[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2529 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2529


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 30, 2009

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
                           and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to authorize depository 
  institutions and depository institution holding companies to lease 
foreclosed property held by such institutions and companies for up to 5 
                     years, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Neighborhood Preservation Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Depository institutions and affiliates of depository 
        institutions currently may control and lease foreclosed 
        property for a limited period of time often subject to safety 
        and soundness considerations, under various Federal laws and 
        the law of some States.
            (2) Authorizing such institutions and affiliates to enter 
        into a long-term lease with the occupant of the property or any 
        other person would reduce the number of residential properties 
        entering into the housing inventory, which in turn would help 
        to stabilize home values and restore confidence in the housing 
        markets.
            (3) Allowing depository institutions and affiliates of such 
        institutions to lease foreclosed property will allow the 
        institution or affiliate to dispose of such property into a 
        presumably more stable market at the end of the lease term 
        which would reduce the loss the institution or affiliate may 
        otherwise be required to recognize upon disposition of the 
        property.
            (4) Providing a means for foreclosed property to remain 
        occupied during the housing downturn will preserve the property 
        itself as well as the aesthetic and economic values of 
        neighboring homes and even whole neighborhoods.
            (5) Allowing depository institutions to lease foreclosed 
        property gives families the opportunity to remain in the home, 
        causing less disruption to families, until they have the means 
        to become a homeowner again.

SEC. 3. BANK LEASING OF FORECLOSED PROPERTIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 18 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act 
(12 U.S.C. 1828) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(y) Leasing of Foreclosed Property.--
            ``(1) Leasing authorized.--Notwithstanding any provision of 
        Federal or State law restricting the time during which a 
        depository institution, or any affiliate of a depository 
        institution, may hold or lease property, or any provision of 
        Federal or State law prohibiting a depository institution, or 
        any affiliate of a depository institution, from leasing 
        property and subject to this subsection and regulations 
        prescribed under this subsection, any depository institution, 
        and any affiliate of a depository institution, may lease to any 
        individual, including a lease with an option to purchase, for 
        not to exceed 5 years an interest in residential property 
        which--
                    ``(A) was or is security for an extension of credit 
                by such depository institution or affiliate; and
                    ``(B) came under the ownership or control of the 
                depository institution or affiliate through 
                foreclosure, or a deed in lieu of foreclosure, on the 
                extension of credit.
            ``(2) Safety and soundness regulations.--The Federal 
        banking agencies shall jointly prescribe regulations which--
                    ``(A) establish criteria and minimum requirements 
                for the leasing activity of any depository institution 
                or affiliate of a depository institution, including 
                minimum capital requirements, that the agency 
                determines to be appropriate for the preservation of 
                the safety and soundness of the institution or 
                affiliate;
                    ``(B) establish requirements or exceptions that the 
                agency determines are appropriate under this subsection 
                for any such institution or affiliate for any other 
                purpose; and
                    ``(C) provide for appropriate actions under section 
                38 with respect to any such lease if necessary to 
                protect the capital or safety and soundness of the 
                institution or affiliate or any other necessary 
                enforcement action.
            ``(3) Length of lease.--If any provision of any Federal or 
        State law, including the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, 
        governing the permissible activities of depository institutions 
        or affiliates of depository institutions permits a depository 
        institution or any such affiliate to hold property as described 
        in paragraph (1) for a period longer than 5 years, any lease 
        under paragraph (1) may be extended to the extent permitted by 
        such provision of law.
            ``(4) Sunset.--This section shall apply only with respect 
        to leases entered into during the 2-year period beginning on 
        the date of the enactment of the Neighborhood Preservation 
        Act.''.
    (b) Intent of the Congress.--It is the intent of the Congress 
that--
            (1) no permanent change in policy on leasing foreclosed 
        property is being established with respect to depository 
        institutions and depository institution holding companies; and
            (2) subsection (y) of section 18 of the Federal Deposit 
        Insurance Act should not apply to leases entered into after the 
        sunset date contained in such subsection.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 29, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.