,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bccd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ah1 #bjbc ,mrs4 ,gillibrand introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to require each public housing agency to establish and maintain an online portal for tenants and applicants1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,housing ,transparency ,improvement ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,covered housing ,the term covered housing means-- 7,a7 low-income housing2 and 7,b7 any property with assistance converted under the ,rental ,assistance ,demonstration program authorized under title ,,ii of the ,consolidated and ,further ,continuing ,appropriations ,act1 #bjab 7,public ,law #aab-ee2 #abe ,stat4 #fgc74 7#b7 ,families2 low-income housing ,the terms families and low-income housing have the meanings given those terms in section #c7;b7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;a7b774 7#c7 ,public housing agency ,the term public housing agency-- 7,a7 has the meaning given the term in section #c7;b7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;a7b772 and 7,b7 includes any owner of low-income housing that enters into a housing assistance payments contract under section #h of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcgo74 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7#e7 ,small public housing agency ,the term small public housing agency means a public housing agency that-- 7,a7 owns1 assists1 or operates not more than #bej covered housing dwelling units2 and 7,b7 predominantly operates in a rural area1 as described in section #ajbf4ce7;b77#b77;iv77,a7 of title #ab1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation4 #c4 ,online portal 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 each public housing agency shall establish and maintain an online portal on the website of the public housing agency through which families residing in and applicants for a covered housing dwelling owned1 assisted1 or operated by the public housing agency may-- 7#a7 access information1 including contact information1 relating to the performance evaluation1 management1 and control of the covered housing dwelling2 7#b7 access a plain language list of the legal rights of each family residing in or applying for the covered housing dwelling1 which shall be available for translation2 and 7#c7 track service requests and complaints submitted to the public housing agency through a tracking system described in subsection 7b74 7b7 ,tracking system 7#a7 ,in general ,each public housing agency shall establish1 using existing software or through new software1 a request tracking system1 including for inquiry on the status of an application1 short-term and long-term capital improvements1 service requests1 and complaints1 submitted by a family residing in a covered housing dwelling owned or operated by the public housing agency through which the families and applicants may track requests with real-time updates provided by the public housing agency4 7#b7 ,service request and complaint database 7,a7 ,assignment of number ,the tracking system described in paragraph 7#a7 shall contain a database under which the public housing agency shall assign each family residing in a covered housing dwelling owned or operated by the public housing agency and each applicant for a covered housing dwelling owned or operated by the public housing agency a ticket number or a private access number to use to make requests or complaints described in paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,required information ,each inquiry described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 be searchable through the tracking system described in paragraph 7#a72 7ii7 have associated with it a description of-- 7,i7 the nature of the inquiry1 complaint1 or request2 7,,ii7 the most recent status of the inquiry1 complaint1 or request2 7,,iii7 whether or not the inquiry1 complaint1 or request is open or closed2 7,,iv7 any action taken on the inquiry1 complaint1 or request1 and any next steps to be taken2 and 7,v7 any additional information as the public housing agency determines appropriate2 and 7iii7 not publicly disclose any personal information relating to the inquiry1 complaint1 or request1 including the unit number1 name of the resident or applicant1 or any other identifying information that is prohibited from disclosure under applicable laws4 7#c7 ,prohibition ,a public housing agency may not require a family residing in a covered housing dwelling owned or operated by the public housing agency to use the tracking system described in paragraph 7#a7 to submit requests or to receive updates relating to service requests and complaints submitted by the family4 7c7 ,updates ,each public housing agency shall ensure that the online portal established under subsection 7a7 is updated on a regular basis and contains the most recent information regarding inquiries1 service requests1 and complaints described in subsection 7a77#c74 7d7 ,reporting ,each public housing agency shall1 on an annual basis1 develop a fact sheet for tenants residing in and applicants for a covered housing dwelling owned1 assisted1 or operated by the public housing agency that-- 7#a7 includes1 in a clear and easily discernible manner-- 7,a7 the total amount and type of ,federal1 ,state1 and local funds received for the fiscal year2 7,b7 the funding streams for ongoing and upcoming capital improvement projects2 7,c7 the most recent inspection date and score2 7,d7 any major renovation1 capital1 or redevelopment plans2 and 7,e7 the name and contact information for the manager or management of the dwelling1 if operating independently2 7#b7 is posted on the website of the public housing agency1 if applicable1 is available in paper format1 is available for translation1 is available upon request1 and is submitted as an addendum as part of the public housing agency plan provided to the ,resident ,advisory ,board and provided at a public hearing as required under section #e;,a of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;c-#a74 7e7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may make grants to public housing agencies in the amount necessary for the public housing agency to purchase1 establish1 and maintain the online portal required under this section4 7#b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection4 7f7 ,reporting ,each public housing agency shall1 on an annual basis1 submit to the ,secretary information on grants made under subsection 7e71 including how the amounts were used related to the online portal required under this section4 7g7 ,incentives ,the ,secretary shall consider the implementation and maintenance by a public housing agency of the online portal required under this section in the annual public housing assessment system described in part #ijb of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation4 7h7 ,exemptions 7#a7 ,in general ,the requirement to create and maintain an online portal under this section shall not apply to small public housing agencies4 7#b7 ,alternate method ,a small public housing agency that is exempted under paragraph 7#a7 shall develop1 implement1 and submit to the ,secretary alternate methods for fulfilling the requirements under subsections 7a7 through 7d71 in particular paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of subsection 7a74