Public housing agency plans for certain small public housing agencies

(a)

In general

Section 5A(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c–1(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(3)

Exemption of certain small phas from filing requirement

(A)

In general

Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other provision of this Act— (i)the requirement under paragraph (1) shall not apply to any qualified small public housing agency; and (ii)except as provided in subsection (e)(4)(B), any reference in this section or any other provision of law to a public housing agency shall not be considered to refer to any qualified small public housing agency, to the extent such reference applies to the requirement to submit an annual public housing agency plan under this subsection. (B)

Civil rights certification

Notwithstanding that qualified small public housing agencies are exempt pursuant to subparagraph (A) from the requirement under this section to prepare and submit an annual public housing plan, each qualified small public housing agency shall, on an annual basis, make the certification described in paragraph (15) of subsection (d) of this section, except that for purposes of such small public housing agencies, such paragraph shall be applied by substituting the public housing program of the agency for the public housing agency plan. (C)

Definition

For purposes of this section, the term qualified small public housing agency means a public housing agency that meets all of the following requirements: (i)The sum of (I) the number of public housing dwelling units administered by the agency, and (II) the number of vouchers under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) administered by the agency, is 250 or fewer. (ii)The agency is not designated pursuant to section 6(j)(2) as a troubled public housing agency.

(b)

Resident participation

Section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c–1) is amended— (1)in subsection (e), by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(4)

Qualified small public housing agencies

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), nothing in this section may be construed to exempt a qualified small public housing agency from the requirement under paragraph (1) to establish one or more resident advisory boards. Notwithstanding that qualified small public housing agencies are exempt pursuant to subsection (b)(3)(A) from the requirement under this section to prepare and submit an annual public housing plan, each qualified small public housing agency shall consult with, and consider the recommendations of the resident advisory boards for the agency, in any determinations and actions of the agency regarding establishing goals, objectives, and policies of the agency. (B)

Applicability of waiver authority

Paragraph (3) shall apply to qualified small public housing agencies, except that for purposes of such small public housing agencies, subparagraph (B) of such paragraph shall be applied by substituting the functions described in the second sentence of paragraph (4)(A) for the functions described in paragraph (2). (f)

Public hearings

; and

(2)in subsection (f) (as so designated by the amendment made by paragraph (1) of this subsection), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)

Qualified small public housing agencies

(A)

Requirement

Notwithstanding that qualified small public housing agencies are exempt pursuant to subsection (b)(3)(A) from the requirement under this section to conduct a public hearing regarding the annual public housing plan of the agency, each qualified small public housing agency shall, not less than annually, conduct a public hearing to discuss the goals, objectives, and policies of the agency, and any changes to such goals, objectives, and policies, and to invite public comment regarding such issues. (B)

Availability of information and notice

Not later than 45 days before the date of such a hearing, the qualified small public housing agency shall— (i)make all information relevant to the hearing and any determinations of the agency regarding the goals, objectives, and policies of the agency to be considered at the hearing available for inspection by the public at the principal office of the public housing agency during normal business hours; and (ii)publish a notice informing the public that (I) the information is available as required under clause (i), and (II) a public hearing under subparagraph (A) will be conducted.