96-5049. Office of the Secretary; HOME Investment Partnerships Program: Streamlining Interim Rule  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 9036-9037]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-5049]
    
    
    
    
    [[Page 9035]]
    
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    Part III
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Housing and Urban Development
    
    
    
    
    
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    24 CFR Part 92
    
    
    
    HOME Investment Partnerships Program: Streamlining; Interim Rule
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 6, 1996 / Rules 
    and Regulations
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    [[Page 9036]]
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
    
    24 CFR Part 92
    
    [Docket No. FR-3962-I-01]
    RIN 2501-AC06
    
    
    Office of the Secretary; HOME Investment Partnerships Program: 
    Streamlining Interim Rule
    
    AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
    Development, HUD.
    
    ACTION: Interim rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: This interim rule streamlines HUD's regulations for the HOME 
    Program by eliminating provisions that are redundant of statutes or are 
    otherwise unnecessary. This rule will make the HOME Program regulations 
    more concise.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: April 5, 1996.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Kolesar, Director, Program Policy 
    Division, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Room 7162, Department 
    of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, 
    DC 20410, telephone number (202) 708-2470. (This is not a toll-free 
    number). A telecommunications device for hearing- and speech-impaired 
    persons (TDD) is available at 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Information Relay 
    Service).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 4, 1995, President Clinton issued a 
    memorandum to all Federal departments and agencies regarding regulatory 
    reinvention. In response to this memorandum, the Department of Housing 
    and Urban Development conducted a page-by-page review of its 
    regulations to determine which can be eliminated, consolidated, or 
    otherwise improved. HUD has determined that the regulations for the 
    HOME Investment Partnerships Program can be improved and streamlined by 
    eliminating unnecessary provisions.
        Several provisions in the regulations repeat statutory language 
    from the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (NAHA). It 
    is unnecessary to maintain statutory requirements in the Code of 
    Federal Regulations (CFR), since those requirements are otherwise fully 
    accessible and binding. Furthermore, if regulations contain statutory 
    language, HUD must amend the regulations whenever Congress amends the 
    statute. Therefore, this rule will remove repetitious statutory 
    language and replace it with a citation to the specific statutory 
    section for easy reference.
        Several other provisions in the regulations apply to more than one 
    program, and therefore HUD repeated these provisions in different 
    subparts. This repetition is unnecessary, and updating these scattered 
    provisions is cumbersome and often creates confusion. Therefore, this 
    rule will consolidate these duplicative provisions, maintaining 
    appropriate cross-references for the reader's convenience.
        Some provisions in the regulations are now obsolete. For instance, 
    this rule removes reference to obsolete regulations regarding Cost 
    Effective Energy Standards in subpart F. These guidelines were found in 
    24 CFR part 39, which has been deleted but will be made available as 
    standards for participating jurisdictions.
    
    Justification for Interim Rulemaking
    
        HUD generally publishes a rule for public comment before issuing a 
    rule for effect, in accordance with its own regulations on rulemaking 
    in 24 CFR part 10. However, part 10 provides for exceptions to the 
    general rule if the agency finds good cause to omit advance notice and 
    public participation. The good cause requirement is satisfied when 
    prior public procedure is ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
    the public interest'' (24 CFR 10.1). HUD finds that good cause exists 
    to publish this rule for effect without first soliciting public 
    comment. This rule merely removes unnecessary regulatory provisions and 
    does not establish or affect substantive policy. Therefore, prior 
    public comment is unnecessary. This rule is being published as an 
    interim rule and not as a final rule because the HOME program 
    regulation at 24 CFR part 92 has not yet been issued as a final rule.
    
    Other Matters
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Secretary, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
    U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed and approved this rule, and in so doing 
    certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
    a substantial number of small entities. This rule merely streamlines 
    regulations by removing unnecessary provisions. The rule will have no 
    adverse or disproportionate economic impact on small businesses.
    
    Environmental Impact
    
        This rulemaking does not have an environmental impact. This 
    rulemaking simply amends an existing regulation by consolidating and 
    streamlining provisions. It does not change the environmental review 
    procedures or the physical impact of the program or the projects 
    assisted under the regulations being amended. Findings of No 
    Significant Impact with respect to the environment were made in 
    accordance with HUD regulations in 24 CFR part 50 that implement 
    section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
    U.S.C. 4332) at the time of development of regulations implementing the 
    HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and regulations removing 24 CFR 
    part 39. Those findings remain applicable to this rule, and are 
    available for public inspection between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 
    weekdays in the Office of the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of General 
    Counsel, Room 10276, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
    Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC.
    
    Executive Order 12612, Federalism
    
        The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a) 
    of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that this rule 
    will not have substantial direct effects on States or their political 
    subdivisions, or the relationship between the Federal government and 
    the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among 
    the various levels of government. No programmatic or policy changes 
    that would affect the relationship between the Federal Government and 
    State and local governments will result from this rule.
    
    Executive Order 12606, The Family
    
        The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive 
    Order 12606, The Family, has determined that this rule will not have 
    the potential for significant impact on family formation, maintenance, 
    or general well-being, and thus is not subject to review under the 
    Order. No significant change in existing HUD policies or programs will 
    result from promulgation of this rule.
        The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for the HOME 
    Program is 14.239.
    
    List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 92
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Grant programs--housing and 
    community development, Grant programs--Indians, Low and moderate income 
    housing, Manufactured homes, Rent subsidies, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Accordingly, part 92 of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
    is amended as follows: 
    
    [[Page 9037]]
    
    
    PART 92--HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
    
        1. The authority citation for part 92 is revised to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 3535(d) and 12701-12839.
    
        2. Section 92.1 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 92.1  Overview.
    
        This part implements the HOME Investment Partnerships Act (the HOME 
    Investment Partnerships Program). In general, under the HOME Investment 
    Partnerships Program, HUD allocates funds by formula among eligible 
    State and local governments to strengthen public-private partnerships 
    to expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing, 
    with primary attention to rental housing for very low-income and low-
    income families. Generally, HOME funds must be matched by nonfederal 
    resources. State and local governments that become participating 
    jurisdictions may use HOME funds to carry out multi-year housing 
    strategies through acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction of 
    housing, and tenant-based rental assistance. Participating 
    jurisdictions are able to provide assistance in a number of eligible 
    forms, including loans, advances, equity investments, interest 
    subsidies and other forms of investment that HUD approves.
        3. In Sec. 92.2, the definition ``Act'' is added in alphabetical 
    order, to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 92.2  Definitions.
    
        Act means the HOME Investment Partnerships Act at title II of the 
    Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, as amended, 42 
    U.S.C. 12701 et seq.
    * * * * *
        4. Section 92.4 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 92.4  Suspension of requirements for disaster areas.
    
        HUD may suspend HOME statutory requirements in connection with 
    disaster areas in accordance with section 290 of the Act.
    
    
    Sec. 92.52  [Removed]
    
        5. Section 92.52 is removed.
    
    
    Sec. 92.100  [Removed and reserved]
    
        6. Section 92.100 is removed and reserved.
    
    
    Sec. 92.212  [Removed and reserved]
    
        7. Section 92.212 is removed and reserved.
        8. Section 92.213 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 92.213  Development of model programs.
    
        HUD will develop and make available model programs in accordance 
    with section 213 of the Act.
        9. In Sec. 92.214, paragraph (a)(2) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 92.214  Prohibited activities.
    
        (a) * * *
        (2) Provide tenant-based rental assistance for the special purposes 
    of the existing section 8 program in accordance with section 212(d) of 
    the Act.
    * * * * *
        10. Section 92.215 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 92.215  Limitation on jurisdictions under court order.
    
        Limitations on the use of HOME funds in connection with litigation 
    involving discrimination or fair housing are set forth in section 224 
    of the Act.
    
    
    Sec. 92.251  [Amended]
    
        11. Section 92.251 is amended by removing the last sentence in 
    paragraph (a).
        12. Section 92.302 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 92.302  Housing education and organizational support.
    
        (a) General. HUD is authorized to provide education and 
    organizational support assistance in conjunction with HOME funds made 
    available to community housing development organizations in accordance 
    with section 233 of the Act.
        (b) Limitations. Contracts under this section with any one 
    contractor for a fiscal year may not--
        (1) Exceed 20 percent of the amount appropriated for this section 
    for such fiscal year; or
        (2) Provide more than 20 percent of the operating budget (which may 
    not include funds that are passed through to community housing 
    development organizations) of the contracting organization for any one 
    year.
        (c) Single-state contractors. Not less than 40 percent of the funds 
    made available for this section in an appropriations Act in any fiscal 
    year must be made available for eligible contractors that have worked 
    primarily in one state. HUD shall provide assistance under this 
    section, to the extent applications are submitted and approved, to 
    contractors in each of the HUD geographic regions.
        (d) Notice of funding. HUD will publish a notice in the Federal 
    Register announcing the availability of funding under this section, as 
    appropriate. The notice need not include funding for each of the 
    eligible activities, but may target funding from among the eligible 
    activities.
    
    
    Sec. 92.358  [Removed and reserved]
    
        13. Section 92.358 is removed and reserved.
        14. Section 92.400 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 92.400  Coordinated Federal support for housing strategies.
    
        (a) General. HUD will provide assistance to increase the capacity 
    to identify and meet the needs to increase the supply of affordable 
    housing in accordance with subtitle C of the Act.
        (b) Notice of funding. HUD will publish a notice in the Federal 
    Register announcing the availability of funding under this section as 
    appropriate.
    
        Dated: February 22, 1996.
    Henry G. Cisneros,
    Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 96-5049 Filed 3-5-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4210-32-P
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
4/5/1996
Published:
03/06/1996
Department:
Housing and Urban Development Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Interim rule.
Document Number:
96-5049
Dates:
April 5, 1996.
Pages:
9036-9037 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FR-3962-I-01
RINs:
2501-AC06: HOME Investment Partnership Program (FR-3962)
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2501-AC06/home-investment-partnership-program-fr-3962-
PDF File:
96-5049.pdf
CFR: (13)
24 CFR 92.1
24 CFR 92.2
24 CFR 92.4
24 CFR 92.52
24 CFR 92.100
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