[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5910-5911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2629]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4572-D-30]


Redelegation of Authority to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Public Housing Investments

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

ACTION: Notice of redelegation of authority.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing redelegates to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of 
Public Housing Investments authority to monitor and enforce 
implementation by public housing agencies (PHAs) of section 33 of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937, with respect to the review of their 
inventory of public housing units. The purpose of the review is to 
identify developments (or parts of developments) that must be removed 
from the stock of public housing operated under Annual Contributions 
Contracts (ACC) with HUD, and to carry out plans to convert the 
developments identified into tenant-based assistance or other forms of 
housing assistance. Authority also is hereby redelegated to the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public Housing Investments to 
review and approve or disapprove plans submitted by PHAs to HUD for the 
voluntary conversion of public housing units into tenant-based (or 
other) housing assistance under section 22 of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937. The review process also will determine whether the plans 
are consistent with assessments PHAs are required to make for public 
housing general occupancy developments and with other data available to 
the Secretary, and whether the plans meet the requirements under 24 CFR 
972.230.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 23, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ainars Rodins, Office of Public and 
Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Special 
Applications Center, Chicago, IL (312) 353-6236. (This is not a toll-
free number.) This number may be accessed via TTY by calling the 
Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.) Comments or 
questions can be submitted through the Internet to Beverly B 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 537 of the Quality Housing and Work 
Responsibility Act of 1998 (QHWRA) (Title V of Pub. L. 105-276, 
approved October 21, 1998) added a new section 33 to the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.). Section 33 of the 
Act governs the required conversion of developments from the public 
housing stock. Section 533 of QHWRA also amended section 22 of the Act. 
Section 22 of the Act governs voluntary conversion of developments from 
the public housing stock. The term conversion in this context means the 
removal of public housing units from the inventory of a PHA, and the 
provision of tenant-based, or project-based assistance for the 
residents of the public housing being removed.
    In addition to the PHA Agency Plan requirements, HUD will review 
separately plans for mandatory or voluntary conversion of public 
housing stock. With respect to required conversions, HUD may (1) 
Identify developments that PHAs have failed properly to include as 
falling within the statutory criteria, (2) ensure conversions are 
carried out in cases where PHAs have failed to develop or implement 
conversion plans, (3) prohibit or revise conversions erroneously 
identified as subject to section 33 of the Act, (4) direct the 
cessation of spending in connection with developments that are likely 
to be subject to the statutory criteria, and (5) authorize the direct 
transfer of capital or operating funds associated with a development 
that must be removed from the public housing stock for use instead for 
tenant-based assistance or site revitalization. HUD will approve plans 
for voluntary conversions (after checking to see if they are complete 
and include the information required under 24 CFR 972.230), if they are 
consistent with the initial assessments PHAs are required to submit 
under section 22 of the Act, unless HUD has reliable information that 
conflicts with the PHA's assessment.
    The Secretary elsewhere has delegated to the Assistant Secretary 
for Public and Indian Housing (PIH) the authority to administer the 
Department's programs relating to public housing (see the delegation of 
authority published in the Federal Register at 48 FR 41097, September 
13, 1983).
    Accordingly, the Assistant Secretary for PIH redelegates that 
authority, as follows:

Section A. Authority Redelegated

    The Assistant Secretary for PIH redelegates the following authority 
to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing Investments:
    1. To review and approve or disapprove actions taken and plans 
submitted by PHAs in connection with the required removal of certain 
units from the public housing stock and provision of tenant-based or 
project-based assistance to the residents of such developments pursuant 
to section 33 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and the 
implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 972, and to conduct all 
activities related to such review, and approval or disapproval of such 
conversions.
    2. To review and approve or disapprove plans submitted by PHAs for 
the voluntary conversion of units from the public housing stock into 
tenant-based or project-based assistance for the tenants living in the 
units pursuant to section 22 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
and implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 972.
    Within the Office of Public Housing Investments, the review of 
mandatory and voluntary conversions will be handled by the Special 
Applications Center.

[[Page 5911]]

Section B. Authority to Further Redelegate

    The authority redelegated to the Deputy Assistant Secretary under 
this notice may be redelegated within the Office of Public Housing 
Investments.

    Dated: January 23, 2003.
Michael Liu,
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 03-2629 Filed 2-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P