[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4646 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4646

 To provide grants to State and local governments that enact right to 
  counsel legislation for low-income tenants facing eviction, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 9, 2024

Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Warren, and Mr. 
   Sanders) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
    referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide grants to State and local governments that enact right to 
  counsel legislation for low-income tenants facing eviction, 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 ``Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. EVICTION RIGHT TO COUNSEL FUND.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
        means a tenant with an income that is equal to or less than 200 
        percent of the Federal poverty line.
            (2) Covered proceeding.--The term ``covered proceeding'' 
        means a civil action in a court or administrative forum for--
                    (A) eviction, or an equivalent ejectment, from the 
                primary residence of the tenant; or
                    (B) the termination of a housing subsidy.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        State government, a local government, or an Indian Tribal 
        government.
            (4) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Eviction Right to 
        Counsel Fund established under subsection (b).
            (5) Indian tribal government.--The term ``Indian Tribal 
        government'' has the meaning given the term ``Indian tribal 
        government'' in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
        Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
            (6) Right to counsel legislation.--The term ``right to 
        counsel legislation'' means legislation that specifies that 
        full legal representation shall be provided at no cost to all 
        covered individuals in a covered proceeding.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (8) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, 
        the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of 
        the United States.
    (b) Establishment of Fund.--
            (1) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of 
        the United States a fund to be known as the ``Eviction Right to 
        Counsel Fund'' consisting of the amounts authorized to be 
        appropriated under paragraph (2).
            (2) Deposits to the fund.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Fund $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2025 through 2029 for the cost of making grants under 
        subsection (c).
    (c) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
        provide grants to eligible entities that enact right to counsel 
        legislation.
            (2) Application.--
                    (A) In general.--An eligible entity that desires a 
                grant from the Secretary under this subsection shall 
                submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
                such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
                Secretary may reasonably require.
                    (B) Requirement.--An application submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include a certification that the 
                eligible entity has enacted right to counsel 
                legislation.
            (3) Priority.--In selecting applicants under this section, 
        the Secretary shall prioritize funding for eligible entities 
        that--
                    (A) have enacted laws that--
                            (i) limit the causes for which a landlord 
                        can evict a tenant or refuse to renew the lease 
                        of a tenant when the tenant is not at fault or 
                        in violation of any law;
                            (ii) require adequate written notice 
                        periods of not less than 30 days for tenants 
                        facing eviction;
                            (iii) establish eviction diversion 
                        programs; or
                            (iv) provide emergency rental assistance to 
                        tenants; or
                    (B) will prioritize using grant funds for the 
                training and recruitment of attorneys to provide 
                representation for covered individuals in a covered 
                proceeding.
            (4) Use of funds.--A recipient of a grant under this 
        section may use the grant funds for the costs incurred by right 
        to counsel legislation, including providing training resources 
        for attorneys representing covered individuals in covered 
        proceedings.
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