Page images
PDF
EPUB

rent, and (ii) a process for monitoring compliance with its obligations pursuant to this part; and

(C) that secure the Federal investment made under this part and address the issues of eviction from and sale of property receiving weatherization materials under this part.

(3) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretaries and Director described in paragraph (2)(A) and with the Director of the Community Services Administration and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall develop and publish in the Federal Register for public comment, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, proposed amendments to the regulations prescribed under paragraph (1). Such amendments shall provide that the standards described in paragraph (2)(A) shall include a set of procedures to be applied to each dwelling unit to determine the optimum set of cost-effective measures, within the cost guidelines set for the program, to be installed in such dwelling unit. Such standards shall, in order to achieve such optimum savings of energy, take into consideration the following factors

(A) the cost of the weatherization material;

(B) variation in climate; and

(C) the value of energy saved by the application of the weatherization material.

Such standards shall be utilized by the Secretary in carrying out this part, the Secretary of Agriculture in carrying out the weatherization program under section 504(c) of the Housing Act of 1949, and the Director of the Community Services Administration in carrying out weatherization programs under section 222(a)(12) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. The Secretary shall take into consideration comments submitted regarding such proposed amendment and shall promulgate and publish final amended regulations not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph.

(4) In carrying out paragraphs (2)(A) and (3), the Secretary shall establish the standards and procedures described in such paragraphs so that weatherization efforts being carried out under this part and under programs described in the fourth sentence of paragraph (3) will accomplish uniform results among the States in any area with a similar climatic condition.

(5) In any case in which a dwelling consists of a rental unit or rental units, the State, in the implementation of this part, shall ensure that—

(A) the benefits of weatherization assistance in connection with such rental units, including units where the tenants pay for their energy through their rent, will accrue primarily to the low-income tenants residing in such units;

(B) for a reasonable period of time after weatherization work has been completed on a dwelling containing a unit occupied by an eligible household, the tenants in that unit (including households paying for their energy through their rent) will not be subjected to rent increases unless those increases are demonstrably related to matters other than the weatherization work performed;

(C) the enforcement of subparagraph (B) is provided through procedures established by the State by which tenants

may file complaints and owners, in response to such complaints, shall demonstrate that the rent increase concerned is related to matters other than the weatherization work performed; and

(D) no undue or excessive enhancement will occur to the value of such dwelling units.

(6) As a condition of having assistance provided under this part with respect to multifamily buildings, a State may require financial participation from the owners of such buildings.

(c) If a State does not, within 90 days after the date on which final regulations are promulgated under this section, submit an application to the Secretary which meets the requirements set forth in section 414, any unit of general purpose local government of sufficient size (as determined by the Secretary), or a community action agency carrying out programs under title II of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, may, in lieu of such State, submit an application (meeting such requirements and subject to all other provisions of this part) for carrying out projects under this part within the geographical area which is subject to the jurisdiction of such_government or is served by such agency. A State may, in accordance with regulations promulgated under this part, submit an amended application.

(d)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, in any State in which the Secretary determines (after having taken into account the amount of funds made available to the State to carry out the purposes of this part) that the low-income members of an Indian tribe are not receiving benefits under this part that are equivalent to the assistance provided to other low-income persons in such State under this part, and if he further determines that the members of such tribe would be better served by means of a grant made directly to provide such assistance, he shall reserve from sums that would otherwise be allocated to such State under this part not less than 100 percent, nor more than 150 percent, of an amount which bears the same ratio to the State's allocation for the fiscal year involved as the population of all low-income Indians for whom a determination under this subsection has been made bears to the population of all low-income persons in such State.

(2) The sums reserved by the Secretary on the basis of his determination under this subsection shall be granted to the tribal organization serving the individuals for whom such a determination has been made, or, where there is no tribal organization, to such other entity as he determines has the capacity to provide services pursuant to this part.

(3) In order for a tribal organization or other entity to be eligible for a grant for a fiscal year under this subsection, it shall submit to the Secretary an application meeting the requirements set forth in section 414.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may transfer to the Director sums appropriated under this part to be utilized in order to carry out programs, under section 222(a)(12) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which further the purpose of this part.

[42 U.S.C. 6863]

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 414. (a) The Secretary shall provide financial assistance, from sums appropriated for any fiscal year under this part, only upon annual application. Each such application shall describe the estimated number and characteristics of the low-income persons and the number of dwelling units to be assisted and the criteria and methods to be used by the applicant in providing weatherization assistance to such persons. The application shall also contain such other information (including information needed for evaluation purposes) and assurances as may be required (1) in the regulations promulgated pursuant to section 413 and (2) to carry out this section. The Secretary shall allocate financial assistance to each State on the basis of the relative need for weatherization assistance among low-income persons throughout the States, taking into account the following factors:

(A) The number of dwelling units to be weatherized.

(B) The climatic conditions in the State respecting energy conservation, which may include consideration of annual degree days.

(C) The type of weatherization work to be done in the various settings.

(D) Such other factors as the Secretary may determine necessary, such as the cost of heating and cooling, in order to carry out the purpose and provisions of this part.

(b) The Secretary shall not provide financial assistance under this part unless the applicant has provided reasonable assurances that it has

(1) established a policy advisory council which (A) has special qualifications and sensitivity with respect to solving the problems of low-income persons (including the weatherization and energy-conservation problems of such persons), (B) is broadly representative of organizations and agencies which are providing services to such persons in the State or geographical area in question, and (C) is responsible for advising the responsible official or agency administering the allocation of financial assistance in such State or area with respect to the development and implementation of such weatherization assistance program;

(2) established priorities to govern the provision of weatherization assistance to low-income persons, including methods to provide priority to elderly and handicapped low-income persons, and such priority as the applicant determines is appropriate for single-family or other high-energy-consuming dwelling units;

(3) established policies and procedures designed to assure that financial assistance provided under this part will be used to supplement, and not to supplant, State or local funds, and, to the extent practicable, to increase the amounts of such funds that would be made available in the absence of Federal funds for carrying out the purpose of this part, including plans and procedures (A) for securing, to the maximum extent practicable, the services of volunteers and training participants and public service employment workers, pursuant to the Com

prehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973, to work under the supervision of qualified supervisors and foremen, (B) for using Federal financial assistance under this part to increase the portion of low-income weatherization assistance that the State obtains from non-Federal sources, including private sources, and (C) for complying with the limitations set forth in section 415; and

(4) selected on the basis of public comment received during a public hearing conducted pursuant to section 415(b)(1), and other appropriate findings, community action agencies or other public or nonprofit entities to undertake the weatherization activities authorized by this title: Provided, Such selection shall be based on the agency's experience and performance in weatherization or housing renovation activities, experience in assisting low-income persons in the area to be served, and the capacity to undertake a timely and effective weatherization program: Provided further, That in making such selection preference shall be given to any community action agency or other public or nonprofit entity which has, or is currently administering, an effective program under this title or under title II of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

(c) Effective with fiscal year 1991, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall update the population, eligible households, climatic, residential energy use, and all other data used in allocating the funds under this part among the States pursuant to subsection (a). [42 U.S.C. 6864]

SEC. 414A. PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary shall, to the extent funds are made available for such purpose, provide financial assistance to entities receiving funding from the Federal Government or from a State through a weatherization assistance program under section 413 or section 414 for the development and initial implementation of partnerships, agreements, or other arrangements with utilities, private sector interests, or other institutions, under which non-Federal financial assistance would be made available to support programs which install energy efficiency improvements in low-income housing.

(b) USE OF FUNDS.-Financial assistance provided under this section may be used for

(1) the negotiation of such partnerships, agreements and other arrangements;

(2) the presentation of arguments before State or local agencies;

(3) expert advice on the development of such partnerships, agreements, and other arrangements; or

(4) other activities reasonably associated with the development and initial implementation of such arrangements.

(c) CONDITIONS.—(1) Financial assistance provided under this section to entities other than States shall, to the extent practicable, coincide with the timing of financial assistance provided to such entities under section 413 or section 414.

(2) Not less than 80 percent of amounts provided under this section shall be provided to entities other than States.

(3) A recipient of financial assistance under this section shall have up to three years to complete projects undertaken with such assistance.

[42 U.S.C. 6864a]

SEC. 414B. TECHNICAL TRANSFER GRANTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary may, to the extent funds are made available, provide financial assistance to entities receiving funding from the Federal Government or from a State through a weatherization assistance program under section 413 or section 414

for

(1) evaluating technical and management measures which increase program and/or private entity performance in weatherizing low-income housing;

(2) producing technical information for use by persons involved in weatherizing low-income housing;

(3) exchanging information; and

(4) conducting training programs for persons involved in weatherizing low-income housing.

(b) CONDITIONS.-(1) Not less than 50 percent of amounts provided under this section shall be awarded to entities other than States.

(2) A recipient of financial assistance under this section may contract with nonprofit entities to carry out all or part of the activities for which such financial assistance is provided.

[42 U.S.C. 6864b]

LIMITATIONS

SEC. 415. (a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), an average of at least forty percent of the funds provided in a State under this part for weatherization materials, labor, and related matters described in subsection (c) shall be spent for weatherization materials. Not more than an amount equal to 10 percent of any grant made by the Secretary under this part may be used for administrative purposes in carrying out duties under this part, except that not more than one-half of such amount may be used by any State for such purposes, and a State may provide in the plan adopted pursuant to subsection (b) for recipients of grants of less than $350,000 to use up to an additional 5 percent of such grant for administration if the State has determined that such recipient requires such additional amount to implement effectively the administrative requirements established by the Secretary pursuant to this part.

(2)(A) The Secretary shall approve a State's application to waive the 40-percent requirement established in paragraph (1) if the State includes in its plan energy audit procedures and techniques which (i) meet standards established by the Secretary after consultation with the State Energy Advisory Board established under section 365(g) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, (ii) establish priorities for selection of weatherization measures based on their cost and contribution to energy efficiency, (iii) measure the energy requirement of individual dwellings and the rate of return of the total conservation investment in a dwelling, and (iv) account for interaction among energy efficiency measures.

« PreviousContinue »