[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 709 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 709

    To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to 
establish and carry out an urban revitalization and livable communities 
program to provide Federal grants to urban areas for the rehabilitation 
of critically needed recreational areas and facilities and development 
        of improved recreation programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 15, 2011

Mr. Sires (for himself, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, 
    Mr. Connolly of Virginia, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Towns, Mr. Nadler, Mr. 
Carnahan, Mrs. Maloney, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Rothman of New Jersey, Mr. 
Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Hastings 
of Florida, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Engel, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Schiff, 
  Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Polis, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Turner, Mrs. 
Napolitano, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Filner, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Fattah, and 
Ms. Bordallo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to 
establish and carry out an urban revitalization and livable communities 
program to provide Federal grants to urban areas for the rehabilitation 
of critically needed recreational areas and facilities and development 
        of improved recreation programs, 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 ``Urban Revitalization and Livable 
Communities Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the 2000 United States Census, 79 percent 
        of the population of the United States lives in urban areas.
            (2) The quality of life in urban areas is closely related 
        to the availability of fully functional park and recreation 
        systems including land, facilities, and programs.
            (3) Residents of urban areas need close-to-home recreation 
        opportunities that are adequate to specialized urban needs, 
        with parks and facilities properly located, developed, and 
        well-maintained.
            (4) The greatest deficiencies in recreation with respect to 
        land, facilities, and programs are found in many urban areas, 
        especially at the neighborhood level.
            (5) Inadequate Federal financing of urban recreation 
        programs has led to the deterioration of facilities, 
        nonavailability of recreation services, and an inability to 
        adapt recreation programs to changing circumstances.
            (6) According to the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention (CDC), over the last 25 years, rates of obesity have 
        more than tripled among adolescents ages 12 to 19 and doubled 
        among adults ages 20 to 74 and children ages 6 to 11.
            (7) Physical inactivity contributes to obesity. A study by 
        the CDC found that the creation of, or enhanced access to, 
        places for physical activity led to a 25.6 percent increase in 
        the percentage of people exercising on 3 or more days a week. 
        Physical activity can improve physical and mental health. The 
        annual costs of medical spending and lost productivity from 
        individuals in the United States being obese and overweight are 
        estimated to be $139,000,000,000.
            (8) Urban parks and recreation facilities play key roles in 
        improving the health of the population of the United States by 
        providing convenient access to the places, spaces, and 
        opportunities that lead to increased physical activity.
            (9) According to the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, without 
        structured, supervised activities in the after-school hours, 
        youth are at greater risk of being victims of crime or 
        participating in anti-social behaviors. Juveniles are at the 
        highest risk of being a victim of crime between 2:00 p.m. and 
        6:00 p.m., and the peak hour for juvenile crime is between 3:00 
        p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the first hour after most students are 
        dismissed from school.
            (10) The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center 
        reported that students who spend no time in extracurricular 
        activities, such as those offered in after-school programs, are 
        49 percent more likely to have used drugs and 37 percent more 
        likely to become teen parents than are those students who spend 
        1 to 4 hours per week in extracurricular activities.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development to establish and carry out an urban revitalization 
        and livable communities program to provide Federal grants for 
        the rehabilitation and construction of critically needed 
        recreational areas and facilities and development of improved 
        recreation programs in urban areas.
            (2) To improve urban areas through economic development.
            (3) To prevent and improve chronic disease outcomes, 
        including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and 
        obesity.
            (4) To improve recreational areas and facilities and expand 
        recreation services in urban areas with a high incidence of 
        crime and to help expand recreation opportunities for at-risk 
        youth.
            (5) To promote collaboration between local agencies 
        involved in parks and recreation, law enforcement, youth social 
        services, and juvenile justice system.
            (6) To ensure accessibility to therapeutic recreation 
        services and to provide recreation opportunities for injured or 
        disabled members of the Armed Forces.
            (7) To encourage the rehabilitation of existing and 
        construction of new urban recreational areas and facilities 
        with environmentally beneficial components, when possible, such 
        as sustainable landscape features and upcycled and recycled 
        materials, and to prioritize the selection of projects that 
        provide environmental benefits to urban areas, including by 
        updating lighting, planting trees, increasing the urban 
        forestry canopy, improving stormwater management, increasing 
        green infrastructure, employing water conservation measures, 
        and adding green spaces to urban areas.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
            (1) The term ``recreational areas and facilities'' means 
        indoor or outdoor parks, buildings, sites, or other facilities 
        that are dedicated to recreation purposes and administered by 
        public or private nonprofit agencies to serve the recreation 
        needs of community residents, with emphasis on public 
        facilities readily accessible to residential neighborhoods, 
        including multiple-use community centers that have recreation 
        as a primary purpose, but excluding major sports arenas, 
        exhibition areas, and conference halls used primarily for 
        commercial sports, spectator, or display activities.
            (2) The term ``rehabilitation and construction grants'' 
        means matching capital grants to local governments for the 
        purpose of rebuilding, remodeling, expanding, or developing 
        existing or building new recreational areas and facilities, 
        including improvements in park landscapes, infrastructure, 
        buildings, and support facilities, and the provision of 
        lighting, emergency phones, or other capital improvements to 
        improve the security of urban parks, but excluding routine 
        maintenance and upkeep activities.
            (3) The term ``innovation grants'' means matching grants to 
        local governments to cover costs of personnel, facilities, 
        equipment, supplies, or services designed to demonstrate 
        innovative and cost-effective ways to augment park and 
        recreation opportunities at the neighborhood level and to 
        address common problems related to facility operations and 
        improved delivery of recreation service, but excluding routine 
        operation and maintenance activities.
            (4) The term ``at-risk youth recreation grants'' means 
        matching grants to local governments for new programs, or 
        continuing program support for existing programs, that provide 
        constructive alternatives to youth at risk for engaging in 
        criminal behavior, including grants for operating or 
        coordinating recreation programs and services in neighborhoods 
        and communities with a high prevalence of crime, particularly 
        violent crime or crime committed by youthful offenders.
            (5) The term ``recovery action program grants'' means 
        matching grants to local governments for development of local 
        park and recreation recovery action programs, including for 
        resource and needs assessment, coordination, citizen 
        involvement and planning, and program development activities to 
        encourage public definition of goals and develop priorities and 
        strategies for overall recreation system recovery.
            (6) The term ``maintenance'' means all commonly accepted 
        practices necessary to keep recreational areas and facilities 
        operating in a state of good repair and to protect such areas 
        and facilities from deterioration resulting from normal wear 
        and tear.
            (7) The term ``local government'' means any city, county, 
        town, township, parish, village, or any local or regional 
        special district such as a park district, conservation 
        district, or park authority.
            (8) The term ``private nonprofit agency'' means a 
        community-based, non-profit organization, corporation, or 
        association organized for purposes of providing recreation, 
        conservation, and educational services directly to urban 
        residents on either a neighborhood or community-wide basis 
        through voluntary donations, voluntary labor, or public or 
        private grants.
            (9) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing 
        and Urban Development.
            (10) The term ``State'' means any State of the United 
        States (or any instrumentality of a State approved by the 
        Governor), the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of 
        Puerto Rico.
            (11) The term ``insular areas'' means Guam, the Virgin 
        Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

SEC. 5. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

    (a) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations 
establishing an urban revitalization and livable communities program 
to, in accordance with this Act, provide Federal rehabilitation and 
construction grants, innovation grants, at-risk youth recreation 
grants, and recovery action program grants.
    (b) Requirements.--The regulations required under subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) eligibility requirements for the grant program 
        established pursuant to such subsection;
            (2) the timing and form of applications required to be 
        submitted to the Secretary by local governments seeking such 
        grants;
            (3) required elements of any grant application required to 
        be submitted to the Secretary by local governments seeking such 
        grants;
            (4) criteria for priority selection and approval by the 
        Secretary in choosing which local governments receive grant 
        funds;
            (5) guidelines for seeking modification of a project to be 
        funded or which is funded by the grant program established 
        pursuant to such subsection; and
            (6) penalties placed on local governments that received 
        amounts under the grant program established pursuant to such 
        subsection for failing to comply with the reporting and 
        recordkeeping requirements set forth in section 13, up to and 
        including rescission of grant amounts for repetitive 
        violations.

SEC. 6. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PRIORITY CRITERIA.

    (a) Eligibility Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--In developing the regulations required 
        under section 5(a), the Secretary shall set forth eligibility 
        requirements for receiving grants under the urban 
        revitalization and livable communities program established 
        pursuant to this Act.
            (2) Considerations.--The eligibility requirements required 
        to be established under paragraph (1) shall be based on--
                    (A) evidence of a commitment to ongoing planning, 
                rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance 
                programs for park and recreations systems, as described 
                in section 8;
                    (B) population density (the number of persons per 
                square mile of land area);
                    (C) total population under 18 years of age or over 
                59 years of age;
                    (D) the number of unemployed people as a percentage 
                of the civilian labor force;
                    (E) the percent of households without automobiles 
                available;
                    (F) the percent of persons with income below 125 
                percent of the poverty level;
                    (G) the change in per capita income;
                    (H) the percent of single-headed households with 
                children present; and
                    (I) any additional criteria the Secretary 
                determines appropriate.
    (b) Partial Eligibility Waiver.--
            (1) Generally.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may 
        authorize local governments that do not meet the eligibility 
        requirements required to be established under subsection (a) in 
        standard metropolitan statistical areas as defined by the most 
        current census as eligible to receive grants under the urban 
        revitalization and livable communities program established 
        pursuant to this Act, in accordance with the findings and 
        purposes of this Act.
            (2) Limitation of funds.--Grants to local governments 
        described in paragraph (1) shall not exceed, in the aggregate, 
        15 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for 
        rehabilitation and construction, innovation, at-risk youth 
        recreation, and recovery action program grants.
    (c) Eligibility Certification.--As part of any application process 
set forth pursuant to the regulations prescribed under section 5, a 
responsible official for a local government that has applied for a 
grant under this Act shall certify that the local government meets all 
of the eligibility requirements established under this Act with respect 
to receipt of grant amounts under the urban revitalization and livable 
communities program established pursuant to this Act. If a local 
government applies for a partial eligibility waiver under subsection 
(b), such certification shall specify which of the eligibility 
requirements are met by the local government.
    (d) Priority Criteria.--
            (1) General priority criteria.--The Secretary shall 
        establish priority criteria for the selection and approval of 
        projects to be funded by grant amounts made available pursuant 
        to this Act. The priority criteria established under this 
        subsection shall be based on--
                    (A) a higher population density of the project 
                neighborhood;
                    (B) demonstrated deficiencies in the condition of 
                existing recreational areas and facilities in the 
                project neighborhood;
                    (C) demonstrated deficiencies in access to 
                neighborhood recreation opportunities, particularly for 
                minority and low- and moderate-income residents and 
                residents with physical or mental disabilities;
                    (D) public participation in determining 
                rehabilitation or development needs;
                    (E) the extent to which a project supports or 
                complements target activities undertaken as part of a 
                local government's overall community development and 
                urban revitalization program;
                    (F) the extent to which such a project would--
                            (i) provide employment opportunities for 
                        minorities, youth, and low- and moderate-income 
                        residents in the project neighborhood; and
                            (ii) provide for participation of 
                        neighborhood, nonprofit, or tenant 
                        organizations in the proposed rehabilitation 
                        and construction activity or in subsequent 
                        maintenance, staffing, or supervision of 
                        recreational areas and facilities;
                    (G) the amount of State, local, and private support 
                for the project as evidenced by commitments of non-
                Federal resources to project construction or operation; 
                and
                    (H) any additional criteria the Secretary 
                determines appropriate.
            (2) Priority criteria for rehabilitation and construction 
        grants and innovation grants.--In addition to the general 
        priority criteria established under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall establish priority criteria for the selection 
        and approval of projects to be funded by a rehabilitation and 
        construction grant or an innovation grant made pursuant to this 
        Act, including whether the project--
                    (A) builds recreational areas and facilities in 
                areas that are located within half a mile of public 
                housing or a school and do not currently have indoor or 
                outdoor facilities;
                    (B) creates, maintains, or revitalizes playgrounds 
                or active play areas for children;
                    (C) connects children to the outdoors for physical 
                activity and access to nature;
                    (D) promotes physical activity for individuals and 
                the community at large;
                    (E) works collaboratively with local governments, 
                colleges, and universities, and other institutions to 
                track the longitudinal rates of chronic diseases in the 
                community such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, 
                depression, and obesity;
                    (F) uses environmentally beneficial components such 
                as sustainable landscape features and upcycled and 
                recycled materials;
                    (G) provides environmental benefits to urban areas, 
                including by--
                            (i) updating lighting;
                            (ii) planting trees;
                            (iii) increasing the urban forestry canopy;
                            (iv) improving stormwater management;
                            (v) increasing green infrastructure;
                            (vi) employing water conservation measures; 
                        and
                            (vii) adding green spaces;
                    (H) connects to public transportation;
                    (I) uses LEED Green Building Standards or contains 
                energy efficiency components such as energy efficient 
                lighting and HVAC systems, and other sustainable 
                components and practices;
                    (J) contains safe trails or routes, such as trails, 
                bikeways, and sidewalks that connect to neighborhoods 
                and enhance access to parks and recreational areas and 
                facilities;
                    (K) either employs youth or uses youth volunteers;
                    (L) enhances or expands youth development in 
                neighborhoods and communities by engaging youth in 
                environmental stewardship, conservation, and service 
                projects;
                    (M) updates existing equipment or facilities to be 
                in compliance with the most recent accessibility 
                guidelines published by the United States Access Board, 
                specifically by removing architectural barriers so that 
                sites comply or exceed the requirements of the final 
                guidelines for the accessibility of recreational areas 
                and facilities; or
                    (N) constructs new facilities or sites to comply 
                with or exceed the minimum requirements of the final 
                guidelines for the accessibility of recreational sites 
                and facilities published by the United States Access 
                Board.
            (3) Priority criteria for at-risk youth recreation 
        grants.--In addition to the general priority criteria 
        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish 
        priority criteria for the selection and approval of programs to 
        be funded by an at-risk youth recreation grant made pursuant to 
        this Act, including whether the program--
                    (A) targets youth who are at the greatest risk of 
                becoming involved in violence and crime;
                    (B) teaches important values and life skills, 
                including teamwork, respect, leadership, and self-
                esteem;
                    (C) demonstrates past success in providing 
                constructive alternatives to youth at risk for engaging 
                in criminal behavior;
                    (D) offers tutoring, remedial education, mentoring, 
                and counseling in addition to recreation opportunities;
                    (E) offers services during nonschool hours;
                    (F) demonstrates collaboration between local park 
                and recreation, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and 
                youth social service agencies and nongovernmental 
                entities, including private nonprofit agencies;
                    (G) leverages public or private recreation 
                investments in the form of services, materials, or 
                other funding; or
                    (H) shows the greatest potential of being continued 
                with non-Federal funds or may serve as models for other 
                communities.

SEC. 7. REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION, INNOVATION, AND AT-RISK YOUTH 
              RECREATION GRANTS.

    (a) Authorization.--Upon approval of an application by the chief 
executive of an eligible local government, the Secretary may provide 70 
percent matching rehabilitation and construction, innovation, and at-
risk youth recreation grants directly to such eligible local 
government.
    (b) Transfer.--At the discretion of a local government receiving a 
rehabilitation and construction, innovation, or at-risk youth 
recreation grant pursuant to subsection (a), and if consistent with an 
approved application, such a grant may be transferred in whole or in 
part to private nonprofit agencies, provided that assisted recreational 
areas and facilities owned or managed by such private nonprofit 
agencies offer recreation opportunities to the general population 
within the jurisdictional boundaries of the local government.
    (c) Payments.--Grant payments may be made only for rehabilitation 
and construction or innovation projects or at-risk recreation youth 
programs approved by the Secretary. In the case of rehabilitation and 
construction and innovation projects, such payments may be made 
periodically in keeping with the rate of progress toward the 
satisfactory completion of a project, except that the Secretary may, 
when appropriate, make advance payments on approved rehabilitation and 
construction and innovation projects in an amount not to exceed 20 
percent of the total project cost.
    (d) Modification of Project.--The Secretary may authorize 
modification of an approved rehabilitation and construction or 
innovation project only when a grantee has adequately demonstrated that 
such modification is necessary because of circumstances not foreseeable 
at the time such project was proposed.
    (e) Special Considerations for Innovation Grants.--Innovation 
grants shall correspond to the goals, priorities, and implementation 
strategies expressed in local park and recreation recovery action 
programs, with particular regard to the special considerations listed 
in section 8(b) of this Act.

SEC. 8. LOCAL COMMITMENTS TO SYSTEM RECOVERY AND MAINTENANCE.

    (a) Recovery Action Programs.--
            (1) In general.--As a requirement for project approval, a 
        local government applying for a grant under this Act shall 
        submit to the Secretary evidence of its commitment to ongoing 
        planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance 
        programs for its park and recreation systems. Such commitment 
        shall be expressed in a local park and recreation recovery 
        action program that maximizes coordination of all community 
        resources, including other federally supported urban 
        development and recreation programs.
            (2) Interim preliminary action programs.--During an initial 
        interim period to be established by regulation, the recovery 
        action program requirement under paragraph (1) may be satisfied 
        by submission of preliminary action programs of a local 
        government that define objectives, priorities, and 
        implementation strategies for overall system recovery and 
        maintenance and commit such local government to a scheduled 
        program development process.
            (3) 5-year action program.--Following the interim period 
        under paragraph (2), each local government applicant shall 
        submit to the Secretary, as a condition of eligibility, a 5-
        year park and recreation recovery action program that 
        demonstrates--
                    (A) identification of recovery objectives, 
                priorities, and implementation strategies;
                    (B) adequate planning for rehabilitation of 
                specific recreational areas and facilities, including 
                projections of the cost of proposed projects;
                    (C) capacity and commitment to assure that 
                facilities provided or improved under this Act shall 
                thereafter continue to be adequately maintained, 
                protected, staffed, and supervised;
                    (D) intention to maintain total local public 
                outlays for park and recreation purposes at levels at 
                least equal to those in the year preceding that in 
                which grant assistance is sought, except in any case 
                where a reduction in park and recreation outlays is 
                proportionate to a reduction in overall spending by the 
                applicant; and
                    (E) the relationship of the park and recreation 
                recovery action program to overall community 
                development and urban revitalization efforts.
            (4) Continuing planning process.--Where appropriate, the 
        Secretary may encourage local governments to meet recovery 
        action program requirements through a continuing planning 
        process which includes periodic improvements and updates in 
        recovery action program submissions to eliminate identified 
        gaps in program information and policy development.
    (b) Recovery Action Program Special Considerations.--Recovery 
action programs shall address, at a minimum, the following special 
considerations:
            (1) Rehabilitation of existing recreational areas and 
        facilities, including--
                    (A) general systemwide renovation;
                    (B) special rehabilitation requirements for 
                recreational areas and facilities in areas of high 
                population concentration and economic distress; and
                    (C) restoration of outstanding or unique 
                structures, landscaping, or similar features in parks 
                of historical or architectural significance.
            (2) Local commitments to innovative and cost-effective 
        programs and projects at the neighborhood level to augment 
        recovery of park and recreation systems, including--
                    (A) recycling of abandoned schools and other public 
                buildings for recreation purposes;
                    (B) multiple use of operating educational and other 
                public buildings;
                    (C) purchase of recreation services on a 
                contractual basis;
                    (D) use of mobile facilities and recreational, 
                cultural, and educational programs or other innovative 
                approaches to improving access for neighborhood 
                residents;
                    (E) integration of the recovery action program with 
                federally assisted projects to maximize recreation 
                opportunities through conversion of abandoned railroad 
                and highway rights-of-way, waterfront, and other 
                redevelopment efforts and such other federally assisted 
                projects, as appropriate;
                    (F) conversion to recreational use of street space, 
                derelict land, and other public lands not now 
                designated for neighborhood recreational use; and
                    (G) use of various forms of compensated and 
                uncompensated land regulation, tax inducements, or 
                other means to encourage the private sector to provide 
                neighborhood park and recreation facilities and 
                programs.
    (c) Publication of Requirements.--The Secretary shall establish and 
publish in the Federal Register requirements for preparation, 
submission, and updating of local park and recreation recovery action 
programs.
    (d) At-Risk Youth Recreation Grants.--
            (1) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive an at-
        risk youth recreation grant, a local government shall include 
        in its 5-year park and recreation recovery action program the 
        goal of reducing crime and juvenile delinquency and provide a 
        description of the implementation strategies to achieve this 
        goal.
            (2) Coordination.--The description of implementation 
        strategies under paragraph (1) shall also address how the local 
        government is coordinating its recreation programs with crime 
        prevention efforts of law enforcement, juvenile corrections, 
        and youth social service agencies.
    (e) Recovery Action Program Grants.--The Secretary is authorized to 
provide up to 50 percent matching grants to eligible local government 
applicants for recovery action program development and planning to meet 
the objectives of this section.

SEC. 9. STATE ACTION INCENTIVE; FEDERAL GRANTS, INCREASE.

    The Secretary is authorized to increase Federal rehabilitation and 
construction, innovation, and at-risk youth recreation grants 
authorized in section 7 of this Act by providing an additional match 
equal to the total match provided by a State of up to 15 percent of 
total project or program costs. In no event may the Federal matching 
amount exceed 85 percent of total project or program cost. The 
Secretary shall further encourage the States to assist in assuring that 
local recovery plans and programs are adequately implemented by 
cooperating with the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 
monitoring local park and recreation recovery action programs and in 
assuring consistency of such plans and programs, where appropriate, 
with State recreation policies as set forth in statewide comprehensive 
outdoor recreation plans.

SEC. 10. MATCHING REQUIREMENTS; NON-FEDERAL SHARE OF PROJECT OR PROGRAM 
              COSTS.

    (a) Non-Federal Sources.--The non-Federal share of project or 
program costs assisted under this Act may be derived from--
            (1) general or special purpose State or local revenues;
            (2) State categorical grants;
            (3) special appropriations by State legislatures;
            (4) donations of land, buildings, or building materials;
            (5) in-kind construction, technical, and planning services; 
        or
            (6) any combination of paragraphs (1) through (5).
    (b) Prohibited Sources.--No moneys from any Federal grant program 
other than general revenue sharing and the community development and 
energy efficiency and conservation block grant programs shall be used 
to match Federal grants under this program.
    (c) Private Contributions.--The Secretary shall encourage States 
and private interests to contribute, to the maximum extent possible, to 
the non-Federal share of project or program costs.

SEC. 11. CONVERSION OF RECREATION PROPERTY.

    No property improved or developed with assistance under this Act 
shall, without the approval of the Secretary, be converted for uses 
other than for public recreation. The Secretary shall approve such 
conversion only if the Secretary determines it to be consistent with 
the current local park and recreation recovery action program and only 
upon such conditions as the Secretary determines necessary to assure 
the provision of adequate recreation properties and opportunities of 
reasonably equivalent location and usefulness.

SEC. 12. COORDINATION OF PROGRAM.

    The Secretary shall--
            (1) coordinate the urban revitalization and livable 
        communities program with other Federal departments and agencies 
        and with State agencies that administer programs and policies 
        affecting urban areas such as the White House Office of Urban 
        Policy and departments that administer programs and policies 
        affecting climate change, green jobs, housing, urban 
        development, natural resources management, employment, 
        transportation, community services, and voluntary action;
            (2) encourage maximum coordination of the program between 
        appropriate State agencies and local government applicants; and
            (3) require that local government applicants include 
        provisions for participation of community and neighborhood 
        residents, including youth, and for public-private coordination 
        in recovery action program planning and project selection.

SEC. 13. REPORT; RECORDKEEPING; AUDIT AND EXAMINATION.

    (a) Report.--Each recipient of assistance under this Act shall 
submit to the Secretary, for each fiscal year such assistance is 
received, an annual report detailing the projects and programs 
undertaken with such assistance, the number of jobs created by such 
assistance, and any other information the Secretary determines 
appropriate based on the priority criteria established by the Secretary 
under sections 5 and 6.
    (b) Recordkeeping.--Each recipient of assistance under this Act 
shall keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe, including 
records that fully disclose the amount and disposition of project or 
program undertakings in connection with which assistance under this Act 
is given or used, and the amount and nature of that portion of the cost 
of the project or program undertaking supplied by other sources, and 
such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.
    (c) Audit and Examination.--The Secretary and the Comptroller 
General of the United States, or their duly authorized representatives, 
shall have access, for the purpose of audit and examination, to any 
books, documents, papers, and records of a recipient of assistance 
under this Act that are pertinent to such assistance.

SEC. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act $445,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2012 through 
2022.
    (b) Recovery Action Program Grants.--Not more than 3 percent of the 
funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) in any fiscal year may be 
used for grants for the development of local park and recreation 
recovery action programs pursuant to section 8 of this Act.
    (c) Innovation Grants.--Not more than 10 percent of the funds 
appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) in any fiscal year may be used 
for innovation grants pursuant to section 7 of this Act.
    (d) Discretionary Fund.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
this Act or any other law or regulation, not more than 2 percent of the 
funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) in any fiscal year may be 
used to provide rehabilitation and construction grants, innovation 
grants, at-risk youth recreation grants, and recovery action program 
grants to be used in the insular areas. Such sums will not be subject 
to the matching provisions of this Act, and may only be subject to such 
conditions, reports, plans, and agreements, if any, as determined by 
the Secretary.

SEC. 15. LIMITATION OF USE OF FUNDS.

    Not more than 10 percent of funds appropriated pursuant to section 
14 for rehabilitation and construction grants in any fiscal year may be 
used for the acquisition of lands or interests in land.

SEC. 16. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Interim Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an 
interim report containing such findings and recommendations as the 
Secretary determines appropriate with respect to the urban 
revitalization and livable communities program established pursuant to 
this Act.
    (b) Final Report.--Not later than 10 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
describing the overall impact of the urban revitalization and livable 
communities program established pursuant to this Act.
                                 <all>