H.R. 5173 – Reading Mode

114th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5173

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 6, 2016

Mr. Takai introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a grant program to provide assistance for the acquisition, construction, retrofitting, or renovation of residences that are visitable for individuals.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Homeowners Access to Visitability Enhancements (HAVE) Act of 2016.

Visitable Homes Grants

(a)

Authority

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make grants to low-income families to provide assistance with obtaining residences that are visitable for individuals.

(b)

Eligible Activities

Amounts from a grant made under this section may be used only for the following activities:

(1)

Acquiring a visitable residence that has never previously been occupied.

(2)

Constructing a visitable residence.

(3)

Retrofitting an existing residence to make such residence visitable.

(4)

Renovating an existing residence to make such residence visitable.

(c)

Limitations

(1)

Amount

A grant under this section may not exceed $5,000.

(2)

Renewal

Not more than one grant may be made under this section with respect to any single residence.

(3)

Primary Residence

A grant under this section may be used only for a residence that serves as the primary residence of the grantee, and the Secretary shall require a grantee to provide such assurances as may be necessary to ensure compliance with this paragraph.

(4)

Recapture of Unused Amounts

If a grantee fails to use any amount of the grant awarded under this section before the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the first disbursement of any such amounts to the grantee, the Secretary shall—

(A)

recapture the unused amounts; and

(B)

make such amounts available for grants under this section.

(d)

Applications

To be eligible for a grant under this section, a low-income family shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(1)

a description of the manner in which grant funds will be used to accomplish an eligible activity under subsection (b); and

(2)

an explanation of how such use will cause the residence of such family to meet the visitability standards identified in subsection (f)(4).

(e)

Reporting

(1)

Secretary

The Secretary shall submit to Congress a biennial report regarding the progress and effectiveness of the grant program.

(2)

Grantees

The Secretary shall require each grantee to submit such information as the Secretary considers necessary to ensure compliance with this Act and to enable the Secretary to comply with the requirement under paragraph (1).

(f)

Definitions

For purposes of this section:

(1)

Low-income family

The term low income family has the meaning given such term in section 3(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)).

(2)

Residence

The term residence means any dwelling unit, including a dwelling unit that is a single-family residence or a dwelling unit in a multiple-family residence, that—

(A)

is owned by the grantee or a member of the grantee’s household; or

(B)

will be owned by the grantee, or a member of the grantee’s household, during the residency of the grantee in accordance with subsection (c)(3).

Such term includes a dwelling unit in a condominium or cooperative development owned by the grantee or a member of the grantee’s household. Such term does not include any dwelling unit that is subject to a lease.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(4)

Visitable

The term visitable means, with respect to a residence, that the residence complies with the most current version of the visitability standards set forth in Standard A117.1–2009 of the International Code Council/American National Standards Institute, entitled Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (or any successor standard).

(g)

Regulations

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section.

(h)

Authorization of Appropriations

(1)

In General

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 to 2022.

(2)

Allocation

Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for each fiscal year—

(A)

50 percent shall be used for grants for the eligible activities under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b); and

(B)

50 percent shall be used for grants for the eligible activities under paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b).