[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 55860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22206]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4710-N-06]


Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS); Extension of Interim 
Scoring Methodologies for PHAS Physical Condition and Financial 
Condition Indicators

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises public housing agencies (PHAs) and the 
public that HUD will extend the use of interim scoring methodologies 
for the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) Physical Condition and 
Financial Condition Indicators. These methodologies were adopted by 
notice published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2002, and 
described in notices published in the Federal Register on November 26, 
2001. This extension applies to PHAs with fiscal years ending December 
31, 2002; March 31, 2003, and June 30, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact the 
Office of Public and Indian Housing Real Estate Assessment Center (PIH-
REAC), Attention: Wanda Funk, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 1280 Maryland Avenue, SW., Suite 800, Washington DC 20024; 
telephone the Technical Assistance Center at 1-888-245-4860 (this is a 
toll free number). Persons with hearing-or speech-impairments may 
access that number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay 
Service at (800) 877-8339. Additional information is available from the 
PIH-REAC internet site, http://www.hud.gov/offices/reac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

I. Background

    On March 15, 2002, HUD published a notice (67 FR 11844) adopting a 
PHAS interim scoring methodology for PHAs with fiscal years ending 
September 30, 2001, December 31, 2001, March 31, 2002, June 30, 2002, 
and September 30, 2002. In that notice HUD announced changes in the 
scoring methodology for two of the four PHAS assessment indicators: the 
Physical Condition Indicator and Financial Condition Indicator. 
Detailed information about the changes to the scoring processes was 
provided in notices published in the Federal Register on November 26, 
2001. The Introduction notice was published at 66 FR 59080. The 
Physical Condition Scoring Process Interim Scoring notice was published 
at 66 FR 59084. The Financial Condition Scoring Process Interim 
Assessments notice was published at 66 FR 59126.
    For the Physical Condition Indicator, during the interim period, 
the inspectable areas are reduced from five to two. The weights 
assigned to the three unscored inspectable areas are redistributed over 
the two remaining inspectable areas. In addition, for PHAs with a 
Physical Condition Indicator score of less than 24 on the 30-point 
scale, properties will be inspected once a year. For PHAs with a 
Physical Condition Indicator score of 24 or greater on the 30-point 
scale, properties will be inspected every two years.
    For the Financial Condition Indicator, the score for Current Ratio 
(CR) and number of Months Expendable Fund Balance (MEFB) will not be 
based on peer groups. All PHAs with a CR or MEFB component value of 
less than one will receive zero points for these two components if the 
component values for CR and MEFB are equal to or greater than one, then 
PHAs, regardless of standing in relation to their peers, will receive 
the full nine points for each component.

II. Extension of Interim Scoring Methodologies for PHAS Physical 
Condition and Financial Condition Indicators

    At the time that the interim scoring processes were adopted on 
March 15, 2002, the Department advised that if an extension of the 
interim period were necessary, the Department would notify PHAs and the 
public by notice published in the Federal Register. The Department has 
determined that an extension of the interim period is necessary, and by 
this notice is notifying PHAs and the public that the effective period 
for the interim scoring processes is extended to PHAs having fiscal 
years ending on December 31, 2002, March 31, 2003, and June 30, 2003. 
As advised in the November 26, 2001, notice, the Department is 
considering improvements and changes to PHAS, and will continue to do 
so during this extension of the interim period. With respect to any 
action that may be taken, and consistent with the PHAS rule, HUD will 
provide advance notice of any changes and provide the opportunity for 
comment.

    Dated: August 26, 2002.
Paula O. Blunt,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 02-22206 Filed 8-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P