[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 145 (Monday, July 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35538-35539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16045]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5997-N-40]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Section 8 
Renewal Policy Guide

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD submitted the proposed information collection requirement 
described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of 
this notice is to allow for 30 days of public comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: August 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503; fax: 202-395-5806, Email: OIRA [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inez C. Downs, Reports Management 
Officer, QMAC, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email [email protected], or 
telephone 202-402-8046. This is not a toll-free number. Person with 
hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by 
calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
    Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from 
Ms. Downs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is 
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in 
Section A.
    The Federal Register notice that solicited public comment on the 
information collection for a period of 60 days was published on May 11, 
2017 at 82 FR 22015.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Section 8 Renewal Policy Guide.
    OMB Approval Number: 2502-0587.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Form Number: HUD-9624, HUD-9625, HUD-9626, HUD-9627, HUD-9629, HUD-
9630, HUD-9631, HUD-9632, HUD-9634, HUD-9635, HUD-9636, HUD-9637, HUD-
9639, HUD-9640, HUD-9641, HUD-9642, HUD-9643, HUD-9644, HUD-9646, HUD-
9648A, HUD-9648D, HUD-9649, HUD-9651, HUD-93181, HUD-93182, and HUD-
93184.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
modifications of the Section 8 renewal policy and recent legislation 
are implemented to address the essential requirement to preserving low 
income rental housing affordability and availability. The Section 8 
Renewal Policy Guide will include recent legislation modifications for 
renewing of expiring Section 8 policy(ies) Guidebook, as authorized by 
the 24 CFR part 401 and 24 CFR part 402. The Multifamily Housing Reform 
and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA) for Fiscal Year 1998 (Pub. L. 
105-65, enacted on October 27, 1997), required that expiring Section 8 
project-based assistance contracts be renewed under MAHRA. Established 
in the MAHRA policies renewal of Section 8 project-based contracts rent 
is based on market rents instead of the Fair Market Rent (FMR) 
standard.
    MAHRA renewals submission should include a Rent Comparability Study 
(RCS). If the RCS indicated rents were at or below comparable market 
rents, the contract was renewed at current rents adjusted by Operating 
Cost Adjustment Factor (OCAF), unless the Owner submitted documentation 
justifying a budget-based rent increase or participation in Mark-Up-To-
Market. The case is that no renewal rents could exceed comparable 
market rents. If the RCS indicated rents were above comparable market 
rents, the contract was referred to the Office of Affordable Housing 
Preservation (OAHP) for debt restructuring and/or rent reduction. The 
Preserving Affordable Housing for Senior Citizens and Families in to 
the 21st Century Act of 1999 (public law 106-74, enacted on October 20, 
1999), modified MAHRA.
    The Section 8 Renewal Policy Guide sets forth six renewal options 
from which a project owner may choose when renewing their expiring 
Section 8 contract: Option One--Mark-Up-To-Market, Option Two--Other 
Contract Renewal with Current Rents at or Below Comparable Market 
Rents, Option Three--Referral to the Office of Affordable Preservation 
(OAHP), Option Four--Renewal of Projects Exempted From OMHAR, Option 
Five--Renewal of Portfolio Reengineering Demonstration or Preservation 
Projects, and Option Six--Opt Outs. Owners should select one of six 
options which are applicable to their project and should submit 
contract renewal on an annual basis to renew contract.
    The Section 8 Renewal Guide sets forth six renewal options from 
which a project owner may choose when renewing their expiring Section 8 
contracts. Option One (Mark-Up-To-Market), Option Two (Other Contract 
Renewals with Current Rents at or Below Comparable Market Rents), 
Option Three (Referral to the Office of Multifamily Housing Assistant 
Restructuring--OHAP), Option Four (Renewal of Projects Exempted from 
OHAP), Option Five (Renewal of Portfolio Reengineering Demonstration or 
Preservation Projects), and Option Six (Opt-Outs).
    Respondents: (i.e. affected public) Business or other for profit 
and nonprofit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,439.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 25,439.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Average Hours per Response: 1 hour.
    Total Estimated Burden: 24,680.

B. Solicitation of Public Comment

    This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected parties concerning the collection of information described in 
Section A on the following:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond: Including through the use of appropriate 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. HUD 
encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these 
questions.

    Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.


[[Page 35539]]


    Date: July 11, 2017.
Inez C. Downs,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-16045 Filed 7-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P