S.Amdt. 937

1. Adds SEC. 3504. HOUSING FOR EDUCATORS, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS on page 634, between lines 6 and 7

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 3504. HOUSING FOR EDUCATORS, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

   Inserted: (a) Definitions.--In this section:

   Inserted: (1) Educator.--The term 'educator' means an individual who--

   Inserted: (A) is employed full-time as a teacher, principal, or administrator by--

   Inserted: (i) a public elementary school or secondary school that provides direct services to students in grades prekindergarten through grade 12, or a Head Start program; and

   Inserted: (ii) meets the appropriate teaching certification or licensure requirements of the State for the position in which the individual is employed; or

   Inserted: (B) is employed full-time as a librarian, a career guidance or counseling provider, an education aide, or in another instructional or administrative position for a public elementary school or secondary school.

   Inserted: (2) Medical provider.--The term 'medical provider' means--

   Inserted: (A) a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy;

   Inserted: (B) an American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian recognized as a traditional healing practitioner;

   Inserted: (C) a health care provider that--

   Inserted: (i) is licensed or certified under Federal or State law, as applicable; and

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   Inserted: (ii) is providing services that are eligible for coverage under a plan under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code;

   Inserted: (D) a provider authorized under section 119 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1616l); or

   Inserted: (E) any other individual that the Secretary determines is capable of providing health care services.

   Inserted: (3) Public safety officer.--The term 'public safety officer' means an individual who is employed full-time--

   Inserted: (A) as a law enforcement officer by a law enforcement agency of the Federal Government, a State, a unit of general local government, or an Indian tribe; or

   Inserted: (B) as a firefighter by a fire department of the Federal Government, a State, a unit of general local government, or an Indian tribe.

   Inserted: (4) Qualified community.--The term 'qualified community' means any open country, or any place, town, village, or city--

   Inserted: (A) that is not part of or associated with an urban area; and

   Inserted: (B) that--

   Inserted: (i) has a population of not more than 2,500; or

   Inserted: (ii)(I) has a population of not more than 10,000; and

   Inserted: (II) is not accessible by a motor vehicle, as defined in section 30102 of title 49, United States Code.

   Inserted: (5) Qualified housing.--The term 'qualified housing' means housing for educators, public safety officers, or medical providers that is located in a qualified community.

   Inserted: (6) Qualified project.--The term 'qualified project' means--

   Inserted: (A) the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing;

   Inserted: (B) the payment of interest on bonds or other financing instruments (excluding instruments used for refinancing) that are issued for the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing;

   Inserted: (C) the repayment of a loan used--

   Inserted: (i) for the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing; or

   Inserted: (ii) to purchase real property on which qualified housing will be constructed;

   Inserted: (D) purchasing or leasing real property on which qualified housing will be constructed, renovated, modernized, or repaired; or

   Inserted: (E) any other activity normally associated with the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing, as determined by the Secretary.

   Inserted: (7) Educational service agency, elementary school, local educational agency, secondary school, state educational agency.--The terms 'educational service agency', 'elementary school', 'local educational agency', 'secondary school', and 'State educational agency' have the meanings given those terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

   Inserted: (b) Grants.--The Secretary may make a grant to an applicant to carry out a qualified project.

   Inserted: (c) Loan Guarantees.--The Secretary may guarantee a loan made to an applicant for the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing.

   Inserted: (d) Financing Mechanisms.--The Secretary may make payments of interest on bonds, loans, or other financial instruments (other than financial instruments used for refinancing) that are issued to an applicant for a qualified project.

   Inserted: (e) Application.--An applicant that desires a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application that--

   Inserted: (1) indicates whether the qualified housing for which the grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest is sought is located in a qualified community;

   Inserted: (2) identifies the applicant;

   Inserted: (3) indicates whether the applicant prefers to receive a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under this section;

   Inserted: (4) describes how the applicant would ensure the adequate maintenance of qualified housing assisted under this section;

   Inserted: (5) demonstrates a need for qualified housing in a qualified community, which may include a deficiency of affordable housing, a deficiency of habitable housing, or the need to modernize, renovate, or repair housing;

   Inserted: (6) describes the expected impact of the grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest on--

   Inserted: (A) educators, public safety officers, and medical providers in a qualified community, including the impact on recruitment and retention of educators, public safety officers, and medical providers; and

   Inserted: (B) the economy of a qualified community, including--

   Inserted: (i) any plans to use small business concerns for the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing; and

   Inserted: (ii) the short- and long-term impact on the rate of employment in the qualified community; and

   Inserted: (7) describes how the applicant would ensure that qualified housing assisted under this section is used for educators, public safety officers, and medical providers.

   Inserted: (f) Input From State Director of Rural Development.--The State Director of Rural Development for a State may submit to the Secretary an evaluation of any application for a qualified project in the State for which an application for assistance under this section is submitted and the Secretary shall take into consideration the evaluation in determining whether to provide assistance.

   Inserted: (g) Priority.--In awarding grants and making loan guarantees and payments of interest under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an applicant that is--

   Inserted: (1) a State educational agency or local educational agency;

   Inserted: (2) an educational service agency;

   Inserted: (3) a State or local housing authority;

   Inserted: (4) an Indian tribe or tribal organization;

   Inserted: (5) a tribally designated housing entity;

   Inserted: (6) a local government; or

   Inserted: (7) a consortium of any of the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (6).

   Inserted: (h) Limitation.--The Secretary may provide assistance to the same applicant under only 1 of subsections (b), (c), and (d).

   Inserted: (i) Requirement.--As a condition of eligibility for a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under this section, at least 1 named applicant shall be required to maintain ownership of the qualified housing that is the subject of the grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest during the greater of--

   Inserted: (1) 15 years; or

   Inserted: (2) the period of the loan for which a loan guarantee or payment of interest is made under this section.

   Inserted: (j) Reporting.--

   Inserted: (1) By applicants.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which an applicant receives a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under this section, the applicant shall submit to the Secretary a report that--

   Inserted: (A) describes how the grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest was used; and

   Inserted: (B) contains an estimate of the number of jobs created or maintained by use of the grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest.

   Inserted: (2) By gao.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the program under this section.

   Inserted: (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,0000 for fiscal year 2014, and each fiscal year thereafter.

   Inserted: (2) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated to carry out this section shall remain available for obligation by the Secretary during the 3-year period beginning on the date of the appropriation.

   Inserted: (3) Use of funds.--Of any amounts appropriated for a fiscal year to carry out this section, the Secretary shall use--

   Inserted: (A) not less than 50 percent to make grants under this section;

   Inserted: (B) not more than 5 percent to carry out national activities under this section, including providing technical assistance and conducting outreach to qualified communities; and

   Inserted: (C) any amounts not expended in accordance with subparagraphs (A) and (B) to make loan guarantees and payments of interest under this section.

   Original wording

   On page 634, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following:

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As printed