,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #igj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #aa 7legislative day1 ,march #aj71 #bjbe,mr4 ,reed 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,britt7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish a pilot program to improve the family self-sufficiency program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,helping ,more ,families ,save ,act4 #b4 ,family self-sufficiency escrow expansion pilot program ,section #bc of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcgu7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7p7 ,escrow expansion pilot program 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,covered family ,the term covered family means a family that receives assistance under section #h or #i of this ,act and is enrolled in the pilot program4 7,b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means an entity described in subsection 7c77#b74 7,c7 ,pilot program ,the term pilot program means the pilot program established under paragraph 7#b74 7,d7 ,welfare assistance ,the term welfare assistance has the meaning given the term in section #ihd4ajc of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation4 7#b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the ,secretary shall select not more than #be eligible entities to establish and manage escrow accounts for not more than #e1jjj covered families1 in accordance with this subsection4 7#c7 ,escrow accounts 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity selected to participate in the pilot program-- 7i7 shall establish an interest-bearing escrow account and place into the account an amount equal to any increase in the amount of rent paid by each covered family in accordance with the provisions of section #c1 #h7o71 or #h7y71 as applicable1 that is attributable to increases in earned income by the covered families during the participation of each covered family in the pilot program2 and 7ii7 notwithstanding any other provision of law1 may use funds it controls under section #h or #i for purposes of making the escrow deposit for covered families assisted under1 or residing in units assisted under1 section #h or #i of this title1 respectively1 provided such funds are offset by the increase in the amount of rent paid by the covered family4 7,b7 ,income limitation ,an eligible entity may not escrow any amounts for any covered family whose adjusted income exceeds #hj percent of the area median income4 7,c7 ,withdrawals ,a covered family shall be able to withdraw funds1 including interest earned1 from an escrow account established by an eligible entity under the pilot program-- 7i7 after the covered family ceases to receive welfare assistance2 and 7ii7 7,i7 not earlier than the date that is #e years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account under this subsection2 7,,ii7 not later than the date that is #g years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account under this subsection1 if the covered family chooses to continue to participate in the pilot program after the date that is #e years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account2 7,,iii7 on the date the covered family ceases to receive housing assistance under section #h or #i1 if such date is earlier than #e years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account2 7,,iv7 earlier than #e years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account1 if the covered family is using the funds to advance a self-sufficiency goal as approved by the eligible entity2 or 7,v7 under other circumstances in which the ,secretary determines an exemption for good cause is warranted4 7,d7 ,interim recertification ,for purposes of the pilot program1 a covered family may recertify the income of the covered family multiple times per year1 as determined by the ,secretary1 and not fewer than once per year4 7,e7 ,contract or plan ,a covered family is not required to complete a standard contract of participation or an individual training and services plan in order to participate in the pilot program4 7#d7 ,effect of increases in family income ,any increase in the earned income of a covered family during the enrollment of the family in the pilot program may not be considered as income or a resource for purposes of eligibility of the family for other benefits1 or amount of benefits payable to the family1 under any program administered by the ,secretary4 7#e7 ,application 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity seeking to participate in the pilot program shall submit to the ,secretary an application-- 7i7 at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require by notice2 and 7ii7 that includes the number of proposed covered families to be served by the eligible entity under this subsection4 7,b7 ,geographic and entity variety ,the ,secretary shall ensure that eligible entities selected to participate in the pilot program-- 7i7 are located across various ,states and in both urban and rural areas2 and 7ii7 vary by size and type1 including both public housing agencies and private owners of projects receiving project-based rental assistance under section #h4 7#f7 ,notification and opt-out ,an eligible entity participating in the pilot program shall-- 7,a7 notify covered families of their enrollment in the pilot program2 7,b7 provide covered families with a detailed description of the pilot program1 including how the pilot program will impact their rent and finances2 7,c7 inform covered families that the families cannot simultaneously participate in the pilot program and the ,family ,self-,sufficiency program under this section2 and 7,d7 provide covered families with the ability to elect not to participate in the pilot program-- 7i7 not less than #b weeks before the date on which the escrow account is established under paragraph 7#c72 and 7ii7 at any point during the duration of the pilot program4 7#g7 ,maximum rents ,during the term of participation by a covered family in the pilot program1 the amount of rent paid by the covered family shall be calculated under the rental provisions of section #c or #h7o71 as applicable4 7#h7 ,pilot program timeline 7,a7 ,awards ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall select the eligible entities to participate in the pilot program4 7,b7 ,establishment and term of accounts ,an eligible entity selected to participate in the pilot program shall-- 7i7 not later than #f months after selection1 establish escrow accounts under paragraph 7#c7 for covered families2 and 7ii7 maintain those escrow accounts for not less than #e years1 or until the date the family ceases to receive assistance under section #h or #i1 and1 at the discretion of the covered family1 not more than #g years after the date on which the escrow account is established4 7#i7 ,nonparticipation and housing assistance 7,a7 ,in general ,assistance under section #h or #i for a family that elects not to participate in the pilot program shall not be delayed or denied by reason of such election4 7,b7 ,no termination ,housing assistance may not be terminated as a consequence of participating1 or not participating1 in the pilot program under this subsection for any period of time4 7#aj7 ,study ,not later than #h years after the date the ,secretary selects eligible entities to participate in the pilot program under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall conduct a study and submit to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives a report on outcomes for covered families under the pilot program1 which shall evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program in assisting families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency1 and the impact coaching and supportive services1 or the lack thereof1 had on individual incomes4 7#aa7 ,waivers ,to allow selected eligible entities to effectively administer the pilot program and make the required escrow account deposits under this subsection1 the ,secretary may waive requirements under this section4 7#ab7 ,termination ,the pilot program under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is #aj years after the date of enactment of this subsection4 7#ac7 ,authorization of appropriations 7,a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary for fiscal year #bjbf #e1jjj1jjj-- 7i7 for technical assistance related to implementation of the pilot program2 and 7ii7 to carry out an evaluation of the pilot program under paragraph 7#aj74 7,b7 ,availability ,any amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended4 4