[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19191-19192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9329]



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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal 
Opportunity

24 CFR Part 120

[Docket No. R-95-1726; FR-3593-P-01]
RIN 2529-AA71


Community Housing Resource Board Program

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal 
Opportunity, HUD.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would end the Community Housing Resource 
Board (CHRB) Program at 24 CFR part 120. The purpose of the proposed 
rule is to eliminate a program determined to be duplicative and 
unnecessary.

DATES: Comments due date: June 16, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposed rulemaking to the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of General 
Counsel, Room 10278, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20410. Communications should 
refer to the above docket number and title. A copy of each 
communication submitted will be available for public inspection and 
copying between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays at the above address. 
Facimile (FAX) comments are not acceptable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maxine Cunningham, Acting Director, 
Office of Fair Housing Assistance and Voluntary Programs, Room 5234, 
451 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20410-2000. Telephone number 
(202) 708-0800. A telecommunications device (TDD) for hearing and 
speech impaired persons is available at (202) 708-0455. (These are not 
toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CHRB Program was established in 1982 at 
24 CFR part 120, under authority of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act 
of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3601). The purpose of the program is stated, at 24 
CFR 120.5, as:

    The purpose of the Community Housing Resource Board Program is 
to provide funding to Community Housing Resource Boards (Resource 
Boards) that have the responsibility of providing program 
implementation assistance to housing industry groups that have 
signed Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreements (VAMA) with HUD. 
The intent of the program is to fulfill HUD's contractual agreement 
to provide technical assistance to local real estate boards in 
achieving VAMA goals by supporting projects that improve Resource 
Board performance and increase their ability to effectively plan, 
finance, and carry out activities to assist signatory real estate 
boards in fully implementing the provisions of the VAMA.

    Through Fiscal Year 1990, $15.274 million was appropriated and 
disbursed to CHRBs under a competitive grant process. Approximately 25-
50 CHRBs were funded each year. In order to be eligible, projects must 
have been directed at one or more of the following areas:
    (1) Making information public regarding the goals of fair housing 
and the VAMA;
    (2) Assessing community fair housing needs;
    (3) Assessing the effectiveness of the VAMA;
    (4) Expanding minority involvement in the industry;
    (5) Expanding public awareness of housing opportunities in the 
community; and
    (6) Developing cooperative solutions to problems associated with 
the implementation of the VAMA.
    CHRB projects include developing brochures, videos, and other 
outreach materials; conducting fair housing seminars and conferences to 
inform realtors and other housing industry professionals as well as the 
general public of their rights and responsibilities under the Fair 
Housing Law; school poster contests where children's art work depicts 
``Fair Housing for All''; and scholarship programs to attract 
minorities into the real estate profession.
    However, no funds have been appropriated for the Community Housing 
Resource Board (CHRB) Program since Fiscal Year (FY) 1990. There are 
several reasons for this. One reason is that another source of funding 
for the same activities was made available. The Fair Housing 
Initiatives Program (FHIP), established in 1987, includes an Education 
and Outreach Initiative. This Initiative funds education and outreach 
projects designed to inform members of the public concerning their 
rights and obligations under the provisions of fair housing laws. As 
private, non-profit organizations, CHRBs are eligible for funding under 
the FHIP.
    Another reason concerns modifications to VAMAs since the initiation 
of the CHRB Program. In 1991 HUD began negotiations with the National 
Association of Realtors (NAR) for a revised VAMA. One of the major 
changes proposed by NAR was the elimination of the requirement to 
utilize [[Page 19192]] CHRBs for monitoring and implementation of VAMA 
activity. The new VAMA, signed by the Secretary of HUD and the NAR 
President in June 1992, deletes this requirement. The VAMA provides 
instead that local Realtor Boards ``formulate relationships with civil 
rights, fair housing, and other community based organizations with a 
substantial interest in fair housing as a conduit to meet fair housing 
and VAMA objectives.'' While some local Boards continue to work closely 
with established CHRBs in various fair housing activities, the 
Department no longer has a contractual agreement to support VAMA 
implementation activities through CHRBs.
    Based on the foregoing, and as part of the renewed effort to 
eliminate duplicative and/or unnecessary programs, the Department has 
determined that the elimination of the CHRB Program is appropriate. To 
accomplish this end, this proposed rule would remove and reserve 24 CFR 
part 120.

Findings and Certifications

Environmental Review

    A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment 
has been made in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 50, 
which implement section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969. The Finding of No Significant Impact is available for 
public inspection between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays in the 
Office of the Rules Docket Clerk.

Impact on Small Entities

    The Secretary, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this proposed rule before publication and 
by approving it certifies that this proposed rule does not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The purpose of the proposed rule is to eliminate a program determined 
to be duplicative and unnecessary.

Regulatory Agenda

    This proposed rule was listed as Item No. 1865 in the Department's 
Semiannual Agenda of Regulations published on November 14, 1994 (59 FR 
57632, 57667) pursuant to Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act.

Federalism Impact

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a) 
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that because this 
proposed rule would eliminate a program determined to be duplicative 
and unnecessary, the policies contained in this proposed rule will not 
have substantial direct effects on states or their political 
subdivisions, or the relationship between the federal government and 
the states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among 
the various levels of government. As a result, the proposed rule is not 
subject to review under the order.

Impact on the Family

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive 
Order 12606, The Family, has determined that this proposed rule does 
not have the potential for direct impact on family formation, 
maintenance, and general well-being. The proposed rule would only 
eliminate a program determined to be duplicative and unnecessary, and 
as such, no further review is considered necessary.

List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 120

    Fair housing, Grant programs--housing and community development.

    Accordingly, and under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 3535(d), chapter 
I of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations would be amended by 
removing and reserving part 120.

    Dated: May 3, 1994.
Roberta Achtenberg,
Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
[FR Doc. 95-9329 Filed 4-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-28-P