,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cdhd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ab1 #bjbj,mrs4 ,gillibrand introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the establishment of ,,hope ,account ,pilot ,projects1 ,,hope ,action ,plans ,pilot ,projects1 and competitive grants for pilot projects4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,health1 ,opportunity1 and ,personal ,empowerment ,act of #bjbj or ,,hope ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in #bjah1 according to the ,department of ,agriculture1 #cg1bjj1jjj individuals in the ,united ,states 7including #aa1ajj1jjj children7 lived in food insecure households4 ,that equals #a in #i individuals and #a in #g children4 7#b7 ,in #bjag1 according to the ,bureau of the ,census1 #ch1ajj1jjj individuals 7including #ac1bjj1jjj children7 lived below the ,federal poverty line4 ,the majority of these individuals living in poverty were working people1 children1 older individuals1 and individuals with disabilities4 7#c7 ,many low-income individuals work multiple jobs and1 contrary to common misconceptions1 if unemployed1 they spend a great deal of time looking for work4 ,they often travel by public transportation1 laboriously making multiple connections to shuttle between home1 work1 social service agencies1 houses of worship1 and grocery stores4 ,for those living in rural and suburban areas far from work and without adequate public transportation they rely upon vehicles to get to work1 but these are often less reliable secondhand vehicles1 that often break down4 ,from traveling greater distances between available jobs and livable areas with affordable housing options1 seeking out scarce childcare options that fit a tight budget and a constrained travel schedule1 and caring for elderly parents or grandparents because a senior living facility is not financially realistic1 low-income individuals have little spare time4 7#d7 ,while government safety net programs help tens of million of individuals avoid starvation1 homelessness1 and other outcomes even more dreadful than everyday poverty1 there are significant obstacles that those seeking and maintaining government assistance face for as long as they are eligible4 ,qualified applicants are often required to travel significant distances to multiple government offices1 preparing and submitting piles of nearly identical paperwork to access the different government assistance programs4 ,even when the application process begins online1 the eligible applicant is typically still required to physically follow up with each government office with physical copies1 for near identical meetings4 ,as a result1 many low-income people are actually unaware of all the government benefits for which they are eligible1 reducing the amount of help going to individuals in need by tens of billions of dollars every year4 ,the lines in these offices can seem endless1 and sometimes clients need to wait outside1 for hours1 in the worst kinds of weather4 ,many offices don't have weekend or night hours1 so an applicant is at risk of losing wages when often their only option is to apply for government help during work hours4 7#e7 ,each year1 many vital government programs go underutilized because eligible beneficiaries are hindered by obtrusive1 time consuming1 and repetitive application barriers4 ,in #bjae1 according to the ,department of ,agriculture1 #ae percent of all people eligible for supplemental nutrition assistance program 7referred to in this section as ,,snap71 #be percent of the working poor eligible for ,,snap1 and #ee percent of seniors over #fj who were eligible failed to receive it4 7#f7 ,the ,united ,states has hundreds of thousands of nonprofit groups providing high quality and much needed social services1 but it is nearly impossible for struggling people to determine which of those organizations provides services they need1 whether the organization is conveniently located1 and for which services they are eligible4 ,if they do determine that a nonprofit 7or multiple nonprofits7 could help1 they need to take yet more time to visit each one4 7#g7 ,since many government and nonprofit programs require frequent reapplications and recertifications1 a low-income person often has to repeat the same endless and frustrating process4 7#h7 ,technology has fundamentally revamped the lives of most individuals1 usually for the better4 ,according to the ,pew ,research ,center1 #fd percent of low-income individuals have a smart phone as of #bjaf 7not because a smart phone is a luxury but because it is an essential tool of learning and work in modern ,america7 but they rarely can use these devices to apply for benefits4 ,digital technology1 combined with policy improvements1 can simplify the lives and boost the long-term self-sufficiency of our lowest income residents4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,secretaries ,the term ,secretaries means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 acting collaboratively4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible pilot community means a ,state1 unit of general purpose local government1 ,tribal government1 or an entity that represents a smaller geographical area therein 7including a neighborhood74 7#c7 ,target population ,the term target population includes an individual or household that-- 7,a7 earns an income below #bjj percent of the ,federal poverty line2 7,b7 suffers from food insecurity2 7,c7 earns insufficient income to ensure food security or economic security2 7,d7 lives in a rural1 suburban1 or urban community that suffers from poverty1 hunger1 or food insecurity2 7,e7 is homeless2 7,f7 receives 7or recently received7 assistance under a ,state program funded under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq471 relating to temporary assistance to needy families2 7,g7 is eligible for benefits under any ,federal nutrition assistance program or ,federal antipoverty program2 or 7,h7 is formerly a youth in transition from foster care or the juvenile detention facilities4 7#d7 ,partner nonprofit organization ,the term partner nonprofit organization means any national1 regional1 ,state1 or local nonprofit group described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from tax under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code4 #d4 ,,hope ,accounts ,pilot ,projects 7a7 ,pilot projects authorized ,the ,secretaries shall allow eligible entities that apply to such ,secretaries to carry out ,health1 ,opportunity1 and ,personal ,empowerment 7,,hope7 ,accounts ,pilot ,projects to enable target populations of individuals to establish through banks1 credit unions1 and any governmental or ,tribal agencies ,,hope accounts that enable such individuals-- 7#a7 to have their paychecks deposited directly in such accounts2 7#b7 to use such accounts to increase savings that would be matched with funds provided by government and private sources1 including individual development accounts2 7#c7 to use an account mobile application on a smart phone to easily locate and sign up for job training and placement services online2 7#d7 to enable such individuals to use any smart phone1 tablet1 or computer-- 7,a7 to learn about the public and philanthropic programs that provide benefits to such individuals1 including aid to improve health1 nutrition1 job training and placement1 housing1 and income2 7,b7 to receive ,federal and ,state tax credits2 and 7,c7 to apply for1 submit eligibility documents for1 enroll in1 and manage the use of such benefits at once through the convenience of their device if individuals or their households are eligible for one or more of such benefits2 7#e7 to receive a basic smart phone1 tablet1 or computer1 along with a subsidized internet ,wi-,fi access plan1 if such individuals do not own a smart phone1 tablet1 or computer2 7#f7 to obtain the access and information described in paragraph 7#d7 with assistance at libraries1 government offices1 or nonprofit agencies if such individuals are uncomfortable using internet technology themselves2 7#g7 to obtain access to the information described in paragraph 7#d71 with the assistance of government or nonprofit employees1 ,ameri,corps national service participants1 or ,senior ,corps members1 to receive home visits if such individuals are elderly or disabled2 7#h7 to access health care information that specifies medical benefits1 and any out-of-pocket costs1 for each of the health plans for which such individuals may be eligible1 and to empower such individuals to easily select the plan that works best for them2 7#i7 to enable such individuals to file directly 7and without expending funds to obtain third-party tax filing services7 to obtain ,federal tax credits and refunds1 and in ,states and localities with their own supplemental tax credits1 to simultaneously file for credits and refunds2 7#aj7 to deposit cash in the account that is set aside for education1 job training1 starting a business1 or buying a home and that would be nontaxable2 7#aa7 to easily access and monitor1 in #a central online account-- 7,a7 to be able to check the status1 amounts1 and recertification deadlines for some or all their benefits and savings2 and 7,b7 to pay all bills online1 saving high check cashing fees and enormous amounts of time2 7#ab7 to budget resources by using real-time cash flow data and long-term financial planning data1 including calculating how much such individuals would lose in interest on credit cards versus how much such individuals would gain in interest by saving more2 7#ac7 to access calendar and scheduling functions that enable individuals to keep track of all job search1 work1 family1 and school obligations1 as well as any social service filing or appointment dates2 7#ad7 to be protected by security and privacy systems so that only such individuals1 and not the government1 nonprofit1 or banking partners1 would be able to see or track private financial and appointment information2 and 7#ae7 notwithstanding other provisions of law1 to allow program applicants to easily and clearly authorize their sharing of personal and financial information with multiple government agencies1 solely for the purpose of those government agencies enabling the individuals to apply for and utilize government benefits4 7b7 ,fiscal ,years ,pilot projects authorized by subsection 7a7 shall be carried out for a #a-year period in each of the fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbe4 #e4 ,,hope ,action ,plans ,pilot ,projects 7a7 ,pilot projects authorized ,the ,secretaries shall allow eligible entities that apply to such ,secretaries to carry out ,,hope ,action ,plans ,pilot ,projects to enable target populations of individuals to partner with government and nonprofit organizations by entering into voluntary agreements to carry out long-term ,,hope action plans that-- 7#a7 specify exactly how the parties to such plans will help such individuals and their families earn1 learn1 and save better in order to ensure greater economic opportunity for themselves and their children by working together in a long-term1 positive relationship for the purpose of ensuring upward mobility2 7#b7 are designed to empower such individuals and their families to better organize their time and focus their activities on productive endeavors while providing them extra resources to do so2 7#c7 may be-- 7,a7 short-term1 conducted over a year or #b years1 and aimed at helping families achieve very basic goals1 such as avoiding homelessness and hunger2 or 7,b7 long-term with far more ambitious goals for upward mobility2 and 7#d7 would require that participating individuals and families1 government entities1 and nonprofit partners have equal rights to hold each other accountable for plan outcomes and funding4 7b7 ,fiscal ,years ,pilot projects authorized by subsection 7a7 shall be carried out in each of the fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbe4 #f4 ,competitive grants for pilot projects 7a7 ,application for grant ,the ,secretaries shall each create grant application processes to competitively make grants to eligible entities to aid target populations4 ,to be eligible to receive a grant for a fiscal year under this section1 eligible entities shall submit to the appropriate ,secretary an application that contains a description of how the applicant proposes to use the grant funds to implement the components of the pilot projects authorized by this section4 ,applications shall be submitted in such form1 at such time1 and containing such other information as the ,secretaries may require4 7b7 ,form of grants ,if a ,secretary finds it appropriate1 the ,secretary may use cooperative agreements1 as described in section #fcje of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 for purposes of making grants under this section4 7c7 ,amount of grant ,grants made under this section shall range in amounts from #bej1jjj to #c1jjj1jjj1 and should be proportionate to the geographical size1 project complexity1 and number of individuals participating in each project4 ,eligible entities may receive grants made under this section by two or more of the ,secretaries4 ,to the extent funds are available1 each ,secretary shall make not fewer than #h such grants annually4 7d7 ,distribution of grants ,to the extent practicable1 the ,secretaries shall make grants for pilot projects that operate statewide1 as well as pilot projects designed to serve specific rural1 urban1 and suburban areas4 ,to the extent practicable1 pilot projects for which grants are made shall be distributed among diverse administrative regions of ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 and the ,department of ,agriculture4 7e7 ,preference ,for purposes of making grants under this section1 preference shall be given for pilot projects that-- 7#a7 serve individuals in historically underserved1 high-poverty1 rural or urban communities2 7#b7 simultaneously test both ,,hope ,accounts and ,,hope ,action ,plans2 7#c7 involve low-income individuals as equal partners in project planning and implementation2 7#d7 make additional funds available directly to low-income households through action plans1 either through government payments or through nonprofit subgrantees2 7#e7 are matched by considerable non-,federal funds without penalizing very-low income1 underserved rural and urban communities that cannot provide non-,federal matching funds2 7#f7 propose concrete plans for long-term sustainability and expansions without future ,federal grant funds2 7#g7 assist low-income households to apply for the ,federal earned income tax credits and ,state tax credits2 7#h7 provide resources in both ,english and additional languages commonly spoken in the applicable area2 7#i7 prioritize client-facing1 fully tested technology and mobile device applications2 7#aj7 include a robust monitoring and evaluation planning and reporting plan1 including proposed staffing and reporting for that plan1 including reporting on the extent to which the pilot makes it easier1 quicker1 and less costly for low-income individuals to access a variety of benefits1 the extent to which the pilot will save administrative funds over the long-run1 the extent to which the accuracy and integrity of the benefits programs included are maintained or improved1 and the extent to which low-income households are able to more easily obtain free or low-cost banking services2 7#aa7 subcontract part of the pilot project implementation work to ,united ,states-based private businesses1 banks1 savings and loans1 credit unions1 co-ops and nonprofit organizations described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf with relevant1 successful experience in similar or related project activities2 7#ab7 incorporate a benefits calculator to enable applicants to learn how the receipt of some benefits might or might not impact whether they are eligible for other benefits and might impact the amount of those other benefits for which they are eligible2 7#ac7 include planning and funding for the pilot entities to train their staffs and clients to utilize the new technologies2 7#ad7 in rural and other areas without strong broad-band service1 integrate activities under the grant with other activities to strengthen local-broad band service2 7#ae7 enable low-income individuals to obtain free or reduced price smart phones and free or reduced-price data services2 7#af7 ensure that individuals without personal smart phone1 tablet1 or computer access are able to benefit from the systems and technological improvements in the pilot projects at public locations such as public libraries1 community centers1 and social service offices2 7#ag7 propose a detailed1 workable plan to thoroughly beta test and field test any new technologies or systems in the pilot project before making such technologies or systems available to all households1 individuals1 or the entire pilot area2 and 7#ah7 identify the applicable ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal statutory and regulatory authorities1 including waiver authorities1 to be potentially leveraged to most effectively implement the proposed pilot project4 #g4 ,,hope technology innovation contracts 7a7 ,authority ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,agriculture and the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 shall hold a merit-based competition to award ,,hope ,technology ,innovation ,contracts to ,united ,states-based private businesses and nonprofit organizations described in section #ejc7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf with relevant1 successful experience in technology1 to create technology1 including mobile applications1 widgets1 and templates that pilot entities can use to create ,,hope accounts4 7b7 ,number of contracts ,the ,secretary shall award no more than ten and not fewer than two such contracts each fiscal year4 7c7 ,size of contracts ,contracts may range in size from #bjj1jjj to #d1ejj1jjj4 7d7 ,availability to the public ,all technologies developed with funding provided under this section shall be open-sourced and available to the public for free4 7e7 ,household data ,no contractor shall have access to any client or household data through a project under this section1 unless such contractor is a contractor or subgrantee for a pilot entity1 in which case such contractor may have limited1 functional access to such data4 ,in no case shall a contractor share or sell client or household data4 7f7 ,preferences ,in making awards under this section1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall give preference to applicants that ensure the following with respect to the applicable technology3 7#a7 ,client-facing technology with top preferences mobile device applications and uses and secondary preferences to tablet and computer and texting uses4 7#b7 ,incorporate fail-safe systems to maintain the privacy and security of data4 7#c7 ,are easily adaptable at the lowest possible financial costs with the least possible staff time by pilot entities and other ,state1 county1 city1 municipal1 and ,tribal governments in a manner that can easily be utilized by low-income individuals4 7#d7 ,build in the ability to be easily updated as technologies evolve4 #h4 ,maintenance of effort and nondisplacement of workers ,none of the pilot projects carried out under this ,act shall do any of the following3 7#a7 ,decrease the overall monetary value of ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government funding assistance given to any individual or family1 although all entities involved could independently1 or jointly1 increase funding under such projects4 7#b7 ,decrease the overall ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government funding for antipoverty programs spent by participating pilot communities and agencies1 although all entities involved may independently1 or jointly1 increase funding4 7#c7 ,lengthen the amount of time or increase the requirements necessary to receive any government benefits1 or in any way make it more difficult to obtain any form of government assistance4 7#d7 ,limit the legal rights of anyone in the target populations to receive government or nonprofit assistance4 7#e7 ,decrease overall public sector employment in any eligible pilot community1 but public employees could be transferred at similar or higher salaries and pay grades from positions that oversee paperwork to positions that provide direct services to the public1 assuming such transfers do not violate collective barraging agreements or their other rights as public employees4 7#f7 ,decrease or increase work requirements for existing government programs4 7#g7 ,reduce program integrity measures or increase the possibility of fraud in any government program4 7#h7 ,track or monitor the physical location or immigration status of immigrants1 be used for any immigration enforcement activity against any individuals1 or be used to provide any data whatsoever to agencies involved in immigration enforcement activities or policy4 7#i7 ,enable any pilot entity or contractor1 subcontractor1 or partner of any pilot entity to share or sell client or household data obtained through those projects4 7#aj7 ,eliminate the existing ability of applicants to apply for1 recertify1 or manage government benefits by physically visiting a government office4 #i4 ,annual reports to ,congress 7a7 ,report ,not later than ,september #cj of each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbf1 the ,secretaries shall submit to ,congress a report on the results of pilot projects carried out under this ,act4 7b7 ,contents of report ,each report under subsection 7a7 shall include detailed data on the extent to which the pilot makes it easier1 quicker1 and less costly for low-income individuals to access a variety of benefits1 the extent to which the pilot will save administrative funds over the long-term1 the extent to which the accuracy and integrity of the benefits programs included are maintained or improved1 and the extent to which low-income households are able to more easily obtain free or low-cost banking services4 #aj4 ,authorization of appropriations2 technical assistance authorized 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act for each of the fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbe-- 7#a7 #aj1jjj1jjj to the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 of which #ejj1jjj shall be used internally by the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development for staff and other expenses to plan1 award1 and oversee pilot projects under this ,act and #i1ejj1jjj shall be available for grants under section #f2 7#b7 #aj1jjj1jjj to the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 of which #ejj1jjj shall be used internally by ,department of ,agriculture for staff and other expenses to plan1 award1 and oversee pilot projects under this ,act and #i1ejj1jjj shall be available for grants under section #f2 and 7#c7 #ae1jjj1jjj to the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 of which #ejj1jjj shall be used internally by the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services for staff and other expenses to plan1 award1 and oversee pilot projects under this ,act and #i1ejj1jjj shall be available for grants under section #f1 and #e1jjj1jjj shall be available for contracts under section #g4 7b7 ,technical assistance authorized ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 the ,commissioner of the ,internal ,revenue ,service1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service1 the ,administrator of the ,small ,business ,administration1 the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 the ,office of ,science and ,technology1 the ,chairman of the ,federal ,deposit ,insurance ,corporation1 and the ,domestic ,policy ,council may1 for the purpose of advancing the objectives of the pilot projects carried out under this ,act-- 7#a7 provide technical assistance2 7#b7 solicit voluntary1 nonmonetary assistance from institutions of higher education1 credit unions1 and private sector technology companies1 banks1 and financial institutions2 and 7#c7 inform eligible entities of the applicable ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal statutory and regulatory authorities1 including waiver authorities4