Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2013 - Amends the Assets for Independence Act, which provides for demonstration projects designed to provide individuals and families of limited means with an incentive to save a portion of their earned income and thereby accumulate assets, increase their economic self-sufficiency, and stabilize such families and the communities in which they live.
Expresses the sense of Congress that a qualified entity conducting a demonstration project under the Act should, to the maximum extent practicable, increase: (1) the rate at which it matches contributions by participating individuals, or (2) the number of such participating individuals.
States that multiple households may share a single residence. Specifies public housing agencies and tribally designated housing entities as entities qualified to participate in a demonstration project. Repeals the requirement that state or local government or other public agencies apply jointly with a tax-exempt not-for-profit charitable organization or collaborate with certain kinds of local community-based organizations. Includes among postsecondary educational expenses any expenses for preparatory courses, room and board, and transportation.
Revises requirements for: (1) applications for new and renewals of existing projects; (2) limitations on uses of the Reserve Fund; and (3) the adjusted gross household income eligibility test, requiring regulations for transfers from one project to another for individuals who move because of major disasters or emergencies, to find employment, or to a community where no project is available.
Revises requirements for deposits by qualified entities in the individual development accounts (IDAs) of participating individuals to: (1) increase maximum deposits per individual and per household; (2) facilitate withdrawal of funds from an IDA, with formal approval, during the year following the end of a demonstration project; and (3) require disposal of funds remaining in an IDA at the end of that year.
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of Community Services, to make every effort, 90 days after terminating the authority of one qualified entity to operate a demonstration project, to identify another qualified entity (or entities), in the same or a different community, willing and able to conduct one or more demonstration projects. Specifies criteria for giving priority consideration to candidate entities.
Revises requirements for contracting with independent research organizations to evaluate demonstration projects.
Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) use certain funds to cover the necessary costs of training for a qualified entity conducting a demonstration project, including costs of travel, accommodations, and meals; and (2) waive any requirement of the Act in certain circumstances.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2110 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2110
To reauthorize the Assets for Independence Act, to provide for the
approval of applications to operate new demonstration programs and to
renew existing programs, to enhance program flexibility, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 22, 2013
Mr. Lewis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the Assets for Independence Act, to provide for the
approval of applications to operate new demonstration programs and to
renew existing programs, to enhance program flexibility, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Stephanie Tubbs
Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2013''.
(b) Reference.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in
this Act an amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to a
section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be
made to that section or other provision of the Assets for Independence
Act (42 U.S.C. 604 note).
(c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; reference; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Applications.
Sec. 6. Demonstration authority; annual grants.
Sec. 7. Reserve Fund.
Sec. 8. Eligibility for participation.
Sec. 9. Deposits by qualified entities.
Sec. 10. Regulations.
Sec. 11. Annual progress reports.
Sec. 12. Sanctions.
Sec. 13. Evaluations.
Sec. 14. Costs of training qualified entities.
Sec. 15. Waiver authority.
Sec. 16. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 17. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 18. General effective date.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Section 402 is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Fully \1/2\'' and
inserting ``Almost \1/4\''; and
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the first sentence and
inserting the following: ``Traditional public assistance
programs concentrate on income and consumption and have lacked
an asset-building component to promote and support the
transition to increased economic self-sufficiency.''.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that a qualified entity conducting a
demonstration project under the Assets for Independence Act (42 U.S.C.
604 note) should, to the maximum extent practicable, increase--
(1) the rate at which the entity matches contributions by
individuals participating in the project under section
410(a)(1) of such Act; or
(2) the number of individuals participating in the project.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
Section 404 is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) Household.--The term `household' means an individual
or group of individuals who live in a single residence.
Multiple households may share a single residence.'';
(2) in paragraph (5)(A)--
(A) by striking clause (iii);
(B) by redesignating clauses (iv) through (vi) as
clauses (iii) through (v), respectively; and
(C) in clause (iv), as redesignated by subparagraph
(B), by striking ``clause (vi)'' and inserting ``clause
(v)'';
(3) in paragraph (7)(A)--
(A) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:
``(ii) a State or local government agency
(or a public housing agency, as defined in
section 3(b)(6) of the United States Housing
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6))) or a
tribal government (or a tribally designated
housing entity, as defined in section 4(22) of
the Native American Housing Assistance and
Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C.
4103(22)));''; and
(B) by striking clause (iii) and inserting the
following:
``(iii) a credit union designated as a low-
income credit union by the National Credit
Union Administration (NCUA); or
``(iv) an organization designated as a
community development financial institution by
the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Community
Development Financial Institutions Fund).'';
and
(4) in paragraph (8)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the first sentence--
(I) by inserting ``of an eligible
individual or the dependent of an
eligible individual (as such term is
used in subparagraph (E)(ii))'' after
``expenses''; and
(II) by inserting ``, or to a
vendor pursuant to an education
purchase plan approved by a qualified
entity'' before the period;
(ii) in clause (i)--
(I) in subclause (II), by inserting
``or for courses described in subclause
(III)'' after ``eligible educational
institution''; and
(II) by adding at the end the
following new subclauses:
``(III) Preparatory courses.--
Preparatory courses for an examination
required for admission to an eligible
educational institution, for successful
performance at an eligible educational
institution, or for a professional
licensing or certification examination.
``(IV) Room and board and
transportation.--Room and board and
transportation, including commuting
expenses, necessary to enable
attendance at courses of instruction at
an eligible educational institution or
attendance at courses described in
subclause (III).'';
(iii) by amending clause (ii) to read as
follows:
``(ii) Eligible educational institution.--
The term `eligible educational institution'
means--
``(I) an institution described in
section 101 or 102 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001,
1002); or
``(II) an area career and technical
education school, as defined in section
3(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2302(3)).''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new
clause:
``(iii) Education purchase plan.--The term
`education purchase plan' means a plan--
``(I) for the purchase of items or
services described in subclauses (II)
through (IV) of clause (i) from
entities other than eligible
educational institutions;
``(II) that includes a description
of the items or services to be
purchased; and
``(III) that includes such
information as a qualified entity may
request from the eligible individual
involved regarding the necessity of the
items or services to a course of study
at an eligible educational institution
or a course described in clause
(i)(III).'';
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by amending clause (i) to read as
follows:
``(i) Principal residence.--The term
`principal residence' means a main residence
the qualified acquisition costs of which do not
exceed 120 percent of the median house price in
the area, as determined by the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development for purposes of
section 203(b) of the National Housing Act (12
U.S.C. 1709(b)) for a residence occupied by a
number of families that corresponds to the
number of households occupying the residence
involved.''; and
(ii) in clause (iii)--
(I) by amending subclause (I) to
read as follows:
``(I) In general.--Subject to
subclause (II), the term `qualified
first-time homebuyer' means an
individual participating in the project
involved who--
``(aa) has no sole present
ownership interest in a
principal residence during the
3-year period ending on the
date of acquisition of the
principal residence to which
this subparagraph applies
(except for an interest in such
principal residence); and
``(bb) has no co-ownership
interest in a principal
residence on the date of
acquisition of the principal
residence to which this
subparagraph applies (except
for an interest in such
principal residence).'';
(II) by redesignating subclause
(II) as subclause (III); and
(III) by inserting after subclause
(I) the following new subclause:
``(II) Exception for victims of
domestic violence.--An individual
participating in the project involved
who is a recent or current victim of
domestic violence (as defined in
section 40002(a)(8) of the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C.
13925(a)(8))) shall not be considered
to fail to be a qualified first-time
homebuyer by reason of having a co-
ownership interest in a principal
residence with a person who committed
domestic violence against the
victim.'';
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the
following new subparagraph:
``(C) Home replacement, repair, or improvement.--
Qualified replacement costs or qualified repair or
improvement costs with respect to a principal
residence, if paid from an individual development
account directly to the persons to whom the amounts are
due. In this subparagraph:
``(i) Principal residence.--The term
`principal residence' means--
``(I) with respect to payment of
qualified replacement costs, a main
residence the qualified replacement
costs of which do not exceed 120
percent of the median house price in
the area, as determined by the
Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development for purposes of section
203(b) of the National Housing Act (12
U.S.C. 1709(b)) for a residence
occupied by a number of families that
corresponds to the number of households
occupying the residence involved; or
``(II) with respect to qualified
repair or improvement costs, a main
residence the value of which does not
exceed, on the day before the
commencement of the repairs or
improvements, 120 percent of such
median house price.
``(ii) Qualified replacement costs.--The
term `qualified replacement costs' means the
costs (including any usual or reasonable
settlement, financing, or other closing costs)
of replacing--
``(I) a manufactured home that was
manufactured, assembled, or imported
for resale before the initial
effectiveness of any Federal
manufactured home construction and
safety standards established pursuant
to section 604 of the National
Manufactured Housing Construction and
Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.
5403); or
``(II) a residence that fails to
meet local building codes or is not
legally habitable.
``(iii) Qualified repair or improvement
costs.--The term `qualified repair or
improvement costs' means the costs of making
repairs or improvements (including any usual or
reasonable financing costs) that will enhance
the habitability or long-term value of a
residence.''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(F) Qualified tuition programs.--Contributions
paid from an individual development account of an
eligible individual directly to a qualified tuition
program (as defined in subsection (b) of section 529 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), for the purpose of
covering qualified higher education expenses (as
defined in subsection (e)(3) of such section) of a
dependent of such individual (as such term is used in
clause (ii) of subparagraph (E)).''.
SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS.
Section 405 is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(4), by adding at the end the
following: ``Such funds include funds received under the
Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.),
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 450b et seq.), the Native American Housing Assistance
and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.), or
title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974
(42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) (including Community Development Block
Grant Act funds and Indian Community Development Block Grant
Act funds), that are formally committed to the project.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(h) Applications for New Projects and Renewals of Existing
Projects.--For project years beginning on or after the date of the
enactment of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence
Reauthorization Act of 2013, the previous provisions of this section
shall only apply as follows:
``(1) Announcement of procedures.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2013, the
Secretary shall publicly announce the procedures by which a
qualified entity may submit an application--
``(A) to conduct a demonstration project under this
title; or
``(B) for renewal of authority to conduct a
demonstration project under this title.
``(2) Approval.--The Secretary shall, on a competitive
basis, approve applications submitted pursuant to the
procedures announced under paragraph (1), taking into account
the assessments required by subsection (c) and giving special
consideration to the applications described in paragraph (3).
``(3) Special consideration.--The applications described in
this paragraph are the following:
``(A) Applications submitted by qualified entities
proposing to conduct demonstration projects under this
title that will target the following populations:
``(i) Individuals who are or have been in
foster care.
``(ii) Victims of domestic violence (as
defined in section 40002(a)(8) of the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C.
13925(a)(8))).
``(iii) Victims of--
``(I) a major disaster declared to
exist by the President under section
401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5170) or an emergency declared
to exist by the President under section
501 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); or
``(II) a situation similar to a
major disaster or emergency described
in subclause (I) declared to exist by
the Governor of a State.
``(iv) Formerly incarcerated individuals.
``(v) Individuals who are unemployed or
underemployed.
``(B) Applications described in subsection (d).
``(4) Contracts with nonprofit entities.--Subsection (f)
shall continue to apply.
``(5) Grandfathering of existing statewide programs.--
Subsection (g) shall continue to apply, except that any
reference in such subsection to the date of enactment of this
Act or to $1,000,000 shall be deemed to be a reference to the
date of the enactment of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for
Independence Reauthorization Act of 2013 or to $250,000,
respectively.''.
SEC. 6. DEMONSTRATION AUTHORITY; ANNUAL GRANTS.
Section 406(a) is amended by inserting ``(or, in the case of an
application approved under section 405(h)(2), not later than 30 days
after the date of the approval of such application)'' after ``the date
of enactment of this title''.
SEC. 7. RESERVE FUND.
Section 407(c) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting ``or organizations''
after ``organization''; and
(2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Limitation on uses.--
``(A) In general.--Of the amount provided to a
qualified entity under section 406(b)--
``(i) not more than 5.5 percent shall be
used for the purpose described in subparagraph
(A) of paragraph (1);
``(ii) not less than 80 percent shall be
used for the purpose described in subparagraph
(B) of such paragraph; and
``(iii) not more than 14.5 percent shall be
used for the purposes described in
subparagraphs (C) and (D) of such paragraph.
``(B) Joint administration of project.--If two or
more qualified entities are jointly administering a
demonstration project, no one such entity shall use
more than its proportional share of the percentage
indicated in subparagraph (A) for the purposes
described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph
(1).''.
SEC. 8. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.
Section 408 is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Income tests.--The household meets either of the
following income tests:
``(A) Adjusted gross income test.--The adjusted
gross income of the household for the last taxable year
ending in or with the preceding calendar year does not
exceed the greater of--
``(i) 200 percent of the Federal poverty
line, as defined in section 673(2) of the
Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C.
9902(2)), including any revision required by
such section, for a family composed of the
number of persons in the household at the end
of such taxable year; or
``(ii) 80 percent of the median income for
the area for such taxable year, as determined
by the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development for purposes of section 3(b)(2) of
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)), taking into account any
family-size adjustment by the Secretary under
such section that corresponds to the size of
the household at the end of such taxable year.
``(B) Modified adjusted gross income test.--
``(i) In general.--The modified adjusted
gross income of the household for the last
taxable year ending in or with the preceding
calendar year does not exceed the amount
described in clause (ii) for the individual
whose eligibility is being determined under
this section.
``(ii) Amount described.--The amount
described in this clause for an individual is
as follows:
``(I) Married filing jointly.--
$40,000 for an individual described in
subsection (a)(1) of section 1 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(II) Surviving spouse.--$40,000
for an individual described in
subsection (a)(2) of such section.
``(III) Head of household.--$30,000
for an individual described in
subsection (b) of such section.
``(IV) Single or married filing
separately.--$20,000 for an individual
described in subsection (c) or (d) of
such section.
``(iii) Adjustment for inflation.--
``(I) In general.--In the case of a
calendar year described in clause (i)
that is after 2014, the dollar amounts
in clause (ii) shall be the dollar
amounts determined under this clause
(or clause (ii)) for the previous year
increased by the annual percentage
increase (if any) in the consumer price
index (all items; U.S. city average) as
of September of the calendar year
described in clause (i).
``(II) Rounding.--Any dollar amount
determined under subclause (I) that is
not a multiple of $100 shall be rounded
to the next greatest multiple of
$100.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(D) Adjustment for inflation.--
``(i) In general.--In the case of a
calendar year described in subparagraph (A)
that is after 2014, the dollar amount in such
subparagraph shall be the dollar amount
determined under this clause (or such
subparagraph) for the previous year increased
by the annual percentage increase (if any) in
the consumer price index (all items; U.S. city
average) as of September of the calendar year
described in such subparagraph.
``(ii) Rounding.--Any dollar amount
determined under clause (i) that is not a
multiple of $100 shall be rounded to the next
greatest multiple of $100.'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new
subsection:
``(b) Calculating Income of Household.--
``(1) Adjusted gross income.--For purposes of subsection
(a)(1)(A), the adjusted gross income of a household for a
taxable year is the sum of the adjusted gross incomes of the
individuals who are members of the household at the end of such
year.
``(2) Modified adjusted gross income.--For purposes of
subsection (a)(1)(B), the modified adjusted gross income of a
household for a taxable year is the sum of the modified
adjusted gross incomes of the individuals who are members of
the household at the end of such year.''; and
(4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``, including'' and all that
follows and inserting a period;
(B) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
``(2) Individuals who move because of major disasters or
emergencies or to find employment.--
``(A) In general.--The regulations promulgated
under paragraph (1) shall establish procedures under
which an individual described in subparagraph (B) may
transfer from one demonstration project under this
title to another demonstration project under this title
that is being conducted in another community by a
qualified entity that agrees to accept the individual
into the project. Such regulations shall not permit
such a transfer unless such qualified entity has
sufficient amounts in its Reserve Fund to make the
deposits required by section 410 with respect to the
individual.
``(B) Individual described.--An individual
described in this subparagraph is an individual
participating in a demonstration project under this
title who moves from the community in which the project
is being conducted--
``(i) because of--
``(I) a major disaster declared to
exist in such community by the
President under section 401 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170) or an emergency declared to exist
in such community by the President
under section 501 of such Act (42
U.S.C. 5191);
``(II) a situation similar to a
major disaster or emergency described
in subclause (I) declared to exist in
such community by the Governor of a
State; or
``(III) a qualifying life event
experienced by such individual; or
``(ii) in order to secure employment.
``(C) Qualifying life event defined.--For purposes
of subparagraph (B)(i)(III), the term `qualifying life
event'--
``(i) means an event determined by the
Secretary to be similar to an event that would
permit the individual to make an election
change with respect to a cafeteria plan under
section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986; and
``(ii) includes--
``(I) a change in the legal marital
status of the individual;
``(II) a change in the number of
dependents of the individual (as such
term is used in section 404(8)(E)(ii));
``(III) the birth or death of a
child of the individual;
``(IV) the adoption or placement
for adoption of a child by the
individual;
``(V) a change in the provider of
daycare for a child of the individual,
or a significant increase in the cost
of such daycare; and
``(VI) a change in employment
status of the individual, the
individual's spouse, or a dependent of
the individual (as such term is used in
section 404(8)(E)(ii)).
``(3) Relocation to community where no project is
available.--
``(A) In general.--An individual described in
subparagraph (B) shall be permitted to withdraw funds
from the individual development account of the
individual during the 1-year period following the date
such individual moves to another community in the same
manner that an individual is permitted under section
410(d)(2) to withdraw funds during the 1-year period
following the end of a demonstration project.
``(B) Individual described.--An individual
described in this subparagraph is an individual who--
``(i) moves to a community where no
demonstration project under this title is being
conducted; or
``(ii) after moving to another community
and making such efforts as the Secretary may
require to transfer to another demonstration
project under this title, is, for any reason
other than a violation of the requirements of
this title or regulations promulgated by the
Secretary under this title, not accepted into
another demonstration project under this title.
``(C) Funds remaining in ida.--Any funds remaining
in an individual development account after the end of
the 1-year period described in subparagraph (A) shall
be treated in the same manner as funds remaining in an
individual development account after the end of the 1-
year period described in subsection (d)(2)(A) of
section 410 are treated under subsection (f) of such
section.
``(4) Relocation by other individuals.--The regulations
promulgated under paragraph (1) shall prohibit any individual
who is unable to continue participating in a demonstration
project under this title for any reason, except for an
individual described in paragraph (2)(B) or (3)(B), from being
eligible to participate in any other demonstration project
conducted under this title.''.
SEC. 9. DEPOSITS BY QUALIFIED ENTITIES.
Section 410 is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``2 times'' after
``an amount equal to'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting
``$5,000'';
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$4,000'' and inserting
``$10,000'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall'';
(B) in paragraph (1), as amended by subparagraph
(A), by adding at the end the following: ``The
Secretary may waive the application of the preceding
sentence in the case of an individual who has
participated in another demonstration project under
this title (including successful completion after
transferring from one project to another project as
described in section 408(c)(2)) or an asset-building
project similar to the demonstration projects conducted
under this title.''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(2) Access for 1 year after end of project.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that
an eligible individual is able to withdraw funds from
an individual development account of the individual
during the 1-year period following the end of the
demonstration project with respect to which deposits
were made into such account (whether such project ends
by reason of expiration of the authority under section
406(a) of the qualified entity to conduct the
demonstration project, termination of such authority
under section 413 without transfer to another qualified
entity, or otherwise).
``(B) Approval of withdrawals.--During the period
described in subparagraph (A), an eligible individual
may only make a withdrawal if the withdrawal is
approved in writing--
``(i) by a responsible official of the
qualified entity; or
``(ii) by the Secretary, if the Secretary
terminated the authority of the qualified
entity to conduct the demonstration project
under section 413 or the Secretary determines
that the qualified entity is otherwise unable
or unwilling to participate in the approval
process.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f) Unused Funds in IDA.--If funds remain in an individual
development account after the end of the 1-year period described in
subsection (d)(2)(A), such funds shall be disposed of as considered
appropriate by the Secretary or a nonprofit entity (as such term is
used in section 404(7)(A)(i)) designated by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 10. REGULATIONS.
Section 411 is amended--
(1) in the heading, by inserting ``; regulations'' after
``projects'';
(2) by striking ``A qualified entity'' and inserting the
following:
``(a) Local Control Over Demonstration Projects.--A qualified
entity''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Regulations.--Subject to subsection (a), not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2013, the Secretary
shall promulgate such regulations as the Secretary considers necessary
to implement this title. The Secretary may provide that any such
regulation takes effect on the date of promulgation, but the Secretary
shall accept and consider public comments for 60 days after such
date.''.
SEC. 11. ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS.
(a) In General.--Section 412(b) is amended by striking ``subsection
(a) to'' and all that follows and inserting ``subsection (a) to the
Secretary.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply to reports submitted on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 12. SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 413 is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (b)(5) to read as follows:
``(5) if, by the end of the 90-day period beginning on the
date of the termination, the Secretary has not found a
qualified entity (or entities) described in paragraph (3),
shall--
``(A) make every effort to identify, without
conducting a competition (unless the Secretary
determines that conducting a competition would be
feasible and appropriate), another qualified entity (or
entities), in the same or a different community,
willing and able to conduct one or more demonstration
projects under this title that may differ from the
project being terminated;
``(B) in identifying a qualified entity (or
entities) under subparagraph (A), give priority to
qualified entities that--
``(i) are participating in demonstration
projects conducted under this title;
``(ii) have waiting lists for participants
in such demonstration projects; and
``(iii) can demonstrate the availability of
non-Federal funds described in section
405(c)(4), in addition to any such funds
committed to any demonstration projects being
conducted by the qualified entity at the time
the Secretary considers identifying the entity
under subparagraph (A), to be committed to the
demonstration project (or projects) described
in subparagraph (A) as matching contributions;
and
``(C) if the Secretary identifies a qualified
entity (or entities) under subparagraph (A)--
``(i) transfer to the entity (or entities)
control over the Reserve Fund established
pursuant to section 407 with respect to the
project being terminated; and
``(ii) authorize the entity (or entities)
to use such Reserve Fund to conduct a
demonstration project (or projects) in
accordance with an application approved under
subsection (e) or (h)(2) of section 405 and the
requirements of this title.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Focus on Community of Terminated Project.--In identifying
another qualified entity (or entities) under paragraph (3) or (5) of
subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, select
a qualified entity (or entities) in the community served by the
demonstration project being terminated.''.
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply to terminations occurring on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) Discretionary application to previous terminations.--
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may apply such
amendment to terminations occurring within the one-year period
ending on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.
In the case of such an application, any reference in such
amendment to the date of the termination is deemed a reference
to such date of enactment.
SEC. 13. EVALUATIONS.
Section 414 is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may enter into one or more
contracts with one or more independent research organizations to
evaluate the demonstration projects conducted under this title,
individually and as a group, including all qualified entities
participating in and sources providing funds for the demonstration
projects conducted under this title. Such contract or contracts may
also provide for the evaluation of other asset-building programs and
policies targeted to low-income individuals.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (3);
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``, and how such
effects vary among different populations or
communities'';
(C) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6); and
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (7) as
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
(3) in subsections (b) and (c), by inserting ``(or
organizations)'' after ``research organization'' each place it
appears.
SEC. 14. COSTS OF TRAINING QUALIFIED ENTITIES.
The Assets for Independence Act (42 U.S.C. 604 note) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 416 as section 417; and
(2) by inserting after section 415 the following new
section:
``SEC. 416. COSTS OF TRAINING QUALIFIED ENTITIES.
``If the Secretary determines that a qualified entity conducting a
demonstration project under this title should receive training in order
to conduct the project in accordance with an application approved under
subsection (e) or (h)(2) of section 405 or the requirements of this
title, or to otherwise successfully conduct the project, the Secretary
may use funds appropriated under section 418 to cover the necessary
costs of such training, including the costs of travel, accommodations,
and meals.''.
SEC. 15. WAIVER AUTHORITY.
The Assets for Independence Act (42 U.S.C. 604 note) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 417, as redesignated by
section 14(1) of this Act, as section 418; and
(2) by inserting after section 416 the following new
section:
``SEC. 417. WAIVER AUTHORITY.
``In order to carry out the purposes of this title, the Secretary
may waive any requirement of this title--
``(1) relating to--
``(A) the definition of a qualified entity;
``(B) the approval of a qualified entity to conduct
a demonstration project under this title or to receive
a grant under this title;
``(C) eligibility criteria for individuals to
participate in a demonstration project under this
title;
``(D) amounts or limitations with respect to--
``(i) the matching by a qualified entity of
amounts deposited by an eligible individual in
the individual development account of the
individual;
``(ii) the amount of funds that may be
granted to a qualified entity by the Secretary;
or
``(iii) uses by a qualified entity of the
funds granted to the qualified entity by the
Secretary; or
``(E) the withdrawal of funds from an individual
development account only for qualified expenses or as
an emergency withdrawal; or
``(2) the waiver of which is necessary to--
``(A) permit the Secretary to enter into an
agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security;
``(B) allow individuals to be placed on a waiting
list to participate in a demonstration project under
this title; or
``(C) allow demonstration projects under this title
to be targeted to populations described in section
405(h)(3)(A) and to successfully recruit individuals
from such populations for participation.''.
SEC. 16. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 418, as redesignated by section 15(1) of this Act, is
amended by inserting after ``2003'' the following: ``and $75,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018''.
SEC. 17. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 414(e) is amended by striking ``section
416'' and inserting ``section 418''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the
Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational
Services Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-285) is amended as follows:
(1) By striking the item relating to section 411 and
inserting the following new item:
Sec. 411. Local control over demonstration projects; Regulations.
(2) By striking the items relating to sections 415 and 416
and inserting the following new items:
Sec. 415. No reduction in benefits.
Sec. 416. Costs of training qualified entities.
Sec. 417. Waiver authority.
Sec. 418. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 18. GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by sections 4 through 9 of this Act shall apply
to project years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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