,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dadf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #ag1 #bjbd,mr4 ,casey 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,capito7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development to establish grant programs relating to neighborhood revitalization1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,neighborhood ,revitalization and ,land ,banking ,act of #bjbd4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,land bank ,the term land bank means a government entity1 agency1 or program1 or a special purpose nonprofit entity formed by #a or more units of government in accordance with a ,state or local land bank enabling law1 that has been designated by #a or more ,state or local governments to acquire1 steward1 and dispose of vacant1 abandoned1 or other problem properties in accordance with locally determined priorities and goals4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7#c7 ,targeted revitalization corridor ,the term targeted revitalization corridor means a segment of a community in need of revitalization that-- 7,a7 may be delineated by major streets or physical topography2 7,b7 reflects a cohesive and targeted geographic area with shared character2 and 7,c7 has boundaries proposed and justified by individual grant applicants based on unique community need4 #c4 ,blight mapping grants 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a program under which the ,secretary may make grants to eligible entities to assist in monitoring property conditions and developing a database for tracking blighted properties within a given geography4 7b7 ,eligible entity ,an entity eligible for a grant under this section shall be-- 7#a7 a land bank2 or 7#b7 any county or local government that is not served by a land bank1 for a period of not more than #d years4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,contents ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and including such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,priority ,if the overall resources provided to carry out the program under this section are insufficient to fund all qualified applicants in a given fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall prioritize-- 7,a7 applicants that are land banks2 and 7,b7 #a applicant per county1 with a strong preference for any applicant that is able to monitor property conditions and track blighted properties within the entire county4 7#c7 ,multiple applicants ,a land bank that serves more than #a county within a ,state may apply for and aggregate multiple per-county grants under this section1 but only if a signed partnership agreement with each included county is provided with the application4 7d7 ,use of funds ,a recipient of a grant under this section-- 7#a7 may use the grant funds for-- 7,a7 mapping activities for a given geography1 such as data scraping1 canvassing1 purchasing of software and technology1 including technology used to link multiple municipal datasets1 maintenance on digital archives and infrastructure1 manpower1 and equipment2 and 7,b7 documenting commercial1 industrial1 and residential properties that are blighted2 and 7#b7 may not use the grant funds for citation or enforcement activities4 7e7 ,minimum geography ,the ,secretary shall establish a minimum geography that eligible entities are required to survey in order to qualify to apply for a grant under this section1 which should be-- 7#a7 responsive to the range of population densities across the country2 and 7#b7 ensure a significant amount of work is completed with funding1 and not that only a minimum square mileage is surveyed4 7f7 ,annual amount ,the amount of a grant under this section for an eligible entity shall be #aj1jjj per fiscal year4 7g7 ,additional mapping activities ,if1 after the ,secretary awards grants under this section in a fiscal year1 there are remaining grant funds1 the ,secretary may use those amounts to award grants to multiple applicants within a single county1 but in no case shall more than #e grants be awarded in a single county4 7h7 ,data-,sharing requirement ,by request1 data collected using grant funds under this section shall be made available for access by other municipal or county agencies1 and by local community development entities and nonprofit organizations1 including community land trusts1 other land banks1 land bank associations and networks1 researchers1 and redevelopment authorities4 7i7 ,reporting 7#a7 ,names of recipients ,not later than #c months after awarding a grant under this section1 the ,secretary shall publish the name of the grant recipient on a publicly accessible website4 7#b7 ,additional reporting ,the ,secretary may require reporting on the activities supported using grant funds under this section for oversight and research purposes4 #d4 ,land bank planning and implementation grants 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,office of ,community ,planning and ,development of the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 shall establish a program under which the ,secretary may award planning grants and implementation grants to land banks to support projects that fund the revitalization of neighborhoods by addressing property conditions in a region4 7b7 ,eligible activities 7#a7 ,planning grants ,a land bank receiving a planning grant under this section may use the grant funds to create-- 7,a7 a targeted list of blighted properties1 in particular blighted commercial and residential properties to target for demolition1 deconstruction1 redevelopment1 or other disposition2 and 7,b7 a proposed revitalization plan for how each blighted property described in subparagraph 7,a7 will be used after the property is brought back into use1 which shall-- 7i7 support existing homeowners1 renters1 and business owners and preserve occupied properties where feasible1 while also improving neighborhood safety and continuity2 7ii7 be created in partnership with community groups and residents to ensure responsible reuse in accordance with community goals and priorities2 7iii7 indicate how the project will contribute to or support lasting housing affordability and access to homeownership opportunity2 and 7iv7 consider how blighted property remediation efforts will contribute to holistic neighborhood revitalization1 including how they will impact access to a safe environment1 respond to local housing market needs1 and impact access to housing affordable to a variety of income levels1 appropriate services1 public assets1 transportation1 schools1 and jobs4 7#b7 ,implementation grants 7,a7 ,in general ,a land bank receiving an implementation grant under this section may use the grant funds to implement a revitalization plan of the land bank described in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 over a #e-year period1 including through efforts such as property maintenance1 site preparation1 remediation1 obtaining a clear1 marketable1 and insurable title1 property acquisition and disposition1 demolition1 deconstruction1 property rehabilitation1 staffing1 operations1 and administrative costs4 7,b7 ,construction predevelopment fund use cap ,a land bank receiving an implementation grant under this section may use not more than #be percent of the grant funds for construction and predevelopment costs incurred in preparation of a site for redevelopment1 such as environmental reviews1 stormwater work1 and geotechnical engineering4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,a land bank desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and including such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in selecting grant recipients under this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 seek to make awards to land banks in a geographically diverse manner2 7,b7 consider the needs of rural geographies separately given population density2 7,c7 consider the extent to which the proposed targeted revitalization corridor represents a cohesive and targeted geographic area with a shared character2 and 7,d7 consider applications that address multiple targeted revitalization corridors1 if the ,secretary determines that the funding allocated to individual targeted revitalization corridors is sufficient to contribute to holistic neighborhood revitalization4 7d7 ,amount 7#a7 ,in general ,the amount of a grant made under this section shall be-- 7,a7 with respect to a planning grant1 not less than #ajj1jjj and not more than #bej1jjj for each land bank receiving a grant1 with an aggregate total of-- 7i7 not more than #ah1jjj1jjj in each of fiscal years #bjbe and #bjbf2 and 7ii7 not more than #a1jjj1jjj in each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjce2 and 7,b7 with respect to an implementation grant1 not less than #b1jjj1jjj and not more than #ae1jjj1jjj for each land bank receiving a grant1 with an aggregate total of not more than #dj1jjj1jjj in each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjce4 7#b7 ,set-asides ,not less than one-third of planning grant funding and one-third of implementation grant funding awarded under this section shall be set aside each fiscal year for awards to underresourced land banks4 7e7 ,underresourced land bank ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with stakeholders engaged in land banking work throughout the ,united ,states1 shall work with stakeholders in the broader community revitalization and land banking field to determine the various criteria that could qualify a land bank as underresourced for purposes of subsection 7d77#b74 7f7 ,prohibition ,a land bank receiving a grant under this section shall not be required to divert to the ,secretary any proceeds from the sale of any property assisted under the grant4 7g7 ,reporting 7#a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that reporting requirements imposed on grant recipients under this section should prioritize simplicity and flexibility while also providing the data required to successfully monitor grants made under this section4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the ,secretary shall establish reporting requirements that balance the considerations under paragraph 7#a7 and require grant recipients to report not more frequently than on an annual basis4 #e4 ,technical assistance and fellowship program 7a7 ,predevelopment technical assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide predevelopment technical assistance to individuals and organizations to facilitate applications to the programs established under sections #c and #d by funding not less than #a and not more than #c eligible entities or nonprofit organizations to provide training1 research1 and technical assistance to individuals and organizations1 as appropriate4 7#b7 ,establishment of fund ,the ,secretary shall establish a predevelopment technical assistance fund to provide the technical assistance under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,cost of assistance ,assistance provided under paragraph 7#a7 shall be provided at no cost to recipients4 7b7 ,blighted property remediation fellowship program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a program under which the ,secretary may make #c awards of #cjj1jjj each1 to be used over a #c-year period1 to nonprofit organizations1 institutions of higher education1 as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja71 or consortiums to administer a blighted property remediation fellowship pilot program aimed at advancing the land banking field through research and the development of expertise within the workforce4 7#b7 ,technical assistance ,if requested by a recipient of an award under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall provide technical assistance to that recipient to comply with the reporting requirements under paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,report ,each recipient of an award under this subsection shall1 not later than #c years after receiving the award1 submit to the ,secretary a report on the activities carried out under this subsection4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,blight mapping grants ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out section #c #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjce1 to remain available until expended4 7b7 ,planning grants and technical assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out sections #d and #e-- 7,a7 #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe and #bjbf2 and 7,b7 #dc1ijj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjce4 7#b7 ,fiscal years #bjbe and #bjbf ,in each of fiscal years #bjbe and #bjbf1 the ,secretary shall use the majority of amounts appropriated under this subsection to provide planning grants and technical assistance and establish a pipeline of applicants for future implementation grants under sections #d and #e4 7#c7 ,fiscal years #bjbg through #bjce ,in each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjce1 amounts appropriated under this subsection shall be distributed such that-- 7,a7 not less than #a1jjj1jjj is made available for planning grants under section #d7;b77#a72 7,b7 #dj1jjj1jjj is made available for implementation grants under section #d7;b77#b72 7,c7 #b1jjj1jjj is provided for the predevelopment technical assistance fund described in section #e7;a77#b72 and 7,d7 #ijj1jjj is provided for the program described in section #e7;b74