be available for providing additional fees pursuant to paragraph 7#b77;,b71 or may be offset as determined by the ,secretary4 7#e7 ,performance reporting ,programs under this section shall be required to report the number of families enrolled and graduated1 the number of established escrow accounts and positive escrow balances1 and any other information that the ,secretary may require4 ,program performance shall be reviewed periodically as determined by the ,secretary4 7#f7 ,incentives for innovation and high performance ,the ,secretary may reserve up to #e percent of the amounts made available for administrative fees under this subsection to provide support to or reward ,family ,self-,sufficiency programs based on the rate of successful completion1 increased earned income1 or other factors as may be established by the ,secretary4 2 7#ab7 in subsection 7j7-- 7,a7 by striking public housing agency and inserting eligible entity2 7,b7 by striking public housing before units2 7,c7 by striking in public housing projects administered by the agency2 7,d7 by inserting or coordination after provision2 and 7,e7 by striking the last sentence2 7#ac7 in subsection 7k71 by striking public housing agencies and inserting eligible entities2 7#ad7 by striking subsection 7n72 7#ae7 by striking subsection 7o72 7#af7 by redesignating subsections 7l7 and 7m7 as subsections 7m7 and 7n71 respectively2 7#ag7 by inserting after subsection 7k7 the following3 7l7 ,programs for tenants in privately-,owned properties with project-,based assistance 7#a7 ,voluntary availability of ,,fss program ,the owner of a privately-owned property may voluntarily make a local ,family ,self-,sufficiency program available to the tenants of such property by entering into a cooperative agreement with a local public housing agency that administers a ,family ,self-,sufficiency program4 7#b7 ,cooperative agreement ,any cooperative agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall require the public housing agency to open its ,family ,self-,sufficiency program waiting list to any eligible family residing in the owner's property who is assisted under project-based section #h4 7#c7 ,treatment of families assisted under this subsection ,a public housing agency that enters into a cooperative agreement pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 may count any family participating in its ,family ,self-,sufficiency program as a result of such agreement as part of the calculation of the administrative fee under subsection 7i74 7#d7 ,escrow ,the cooperative agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall provide for the calculation and tracking of the escrow for participating residents and for the owner to make available1 upon request of the public housing agency1 escrow for participating residents1 in accordance with subsection 7e77#b71 residing in units assisted under section #h4 7#e7 ,no existing local program option ,if there is no existing local ,family ,self-,sufficiency program or public housing agency willing and able to enter into a cooperative agreement with an owner pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 such owner may administer a ,family ,self-,sufficiency program under this section without being eligible for funding under subsection 7i74 ,if such owner administers a program that serves at least #be participants1 that owner shall be eligible for funding under subsection 7i7 or may use funding from residual receipt accounts for the property for hiring a service coordinator for the program4 7#f7 ,exception ,this subsection shall not apply to properties assisted under section #h7o77#ac74 7#g7 ,suspension of enrollment ,in any year1 the ,secretary may suspend the enrollment of new families in ,family ,self-,sufficiency programs under this subsection based on a determination that insufficient funding is available for this purpose4 2 and 7#ah7 in subsection 7m71 as so redesignated-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in the first sentence1 by striking ,each public housing agency and inserting ,each eligible entity2 and 7ii7 in the second sentence1 by striking ,the report shall include and inserting ,the contents of the report shall be determined by the ,secretary and shall include2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by inserting and describing any additional research needs of the ,secretary to evaluate the effectiveness of the program after under paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,effective date ,this ,act1 and any amendments made by this ,act1 shall take effect on publication in the ,federal ,register of a notice by the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development to implement such amendments4 #c4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the amendments made by this ,act #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjad through #bjah4