II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1947 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 1, 2005 Mr. Sununu (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Pryor) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to enhance adaptive housing assistance for disabled veterans.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Specially Adapted Housing Grants Improvements Act of 2005.

2.

Adaptive housing assistance for disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member

(a)

Assistance Authorized

Chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2102 the following new section:

2102A.

Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member

(a)

Assistance authorized

If a disabled veteran described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of section 2101 of this title resides, but does not intend to permanently reside, in a residence owned by a member of such veteran’s family, the Secretary may assist the veteran in acquiring such adaptations to such residence as are determined by the Secretary to be reasonably necessary because of the veteran’s disability. (b)

Limitation on amount of assistance

Subject to section 2102(d) of this title, the assistance authorized under subsection (a) may not exceed— (1)$10,000, in the case of a veteran described in section 2101(a)(2) of this title; or (2)$2,000, in the case of a veteran described in section 2101(b)(2) of this title. (c)

Limitation on number of residences subject to assistance

A veteran eligible for assistance authorized under subsection (a) may only be provided such assistance with respect to 1 residence. (d)

Regulations

Assistance under this section shall be provided in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. (e)

Termination of authority

The authority to provide assistance under subsection (a) shall expire at the end of the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Specially Adapted Housing Grants Improvements Act of 2005.

. (b)

Limitations on adaptive housing assistance

Section 2102 of such title is amended— (1)in subsection (a), by striking The assistance authorized by section 2101(a) and all that follows through any one case— and inserting Subject to subsection (d), the assistance authorized under section 2101(a) of this title shall be afforded under 1 of the following plans, at the election of the veteran—; (2)by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: (b)Subject to subsection (d), and except as provided in section 2104(b) of this title, the assistance authorized by section 2101(b) of this title may not exceed the actual cost, or in the case of a veteran acquiring a residence already adapted with special features, the fair market value, of the adaptations determined by the Secretary under such section 2101(b) to be reasonably necessary. ; and (3)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d)(1)The aggregate amount of assistance available to a veteran under sections 2101(a) and 2102A of this title shall be limited to $50,000. (2)The aggregate amount of assistance available to a veteran under sections 2101(b) and 2102A of this title shall be limited to the lesser of— (A)the sum of the cost or fair market value described in section 2102(b) of this title and the actual cost of acquiring the adaptations described in subsection (a); and (B)$10,000. (3)No veteran may receive more than 3 grants of assistance under this chapter. . (c)

Clerical Amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2102 the following: 2102A. Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by family member. .

3.

GAO Reports

(a)

Interim report

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress an interim report on the implementation of section 2102A of title 38, United States Code (as added by section 2(a)), by the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b)

Final report

Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a final report on the implementation of such section 2102A by the Department of Veterans Affairs.