,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dhii ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ca1 #bjbd,ms4 ,butler introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish a grant program for ,states that adopt the ,uniform ,partition of ,heirs ,property ,act1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,heirs ,estate ,inheritance ,resolution and ,succession ,act of #bjbd or the ,,heirs ,act of #bjbd4 #b4 ,grants for eligible entities that adopt the ,uniform ,partition of ,heirs ,property ,act 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state or unit of general local government1 as those terms are defined in section #ajb of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjb72 7,b7 a territory2 or 7,c7 a ,tribal government4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7b7 ,grant program ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a grant program that provides amounts to eligible entities that have enacted or adopted the ,uniform ,partition of ,heirs ,property ,act as approved and recommended for enactment in all the ,states by the ,national ,conference of ,commissioners on ,uniform ,state ,laws in #bjaj or a similar law that the ,secretary determines is a substantial equivalent4 7c7 ,use of amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant amounts to assist residents of the eligible entity with bona fide expenses relating to establishing and documenting property ownership rights or settling a decedent's estate1 including-- 7,a7 fees and costs related to-- 7i7 obtaining title reports and title abstracts1 copies of public records1 and land surveys2 7ii7 estate planning2 or 7iii7 heirs search or tracing services2 7,b7 recording and filing fees2 7,c7 notary fees2 and 7,d7 legal fees and expenses4 7#b7 ,layering of assistance ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may use the grant amounts to assist residents of the eligible entity who are receiving assistance from other sources1 including ,federal1 ,state1 local1 private1 public1 and nonprofit sources4 7d7 ,regulations and criteria for selection ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section that include criteria for the selection of grant recipients4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary #cj1jjj1jjj for each of year fiscal years #bjbe through #bjce to carry out this section4 #c4 ,grants to provide assistance relating to heirs' property resolution 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,,hud-approved housing counseling agency2 7,b7 a legal services clinic operated by an institution of higher education1 as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja72 or 7,c7 a qualifying nonprofit4 7#b7 ,heirs' property ,the term heirs' property means residential property-- 7,a7 for which title passed by operation of law through intestacy2 and 7,b7 that is held by #b or more heirs as tenants in common4 7#c7 ,,hud-approved housing counseling agency ,the term ,,hud-approved housing counseling agency means a housing counseling agency found eligible to receive assistance by the ,secretary under section #ajf7;a77#b7 of the ,housing and ,urban ,development ,act of #aifh 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #agjax7a77#b774 7#d7 ,low- or moderate-income person 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the term low- or moderate-income person means a homeowner whose household income does not exceed #abj percent of the median income for the area1 as determined by the ,secretary1 within which-- 7i7 the heirs' property which respect to which the homeowner is seeking assistance is located2 or 7ii7 the place of residence of the homeowner is located4 7,b7 ,exception ,with respect to an area described in subparagraph 7,a7 that is a high-cost area1 as determined by the ,secretary1 the term low- or moderate-income person means a homeowner whose household income does not exceed #adj percent of the median income for the area1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#e7 ,qualifying nonprofit ,the term qualifying nonprofit means a nonprofit1 mission-driven entity that1 as determined by the ,secretary-- 7,a7 has a track record of providing assistance to homeowners2 7,b7 targets services to minority persons and low- or moderate-income persons2 or 7,c7 provides services in neighborhoods that have a high concentration of-- 7i7 minority persons2 and 7ii7 low- or moderate-income persons4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7b7 ,grant program ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program under this section to provide grants to eligible entities to use to provide housing counseling1 legal assistance1 and financial assistance related to title clearing and home retention efforts for owners of heirs' property4 7c7 ,awards ,the ,secretary shall consider the following when awarding grants under this section3 7#a7 ,whether the eligible entity has a proven track record of-- 7,a7 providing assistance to homeowners2 7,b7 targeting services to minority persons and low- or moderate-income persons2 and 7,c7 providing services in neighborhoods that have a high concentration of-- 7i7 minority persons2 and 7ii7 low- or moderate-income persons4 7#b7 ,whether the eligible entity has planned or existing partnerships with other eligible entities4 7#c7 ,whether the eligible entity is located in an area with a high number of owners of heirs' property1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary1 for grants under this section1 #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjbi4 #d4 ,heirs' property housing counseling ,section #ajf7;g7 of the ,housing and ,urban ,development ,act of #aifh 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #agjax7g77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#f7 ,counseling with respect to heirs' property 7,a7 ,in general ,a nonprofit organization that receives amounts under this section shall1 when providing homeownership counseling services to a consumer-- 7i7 explain to the consumer what heirs' property is1 the risks associated with heirs' property1 and how to avoid heirs' property issues2 and 7ii7 inform the consumer of all available estate planning and title clearing options1 assistance1 and services1 including those offered under sections #b and #c of the ,heirs ,estate ,inheritance ,resolution and ,succession ,act of #bjbd4 7,b7 ,referral ,the ,secretary shall ensure that each nonprofit organization that receives amounts under this section knows how to refer consumers1 where appropriate1 to mission-driven nonprofit organizations and legal services clinics operated by institutions of higher education1 as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja71 that are capable of assisting a consumer to clear title and with general estate planning4 7,c7 ,definition of heirs' property ,for purposes of this paragraph1 the term heirs' property means residential property-- 7i7 for which title passed by operation of law through intestacy2 and 7ii7 that is held by #b or more heirs as tenants in common4 4