II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 809 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 8, 2007 Mr. Sununu (for himself, Mrs. Dole, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Thune, and Mrs. Hutchison) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exempt qualified public housing agencies from the requirement of preparing an annual public housing agency plan.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Small Public Housing Authorities Paperwork Reduction Act.

2.

Public housing agency plans for certain qualified 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: (3)

Exemption of certain 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 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 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 public housing agencies are exempt under subparagraph (A) from the requirement under this section to prepare and submit an annual public housing plan, each qualified public housing agency shall, on an annual basis, make the certification described in paragraph (16) of subsection (d), except that for purposes of such qualified 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 public housing agency means a public housing agency that— (i)administers— (I)500 or fewer public housing dwelling units; or (II)any number of vouchers under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)); and (ii)is not designated under 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 public housing agencies

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), nothing in this section may be construed to exempt a qualified public housing agency from the requirement under paragraph (1) to establish 1 or more resident advisory boards. Notwithstanding that qualified public housing agencies are exempt under subsection (b)(3)(A) from the requirement under this section to prepare and submit an annual public housing plan, each qualified public housing agency shall consult with, and consider the recommendations of the resident advisory boards for the agency, at the annual public hearing required under subsection (f)(5), regarding any changes to the goals, objectives, and policies of that agency. (B)

Applicability of waiver authority

Paragraph (3) shall apply to qualified public housing agencies, except that for purposes of such qualified 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)), by adding at the end the following: (5)

Qualified public housing agencies

(A)

Requirement

Notwithstanding that qualified public housing agencies are exempt under 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 public housing agency shall annually conduct a public hearing— (i)to discuss any changes to the goals, objectives, and policies of the agency; and (ii)to invite public comment regarding such changes. (B)

Availability of information and notice

Not later than 45 days before the date of any hearing described in subparagraph (A), a qualified public housing agency shall— (i)make all information relevant to the hearing and any determinations of the agency regarding changes to 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.