[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48820-48842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19774]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Parts 5, 92, 93, 574, 960, 966, 982

[Docket No FR-6057-P-01]
RIN 2577-AD03


Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016: 
Implementation of Sections 102, 103, and 104

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing 
Commissioner, and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development, HUD.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 
(HOTMA) was enacted on July 29, 2016. This proposed rule would revise 
HUD regulations to put sections 102, 103, and 104 of HOTMA into effect. 
These sections make sweeping changes to the United States Housing Act 
of 1937, particularly those affecting income calculation and reviews. 
Section 102 changes requirements pertaining to income reviews for 
public housing and HUD's Section 8 programs. Section 103 modifies the 
continued occupancy standards of public housing residents whose income 
has grown above the threshold for initial eligibility. Section 104 sets 
maximum limits on the assets that families residing in public housing 
and Section 8 assisted housing may have. Additionally, section 104 
provides that HUD must direct public housing agencies to require that 
all applicants for and recipients of assistance through HUD's public 
housing or Section 8

[[Page 48821]]

programs provide authorization for public housing agencies to obtain 
financial records needed for eligibility determinations. In addition to 
amending regulations for HUD's public housing and Section 8 programs, 
this proposed rule would change regulations of other HUD programs that, 
for consistency, adopted regulations of programs that are based on 
statutory provisions amended by sections 102 and 104. Therefore, this 
rule makes changes that affect HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships, 
Housing Trust Fund, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS 
programs, as well as HUD's public housing and Section 8 programs.

DATES: Comment Due Date: November 18, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposed rule. Copies of all comments submitted are available for 
inspection and downloading at www.regulations.gov. To receive 
consideration as public comments, comments must be submitted through 
one of the two methods specified below. All submissions must refer to 
the above docket number and title.
    1. Electronic Submission of Comments. Interested persons may submit 
comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly encourages commenters to submit 
comments electronically. Electronic submission of comments allows the 
commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a comment, ensures their 
timely receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to make them immediately 
available to the public. Comments submitted electronically through the 
www.regulations.gov website can be viewed by other commenters and 
interested members of the public. Commenters should follow the 
instructions provided on that site to submit comments electronically.
    2. Submission of Comments by Mail. Comments may be submitted by 
mail to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10276, 
Washington, DC 20410-0500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher (including project-based 
vouchers), and moderate rehabilitation programs, at 
[email protected].
    Multifamily Housing programs: Kate Nzive, Director, Assisted 
Housing Oversight Division, Office of Multifamily Housing, at 
[email protected].
    HOME Investment Partnerships and Housing Trust Fund programs: 
Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, 
Office of Community Planning and Development, at 202-708-2684.
    Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS program: Rita Flegel, 
Director, Office of HIV/AIDS Housing, Office of Community Planning and 
Development, at 202-402-5374.
    Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access the above 
telephone numbers through TTY by calling the Federal Relay Service, 
toll-free, at 800-877-8339.
    The mailing address for each office contact is Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On July 29, 2016, HOTMA was signed into law (Pub. L. 114-201, 130 
Stat. 782). HOTMA makes numerous changes to statutes governing HUD 
programs, including sections 3, 8, and 16 of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (1937 Act). HUD issued a notice in the Federal Register on 
October 24, 2016, at 81 FR 73030, announcing which statutory changes 
made by HOTMA could be implemented immediately and which statutory 
changes require further action by HUD.
    On November 29, 2016, HUD published another Federal Register notice 
(81 FR 85996), seeking public input on how HUD should determine the 
income limit for public housing residents, pursuant to section 103 of 
HOTMA, and this was followed by a July 26, 2018, notice (83 FR 35490) 
that made some provisions of section 103 of HOTMA effective. On January 
18, 2017, HUD published a Federal Register notice (82 FR 5458), that 
made multiple HOTMA provisions for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) 
program, unrelated to sections 102, 103, and 104, effective and 
solicited public comment on HUD's implementation methods. The 
conforming regulatory changes for the HCV program provisions 
implemented by the January 18, 2017, Federal Register notice are not 
part of this proposed rule and will be addressed through a separate 
rulemaking.
    Many of the statutory provisions in HOTMA are intended to 
streamline administrative processes and reduce burdens on public 
housing agencies (PHAs) and private owners. Sections 102, 103, and 104 
of HOTMA require that HUD make changes to its regulations and take 
other actions--some of which will also reduce burdens on PHAs and 
private owners once implemented.

A. HOTMA Section 102

    Section 102 of HOTMA deals with income reviews in HUD's public 
housing and Section 8 programs. Section 102(a) amends section 3(a) of 
the 1937 Act to revise the frequency of family income reviews and the 
calculation of income and requires HUD, in consultation with other 
appropriate Federal agencies, to develop electronic procedures enabling 
PHAs to access income determinations for other Federal means-tested 
programs. Section 102(c) amends section 3(b) of the 1937 Act to change 
the definitions, for the public housing and Section 8 programs, of 
income and adjusted-income for each member of the household who is 18 
years or older and unearned income for each dependent who is less than 
18 years old. Section 102(d) amends section 8(o) of the 1937 Act, which 
authorizes the HCV Program, but existing HUD regulations already 
reflect the changes. Section 102(e) changes the definition of 
``income'' to ``annual adjusted income'' for the Enhanced Voucher 
Program. Section 102(f) strikes the last sentence of paragraph (3) of 
section 8(c) of the 1937 Act, eliminating the requirement that reviews 
of family income shall be made no less frequently than annually for 
project-based housing. Under section 102(h), statutory amendments based 
on changes in section 102 are not effective until the beginning of the 
calendar year after HUD has issued a notice or regulation implementing 
the changes.
    Some provisions in section 102 of HOTMA do not require regulatory 
changes and are not addressed in this proposed rule. Section 102(b) 
requires HUD to submit a certification letter to Congress regarding 
hardship exemptions to minimum monthly rent and does not amend the 1937 
Act or prompt changes to HUD regulations. Section 102(g)(1) states that 
HUD may make appropriate adjustments in the formula income of PHAs that 
experience a material and disproportionate reduction in rental income 
during the first year in which the provisions of this section are 
implemented. 24 CFR 990.110(c) currently provides that HUD will address 
secondary elements that will be used in the revised Operating Fund 
Formula through nonregulatory means, so this provision does not require 
a regulatory change. Section 102(g)(2) requires that HUD submit a 
report to Congress identifying and calculating the impact of changes 
made by sections 102 and 104 of HOTMA during each of the first 2 years 
after the

[[Page 48822]]

implementation of section 102. Section 102(i) requires HUD to conduct a 
study on the impact any decreased amount of deductions in income that 
result from the implementation of this section has on elderly and 
disabled families.

B. HOTMA Section 103

    Section 103 of HOTMA amends section 16(a) of the 1937 Act to place 
an income limitation on a public housing tenancy for families. The law 
requires that after a family's income has exceeded 120 percent of the 
area median income (AMI) (or a different limitation established by HUD) 
for 2 consecutive years, a PHA must terminate the family's tenancy 
within 6 months after the expiration of the 2-year period or charge the 
family a monthly rent equal to the greater of (1) the applicable Fair 
Market Rent or (2) the amount of monthly subsidy for the unit, 
including amounts from the operating and capital fund, as determined by 
regulations. For purposes of this proposed rule, the income limit 
established by HOTMA will be referred to as the ``over-income limit.'' 
A PHA must notify a family of the potential changes to monthly rent 1 
year after the PHA determines that the family's income exceeds the 
over-income limit. Pursuant to section 3(a)(5) of the 1937 Act, the 
over-income limit does not apply in instances where a PHA operating 
fewer than 250 public housing units has admitted families with income 
exceeding the over-income limit, if the PHA is renting to those 
families because there are no income-eligible families on the PHA's 
waiting list or applying for public housing assistance. Each PHA must 
submit a report annually to HUD that specifies, as of the end of the 
year, the number of families residing in public housing with incomes 
exceeding the over-income limit and the number of families on the 
waiting lists for admission to public housing projects. Such reports 
must be publicly available.
    The new language in section 16(a)(5) of the 1937 Act sets the over-
income limit at 120 percent of the AMI. However, HUD can adjust the 
over-income limit if the Secretary determines that it is necessary due 
to prevailing levels of construction costs or unusually high or low 
family incomes, vacancy rates, or rental costs. On July 26, 2018, at 83 
FR 35490, HUD published a final notice in the Federal Register 
implementing HUD's methodology for determining the over-income limit by 
using the very low-income (VLI) \1\ level for the applicable area as 
the baseline and multiplying it by 2.4. Because VLI is preliminarily 
calculated as 50 percent of the estimated area median income for the 
family, in most cases this would result in a figure matching 120 
percent of the area median income. However, in areas where the VLI has 
been adjusted to account for high or low housing costs or to prevent it 
from being lower than 50 percent of the state, non-metro median family 
income, the final amount would result in an adjusted over-income limit 
as well.
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    \1\ HUD's income limits were developed by HUD's Office of Policy 
Development and Research and are updated annually. Information about 
HUD's income limits and HUD's methodology for adjusting income 
limits as part of the income limit calculation can be found at 
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html.
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C. HOTMA Section 104

    Section 104 of HOTMA amends section 16 of the 1937 Act to set 
limits on the assets that families residing in public housing and 
families receiving assistance under section 8 of the 1937 Act may own. 
In addition to providing limitations on assets, this section defines 
the term ``net family assets'' and lists exclusions to the definition. 
The section allows for families to self-certify that they are not 
subject to the limitation on assets, under certain circumstances. 
Section 104 also grants PHAs and owners authority to not enforce the 
asset limitation, provided that the PHA or owner sets forth a policy to 
that effect in its PHA plan or in a plan adopted by the owner. Section 
104 also directs HUD to direct PHAs to require all applicants and 
recipients under the 1937 Act to authorize the PHA to obtain financial 
information needed in connection with a determination with respect to 
eligibility.

II. This Proposed Rule

A. Affected Programs and Housing Providers

    HUD proposes to revise 24 CFR parts 5, 92, 93, 574, 960, and 982 in 
order to implement sections 102, 103, and 104 of HOTMA. Although 
sections 102, 103, and 104 amend the 1937 Act, which governs HUD's 
public housing and Section 8 programs, this proposed rule also aligns 
policies and procedures across program offices, where appropriate, to 
include programs that are administered by HUD's Office of Community 
Planning and Development, including the HOME Investment Partnerships 
(HOME), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Housing Opportunities for Persons 
With AIDS (HOPWA) programs. Alignment will reduce disparities between 
the programs and better simplify program administration for HUD 
grantees that manage multiple programs.

B. HOTMA Section 102

    Section 102 of HOTMA revises the definition in the 1937 Act of 
family income. Because a variety of programs use this definition, HUD 
offers the following chart showing which programs (other than public 
housing and the voucher programs) are affected by various changes to 
the income regulatory provisions in 24 CFR part 5:

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                                                                                                              Housing trust fund
                                              PBRA              HOPWA (part 574)         HOME (part 92)           (part 93)               202/811
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Net Family Assets Definition         Yes (Sec.   983.4)....  Yes, except the value   Yes, or may use IRS    Yes, or may use IRS    Yes, or may use IRS
 (5.603).                                                     of a home of a          income definition      income definition      income definition
                                                              participant receiving   (Sec.                  (Sec.                  (Sec.   891.105).
                                                              short-term mortgage     92.203(b)(1)).         93.151(b)(1)(i)).
                                                              or utility assistance
                                                              under Sec.
                                                              574.300(b)(6) or
                                                              other homeownership
                                                              assistance eligible
                                                              under HOPWA is
                                                              excluded (Sec.
                                                              574.310(f)(1)).
Annual Income Definition (5.609(a))  Yes (Sec.   983.4)....  Yes (Sec.               Yes (Sec.              Yes (Sec.              Yes (Sec.   891.105).
                                                              574.310(d)(1)).         92.203(b)(1)).         93.151(b)(1)(i)).
Annual Income Exclusions (5.609(b))  Yes (Sec.   983.4)....  Yes (Sec.               Yes (Sec.              Yes (Sec.              Yes (Sec.   891.105).
                                                              574.310(d)(1)).         92.203(b)(1)).         93.151(b)(1)(i)).
Annual Income Calculation &          Yes (Sec.   983.4)....  Yes (Sec.               No...................  No...................  Yes (Sec.   891.105).
 Reexaminations (5.609(c)).                                   574.310(d)(1)).

[[Page 48823]]

 
Adjusted Income Mandatory            Yes (Sec.   983.4)....  Yes (Sec.               Yes (Sec.              Yes (Sec.              Yes (Sec.   891.105).
 Deductions (5.611(a)).                                       574.310(d)(1)).         92.203(e)).            93.151(e)(1)).
Adjusted Income Additional           Yes, ONLY when the PHA  Yes (Sec.               Yes, in PBRA units or  Yes, in PBRA and       No.
 Deductions (5.611(b)).               is an owner (Sec.       574.310(d)(1)).         when tenant receives   public housing units
                                      983.4).                                         Section 8 voucher      or when tenant
                                                                                      assistance (Sec.       receives Section 8
                                                                                      92.203(e)(3)).         voucher assistance
                                                                                                             (Sec.
                                                                                                             93.151(e)(2)).
Adjusted Income Financial Hardship   Yes (Sec.   983.4)....  Yes (Sec.               Yes, if the grantee    Yes, if the grantee    No.
 Exemptions (5.611(c)).                                       574.310(d)(1)).         elects to do so in     elects to do so in
                                                                                      PBRA units or when     PBRA and public
                                                                                      tenant receives        housing units or
                                                                                      Section 8 voucher      when tenant receives
                                                                                      assistance (Sec.       Section 8 voucher
                                                                                      92.203(e)(3)).         assistance (Sec.
                                                                                                             93.151(e)(2)).
Asset restriction (5.618)..........  Yes (Sec.   5.618(e)).  Yes, except for the     No...................  No...................  No.
                                                              provision of short-
                                                              term mortgage or
                                                              utility assistance or
                                                              other homeownership
                                                              assistance eligible
                                                              under the HOPWA
                                                              program, housing
                                                              information services,
                                                              or supportive
                                                              services (Sec.
                                                              574.310(f)).
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    Specific solicitation of comment 1: What administrative burdens or 
other considerations (particularly related to Rental Assistance 
Demonstration conversions) should HUD be aware of in relation to 
certain sections applying to public housing and the HCV and project-
based voucher (PBV) programs, but not to project-based rental 
assistance (PBRA) and Section 202/811?
1. Income Reexaminations
    Section 102(a)(1) of HOTMA revises the process by which PHAs and 
owners are required to review family income. To conform to these 
changes, this rule proposes to revise 24 CFR 5.657, 24 CFR 960.257, and 
24 CFR 982.516 for the Section 8 PBRA programs, public housing, and the 
HCV program (including PBV). Currently, these program regulations 
provide that families may request an interim reexamination of family 
income because of any changes since the last examination, and the PHA 
or owner must make the interim determination within a reasonable period 
of time after the family's request. HOTMA provides that reviews of 
family income shall be made upon the request of the family at any time 
the income or deductions of the family change by an amount that is 
estimated to result in a decrease of 10 percent or more in annual 
adjusted income, or of such lower amount as HUD may establish or permit 
the PHA or owner to establish. This proposed rule would revise 
Sec. Sec.  5.657, 960.257, and 982.516 to state that the owner or PHA 
may decline to process a family's request for an interim reexamination 
if the owner or PHA estimates the family's adjusted income will 
decrease by an amount that is less than 10 percent of the family's 
annual adjusted income. The proposed rule further provides that the 
owner or PHA may still choose to process the family request for an 
interim reexamination if the owner or PHA estimates the family's 
adjusted income will decrease by less than 10 percent, provided the 
owner or PHA has established a standard for conducting the interim 
reexamination that is more generous to the family (e.g., the owner or 
PHA will conduct an interim reexamination if the decrease in family 
income exceeds 5 percent of adjusted income) and the PHA estimates the 
family's adjusted income will decrease by an amount that exceeds the 
owner or PHA threshold. HUD believes that while the 10 percent standard 
is appropriate as the HUD standard and consequently is not exercising 
its discretion to establish a lower threshold, owners and PHAs should 
have the flexibility to establish a lower threshold if they wish to do 
so and are willing to take on the additional administrative burden. The 
owner or PHA may not establish an alternative threshold that is less 
generous to the family than the standard 10 percent decrease in 
adjusted income (e.g., the owner or PHA will only conduct an interim 
examination if the decrease in family adjusted income is estimated to 
be more than 20 percent decrease in adjusted income).
    Additionally, HOTMA states that PHAs and owners must conduct a 
reexamination of family income at any time the family's adjusted income 
is estimated to have increased by 10 percent or more. This proposed 
rule would revise Sec. Sec.  5.657, 960.257, and 982.516 to reflect 
this change and would specify that the owner or PHA would be required 
to conduct the reexamination within a reasonable period of time after 
the owner or PHA becomes aware of the family's change in income. HOTMA 
provides some administrative relief to this requirement by allowing 
PHAs or owners to elect not to conduct an income review in the last 3 
months of a certification period, and that flexibility is incorporated 
into this proposed rule. PHAs or owners may not consider earned income 
of the family when estimating whether the family's adjusted income has 
increased, unless the increases in earned income correspond to previous 
decreases resulting from the family's request for an interim 
reexamination. This proposed rule would provide a definition for 
``earned income'' in 24 CFR 5.100 that would apply when the term is 
used throughout this rule. The definition would mirror the definition 
of earned income that is currently in 24 CFR 984.103.
    Specific solicitation of comment 2: HUD is specifically seeking 
comment about the ``reasonable period of time'' in which the PHA and 
owner must conduct an interim reexamination. HUD seeks comment on what 
should be considered reasonable and whether this rule should contain a 
specific time frame by which the PHA or owner must complete an interim 
reexamination. HUD seeks comment on what such a time frame might be 
(for example, 2 weeks from the time of the family request, or the time 
the PHA or owner is aware of the change in income or family 
composition).

[[Page 48824]]

    Specific solicitation of comment 3: HUD is seeking comments on 
whether HUD should continue to require PHAs and owners to use the 
Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System for every income 
examination, or revise its regulations at 24 CFR 5.233 to require use 
of EIV only at initial and annual reexaminations and not at interim 
reexaminations. If HUD were to adopt such a proposal, housing providers 
could still use EIV for interim reexaminations but would not be 
required to use EIV. HUD is seeking comments on whether such a proposal 
would save time for PHAs and owners without significantly impacting the 
accuracy of the reexaminations.
2. Calculation of Family Income
    Section 102(a)(1) of HOTMA also describes how PHAs and owners must 
calculate family income, and this proposed rule would revise 24 CFR 
5.609 to account for this. Specifically, this proposed rule would 
revise Sec.  5.609 to direct PHAs and owners to estimate the income of 
the family for the upcoming year to determine family income for initial 
occupancy or for the initial provision of housing assistance or for an 
interim reexamination of family income. In determining family income 
for annual reviews, this proposed rule would provide that the PHA or 
owner must use the income of the family as determined by the PHA or 
owner for the preceding year, taking into account any redetermination 
of income undertaken during the preceding year. For example, if a PHA 
had made a redetermination of the family's income during the preceding 
year because the family's income had decreased by more than 10 percent, 
the PHA would be required at the annual review to use that 
redetermination to determine the family's income for the forthcoming 
year. This will not apply in situations where the PHA or owner uses a 
streamlined income determination. HOTMA provides that the PHA or owner 
may make adjustments, as it considers appropriate, to reflect current 
income if during the previous 12-month period there was a change in 
income that was not accounted for in a redetermination of income. 
However, in order to properly account for income, this rule proposes 
that the PHA or owner must make adjustments to reflect current income 
if during the previous 12-month period there was a change in income 
that was not accounted for in a redetermination of income. For example, 
if a family reported a decrease in income during the preceding year but 
the PHA had not conducted an interim redetermination because the 
decrease was less than 10 percent of the family's annual adjusted 
income, at the annual review the PHA would be required to adjust the 
determination of family income to reflect the decrease.
    HOTMA provides for a ``safe harbor'' for PHAs or owners who 
determine family income prior to the application of deductions based on 
timely income determinations made for purposes of other means-tested 
Federal public assistance programs, including the Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families block grant, Medicaid assistance, and the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program. This proposed rule adopts 
this language in the new paragraph on calculation of income in 24 CFR 
5.609. Specifically, HUD is permitting PHAs and owners to utilize the 
income determinations, regardless of definitional differences between 
other forms of public assistance and the respective HUD program. HUD 
believes this maximizes the streamlining benefit of the provision. 
Further, HUD proposes to add the Earned Income Tax Credit to the list 
of means-tested Federal public assistance.
    Specific solicitation of comment 4: HUD is soliciting feedback on 
how allowing PHAs and owners to use income determinations from other 
forms of public assistance may impact program administration, and 
whether HUD should establish requirements as to which income 
determination should be used if there is more than one determination of 
income from other public assistance programs available to the PHA or 
owner.
    Specific solicitation of comment 5: HUD is soliciting feedback on 
whether there are other forms of Federal public assistance that should 
be added to the ``safe harbor'' list or whether HUD should limit the 
number of such programs.
3. Annualization of Income
    In order to conform to HOTMA, this proposed rule would also remove 
an existing provision in 24 CFR 5.609 on annualization of income, which 
states that if it is not feasible to anticipate a level of income over 
a 12-month period (e.g., seasonal or cyclic income), or the PHA 
believes that past income is the best available indicator of expected 
future income, the PHA may annualize the income anticipated for a 
shorter period, subject to a redetermination at the end of the shorter 
period.
4. De Minimis Errors
    HOTMA provides that a PHA or owner will not be out of compliance 
with the statute's new provisions regarding income review and income 
calculation solely due to any de minimis errors made by the agency or 
owner in calculating family income. HOTMA does not define de minimis 
error. HUD proposes to revise 24 CFR 5.609, 24 CFR 5.657, 24 CFR 
960.257, and 24 CFR 982.516 to provide that PHAs and owners will not be 
considered to have failed to comply with the requirements involving the 
calculation of income solely due to de minimis errors. Under this 
proposed rule, a de minimis error would be defined as any error where 
the PHA's or owner's calculation of a family's income or adjusted 
income varies from the correct income or adjusted income by no more 
than 5 percent. In such instance, the PHA's or owner's income 
determination would not be considered incorrect for purposes of HUD's 
monitoring and compliance oversight responsibilities. However, the PHA 
or owner would still be required to take necessary corrective action to 
repay a family if the de minimis error in the income determination 
resulted in the family being overcharged for their rent.
    Specific solicitation of comment 6: HUD specifically seeks comment 
from PHAs and owners on the methodology HUD should use in determining 
what constitutes a de minimis error. For example, as alternatives to 
the 5 percent figure discussed above, HUD could calculate de minimis 
errors to be those that do not exceed $30 per month for any family, 
because a family's share of rent for 1937 Act programs is approximately 
$30 for every $100 of income. Or, HUD could calculate de minimis errors 
as those that represent less than 5 percent of all income 
determinations made during a calendar year.
5. Earned Income Disallowance
    Section 102(a)(2) of HOTMA eliminates section 3(d) of the 1937 Act, 
which had thus far allowed for the disallowance of earned income (EID) 
from rent determinations. This section had provided that the rent of 
certain public housing residents or recipients of Section 8 assistance 
could not be increased as a result of increased income due to 
employment during the 12-month period beginning on the date on which 
the employment started, and that following the expiration of that 12-
month period, the PHA must exclude from the annual income of a 
qualified family at least 50 percent of any increase in the income of 
such family member, as a result of employment, over the family's 
baseline income for the subsequent 12-month period. Other HUD programs, 
including the HOME, HOPWA, and Supportive Housing

[[Page 48825]]

programs, similarly adopted an EID for persons with disabilities. 
Because the EID is no longer authorized under the 1937 Act, this 
proposed rule would eventually eliminate regulatory references to it.
    Despite the elimination of the EID from HUD's regulations, HUD 
proposes to allow families who receive the EID benefit as of the 
effective date of a final rule implementing section 102 of HOTMA to 
continue receiving the benefits of EID until the allowed time frame 
expires, per the framework currently provided under Sec.  5.617 or 
Sec.  960.255. Given the time frames in Sec.  5.617 or Sec.  960.255, 
within 2 years from the effective date of a final rule implementing the 
elimination of EID, no family would receive the EID benefit.
    Specific solicitation of comment 7: HUD specifically solicits 
comment on this proposal to allow current recipients of the EID benefit 
to continue to receive the benefit until the allowed time frame 
expires.
6. Definition of ``Annual Income''
    Section 102(c) of HOTMA provides a new definition for the term 
``income.'' As a result, this proposed rule would significantly revise 
HUD regulations in 24 CFR 5.609. Specifically, this rule proposes to 
simplify the existing definition of annual income by removing the list 
of examples of income sources and providing a broader definition of 
income that mirrors the definition of income provided by HOTMA. HUD 
hopes that this streamlining effort will reduce the burden on PHAs and 
owners in determining a family's income and reduce confusion about what 
should be included as income.
    This HOTMA definition sufficiently encompasses what HUD considers 
to be income under the current regulation, with the exception of the 
treatment of imputed returns on assets. Therefore, in addition to the 
HOTMA definition of income, this proposed rule would specify that 
annual income also includes the imputed return on assets over $50,000, 
based on the current passbook savings rate if the actual income from 
assets cannot be computed. The $50,000 figure will be adjusted for 
inflation, in accordance with HOTMA. By simplifying the definition of 
income and streamlining the regulatory provisions in Sec.  5.609, HUD 
seeks to reduce the complexity of the existing income regulations.
    HUD wants to be clear that income sources that were previously 
included in annual income are generally unchanged. HUD is only 
simplifying the definition to eliminate confusing regulatory language 
that excluded some income that should have been included and which 
increased litigation risk for housing providers who rely on HUD's 
definition of income.
    Specific solicitation of comment 8: HUD is seeking feedback from 
interested parties on the impact of the proposed redefinition of annual 
income and whether it simplifies the understanding of what is included 
in annual income.
    Specific solicitation of comment 9: HUD solicits comment on what 
inflationary index to use for purposes of adjusting the amount of 
imputed return on assets included in annual income, and other 
provisions in HOTMA that require amounts to be adjusted annually for 
inflation.
7. Income Exclusions
    Additionally, HUD proposes updating the list of income exclusions 
to be consistent with HOTMA and to eliminate certain nonstatutory, 
discretionary exclusions from income in order to further streamline the 
income determination process. This proposed rule specifies that annual 
income does not include amounts that are explicitly excluded from the 
definition of income in HOTMA, but removes current exclusions for 
inheritances, capital gains, gifts, and other sporadic income. HUD has 
found that these provisions have caused confusion, there has been 
inconsistent application of these exclusions, and that these amounts 
should be included as annual income. HUD notes that with this change, 
realized capital gains--meaning those capital gains obtained from the 
sale of property in a given year--would be included as income under 24 
CFR 5.609(a)(1). The value of unrealized capital gains--meaning the 
value of any increase in an asset from one year to the next--would be 
included under the definition of Net Family Assets, which is used to 
determine imputed income under 24 CFR 5.609(a)(2).
    Under this proposed rule, insurance payments remain excluded from 
annual income. However, HUD would strike the parentheses and the text 
enclosed in the parentheses that is intended to clarify that insurance 
payments include payments under health and accident insurance and 
worker's compensation. This proposed change does not represent any 
change in policy and payments under health and accident insurance and 
worker's compensation would continue to be excluded from annual income. 
HUD is proposing the change because HUD believes the current language 
has created more confusion in terms of what is meant by insurance 
payments than it has solved and to clarify that all insurance payments 
should be excluded from annual income, not just a select, few types.
    Specific solicitation of comment 10: The proposed rule provides 
that distributions from a nonrevocable trust fund specifically provided 
to cover the cost of medical expenses for a minor is excluded income, 
as are any amounts recovered in any civil action or settlement based on 
a claim of malpractice, negligence, or other breach of duty, owed to a 
family member arising out of law, that resulted in a member of the 
family being disabled. Distributions from a non-revocable trust fund 
provided for other purposes would be considered income. HUD is seeking 
comment on whether this rule should treat subsequent withdrawals of an 
insurance payment or settlement for personal or property losses 
(whether related to a minor or not), or amounts recovered in the 
aforementioned civil action or settlement, as income. Start here For 
example, while the initial lump sum addition of an insurance payment or 
an amount recovered in the civil action or settlement would not count 
as annual income, HUD seeks comment on whether this rule should specify 
that any amount the family subsequently withdraws against the payment 
(e.g., from a bank account or trust fund into which the insurance 
payment or recovered amount was deposited) would be considered income. 
If this rule were to consider such subsequent withdrawals as income, 
HUD seeks comment on whether certain types of withdrawals should be 
excluded from annual income (in addition to the existing exclusion of 
distributions from a non-revocable trust fund specifically provided to 
cover the medical expenses of a minor). If the rule were to consider 
such subsequent withdrawals as income but exclude certain withdrawals 
that are used for a particular purpose (e.g., the family received an 
auto insurance payment after an accident that totaled the family car 
that the family deposited in their checking account and then 
subsequently used to purchase a replacement vehicle), HUD seeks comment 
on whether there are specific requirements that could be added to 
address the operational challenges that a PHA or owner would face in 
identifying, determining, and verifying that the withdrawal should be 
either included or excluded from annual income. Finally, HUD is 
requesting comment on whether the final rule should simply count the 
lump-sum insurance payment or settlement as

[[Page 48826]]

income, rather than excluding it from annual income at any point in 
time.
    HOTMA provides HUD the discretion to establish exclusions to income 
beyond those explicitly listed in HOTMA and any amount required by 
Federal law to be excluded from consideration as income. As a result, 
with the exception of inheritances, capital gains, gifts, and other 
sporadic income, HUD proposes to maintain the other exclusions 
currently listed in Sec.  5.609, but would revise the explanatory 
language for some of those exclusions to provide greater clarity and 
understanding. One of these exclusions is for earnings in excess of 
$480 for full-time students 18 years or older who are not the head of 
household or spouse of the head of household. This proposed rule would 
effectively maintain that exclusion, but provide that the $480 figure 
be adjusted annually for inflation. As explained below, this is because 
there is a mandatory $480 deduction for dependents in the current 
regulations that HOTMA requires be adjusted for inflation, so the end 
result is that all earned income of dependent students should either be 
excluded or deducted from income. Additionally, this proposed rule 
would provide that the amount of the existing exclusion for adoption 
assistance payments, which is payments in excess of $480 per adopted 
child, would also be adjusted annually for inflation.
    This proposed rule would add additional exclusions to income in 
order to conform with HUD policy. This proposed rule would provide that 
amounts in or from ABLE accounts created under section 529A of the 
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) are excluded from income. ABLE accounts are 
tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. This 
proposed rule would exclude the income of foster adults from 
consideration of family income in order to prevent disincentives to 
housing such persons, and would codify HUD's existing policy that state 
kinship or guardianship care payments are excluded from the definition 
of income. Additionally, this proposed rule would specify that loan 
proceeds (for example, car loans or payday loans) must be excluded from 
income. Loan proceeds are not considered income by HUD because they are 
typically a pass-through payment for the purpose of purchasing 
something like a car. In the case of a payday loan, a family uses a 
paycheck as collateral, thus counting such a loan as income would 
effectively count that income amount twice.
    This proposed rule would also add an exclusion for payments 
received by Indian persons as a result of claims relating to the 
mismanagement of assets held in trust by the United States (including 
payments from tribal trust settlements), to the extent such payments 
are also excluded from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code. 
HUD already consider such payments to be excluded from annual income, 
but relies on the current exclusion for temporary, nonrecurring, or 
sporadic income to do so, which this proposed rule would remove.
    Finally, the rule would codify long-standing practice of excluding 
from annual income replacement housing ``gap'' payments that offset 
increased rent and utility costs to families that are displaced from 
one federally subsidized housing unit and move into another federally 
subsidized housing unit. HUD currently excludes these payments from 
income as ``temporary, nonrecurring, or sporadic income'' under Sec.  
5.609(c)(9). This rule preserves the gap payment exclusion and 
clarifies that this exclusion only exists to the extent that the 
tenant's out of pocket expenses for rent and utilities in their new 
federally subsidized housing are higher than they were in their 
previous federally subsidized housing. Later changes to a tenant's 
contribution due solely to changes in family income, size, or 
composition should not be considered when determining if a gap has been 
reduced or eliminated. If the gap is reduced or eliminated because of 
reasons such as a subsequent move by the tenant or change in the 
subsidy program applicable to the tenant's unit, and the tenant chooses 
to retain or continue to receive their replacement housing ``gap'' 
payment, then the portion of the ``gap'' payment that is no longer 
needed to close the gap should be counted as income for purposes of 
determining annual income under Sec.  5.609.
    HOTMA provides an income exclusion for full-time dependent students 
for any grant-in-aid or scholarship amounts used for the costs of 
tuition or books, and, in such amounts as HUD may allow, for the cost 
of room and board. In implementing this provision and as part of this 
proposed rule's objective to simplify income determinations, HUD 
proposes to combine the student financial assistance requirements under 
a new 24 CFR 5.609(b)(9) (currently, student financial assistance 
exclusion requirements are found at Sec.  5.609(b)(9) and at Sec.  
5.609(c)(6)). The proposed rule provides in general that the full 
amount of student financial assistance paid directly to the student or 
to the education institution on the student's behalf is excluded from 
annual income. The rule defines financial assistance to be any grant-
in-aid, scholarship, or other assistance amounts an individual receives 
for the costs of tuition, books, room and board, and other fees charged 
to the student by the education institution.
    Since 2005, HUD's Appropriations Acts have placed limits on the 
amount of financial assistance that is excluded from income for 
students applying for and receiving Section 8 assistance who are not 
over the age of 23 with dependent children. In accordance with that 
statutory restriction, this proposed rule would provide that, for those 
students, the financial assistance in excess of the cost of tuition and 
any other required fees and charges under the Higher Education Act of 
1965, from private sources, or an institution of higher education, 
shall be considered income. This categorization of funds as income does 
not apply to public housing students, students under other HUD 
programs, or to Section 8 students over the age of 23 with dependent 
children, for whom the financial assistance in excess of the cost of 
tuition the individual receives for the cost of books, room and board, 
and other fees charged by the education institution is excluded from 
annual income (in addition to the financial assistance that covers the 
student's tuition).
    HOTMA also provides an income exclusion for any amount in or from, 
or any benefits from, any Coverdell educational savings account of or 
any qualified tuition program under section 530 and section 529 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, respectively. The proposed rule covers 
these HOTMA income exclusions under a new Sec.  5.609(b)(10).
    Additionally, HOTMA provides an exclusion for payments related to 
aid and attendance under 38 U.S.C. 1521 to veterans in need of regular 
aid and attendance, and this proposed rule would include this 
exclusion.
    Specific solicitation of comment 11: HUD is soliciting feedback 
about whether there are other income exclusions that should be provided 
for in this rulemaking. For example, deferred disability benefits are 
excluded from income under HOTMA and this proposed rule, but the rule 
could provide for exclusions from income for all veteran's disability 
benefits.
8. Adjusted Income
    Section 102(c) of HOTMA makes changes to ``adjusted income'' that 
require revisions to 24 CFR 5.611. Section 5.611 currently provides for 
a mandatory deduction of $480 for each

[[Page 48827]]

dependent. HOTMA provides for a mandatory deduction of $480 for minors, 
students, and persons with disabilities who are not the head of the 
household or that person's spouse, and provides that this figure be 
adjusted annually for inflation and the actual deduction should be 
determined for each year by rounding such amount to the next lowest 
multiple of $25. HOTMA also provides HUD the discretion to establish 
deductions in addition to those listed in HOTMA. As a result, HUD 
proposes to maintain the $480 deduction for each dependent, which 
amount will be annually adjusted for inflation. In line with HOTMA's 
requirement, this rule would also increase the deduction for any 
elderly or disabled family from the current $400 to $525, which amount 
will be annually adjusted for inflation and rounded to the next lowest 
multiple of $25.
    This proposed rule would maintain other deductions currently 
allowed, such as those for child care and health and medical expenses. 
However, to conform to section 102(c) of HOTMA, this proposed rule 
would revise the deduction for health and medical expenses. Currently, 
this deduction is for the sum of (i) unreimbursed medical expenses of 
any elderly family, and (ii) the unreimbursed reasonable attendant care 
and auxiliary apparatus expenses for each member of the family who is a 
person with disabilities, to the extent necessary to enable any member 
of the family to be employed. The deduction is currently limited to the 
amount by which these total expenses exceed three percent of the 
family's income. HOTMA increases the health and medical expense 
threshold from three percent to 10 percent. In other words, the health 
and medical expense deduction is now limited to the amount by which 
those expenses exceed 10 percent of the family's annual income. This 
means families who receive a health and medical expense deduction at 
the time the HOTMA change is implemented may see a significant increase 
in their non-deductible health and medical expenses, which could result 
in an increase in their adjusted income and their rent. However, HUD 
notes that the reduction in the family's health and medical expense 
deduction may be offset to some degree by the HOTMA change that 
increases the deduction for elderly and disabled families from $400 to 
$525.
    Section 102(c) provides that the Secretary shall by regulation 
provide hardship exemptions to the requirements of the health and 
medical expenses provision for impacted families who demonstrate an 
inability to pay calculated rents because of financial hardship, and 
that the regulations must include a requirement to notify tenants of 
any changes to determination of adjusted income based on the 
determination of the family's claim of financial hardship. In order to 
implement this provision, this proposed rule would provide, that if the 
family can demonstrate an inability to pay the new rent and the PHA or 
owner determines that the family's inability is the result of the 
change in the medical expense deduction (i.e., the increase in the 
amount of non-deductible expenses from 3 to 10 percent of family 
income), the PHA or owner would be required to recalculate the family's 
adjusted income. In recalculating the family's adjusted income, the PHA 
or owner would deduct the amount of eligible health and medical 
expenses that exceeds 6.5 percent of the family's annual income instead 
of the normally applicable 10 percent of family's annual income. HUD 
proposes a 6.5 percent threshold because it is half-way between the 
pre-HOTMA health and medical expense threshold of three percent and the 
new statutory 10 percent threshold. Under this proposed rule, the 
family's hardship exemption would expire at the family's next regular 
income reexamination or at such time that the PHA or owner determines 
the family can pay their rent under the normal adjusted income 
calculation, whichever comes first. The PHA or owner would be required 
to notify the family in writing of the change in the determination of 
adjusted income, the family's rent resulting from the hardship 
exemption, and when the hardship exemption will expire. The intent of 
the proposed regulation is to allow families receiving hardship 
exemptions to transition to their new adjusted income and higher rent 
incrementally, rather than immediately absorbing the full increase as a 
result of the medical expense deduction change.
    Section 102(c) also allows a hardship exemption for the child care 
expense deduction, which provides that any reasonable child care 
expenses necessary to enable a member of the family to be employed or 
to further his or her education is deducted from annual income. Under 
this proposed rule, a hardship exemption would be provided to allow the 
deduction for reasonable child care costs to continue in certain 
circumstances for a family that no longer has a member that is employed 
or seeking to further his or her education. In order to qualify for the 
hardship exemption, the family would be required to demonstrate to the 
satisfaction of the PHA or owner that their inability to pay the 
increased rent is due to the loss of the child care deduction. In 
addition, the family would also have to demonstrate why the child care 
expense remains necessary now that no family member is employed, 
actively seeking employment, or furthering his or her education. For 
example, the family member may have had to temporarily suspend their 
educational pursuits as the result of injury or illness, and due to the 
injury or illness they are unable to be the primary full-time care 
giver for the child whose child care expenses were deducted from the 
family's adjusted income. Under this proposed rule, if the PHA or owner 
determines that the family qualifies for the hardship exemption, the 
PHA or owner would be required to recalculate the family's adjusted 
income and continue to include the deduction for the reasonable child 
care expenses. As is the case with the health and medical expense 
hardship exemption, the child care expense hardship exemption would be 
temporary and would end no later than the family's next regular 
reexamination. The child care hardship exemption would also end at any 
point in time that the PHA or owner determines that the family is 
either able to pay the rent without the child care expense deduction or 
the need for the child care expense no longer exists.
    The PHA or owner would be required to notify the family in writing 
of the change in the determination of adjusted income and the family's 
rent for both the adjusted medical expense deduction and the 
continuation of the child care deduction hardship exemptions. The 
notice would also inform the family of the temporary nature of the 
hardship exemption and that the exemption will expire at the earlier of 
the family's next regular income reexamination or at such time the PHA 
or owner determines the need for the hardship exemption no longer 
exists.
    Specific solicitation of comment 12: HUD is soliciting feedback 
from affected parties on the proposed implementation of the hardship 
exemption for both the health and medical expenses deduction and child 
care deduction. Specifically, HUD is soliciting comments on whether 
there are better approaches to implementing the hardship exemptions 
than what is proposed in this rule, whether HUD should establish 
specific requirements or parameters as to how the PHA or owner would 
determine that the family is unable to pay the rent (for example, the 
percentage of the family's income paid for rent and health and medical 
expenses exceeds a certain

[[Page 48828]]

percentage), or whether PHAs and owners should be given broad 
administrative discretion to establish their own policies on how to 
make this determination.
    HUD's current regulations provide that for public housing, PHAs may 
adopt additional deductions from annual income. Under HOTMA, PHAs may 
also choose to adopt additional deductions from income for the voucher 
programs, and the Section 8 project-based rental assistance program 
(where the PHA is an owner) in addition to public housing. As such, 
this proposed rule would provide that for public housing and the 
voucher programs, and where the PHA is an owner in the Section 8 
project-based rental assistance program, PHAs may adopt additional 
deductions from annual income. Additionally, HOTMA requires that HUD 
establish procedures to ensure that any deductions adopted by PHAs do 
not materially increase Federal expenditures. Under this proposed rule, 
PHAs that adopt permissive deductions would not be eligible to receive 
any program funding to cover the increased cost to the impacted 
program. The rule provides that the PHA would have to identify the 
amount of subsidy provided on behalf of the family that is attributable 
to the permissive deduction as required by HUD. This information would 
then be used by HUD to ensure that the cost of the permissive deduction 
is not included in the subsidy for the public housing program, renewal 
funding for the HCV (including PBV) program, or the housing assistance 
payments provided to the PHA under the Section 8 project-based 
programs.
    Specific solicitation of comment 13: HUD is soliciting feedback on 
whether the proposed implementation of permissive deductions (i.e., 
that a PHA will not be eligible for additional subsidy to cover the 
costs associated with the deduction) has any unintended consequences, 
or whether HUD should define ``material'' differently. Further, HUD is 
soliciting feedback on whether the permissive deductions could be used 
to provide incentives for employment. For example, HUD could permit 
PHAs to be eligible for additional subsidy for certain permissive 
deductions of earned income (e.g., permissive deductions of the first 
$1,000 or $5,000 of earned income) or other work-related income.

C. HOTMA Section 103

    This proposed rule would create a new 24 CFR 960.507 in HUD's 
regulations to implement section 103 of HOTMA. Section 103 of HOTMA 
places an income limitation on a public housing tenancy for families at 
120 percent of the AMI. However, HUD can adjust the over-income limit 
if HUD determines that it is necessary due to prevailing levels of 
construction costs or unusually high or low family incomes, vacancy 
rates, or rental costs. This proposed rule would provide that the over-
income limit is determined by using the very low-income (VLI) level for 
the applicable area as the baseline and multiplying it by 2.4. Pursuant 
to section 3(a)(5) of the 1937 Act, the over-income limit does not 
apply in instances where a PHA operating fewer than 250 public housing 
units has admitted families with income exceeding the over-income 
limit, if the PHA is renting to those families because there are no 
income-eligible families on the PHA's waiting list or applying for 
public housing assistance. To conform to HOTMA, this proposed rule 
would also remove existing 24 CFR 960.261 from HUD's regulations, which 
provides that PHAs may not evict or terminate the tenancy of a family 
that is over the income limit for public housing if the family is 
participating in the Family Self-Sufficiency program, or if it 
currently receives the earned income disallowance.
    Following section 16(a)(5) of the 1937 Act, this proposed rule 
would provide in Sec.  960.507 that when a PHA becomes aware, through 
an annual reexamination or an interim reexamination of an increase in 
income, that if a family's income exceeds the over-income limit, the 
PHA must document that the family exceeds the threshold. This would be 
used to compare the family's current income with the family's income 
one year later. Once found to be over-income, the family's income would 
be reviewed one year later even if they have chosen to pay the flat 
rent. This proposed rule would also revise Sec.  960.253(f) to conform 
to the new requirements of section 103 by providing that for families 
that choose to pay a flat rent, once a family is determined to be over-
income, the PHA must follow the documentation and reexaminations 
requirements in Sec.  960.507(c).
    Under proposed Sec.  960.507, if the family's income continues to 
exceed the new over-income limit one year after the initial 
determination by the PHA, the PHA must, as required by section 16(a)(5) 
of the 1937 Act, provide written notification to the family that their 
income has exceeded the over-income limit for one year. If the family's 
income continues to exceed the over-income limit for the next 12 
consecutive months, the family would be subject to either a higher rent 
or termination based on the PHA's policies. If, however, a PHA 
discovers through an annual or interim reexamination that a previously 
over-income family has income that is now below the over-income limit, 
the family would no longer be subject to these provisions. The family 
would be entitled to a new two-year grace period if the family's income 
once again exceeds the over-income limit.
    As reflected in this proposed rule, HOTMA requires that after a 
family's income has exceeded the over-income limit for two consecutive 
years, a PHA must terminate the family's tenancy within 6 months after 
the expiration of the two-year period or charge the family a monthly 
rent equal to the greater of: (1) The applicable Fair Market Rent 
(FMR); or (2) the amount of monthly subsidy for the unit including 
amounts from the operating and capital fund, as determined by 
regulations. To calculate the monthly subsidy for a unit, HUD would 
define the monthly amount of Public Housing Capital and Operating funds 
as the per unit subsidy amount provided to a PHA for the development in 
which the family resides for the most recent year for which HUD has 
calculated final eligibility. HUD would publish such funding amounts 
annually. PHAs would continue to charge these families the non-over-
income rent amount (the family's choice of income-based or flat rent) 
for the time period during the 6-month period before termination.
    HUD notes that PHAs are required to establish policies for 
continued occupancy in public housing. Through the development of those 
policies, a PHA is able to consider specific circumstances in which 
they would provide for flexibility in the administration of over-income 
requirements, provided such policies are in compliance with the 1937 
Act and all applicable fair housing requirements. PHAs are subject to, 
among other fair housing and civil rights authorities, Section 504 of 
the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), the Fair Housing Act, and Title 
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which include, among 
other requirements, the obligation to grant reasonable accommodations 
that may be necessary for persons with disabilities.
    HOTMA requires PHAs to submit an annual report that specifies the 
number of families in public housing with incomes exceeding the over-
income limit and the number of families on the waiting lists for 
admission to public housing. Because the report data must reflect the 
numbers at the end of the calendar year, not at the end of a PHA's 
reporting year, and because not all

[[Page 48829]]

PHAs submit an annual plan, this report will be a separate report from 
other reporting requirements. However, HUD is developing a tool that 
will make it simple for PHAs to submit the relevant numbers and make 
those numbers public.

D. HOTMA Section 104

    Section 104 of HOTMA establishes a limitation on the amount and 
type of assets that a family assisted under the public housing or 
Section 8 programs can possess. To conform to HOTMA, this proposed rule 
would create a new section 24 CFR 5.618 to HUD regulations that would 
restrict assistance to families based on assets.
1. Assets Restriction
    The new Sec.  5.618 would provide that families would be ineligible 
for assistance under HUD's public housing or Section 8 programs if 
their net family assets exceed $100,000. HOTMA requires that this 
amount be adjusted annually for inflation and, as discussed earlier in 
this preamble HUD solicits comment on the inflationary index that 
should be used.
2. Real Property
    To conform to HOTMA, Sec.  5.618 would also provide that families 
could not receive assistance if they have a present ownership interest 
in, legal right to reside in, and the effective legal authority to sell 
real property in the jurisdiction in which the property is located that 
is suitable for occupancy by the family as a residence. Under this 
proposed rule, families would have to demonstrate that in the 
jurisdiction in which the property is located they do not have a 
present ownership interest in, legal right to reside in, or the legal 
authority to sell the real property for the property to be excluded 
from net family assets. HUD proposes to exclude from the real property 
restriction any property that is jointly owned by a member of the 
family and another individual or individuals who would not reside with 
the family. HUD proposes this exclusion because an assisted family may 
not have the effective legal authority to sell such property in the 
jurisdiction in which the property is located, and depending on the 
nature of the property or type of joint ownership, may not be able to 
live in the property.
    Specific solicitation of comment 14: HUD is soliciting comment 
about the circumstances under which a family may not have a present 
ownership interest in, legal right to reside in, or effective legal 
authority to sell real property in the jurisdiction in which the 
property is located, and the feasibility of families demonstrating 
this.
    While HOTMA does not define what it means for a property to be 
suitable for occupancy, this proposed rule would provide that a 
property is suitable for occupancy unless that family can demonstrate 
that the property: (i) Does not meet the disability-related needs of 
the family, including meeting physical accessibility requirements; (ii) 
is not sufficient for the size of the family, for example, there are 
not enough bedrooms; (iii) that it is geographically located so as to 
provide a hardship for the family; and (iv) that it is not safe to 
reside in because of its physical condition.
    HOTMA provides certain exclusions to the real property restriction. 
Particularly, this restriction would not apply to the following: (i) A 
manufactured home for which the family is receiving Section 8 tenant-
based assistance; (ii) property for which a family receives 
homeownership assistance from a PHA; (iii) any person who is a victim 
of domestic violence; or (iv) to any family that is offering the 
property for sale. Under this proposed rule, in order to demonstrate 
that a family is offering property for sale, a PHA or owner could 
require that the family provide evidence that the property has been 
listed for sale. This proposed rule would add that the restriction in 
this section also does not apply to victims of dating violence, sexual 
assault, or stalking, and that the terms ``domestic violence,'' 
``dating violence,'' ``sexual assault,'' and ``stalking'' are defined 
in HUD's regulations implementing the Violence Against Women Act 
(VAWA).
    Specific solicitation of comment 15: HUD is soliciting feedback 
from the public on how the exemption for victims of domestic violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking will be implemented and 
how it will operate.
    To provide context for the references to real property in Sec.  
5.618, this proposed rule would provide a new definition in 24 CFR 
5.100 for ``real property,'' specifying that ``real property'' has the 
same meaning as that provided under the state law in which the real 
property is located.
3. Self-Certification of Assets
    In accordance with HOTMA, Sec.  5.618 would also provide that the 
PHA or owner could determine the net assets of a family based on a 
certification by the family that their net family assets do not exceed 
$50,000 after annual adjustment for inflation. This proposed rule would 
also revise Sec.  5.659 of the current regulations to reflect the 
requirement that families can self-certify. Similarly, Sec.  5.618 
would provide that the PHA or owner could determine that a family does 
not have any present ownership interest in any real property based on a 
certification by the family to that effect.
4. Discretion on Enforcing the Asset Limitation
    This proposed rule would conform to HOTMA by providing that PHAs 
and owners have the discretion to choose not to enforce the limitation 
on eligibility based on assets, or may establish exceptions to the 
restrictions based on eligibility criteria, if the PHA or owner does so 
in the PHA plan or under a policy adopted by the owner.
    In HOTMA and these regulations, eligibility criteria for 
establishing exceptions may provide for separate treatment based on 
family type and may be based on different factors, such as age, 
disability, income, the ability of the family to find suitable 
alternative housing, and whether supportive services are being 
provided. This proposed rule clarifies that these policies cannot 
violate fair housing statutes or regulations. This means that these 
policies cannot be implemented in a manner that discriminates against 
any protected classes.
    HOTMA provides that PHAs and owners who choose to enforce the asset 
limitations may delay for a period of not more than 6 months the 
eviction or termination of a family that does not meet the limitation 
on assets. This proposed rule would clarify that it is the start of the 
eviction or termination proceedings that could not be delayed for more 
than 6 months.
5. Net Family Assets
    This proposed rule would revise the definition of ``net family 
assets'' found in 24 CFR 5.603 to align it with the provisions in 
section 104 of HOTMA. The new regulatory definition would provide that 
the following will not be considered to be part of net family assets: 
(i) Equity in a manufactured home where the family receives Section 8 
tenant-based assistance; (ii) equity in property for which a family 
receives HCV homeownership assistance from a PHA; (iii) Family Self-
Sufficiency Accounts; (iv) the value of any accounts specifically 
dedicated for retirement; (v) real property for which the family does 
not have the effective legal authority necessary to sell such property; 
(vi) amounts recovered in any civil action or settlement based on a 
claim of malpractice, negligence, or other breach of duty that resulted 
in a member of the family being disabled; and (vii) the

[[Page 48830]]

value of any Coverdell education savings account or any qualified 
tuition program under section 529 of the IRC. HUD proposes to exclude 
from the definition of net family assets the value of any ABLE account 
created under section 529A of the IRC. Per section 104 of HOTMA, with 
respect to non-revocable trusts, the value of the trust would not be 
considered an asset to the family as long as the fund continues to be 
held in trust. Any income distribution from any trust would be 
considered income, except in the case of distributions from non-
revocable trusts, made to cover the medical expenses for a minor. 
Additionally, this proposed rule would continue some of the current 
exclusions from net family assets, including interest in Indian trust 
land.
    HOTMA provides that the term ``net family assets'' does not include 
the value of personal property, except for items of personal property 
of significant value, as the Secretary may establish. Therefore, this 
proposed rule would revise the existing exclusion in HUD's regulations 
for the value of necessary items of personal property, to provide that 
the exclusion would apply to items of personal property with a total 
value under $50,000, other than necessary items. HUD proposes to 
consider items valued over $50,000 to be those of ``significant 
value,'' given HOTMA's provision that families may certify that their 
net assets do not exceed $50,000.
    Specific solicitation of comment 16: HUD specifically seeks comment 
on the proposal to exclude items of personal property valued $50,000 or 
less, other than necessary items, from the calculation of net family 
assets, and comments on what such necessary items of personal property 
might be. Examples might include a car that the family relies on for 
transportation, or medical equipment.
    This proposed rule would make additional changes to the definition 
of net family assets for clarity. It would eliminate the current 
exclusion from net family assets for equity accounts in HUD 
homeownership programs, as this terminology is vague and unclear. As 
mentioned above, the new definition for net family assets would exclude 
equity in a manufactured home where the family receives Section 8 
tenant-based assistance and equity in property for which a family 
receives homeownership assistance from a PHA.
6. Authorization for Financial Disclosures
    Section 104 of HOTMA that states that HUD must require PHAs to 
require all applicants and recipients under the 1937 Act to authorize 
the PHA to obtain financial information needed in connection with a 
determination with respect to eligibility. Currently, 24 CFR 5.230 
requires HUD assistance applicants and participants to sign a consent 
form that authorizes PHAs and owners to obtain information from certain 
sources in order to verify income. Further, 24 CFR 5.232 outlines that 
a refusal to sign the consent form would lead to termination. Following 
HOTMA's mandate, this proposed rule would amend Sec.  5.230 to include 
a provision authorizing PHAs to obtain any financial record from any 
financial institution, as the terms financial record and financial 
institution are defined in the Right to Financial Privacy Act (42 
U.S.C. 1304), whenever the PHA determines the record is needed in 
connection with a determination of an assistance applicant's or 
participant's eligibility or level of benefits. Additionally, this 
section currently states the consent form must contain a statement that 
the authorization to release the information requested by the consent 
form expires 15 months after the date the consent form is signed. HOTMA 
section 104 requires that the authorization allowing PHAs to obtain 
financial records from financial institutions shall remain effective 
until the earliest of: The rendering of a final adverse decision for an 
assistance applicant; the cessation of a participant's eligibility for 
assistance from HUD and the PHA; or the express revocation by the 
assistance applicant or recipient (or applicable family member) of the 
authorization, in a written notification to HUD. In an effort to 
streamline program administration, this proposed rule would revise the 
section to align the current authorization consent timeline to the 
HOTMA timeline, thereby reducing annual burden on PHAs.
    HOTMA provides PHAs with the discretion to determine whether 
applicants or recipients are ineligible for benefits if they, or their 
family members, refuse to provide or revoke the authorization to obtain 
financial records. Therefore, this proposed rule would also revise 24 
CFR 5.232, which describes the penalties for failing to sign the 
consent form required in Sec.  5.230, to clarify that the penalties in 
Sec.  5.232 will not apply if applicants or participants or their 
family members revoke their consent for the PHA to access financial 
records, unless the PHA has established a policy in their annual plan 
that revocation of consent to access financial records will result in 
denial or termination of assistance or admission.

E. CPD Program Changes

    As discussed earlier in this preamble, this proposed rule would 
make changes to regulations for HUD's HOME, HTF, and HOPWA programs in 
order to better align regulations pertaining to income and assets among 
different HUD programs. The HOME and HTF programs are federal block 
grant programs that provide annual grants to States and local 
governments to create decent, safe and affordable housing for low-
income, very low-income, and extremely low-income families, including 
homeless individuals. In fiscal year 2018, HUD allocated over $1.6 
billion to the States and localities nationwide to fund a wide range of 
activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable 
housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance 
to low-income people. The HOME and HTF programs often operate in 
conjunction with other federal, state or local housing programs and 
leverage community and private equity in support of affordable housing. 
To make housing affordable, HOME and HTF funds are frequently combined 
with other HUD federal programs such as Project-Based Section 8 Rental 
Assistance and used as gap financing in rental housing developed with 
Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Many of these programs require 
the use of the Part 5 definition of annual income and adjusted income 
for the purpose of determining income eligibility and/or tenant 
payments.
1. HOPWA
    Section 859 of the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12908) 
requires that HOPWA rental assistance ``be provided to the extent 
practicable in the manner'' of the Section 8 program. Therefore, HUD is 
proposing to incorporate into the HOPWA regulations in 24 CFR part 574 
the procedures on income examinations and net family assets proposed 
for the public housing, HCV, and Section 8 project-based rental 
assistance programs in this rule.
    To determine the resident payment, as in the Section 8 program, 
annual reexaminations of family income will be the standard under the 
proposed rule. However, if a family has income from fixed-income 
sources, grantees will be able to apply a COLA to those sources of 
income and will only perform a full reexamination of income every three 
years. If a family has at least 90 percent of their income from fixed-
income sources, the grantees will be able to apply a COLA to the entire 
income amount, provided the family certifies

[[Page 48831]]

that their income is at least 90 percent fixed-income, and the grantee 
will only have to conduct a full reexamination of family income every 
three years.
    In between full reexaminations, this proposed rule would provide 
that families receiving HOPWA assistance may request an interim 
reexamination of family income at any time, but grantees are only 
required to conduct the reexamination if the family's adjusted income, 
as defined in the revised 24 CFR 5.611, changes by an amount that the 
grantee estimates will result in a change of at least 10 percent in 
annual adjusted income. HUD anticipates that this will decrease the 
number of reexaminations that HOPWA grantees conduct.
    The proposed rule further amends the HOPWA regulations to cross 
reference Sec.  5.611 more generally and eliminate the reference to the 
earned income disregard. These changes, which impact calculation of the 
resident rent payment under HOPWA, similarly impact HUD's Section 8 
programs because of HOTMA.
    Additionally, this proposed rule would revise part 574 to apply the 
part 5 definition of net family assets to HOTMA that applies to the 
Section 8 program, except the value of a home of a participant 
receiving short-term mortgage or utility assistance under Sec.  
574.300(b)(6) or other homeownership assistance eligible under the 
HOPWA program would be excluded from the definition. This proposed rule 
would also revise part 574 to incorporate HOTMA's provisions for 
restrictions on assistance to families with certain assets to the HOPWA 
program, but would specify that the requirements in 24 CFR 5.618 do not 
apply to short-term mortgage and utility assistance and other 
homeownership assistance eligible under the HOPWA program, or to 
housing information services or supportive services funded under HOPWA.
2. HOME
    The proposed rule at 24 CFR 92.203(b) would incorporate HUD's 
proposed revisions to the definition of income at 24 CFR 5.609(a) and 
(b), which is the definition of income established by HOTMA, as well as 
revisions to the definition of Net Family Assets at 24 CFR 5.603 used 
to determine the imputed income on assets over $50,000 based on the 
current passbook saving rate. In determining annual income, a 
participating jurisdiction would continue to exclude income and asset 
enhancements derived from HOME assistance pursuant to 24 CFR 
92.203(d)(1) (e.g., the rental income generated from HOME assistance 
provided to a multi-unit housing project where the owner occupies one 
of the units and rents out the other units acquired through the HOME 
assistance), and the value of a homeowner's principal residence 
pursuant to 24 CFR 92.203(b)(1) from the calculation of Net Family 
Assets, as defined in 24 CFR 5.603.
    This proposed rule would revise 24 CFR 92.203(c) to move the first 
sentence into a new standalone paragraph (e) and incorporate the second 
and third sentences into paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(2). The new 
paragraph (e) would incorporate the revisions to the definition of 
adjusted income at 24 CFR 5.611(a)-(c). It would require participating 
jurisdictions, when determining a family's adjusted income for the 
purpose of determining the appropriate amount of rent applicable to a 
tenant in HOME units receiving Federal or State project-based subsidy, 
the to apply the mandatory deductions from income established at 24 CFR 
5.611(a). For units with tenant-based rental assistance, Sec.  
92.203(e)(2) would permit a participating jurisdiction to apply the 
deductions at Sec.  5.611(a) and grant financial hardship exemptions 
according to the requirements of Sec.  5.611(c).
    Finally, where a family applying for or living in a HOME-assisted 
unit receives assistance from the HCV program or where a PHA is the 
owner in the PBRA program, HUD proposes to add Sec.  92.203(e)(3) to 
require the use of the deductions in Sec.  5.611(a) and (b) to 
calculate a family's adjusted income. In such cases, HUD would allow a 
participating jurisdiction to accept a PHA's determination to grant a 
hardship exemption under Sec.  5.611(c).
    Specific solicitation of comment 17: HUD is seeking feedback from 
interested parties on whether HUD should adopt all revisions made to 
adjusted income (mandatory deductions, additional deduction and 
hardship exemptions, as applicable) when combining HOME and other 
federal programs such as Section 8 in a rental project.
    Specific solicitation of comment 18: HUD is seeking feedback from 
interested parties on whether HUD should adopt financial hardship 
exemptions for families receiving HOME-funded tenant-based rental 
assistance.
    For purposes of calculating tenant income in the HOME program, HUD 
is not proposing to adopt the new section 5.609(c) for determining 
income at initial occupancy or interim reexaminations and the timing 
requirements of those determinations. The HOME regulations permit 
participating jurisdictions to choose, on a program (e.g., 
homeownership) basis and on a rental project by project basis, one of 
two definitions of annual income: (1) Annual income as defined at 24 
CFR 5.609; or (2) the Internal Revenue Service definition of ``adjusted 
gross income.'' For families who are tenants in HOME-assisted housing 
and not receiving tenant-based rental assistance, the HOME program 
requires a participating jurisdiction to examine at least 2 months of 
source documents evidencing annual income at initial occupancy. For 
subsequent income determinations during the HOME compliance period, the 
existing HOME regulations permit a participating jurisdiction to use 
one of three methods to determine annual income. Adopting 24 CFR 
5.609(c) for the HOME program would impose different methods for 
calculating and verifying income that are more stringent than those 
currently required by the HOME regulations. HUD believes the methods 
described at 24 CFR 92.203(a)(1) provide a participating jurisdiction 
more flexibility in administering and managing its HOME-assisted rental 
housing portfolio.
    Specific solicitation of comment 19: In light of revisions made to 
24 CFR 5.609(c)(3) to allow PHAs to accept a timely income 
determination of a family from another agency's means-tested Federal 
public assistance, HUD is seeking feedback from interested parties on 
whether 24 CFR 92.203(a)(1)(iii) should specify what HUD considers 
timely for purposes of accepting an income determination of a family 
made by an administrator of a government program under which the family 
receives benefits.
    There is no independent statutory basis in the HOME program for 
applying the EID in 24 CFR 5.617 to persons with disabilities who are 
tenants in HOME-assisted rental housing or who are receiving tenant-
based rental assistance. HUD applied 24 CFR 5.617 to HOME through 24 
CFR 92.203(d)(3) to be consistent with other programs governed by the 
1937 Act. With the revision to the 1937 Act removing the authority for 
disallowance of earned income and the sunset of the corresponding 
regulatory provision in 24 CFR 5.617(e), the HOME regulation at 24 CFR 
92.203(d)(3) would be revised so that the applicability to HOME will 
also sunset.
    The HOME statute does not establish a limitation on the amount of 
and type of assets that a family assisted with HOME funds can have. HUD 
is not proposing to adopt the new asset restriction for the HOME 
program.
    Specific solicitation of comment 20: HUD is seeking feedback from 
interested

[[Page 48832]]

parties on whether HUD should adopt asset restrictions for any housing 
programs funded with HOME (e.g., homebuyer, rental, tenant-based rental 
assistance and owner-occupied rehabilitation), as well as when housing 
programs funded with HOME are combined with other federal programs such 
as Section 8.
3. HTF
    The proposed rule at 24 CFR 93.151(b) incorporates HUD's proposed 
revisions to the definition of annual income at 24 CFR 5.609(a) and 
(b), which is the definition of income provided by HOTMA, as well as 
the revisions to the definition of Net Family Assets at 24 CFR 5.603 
that are used to determine the imputed income on assets over $50,000 
based on the current passbook saving rate.
    For purposes of calculating tenant income in the HTF program, HUD 
is not proposing to adopt the new section 5.609(c) for determining 
income at initial occupancy or interim reexaminations and the timing 
requirements for those determinations. For families who are tenants in 
HTF-assisted housing, the HTF program requires a grantee to examine at 
least 2 months of source documents evidencing annual income at initial 
occupancy. For subsequent income determinations during the HTF 
compliance period, a grantee may use one of three methods to determine 
annual income. Adopting 24 CFR 5.609(c) for the HTF program would 
impose methods for calculating and verifying income that are more 
stringent than those currently required by the HTF regulations without 
providing additional benefit to the program. As HTF does not provide an 
ongoing subsidy to grantees, HUD believes the methods described at 24 
CFR 93.151(d) provide a grantee more flexibility in administering and 
managing its HTF-assisted rental housing portfolio.
    Specific solicitation of comment 21: In light of revisions made to 
24 CFR 5.609(c)(3) to allow PHAs to accept a timely income 
determination of a family from another agency's means-tested Federal 
public assistance, HUD is seeking feedback from interested parties on 
whether 24 CFR 93.151(d) should specify what HUD considers timely for 
purposes of accepting an income determination of a family made by an 
administrator of a government program under which the family receives 
benefits.
    This proposed rule would revise 24 CFR 93.151(b) to clarify that 
annual income includes income from all persons in the household 
regardless of which definition of annual income the grantee applies to 
its HTF-assisted program(s) or project(s). Furthermore, this proposed 
rule would revise 24 CFR 93.151 to add a new paragraph (e) to 
incorporate revisions to adjusted income in Sec.  5.611 and requires 
grantees to apply the deductions in Sec.  5.611(a) to determine the 
tenant's adjusted income. For public housing, the HCV program, and 
where the PHA is an owner in the PBRA program, paragraph (e)(2) 
requires the use of the deductions in Sec.  5.611(a) and (b) to 
determine the tenant's adjusted income and also permits a grantee to 
accept a PHA's decision to grant financial hardship exemptions under 
Sec.  5.611(c) to a family.
    The HTF statute did not establish a limitation on the amount of and 
type of assets that a family assisted with HTF funds may have. HUD is 
not proposing to adopt the new asset restriction for the HTF program.
    Specific solicitation of comment 22: HUD is seeking feedback from 
interested parties on whether HUD should adopt asset restrictions for 
any housing programs funded with HTF funds (e.g., homebuyer or rental 
housing), as well as when HTF funds are combined with other federal 
programs such as Section 8.

III. Findings and Certifications

Regulatory Review--Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
    Under Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), a 
determination must be made whether a regulatory action is significant 
and therefore, subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) in accordance with the requirements of the order. Executive Order 
13563 (Improving Regulations and Regulatory Review) directs executive 
agencies to analyze regulations that are ``outmoded, ineffective, 
insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and to modify, streamline, 
expand, or repeal them in accordance with what has been learned.''
    The rule would update HUD regulations for various programs to 
conform to sections 102, 103, and 104 of HOTMA by listing specific 
criteria for triggering family income reviews, providing methods for 
calculating family income, revising the definition of income and 
adjusted income, setting a limit on the amount and type of assets that 
assisted families may have, revising the definition of net family 
assets, and requiring that applicants for and recipients of assistance 
provide authorization to PHAs to obtain financial records. This 
proposed rule was determined to be a significant regulatory action 
under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 (although not an 
economically significant regulatory action under the order). HUD has 
prepared an initial Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) that addresses the 
costs and benefits of the proposed rule. HUD's RIA is part of the 
docket file for this rule.
    The docket file is available for public inspection in the 
Regulations Division, Office of the General Counsel, Room 10276, 451 
7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410-0500. Due to security measures at 
the HUD Headquarters building, please schedule an appointment to review 
the docket file by calling the Regulations Division at 202-402-3055 
(this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing 
impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Relay 
Service at toll-free 800-877-8339.
Executive Order 13771
    Executive Order 13771, entitled ``Reducing Regulation and 
Controlling Regulatory Costs,'' was issued on January 30, 2017. This 
proposed rule is expected to be an E.O. 13771 deregulatory action. HUD 
estimates that this rule would have annual net cost savings in the 
first year of about $2 million and after the first year, of about $23 
million to $27 million, accruing to Public Housing Agencies, HOPWA 
grantees, and Project-Based Rental Assistance owners. Around 20,000 to 
30,000 units may transfer from currently assisted households to 
households on the waitlist or new applicants. Further details on the 
estimated cost savings of this proposed rule can be found in the rule's 
RIA.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), 
generally requires an agency to conduct a regulatory flexibility 
analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking 
requirements unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    This proposed rule revises HUD regulations in certain ways that 
will reduce burden or provide flexibility for PHAs and owners and other 
housing providers. The proposed rule provides specific events that 
trigger an interim reexamination of family income, whereas current 
regulations provide that families may request reexaminations at any 
time. The proposed rule provides methods for calculating family income, 
but also provides a safe harbor for PHAs and owners who determine a 
family's income based on other means-tested

[[Page 48833]]

Federal public assistance programs. Additionally, this proposed rule 
provides for a limitation on assets, but provides that PHAs and owners 
may choose not to enforce this provision. This proposed rule also 
provides that applicants and recipients of assistance must provide 
authorization for PHAs to obtain financial records in order to verify 
family income.
    For the reasons presented, the undersigned certifies that this rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
Executive Order 13132, Federalism
    Executive Order 13132 (entitled ``Federalism'') prohibits an agency 
from publishing any rule that has Federalism implications if the rule 
either imposes substantial direct compliance costs on state and local 
governments and is not required by statute, or the rule preempts state 
law, unless the agency meets the consultation and funding requirements 
of section 6 of the Executive Order. This rule would not have 
Federalism implications and would not impose substantial direct 
compliance costs on state and local governments or preempt state law 
within the meaning of the Executive Order.
Environmental Impact
    The proposed rule relates to establishment and review of income 
limits and exclusions with regard to eligibility for or calculation of 
HUD housing assistance or rental assistance and related external 
administrative or fiscal requirements and procedures that do not 
constitute a development decision that affects the physical condition 
of specific project areas or building sites. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 
50.19(c)(6), this proposed rule is categorically excluded from 
environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321).
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-
4; approved March 22, 1995) (UMRA) establishes requirements for Federal 
agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions on state, 
local, and tribal governments, and on the private sector. This rule 
does not impose any Federal mandates on any state, local, or tribal 
government, or on the private sector, within the meaning of the UMRA.
Paperwork Reduction Act
    The information collection requirements contained in this proposed 
rule have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) and 
assigned OMB control numbers 2502-0204, 2506-0133, and 2577-0083. HUD 
expects to make changes to these existing recordkeeping items 
consistent with the changes in this proposed rule and believes that the 
changes will result in a decrease of burden of $8,337,744 and 345,495 
hours.
    HUD would change the HOPWA PRA OMB No. 2506-0133 to reduce the 
recordkeeping burden hours from 60 hours to 50 hours per grantee to 
reflect the change to a triennial recertification and the reduction in 
the frequency of granting interim reexaminations. See Sec.  574.310(e).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Information collection                                                    Annual burden                                    Annual cost
-----------------------------------------    Number of     Annual number --------------------------------   Hourly cost  -------------------------------
            OMB No. 2502-0133                responses                        Current           New                           Current           New
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recordkeeping for Competitive, Renewal,              227               1           60.00           50.00          $23.85        $324,837        $270,698
 and Formula Grantees...................
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................  ..............  ..............         Savings           2,270  ..............         Savings          54,139
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HUD would change the Section 8 project-based PRA OMB No-2502-0204 
to reflect the regulatory change that a new consent to release of 
information would only apply at the time of initial tenancy, estimated 
at an approximate 80 percent reduction based on anticipated number of 
new participants, and reduce the number of certification compliances 
conducted by project owners to represent the decrease in interim 
reexaminations, estimated at 5 percent of recertifications. See 
Sec. Sec.  5.230 and 5.657.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Information collection           Number of responses                                    Annual burden                           Annual cost
--------------------------------------------------------------    Annual     Hours per  -------------------------- Hourly cost -------------------------
         OMB No. 2502-0204             Current        New         number      response     Current        New                     Current        New
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certification Compliance...........    1,597,764    1,517,876            1        .6333    1,011,864      961,271       $25.00  $25,296,600  $24,031,771
Consent for Release................    1,597,764      302,022            1        .1667      266,347       50,347        25.00    6,658,675    1,258,675
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..........................  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........      Savings      266,593  ...........      Savings    6,664,829
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HUD would also change the Public Housing and HCV programs PRA OMB 
No. 2577-0083. HUD provides for a new burden in the Public Housing 
context for providing notices to over-income tenants and reporting the 
number of families on the waiting list annually, and the change 
includes a reduction in burden for Public Housing and HCV to reflect 
the decrease in interim reexaminations, estimated at 5 percent of 
recertifications. HUD would also change the Public Housing and HCV 
programs PRA OMB No. 2501-0014 to reflect the regulatory change that a 
new consent to release information would only apply at the time of 
initial tenancy, estimated at an approximate 88 percent reduction based 
on anticipated number of new participants. See Sec. Sec.  5.230, 
960.257, 960.507 and 982.516.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Information collection           Number of responses                                    Annual burden                           Annual cost
--------------------------------------------------------------    Annual     Hours per  -------------------------- Hourly cost -------------------------
              OMB No.                  Current        New         number      response     Current        New                     Current        New
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recertification (OMB No. 2577-0083)    2,398,462    2,278,539            1         .333      798,688      758,753       $17.50  $13,977,040  $13,278,178
Over-Income Tenant Notification....  ...........        2,000            1        .1667  ...........          333        17.50  ...........        5,828

[[Page 48834]]

 
Public Housing Waiting List Data...  ...........        2,929            1            4  ...........       11,716        17.50  ...........      205,030
Consent for Release (OMB No, 2501-           \2\      421,693            1        .1667      627,738       70,296        30.00   18,832,140    2,108,880
 0014).............................    3,765,676
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..........................  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........      Savings      585,328  ...........      Savings   17,225,264
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HUD believes that there are no PRA burden reductions for HOME and 
the HTF programs. Also, HUD finds that while changes to Sec.  5.609, 
Annual Income, and Sec.  5.611, Adjusted Income, will result in tenants 
providing different information, the net burden will not change. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not 
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a 
collection of information, unless the collection displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ This number is based on the PIH Information Center (PIC) 
database and the Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System 
(TRACS) database.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), HUD is soliciting comments 
from members of the public and affected agencies concerning the 
information collection requirements in the proposed rule regarding:
    (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) Whether the proposed collection of information enhances the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
    (4) Whether the proposed information collection minimizes 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).
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding the 
information collection requirements in this rule. Under the provisions 
of 5 CFR part 1320, OMB is required to make a decision concerning this 
collection of information between 30 and 60 days after the publication 
date. Therefore, a comment on the information collection requirements 
is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives the comment 
within 30 days of the publication. This time frame does not affect the 
deadline for comments to the agency on the proposed rule, however. 
Comments must refer to the proposed rule by name and docket number (FR-
6057) and must be sent to:

HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 20503, Fax number: 202-395-6947

and

Colette Pollard, HUD Reports Liaison Officer, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 2204, Washington, DC 20410

    Interested persons may submit comments regarding the information 
collection requirements electronically through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly encourages 
commenters to submit comments electronically. Electronic submission of 
comments allows the commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a 
comment, ensures timely receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to make them 
immediately available to the public. Comments submitted electronically 
through the http://www.regulations.gov website can be viewed by other 
commenters and interested members of the public. Commenters should 
follow the instructions provided on that site to submit comments 
electronically.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers applicable to 
the programs that would be affected by this rule are: 14.195, 14.239, 
14.241, 14.275, 14.850, 14.856, and 14.871.

List of Subjects

24 CFR Part 5

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aged, Claims, Crime, 
Government contracts, Grant programs-housing and community development, 
Individuals with disabilities, Intergovernmental relations, Loan 
programs-housing and community development, Low and moderate income 
housing, Mortgage insurance, Penalties, Pets, Public housing, Rent 
subsidies, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Social security, 
Unemployment compensation, Wages.

24 CFR Part 92

    Administrative practice and procedure, Grant programs--housing and 
community development, Low and moderate income housing, Manufactured 
homes, Rent subsidies, and Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

24 CFR Part 93

    Administrative practice and procedure, Grant programshousing and 
community development, Low- and moderate-income housing, Manufactured 
homes, Rent subsidies, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

24 CFR Part 574

    Community facilities, Grant programs-housing and community 
development, Grant programs--social programs, HIV/AIDS, Low and 
moderate income housing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

24 CFR Part 960

    Aged, Grant programs--housing and community development, 
Individuals with disabilities, Pets, Public housing.

24 CFR Part 982

    Grant programs--housing and community development, Grant programs--
Indians, Indians, Public housing, Rent subsidies, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, for the reasons described in the preamble, HUD 
proposes to amend 24 CFR parts 5, 92, 93, 574, 960, 966, and 982 as 
follows:

PART 5--GENERAL HUD PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; WAIVERS

0
1. The authority for part 5 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1701x; 42 U.S.C. 1437a, 1437c, 1437d, 
1437f, 1437n, 3535(d); Sec. 327, Pub. L. 109-115, 119 Stat. 2936; 
Sec. 607, Pub. L. 109-162, 119 Stat. 3051 (42 U.S.C. 14043e et 
seq.); E.O. 13279, 67 FR 77141, 3 CFR, 2002 Comp., p. 258; and E.O. 
13559, 75 FR 71319, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp., p. 273.

0
2. In Sec.  5.100, add in alphabetical order the definitions for 
``earned income'' and ``real property'' to read as follows:

[[Page 48835]]

Sec.  5.100  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Earned income means income or earnings included in annual income 
from wages, tips, salaries, other employee compensation, and self-
employment. Earned income does not include any pension or annuity, 
transfer payments, or any cash or in-kind benefits.
* * * * *
    Real property as used in this part, has the same meaning as that 
provided under the state law in which the real property is located.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  5.210, revise the second sentence in paragraph (a) and the 
first sentence in paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  5.210  Purpose, applicability, and Federal preemption.

    (a) * * * This subpart B also enables HUD and PHAs to obtain income 
information about applicants and participants in the covered programs 
through computer matches with State Wage Information Collection 
Agencies (SWICAs) and Federal agencies, and from financial institutions 
and employers, in order to verify an applicant's or participant's 
eligibility for or level of assistance. * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) The information covered by consent forms described in this 
subpart involves income information from SWICAs and wages, income and 
resource information from financial institutions, net earnings from 
self-employment, payments of retirement income, and unearned income as 
referenced at 26 U.S.C. 6103. * * *
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  5.230, revise paragraph (c)(4), and add paragraph (c)(5) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  5.230  Consent by assistance applicants and participants.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) A provision authorizing PHAs to obtain any financial record 
from any financial institution, as the terms financial record and 
financial institution are defined in the Right to Financial Privacy Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1304), whenever the PHA determines the record is needed to 
determine an applicant's or participant's eligibility for assistance or 
level of benefits; and
    (5) A statement that the authorization to release the information 
requested by the consent form shall remain effective until the earliest 
of:
    (i) The rendering of a final adverse decision for an assistance 
applicant;
    (ii) The cessation of a participant's eligibility for assistance 
from HUD and the PHA; or
    (iii) The express revocation by the assistance applicant or 
recipient (or applicable family member) of the authorization, in a 
written notification to HUD.
0
5. In Sec.  5.232, add paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  5.232  Penalties for failing to sign consent form.

* * * * *
    (c) This section does not apply if the applicant or participant, or 
any member of the assistance applicant's or participant's family 
revokes his/her consent with respect to the ability of the PHA to 
access financial records from financial institutions, unless the PHA 
establishes a policy in the PHA's Annual Plan that revocation of 
consent to access financial records will result in denial or 
termination of assistance or admission.
0
6. In Sec.  5.601:
0
a. Amend paragraph (d) by removing the phrases ``HOME Investment 
Partnerships Program (24 CFR part 92);'' and ``Housing Opportunities 
for Persons with AIDS (24 CFR part 574); Shelter Plus Care Program (24 
CFR part 582); Supportive Housing Program (McKinney Act Homeless 
Assistance (24 CFR part 583);'', and
0
b. Revise paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  5.601  Purpose and applicability.

* * * * *
    (e) Limitations on eligibility for assistance based on assets, as 
provided in Sec.  5.618, in the Section 8 (tenant-based and project-
based) and public housing programs.
0
7. In Sec.  5.603, add in alphabetical order definitions for 
``Distribution from a trust'', ``Foster adults'', and ``Minor'', and 
revise the definitions for ``net family assets'' and ``responsible 
entity'' to read as follows:


Sec.  5.603  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    Distribution from a trust. Any cash payout to the beneficiary or 
any payment to a third-party on behalf of the beneficiary.
* * * * *
    Foster adults. Persons with disabilities, not related to the 
family, who are unable to live alone.
* * * * *
    Minor. A member of the family, other than the head of family or 
spouse, who is less than 18 years of age.
* * * * *
    Net family assets. (1) Net cash value of all assets owned by the 
family, after deducting reasonable costs that would be incurred in 
disposing real property, savings, stocks, bonds, and other forms of 
investment.
    (2) In determining net family assets, PHAs or owners, as 
applicable, shall include the value of any business or family assets 
disposed of by an applicant or tenant for less than fair market value 
(including a disposition in trust, but not in a foreclosure or 
bankruptcy sale) during the two years preceding the date of application 
for the program or reexamination, as applicable, in excess of the 
consideration received therefor. In the case of a disposition as part 
of a separation or divorce settlement, the disposition will not be 
considered to be for less than fair market value if the applicant or 
tenant receives important consideration not measurable in dollar terms.
    (3) Excluded from the calculation of net family assets are:
    (i) Interests in Indian trust land;
    (ii) Equity in a manufactured home where the family receives 
assistance under 24 CFR part 982;
    (iii) Equity in property under the Homeownership Option for which a 
family receives assistance under 24 CFR part 982.
    (iv) Family Self-Sufficiency Accounts;
    (v) Necessary items of personal property, and all items of personal 
property valued at $50,000 or less;
    (vi) The value of any account under a retirement plan recognized as 
such by the Internal Revenue Service, including individual retirement 
arrangements (IRAs), employer retirement plans, and retirement plans 
for self-employed individuals;
    (vii) Real property that the family does not have the effective 
legal authority to sell in the jurisdiction in which the property is 
located;
    (viii) Any amounts recovered in any civil action or settlement 
based on a claim of malpractice, negligence, or other breach of duty 
owed to a family member arising out of law, that resulted in a member 
of the family being disabled; and
    (ix) The value of any Coverdell education savings account under 
section 530 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the value of any 
qualified tuition program under section 529 of such Code, and the value 
of any ABLE account authorized under Section 529A of such code.
    (2) In cases where a trust fund has been established and the trust 
is not revocable by, or under the control of, any member of the family 
or household,

[[Page 48836]]

the value of the trust fund will not be considered in the calculation 
of net family assets, so long as the fund continues to be held in 
trust.
* * * * *
    Responsible entity. For Sec.  5.611, in addition to the definition 
of ``responsible entity'' in Sec.  5.100, ``responsible entity'' means:
    (1) For the Rent Supplement Payments Program, the owner of the 
multifamily project;
    (2) For the Rental Assistance Payments Program, the owner of the 
Section 236 project;
    (3) For the Section 202 Supportive Housing Program for the Elderly, 
the ``Owner'' as defined in 24 CFR 891.205;
    (4) For the Section 202 Direct Loans for Housing for the Elderly 
and Persons with Disabilities), the ``Borrower'' as defined in 24 CFR 
891.505; and
    (5) For the Section 811 Supportive Housing Program for Persons with 
Disabilities, the ``owner'' as defined in 24 CFR 891.305.
* * * * *
0
8. Revise Sec.  5.609 to read as follows:


Sec.  5.609  Annual income.

    (a) Annual income means, with respect to the family:
    (1) All amounts, not specifically excluded in paragraph (b) of this 
section, received from all sources by each member of the family who is 
18 years of age or older or is the head of household or spouse of the 
head of household, plus unearned income by or on behalf of each 
dependent who is less than 18 years of age, and
    (2) The imputed return on assets over $50,000 based on the current 
passbook savings rate, as determined by HUD, if the actual income on 
assets over $50,000 cannot be computed. The $50,000 figure in this 
paragraph shall be adjusted annually in accordance with a commonly 
recognized inflationary index, as determined by HUD.
    (b) Annual income does not include the following:
    (1) Any imputed return on assets of $50,000 or less, which figure 
shall be adjusted annually in accordance with a commonly recognized 
inflationary index, as determined by HUD;
    (2) Distribution from a non-revocable trust fund specifically 
provided to cover the cost of medical expenses for a minor;
    (3) Income from employment of children (including foster children) 
under the age of 18 years and foster adults;
    (4) Payments received for the care of foster children or foster 
adults, or state kinship or guardianship care payments;
    (5) Insurance payments and settlement for personal or property 
losses;
    (6) Amounts received by the family that are specifically for, or in 
reimbursement of, the cost of medical expenses for any family member;
    (7) Any amounts recovered in any civil action or settlement based 
on a claim of malpractice, negligence, or other breach of duty owed to 
a family member arising out of law, that resulted in a member of the 
family being disabled;
    (8) Income of a live-in aide, as defined in Sec.  5.403;
    (9) The full amount of student financial assistance paid directly 
to the student or to the educational institution on the student's 
behalf, except this does not apply for students applying for or 
receiving section 8 assistance pursuant to Sec.  5.612 who are not over 
the age of 23 with dependent children. Financial assistance is any 
grant-in-aid, scholarship or other assistance amounts an individual 
receives for the cost of tuition, books, room and board, and fees 
charged to the student by the education institution. For students 
applying for or receiving section 8 assistance who are not over the age 
of 23 with dependent children, the financial assistance in excess of 
the cost of tuition and any other required fees and charges under the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), from private 
sources, or an institution of higher education (as defined under the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002), shall be considered 
income;
    (10) Amounts from any Coverdell education savings account under 
section 530 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any qualified tuition 
program under section 529 of such Code, and any amounts from ABLE 
accounts under section 529A of such Code;
    (11) The special pay to a family member serving in the Armed Forces 
who is exposed to hostile fire;
    (12)(i) Amounts received by a person with a disability that are 
disregarded for a limited time for purposes of Supplemental Security 
Income eligibility and benefits because they are set aside for use 
under a Plan to Attain Self-Sufficiency (PASS);
    (ii) Amounts received by a participant in other publicly assisted 
programs which are specifically for or in reimbursement of out-of-
pocket expenses incurred (special equipment, clothing, transportation, 
child care, etc.) and which are made solely to allow participation in a 
specific program;
    (iii) Amounts received under a resident service stipend not to 
exceed $200 per month. A resident service stipend is a modest amount 
received by a resident for performing a service for the PHA or owner, 
on a part-time basis, that enhances the quality of life in the 
development;
    (iv) Incremental earnings and benefits resulting to any family 
member from participation in training programs funded by HUD or in 
qualifying State or local employment training programs (including 
training programs not affiliated with a local government) and training 
of a family member as resident management staff. Amounts excluded by 
this provision must be received under employment training programs with 
clearly defined goals and objectives, and are excluded only for the 
period during which the family member participates in the employment 
training program;
    (13) Reparation payments paid by a foreign government pursuant to 
claims filed under the laws of that government by persons who were 
persecuted during the Nazi era;
    (14) Earned income of dependent full-time students, except that the 
earned income up to the amount of the deduction for a dependent in 
Sec.  5.611 of each dependent student shall be considered income;
    (15) Adoption assistance payments in excess of $480 per adopted 
child, which amount will be adjusted annually in accordance with a 
commonly recognized inflationary index, as determined by HUD;
    (16) Deferred periodic amounts from supplemental security income 
and Social Security benefits that are received in a lump sum amount or 
in prospective monthly amounts or any deferred Department of Veterans 
Affairs disability benefits that are received in a lump sum amount or 
in prospective monthly amounts;
    (17) Payments related to aid and attendance under 38 U.S.C. 1521 to 
veterans in need of regular aid and attendance;
    (18) Amounts received by the family in the form of refunds or 
rebates under State or local law for property taxes paid on the 
dwelling unit;
    (19) Payments provided by a State Medicaid managed care system to a 
family to keep a member who has a disability living at home;
    (20) Loan proceeds (the net amount disbursed by a lender to a 
borrower, under the terms of a loan agreement) received by the family 
(e.g., proceeds received by the family to finance the purchase a car);
    (21) Payments received by Indian persons as a result of claims 
relating to the mismanagement of assets held in trust by the United 
States, to the extent

[[Page 48837]]

such payments are also excluded from gross income under the Internal 
Revenue Code;
    (22) Amounts that HUD is required by Federal statute to exclude 
from consideration as income for purposes of determining eligibility or 
benefits under a category of assistance programs that includes 
assistance under any program to which the exclusions set forth in 
paragraph (b) of this section apply. A notice will be published in the 
Federal Register and distributed to PHAs and housing owners identifying 
the benefits that qualify for this exclusion. Updates will be published 
and distributed when necessary; or
    (23) Replacement housing ``gap'' payments made in accordance with 
49 CFR part 24 to a displaced person that moves from a federally 
subsidized housing unit and occupies another federally subsidized 
housing unit when such payments offset the increased out of pocket cost 
to the displaced person for rent and utilities because of the 
displacement. Such replacement housing ``gap'' payments are not 
excluded from annual income, however, to the extent that the increased 
cost of rent and utilities is subsequently reduced or eliminated and 
the displaced person retains or continues to receive the replacement 
housing ``gap'' payments.
    (c) Calculation of Income. The PHA or owner shall calculate family 
income as follows:
    (1) Initial occupancy or assistance and interim reexaminations. The 
PHA or owner shall estimate the income of the family for the upcoming 
12-month period:
    (i) To determine family income for initial occupancy or for the 
initial provision of housing assistance; or
    (ii) To determine family income for an interim reexamination of 
family income under Sec.  5.657(c), 24 CFR 960.257(b), or 24 CFR 
982.516(c).
    (2) Annual Reviews. (i) The PHA or owner shall determine the income 
of the family for the previous 12-month period and use this figure as 
the family income for annual reviews, except where the PHA or owner 
uses a streamlined income determination under Sec.  5.657(d), 24 CFR 
960.257(c), or 24 CFR 982.516(b).
    (ii) In determining the income of the family for the previous 12-
month period, the PHA or owner shall take into consideration any 
redetermination of income during the previous 12-month period resulting 
from an interim reexamination of family income under Sec.  5.657(c), 24 
CFR 960.257(b), or 24 CFR 982.516(c).
    (iii) The PHA or owner must make adjustments to reflect current 
income if there was a change in income during the previous 12-month 
period that was not accounted for in a redetermination of income.
    (3) The PHA or owner may determine the family's income prior to the 
application of any deductions applied in accordance with Sec.  5.611 
based on timely income determinations made within the previous 12-month 
period for purposes of the following means-tested Federal public 
assistance:
    (i) The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant (42 
U.S.C. 601, et seq.).
    (ii) Medicaid assistance (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
    (iii) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (7 U.S.C. 2011 
et seq.).
    (iv) The Earned Income Tax Credit (26 U.S.C. 32).
    (v) Other forms of Federal public assistance determined by the 
Secretary to have comparable reliability and announced through Federal 
Register notice.
    (4) The PHA or owner will not be considered out of compliance with 
the requirements in this paragraph (c) solely due to de minimis errors 
in calculating family income. A de minimis error is an error where the 
PHA or owner determination of family income varies from the correct 
income determination by no more than 5 percent. The PHA or owner must 
still take any corrective action necessary to repay a family if the 
family has been overcharged for their rent as a result of the de 
minimis error in the income determination.
0
9. Revise Sec.  5.611 to read as follows:


Sec.  5.611  Adjusted income.

    Adjusted income means annual income (as determined under Sec.  
5.609) of the members of the family residing or intending to reside in 
the dwelling unit, after making the following deductions:
    (a) Mandatory deductions. (1) $480 for each dependent, which amount 
will be adjusted annually in accordance with a commonly recognized 
inflationary index, as determined by HUD, rounded to the next lowest 
multiple of $25;
    (2) $525 for any elderly family or disabled family, which amount 
will be adjusted annually in accordance with a commonly recognized 
inflationary index, as determined by HUD, rounded to the next lowest 
multiple of $25;
    (3) The sum of the following, to the extent the sum exceeds ten 
percent of annual income:
    (i) Unreimbursed medical expenses of any elderly family or disabled 
family; and
    (ii) Unreimbursed reasonable attendant care and auxiliary apparatus 
expenses for each member of the family who is a person with 
disabilities, to the extent necessary to enable any member of the 
family (including the member who is a person with disabilities) to be 
employed. This deduction may not exceed the earned income received by 
family members who are 18 years of age or older and who are able to 
work because of such attendant care or auxiliary apparatus; and
    (4) Any reasonable child care expenses necessary to enable a member 
of the family to be employed or to further his or her education.
    (b) Additional deductions. (1) For public housing, the Housing 
Choice Voucher (HCV) program, and where the PHA is the owner in the 
Section 8 project-based programs, a PHA may adopt additional deductions 
from annual income. A PHA that adopts such deductions will not be 
eligible for an increase in subsidy for the public housing program, 
renewal funding for the HCV program, or housing assistance payments 
under the Section 8 project-based programs to cover the cost of the 
additional deductions. The PHA must establish a written policy for such 
deductions. The PHA must report to HUD the increased subsidy cost 
resulting from the additional deduction.
    (2) For the HUD programs listed in Sec.  5.601(d), the responsible 
entity shall calculate such other deductions as required and permitted 
by the applicable program regulations.
    (c) Financial hardship exemption for unreimbursed medical expense 
and child care expense deductions. (1) Exemption for unreimbursed 
medical expense deduction. A family may request a financial hardship 
exemption due to the change in the unreimbursed medical expense 
deduction under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, under which the 
amount of unreimbursed expenses that are not deductible has been 
increased from 3 to 10 percent of annual income. The family must 
demonstrate to the responsible entity's satisfaction an inability to 
pay their rent as a result of this change. If the hardship exemption is 
approved, the responsible entity must recalculate the family's adjusted 
income, and under paragraph (a)(3) of this section deduct the sum of 
the eligible expenses that exceeds 6.5 percent of annual income instead 
of 10 percent of annual income. The hardship exemption and the 
resulting alternative calculation for the unreimbursed medical expenses 
deduction will end at the family's next regular examination or such 
time that the responsible entity determines the family can now pay the

[[Page 48838]]

rent without the hardship exemption, whichever comes first.
    (2) Exemption to continue child care expense deduction. A family 
may request a financial hardship exemption to continue the child care 
expense deduction under paragraph (a)(4) of this section. The 
responsible entity must recalculate the family's adjusted income and 
continue the child care deduction if the family demonstrates to the 
responsible entity's satisfaction that the family is unable to pay 
their rent because of loss of the child care expense deduction and the 
child care expense is still necessary even though the family member is 
no longer employed or furthering his or her education. The hardship 
exemption allowing the child care expense deduction to continue ends at 
the earliest of:
    (i) The family's next regular reexamination;
    (ii) Such time the responsible entity determines the need no longer 
exists for the childcare expense if no adult family member is employed 
or furthering their education no longer exists; or
    (iii) Such time the responsible entity determines that family is 
able to pay their rent without the hardship exemption.
    (3) Responsible entity determination of family's inability to pay 
the rent. The responsible entity must establish a policy on how it 
defines and determines the family's inability to pay the rent for 
purposes of determining eligibility for a hardship exemption under this 
paragraph (c).
    (4) Family notification. The responsible entity must notify the 
family in writing of the change in the determination of adjusted income 
and the family's rent resulting from the hardship exemption. The notice 
must also inform the family that the hardship exemption will expire at 
the family's next regular income reexamination or at such time the 
responsibility entity determines the exemption is no longer necessary 
in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section.
0
10. Amend Sec.  5.617 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  5.617  Self-sufficiency incentives for persons with 
disabilities--Disallowance of increase in annual income.

* * * * *
    (e) Effective [EFFECTIVE DATE OF FINAL RULE], this section will not 
apply to any family who is not eligible for and participating in the 
disallowance of earned income under this section on [EFFECTIVE DATE OF 
FINAL RULE].


Sec.  5.617  [Removed]

0
11. Remove Sec.  5.617.
0
12. Add Sec.  5.618 to subpart F to read as follows:


Sec.  5.618  Restriction on assistance to families based on assets.

    (a) Restrictions based on net assets and property ownership. (1) A 
dwelling unit may not be rented, and assistance may not be provided, 
either initially or upon reexamination of family income, to any family 
if:
    (i) The net family assets (as defined in Sec.  5.603) exceed 
$100,000, which amount will be adjusted annually in accordance with a 
commonly recognized inflationary index, as determined by HUD; or
    (ii) The family has a present ownership interest in, a legal right 
to reside in, and the effective legal authority to sell, in the 
jurisdiction in which the property is located, real property that is 
suitable for occupancy by the family as a residence, except this 
restriction does not apply to:
    (A) Any property for which the family is receiving assistance under 
24 CFR 982.620; or under the Homeownership Option in 24 CFR part 982;
    (B) Any property that is jointly owned by a member of the family 
and another individual or individuals who would not reside with the 
family;
    (C) Any person that is a victim of domestic violence, dating 
violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in this part 5 
(subpart L); or
    (D) Any family that is offering such property for sale.
    (2) A property will be considered ``suitable for occupancy'' under 
paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section unless the family demonstrates 
that it:
    (i) Does not meet the disability-related needs for all members of 
the family, including physical accessibility requirements;
    (ii) Is not sufficient for the size of the family;
    (iii) Is geographically located so as to provide a hardship for the 
family; or
    (iv) Is not safe to reside in because of the physical condition of 
the property.
    (b) Self-certification. (1) A PHA or owner may determine the net 
assets of a family based on a certification by the family that the net 
family assets (as defined in Sec.  5.603) do not exceed $50,000, which 
amount will be adjusted annually in accordance with a commonly 
recognized inflationary index, as determined by HUD, without taking 
additional steps to verify the accuracy of the declaration. The 
declaration must state the amount of income the family expects to 
receive from such assets; this amount must be included in the family's 
income.
    (2) A PHA or owner may determine compliance with paragraph 
(a)(1)(ii) of this section based on a certification by a family that 
certifies that such family does not have any present ownership interest 
in any real property at the time of the income determination or review.
    (c) Enforcement. (1) When recertifying the income of a family that 
is subject to the restrictions in paragraph (a) of this section, a PHA 
or owner may choose not to enforce such restrictions, or alternatively, 
may establish exceptions to the restrictions based on eligibility 
criteria.
    (2) The PHA or owner may only choose not to enforce the 
restrictions in paragraph (a) of this section or establish exceptions 
to such restrictions pursuant to a policy set forth in the public 
housing agency plan or under a policy adopted by the owner.
    (3) Eligibility criteria for establishing exceptions may provide 
for separate treatment based on family type and may be based on 
different factors, such as age, disability, income, the ability of the 
family to find suitable alternative housing, and whether supportive 
services are being provided. Such policies must be in conformance with 
all applicable fair housing statutes and regulations, as discussed in 
this part 5.
    (d) Eviction delays. The PHA or owner may delay for a period of not 
more than 6 months the initiation of eviction or termination 
proceedings of a family based on noncompliance under this provision.
    (e) Applicability. This section applies to the Section 8 (tenant-
based and project-based) and public housing programs.
0
13. In Sec.  5.657, revise paragraph (c) and add paragraph (e) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  5.657  Section 8 project-based assistance programs: Reexamination 
of family income and composition.

* * * * *
    (c) Interim reexaminations. (1) A family may request an interim 
reexamination of family income. The owner must make the interim 
reexamination within a reasonable time after the family request.
    (2) The owner may decline to process a family request for an 
interim reexamination if the owner estimates the family's adjusted 
income will decrease by an amount that is less than 10 percent of the 
family's annual adjusted income, or if the family's adjusted income 
will decrease by a lower threshold amount that is less than 10 percent, 
if such lower threshold has been established by the owner. If the owner 
determines the estimated decrease in family adjusted income is at least 
10 percent (or the lower alternative threshold established by the 
owner) the

[[Page 48839]]

owner must make the interim reexamination within a reasonable time 
after the family's request.
    (3) The owner must conduct a reexamination of family income within 
a reasonable time after the owner becomes aware that the family's 
adjusted income (as defined in Sec.  5.611) has changed by an amount 
that the owner estimates will result in an increase of 10 percent or 
more in annual adjusted income, except:
    (i) The owner may not consider any increase in the earned income of 
the family when estimating whether the family's adjusted income has 
increased, unless the family has previously received an interim 
reduction under paragraph (c)(2) of this section during the year;
    (ii) The owner may choose not to conduct an interim reexamination 
in the last three months of a certification period; and
    (iii) The owner will not be considered out of compliance with the 
requirements in this paragraph solely due to de minimis errors in 
calculating family income but is still obligated to correct errors once 
the PHA becomes aware of the errors. A de minimis error is an error 
where the owner determination of family income varies from the correct 
income determination by no more than 5 percent. The owner must still 
take any corrective action necessary to repay a family if the family 
has been overcharged for their rent as a result of the de minimis error 
in the income determination.
    (4) The owner must adopt policies consistent with this section 
prescribing when and under what conditions the family must report a 
change in family income or composition.
* * * * *
    (e) Reviews of family income under this section are subject to the 
provisions in Section 904 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless 
Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 3544) and any applicable 
privacy rules in subpart B of this part.
0
14. In Sec.  5.659, revise paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  5.659  Family information and verification.

* * * * *
    (e) Verification of assets. For a family with net family assets (as 
the term is defined in Sec.  5.603) equal to or less than $50,000, 
which amount will be adjusted annually in accordance with a commonly 
recognized inflationary index, as determined by HUD, an owner may 
accept, for purposes of recertification of income, a family's 
declaration under Sec.  5.618(b), except that the owner must obtain 
third-party verification of all family assets every 3 years.
* * * * *

PART 92--HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM

0
15. The authority citation for part 92 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 3535(d), 12 U.S.C. 1701x and 4568.

0
16. In Sec.  92.203, add subject headings to paragraphs (a) and (b), 
revise paragraphs (b)(1), and (c), add a heading to paragraph (d), 
revise paragraph (d)(1), and add paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  92.203  Income determinations.

    (a) Methods of determining income. * * *
    (b) Defining income for eligibility. * * *
    (1) Annual income as defined at 24 CFR 5.609 (a) and (b) (except 
when determining the income of a homeowner for an owner-occupied 
rehabilitation project, the value of the homeowner's principal 
residence may be excluded from the calculation of Net Family Assets, as 
defined in 24 CFR 5.603); or
* * * * *
    (c) Using Income Definitions. The participating jurisdiction may 
use only one definition of annual income for each HOME-assisted program 
(e.g., downpayment assistance program) that it administers and for each 
rental housing project.
    (d) Projecting Income. (1) The participating jurisdiction must 
calculate the annual income of the family by projecting the prevailing 
rate of income of the family at the time the participating jurisdiction 
determines that the family is income eligible. Annual income includes 
income from all persons in the household. Income or asset enhancement 
derived from the HOME-assisted project shall not be considered in 
calculating annual income.
* * * * *
    (e) Determining Adjusted Income. Although the participating 
jurisdiction may use either of the definitions of ``annual income'' 
permitted in paragraph (b) of this section to calculate annual income, 
it must then apply deductions from income in 24 CFR 5.611(a) to 
determine the family's adjusted income.
    (1) The participating jurisdiction must use a family's adjusted 
income when determining tenant contribution in units receiving Federal 
or State project-based rental subsidy pursuant to Sec.  92.252(b).
    (2) The participating jurisdiction may base the amount of tenant-
based rental assistance on the adjusted income of the family in 
accordance with Sec.  92.209(h) and may grant financial hardship 
exemptions to a family receiving tenant-based rental assistance in 
accordance with Sec.  5.611(c) of this title.
    (3) When a family applying for or living in a HOME-assisted rental 
unit receives section 8 housing choice voucher assistance, or when a 
public housing agency owns the HOME-assisted rental unit in the 
project-based Section 8 programs, the participating jurisdiction must 
apply the income deductions in 24 CFR 5.611(a) and (b) to determine the 
family's adjusted income and may accept a public housing agency's 
determination to grant financial hardship exemptions to the family 
under 24 CFR 5.611(c).


Sec.  92.203  [Amended]

0
17. Amend Sec.  92.203 by removing paragraph (d)(3).

PART 93--HOUSING TRUST FUND

0
18. The authority citation for part 93 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 3535(d), 12 U.S.C. 4568.

0
19. In Sec.  93.151, revise paragraph (b)(1)(i) and add paragraphs 
(b)(3) and (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  93.151  Income determinations.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) ``Annual income'' as defined at 24 CFR 5.609(a) and (b); or
* * * * *
    (3) Annual income includes income from all persons in the 
household.
* * * * *
    (e) Adjusted Income. (1) Although the grantee may use either of the 
definitions of ``annual income'' permitted in paragraph (b) of this 
section to calculate annual income, the grantee must then apply 
deductions established in 24 CFR 5.611(a) to determine the tenant's 
adjusted income.
    (2) For public housing, the housing choice voucher program, and 
where the public housing agency is the owner in the Section 8 project-
based programs, a grantee must apply the public housing agency income 
deductions at 24 CFR 5.611(a) and (b) to determine the family's 
adjusted income and may accept a public housing agency's determination 
to grant financial hardship exemptions pursuant to 24 CFR 5.611(c).

[[Page 48840]]

PART 574--HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS

0
20. The authority citation for part 574 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1701x, 1701x-1; 42 U.S.C. 3535(d) and 5301-
5320.

0
21. In Sec.  574.310, revise paragraph (d)(1); redesignate paragraph 
(e) as paragraph (g), and add new paragraphs (e) and (f) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  574.310  General Standards for eligible housing activities.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) 30 percent of the family's monthly adjusted income (calculated 
under 24 CFR 5.611);
* * * * *
    (e) Reexamination of family income. (1) Annual reexaminations. For 
purposes of determining resident rent payments, grantees will conduct a 
reexamination and redetermination of family income every year.
    (2) Interim reexaminations. (i) A family may request an interim 
reexamination of family income at any time. The grantee must make the 
interim reexamination within a reasonable period of time after the 
family's request.
    (ii) Grantees may decline to process a family request for an 
interim reexamination if the grantee estimates the family's adjusted 
income will decrease by an amount that is less than 10 percent of the 
family's annual adjusted income, or if the family's adjusted income 
will decrease by a lower threshold amount that is less than 10 percent, 
if such lower threshold has been established by the grantee. If the 
grantee determines the estimated decrease in family adjusted income is 
at least 10 percent (or the lower alternative threshold established by 
the grantee) the grantee must make the interim reexamination within a 
reasonable time after the family's request.
    (iii) Grantees must conduct the reexamination of family income 
within a reasonable time after the grantee becomes aware that the 
family's adjusted income (as defined in Sec.  5.611 of this title) has 
changed by an amount that the grantee estimates will result in an 
increase of 10 percent or more in annual adjusted income, except:
    (A) The grantee may not consider any increase in the earned income 
of the family when estimating whether the family's adjusted income has 
increased unless the family has previously received an interim 
reduction under paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section during the year;
    (B) The grantee may choose not to conduct an interim reexamination 
in the last three months of a certification period; and
    (C) The grantee will not be considered out of compliance with the 
requirements in this paragraph solely due to de minimis errors in 
calculating family income but is still obligated to correct errors once 
the grantee becomes aware of the errors. A de minimis error is an error 
where the grantee's determination of family income varies from the 
correct income determination by no more than 5 percent. The grantee 
must still take any corrective action necessary to repay a family if 
the family has been overcharged for their rent as a result of the de 
minimis error in the income determination.
    (iv) The grantee must adopt policies consistent with this section 
prescribing when and under what conditions the family must report a 
change in family income or composition.
    (3) Streamlined income determinations. (i) A grantee may elect to 
apply a streamlined income determination to families receiving fixed 
income as described in paragraph (e)(3)(iii) of this section.
    (ii) Definition of fixed income. For purposes of this section, 
fixed income means periodic payments at reasonably predictable levels 
from one or more of the following sources:
    (A) Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Supplemental 
Disability Insurance.
    (B) Federal, state, local, or private pension plans.
    (C) Annuities or other retirement benefit programs, insurance 
policies, disability or death benefits, or other similar types of 
periodic receipts.
    (D) Any other source of income subject to adjustment by a 
verifiable COLA or current rate of interest.
    (iii) Method of streamlined income determination. Grantees using 
the streamlined income determination must adjust a family's income 
according to the percentage of a family's unadjusted income that is 
from fixed income.
    (A) When 90 percent or more of a family's unadjusted income 
consists of fixed income, grantees using streamlined income 
determinations must apply a COLA or COLAs to the family's fixed-income 
sources, provided that the family certifies both that 90 percent or 
more of their unadjusted income is fixed income and that their sources 
of fixed income have not changed from the previous year. For non-fixed 
income, grantees may choose to make adjustments pursuant to paragraph 
(e)(1) of this section.
    (B) When less than 90 percent of a family's unadjusted income 
consists of fixed income, grantees using streamlined income 
determinations must apply a COLA to each of the family's sources of 
fixed income. Grantees must determine all other income pursuant to 
paragraph (e)(1) of this section.
    (iv) COLA rate applied by grantees. Grantees using streamlined 
income determinations must adjust a family's fixed income using a COLA 
or current interest rate that applies to each specific source of fixed 
income and is available from a public source or through tenant-
provided, third-party-generated documentation. If no public 
verification or tenant-provided documentation is available, then the 
grantee must obtain third-party verification of the income amounts in 
order to calculate the change in income for the source.
    (v) Triennial verification. For any income determined pursuant to a 
streamlined income determination, a grantee must obtain third-party 
verification of all income amounts every 3 years.
    (f) Net family assets and restriction on assistance to families 
based on assets. (1) The definition of net family assets in Sec.  5.603 
of this title applies to this part, except the value of a home of a 
participant receiving short-term mortgage or utility assistance under 
Sec.  574.300(b)(6) or other homeownership assistance eligible under 
the HOPWA program is excluded from the definition.
    (2) The requirements in Sec.  5.618(a) through (d) of this title on 
providing assistance to families who have certain assets apply to HOPWA 
assistance provided under this part, except that Sec.  5.618 of this 
title does not apply to the provision of short-term mortgage or utility 
assistance under Sec.  574.300(b)(6) or other homeownership assistance 
eligible under the HOPWA program, housing information services, as 
described in Sec.  574.300(b)(1), or supportive services, as described 
in Sec.  574.300(b)(7).
* * * * *

PART 960--ADMISSION TO, AND OCCUPANCY OF, PUBLIC HOUSING

0
22. The authority citation for part 960 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1437a, 1437c, 1437d, 1437n, 1437z-3, and 
3535(d).

0
23. In Sec.  960.102, revise the definition of ``Over-income family'' 
in paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  960.102  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *

[[Page 48841]]

    Over-income family. A family whose income exceeds the local over-
income limit. See subpart E of this part.
* * * * *
0
24. In Sec.  960.253, revise paragraph (f)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  960.253  Choice of rent.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (1) For a family that chooses the flat rent option, the PHA must 
conduct a reexamination of family income and composition at least once 
every three years, except for families that are found to be over-
income. Once a family is determined to be over-income, the PHA must 
follow the documentation and reexamination requirements under Sec.  
960.507(c).
0
25. Amend Sec.  960.255. by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  960.255  Self-sufficiency incentives--Disallowance of increase in 
annual income.

* * * * *
    (e) Effective [EFFECTIVE DATE OF FINAL RULE], this section will not 
apply to any family who is not eligible for and participating in the 
disallowance of earned income under this section on [EFFECTIVE DATE OF 
FINAL RULE].


Sec.  960.255  [Removed]

0
26. Remove Sec.  960.255.
0
27. In Sec.  960.257, revise paragraph (b), and add paragraph (e) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  960.257  Family income and composition: Annual and interim 
reexaminations.

* * * * *
    (b) Interim reexaminations. (1) A family may request an interim 
reexamination of family income or composition because of any changes 
since the last determination. The PHA must conduct the interim 
reexamination within a reasonable period of time after the family 
request.
    (2) The PHA may decline to process a family request for an interim 
income reexamination if the PHA estimates the family's adjusted income 
will decrease by an amount that is less than 10 percent of the family's 
annual adjusted income, or if the family's adjusted income will 
decrease by a lower threshold amount that is less than 10 percent, if 
such lower threshold has been established by the PHA. If the PHA 
determines the estimated decrease in family adjusted income is at least 
10 percent (or the lower alternative threshold established by the PHA), 
the PHA must conduct the interim income reexamination within a 
reasonable period of time after the family's request.
    (3) The PHA must conduct a reexamination of family income within a 
reasonable time after the PHA becomes aware that the family's adjusted 
income (as defined in 24 CFR 5.611) has changed by an amount that the 
PHA estimates will result in an increase of 10 percent or more in 
annual adjusted income, except:
    (i) The PHA may not consider any increase in the earned income of 
the family when estimating whether the family's adjusted income has 
increased, unless the family has previously received an interim 
reduction under paragraph (b)(2) of this section during the year;
    (ii) The PHA may choose not to conduct an interim reexamination in 
the last three months of a certification period; and
    (iii) The PHA will not be considered out of compliance with the 
requirements in this paragraph solely due to de minimis errors in 
calculating family income but is still obligated to correct errors once 
the PHA becomes aware of the errors. A de minimis error is an error 
where the PHA determination of family income varies from the correct 
income determination by no more than 5 percent. The PHA must still take 
any corrective action necessary to repay a family if the family has 
been overcharged for their rent as a result of the de minimis error in 
the income determination.
    (4) The PHA must adopt policies consistent with this section 
prescribing when and under what conditions the family must report a 
change in family income or composition.
* * * * *
    (e) Reviews of family income under this section are subject to the 
provisions in Section 904 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless 
Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 3544).
0
28. In Sec.  960.259, revise paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  960.259  Family information and verification.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) For a family with net family assets (as the term is defined in 
24 CFR 5.603) equal to or less than $50,000, which amount will be 
adjusted annually in accordance with a commonly recognized inflationary 
index, as determined by HUD, a PHA may accept, for purposes of 
recertification of income, a family's declaration under 24 CFR 
5.618(b), except that the PHA must obtain third-party verification of 
all family assets every 3 years.


Sec.  960.261  [Removed]

0
29. Remove Sec.  960.261.
0
30. Add Sec.  960.507 to Subpart E read as follows:


Sec.  960.507  Families exceeding the income limit.

    (a) In general. Families residing in public housing may not, except 
as provided in Sec.  960.503, have incomes that exceed the local over-
income limit.
    (b) Determination of over-income limit. The local over-income limit 
is determined by multiplying the applicable income limit for a very 
low-income family as defined in 24 CFR 5.603(b), by a factor of 2.4.
    (c) Documenting over-income families. (1) When a PHA becomes aware, 
through an annual reexamination, or an interim reexamination for an 
increase in income, that a family's income exceeds the applicable over-
income limit, the PHA must document that the family exceeds the 
threshold.
    (2) If, a year after the documentation in paragraph (c)(1) of this 
section, the PHA determines that the family still has an income 
exceeding the over-income limit, the PHA must provide written 
notification to the family that their income has exceeded the over-
income limit for one year, and that if the family's income continues to 
exceed the over-income limit for the next 12 consecutive months, the 
family will be subject to either a higher rent payment or termination, 
based on the PHA's policies under paragraph (d).
    (3) If a PHA discovers that a previously over-income family has 
income that is now below the over-income limit, the family is no longer 
subject to these provisions. The family is entitled to a new 2-year 
grace period if the family's income once again exceeds the over-income 
limit.
    (d) End of grace period. Once a family has exceeded the over-income 
limit for two consecutive years, the PHA must, as detailed in its 
Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policies (ACOP)--
    (1) Charge the family a monthly rent equal to the greater of--
    (i) The applicable fair market rent for the unit; or
    (ii) The amount of the monthly subsidy provided for the unit, which 
will be determined by summing the per unit assistance provided to a 
public housing property as calculated through the applicable formulas 
for the Public Housing Capital Fund and Public Housing Operating Fund.
    (A) For the Public Housing Capital Fund, the amount of Capital 
Funds provided to the unit will be calculated as the per unit Capital 
Fund assistance provided to a PHA for the development

[[Page 48842]]

in which the family resides for the most recent funding year for which 
Capital Funds have been allocated;
    (B) For the Public Housing Operating Fund, the amount of Operating 
Funds provided to the unit will be calculated as the per unit amount 
provided to the public housing project where the unit is located for 
the most recent funding year for which a final funding eligibility 
determination has been made;
    (C) HUD will publish such funding amounts no later than December 
31st each year; or
    (2) Terminate the tenancy of the family no more than 6 months after 
the third determination that the family's income exceeds the income 
limit in paragraph (a) of this section. PHAs must continue to charge 
these families the non-over-income rent amount (the family's choice of 
income-based or flat rent) for the time period during the 6-month 
period before termination.
    (e) Reporting. Each PHA must submit a report annually to HUD that 
specifies, as of the end of the year, the number of families residing 
in public housing with incomes exceeding the over-income limit and the 
number of families on the waiting lists for admission to public housing 
projects. These reports must also be publicly available.

PART 966--PUBLIC HOUSING LEASE AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

0
31. The authority citation for part 966 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1437d and 3535(d).

0
32. In Sec.  966.4, revise paragraph (l)(2)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  966.4  Lease requirements.

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Being over the income limit for the program, as provided in 24 
CFR 960.507.

PART 982--SECTION 8 TENANT-BASED ASSISTANCE: HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER 
PROGRAM

0
33. The authority citation for part 982 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1437f and 3535(d).

0
34. In Sec.  982.516, revise paragraphs (a)(3), (c), and (d), and add 
paragraph (h) to read as follows:


Sec.  982.516  Family income and composition: Annual and interim 
reexaminations.

    (a) * * *
    (3) For a family with net family assets (as the term is defined in 
24 CFR 5.603) equal to or less than $50,000, which amount will be 
adjusted annually in accordance with a commonly recognized inflationary 
index, as determined by HUD, a PHA may accept, for purposes of 
recertification of income, a family's declaration under 24 CFR 
5.618(b), except that the PHA must obtain third-party verification of 
all family assets every 3 years.
* * * * *
    (c) Interim reexaminations. (1) A family may request an interim 
determination of family income or composition because of any changes 
since the last determination. The PHA must conduct an interim 
reexamination within a reasonable period of time after the family 
request.
    (2) The PHA may decline to process a family request for an interim 
income reexamination if the owner or PHA estimates the family's 
adjusted income will decrease by an amount that is less than 10 percent 
of the family's annual adjusted income, or if the family's adjusted 
income will decrease by a lower threshold amount that is less than 10 
percent, if such lower threshold has been established by the PHA. If 
the PHA determines the estimated decrease in family adjusted income is 
at least 10 percent (or the lower alternative threshold established by 
the PHA), the PHA must conduct the interim income reexamination within 
a reasonable period of time after the family's request.
    (3) The PHA must conduct a reexamination of family income within a 
reasonable time after the PHA becomes aware that the family's adjusted 
income (as defined in 24 CFR 5.611) has changed by an amount that the 
PHA estimates will result in an increase of 10 percent or more in 
annual adjusted income, except:
    (i) The PHA may not consider any increase in the earned income of 
the family when estimating whether the family's adjusted income has 
increased, unless the family has previously received an interim 
reduction under paragraph (c)(2) of this section during the year;
    (ii) The PHA may choose not to conduct an interim reexamination in 
the last three months of a certification period; and
    (iii) The PHA will not be considered out of compliance with the 
requirements in this paragraph solely due to de minimis errors in 
calculating family income but is still obligated to correct errors once 
the PHA becomes aware of the errors. A de minimis error is an error 
where the PHA determination of family income varies from the correct 
income determination by no more than 5 percent. The PHA must still take 
any corrective action necessary to repay a family if the family has 
been overcharged for their rent as a result of the de minimis error in 
the income determination.
    (4) The PHA must adopt policies consistent with this section 
prescribing when and under what conditions the family must report a 
change in family income or composition.
    (d) Family reporting of change. The PHA must adopt policies 
consistent with this section prescribing when and under what conditions 
the family must report a change in family income or composition.
* * * * *
    (h) Reviews of family income under this section are subject to the 
provisions in Section 904 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless 
Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 3544).

    Dated: August 13, 2019.
Brian D. Montgomery,
Acting Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-19774 Filed 9-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P