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Housing Law Bulletin |
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President Signs Extender Legislation
On March 28, 1996, the President signed into law S. 1494, the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1995.1 The final version of the bill had been approved by the House at the end of February and the Senate in mid-March.2 To briefly reiterate the main points affecting low-income tenants and applicants, this law:- Reauthorizes the Section 515 rural rental multifamily housing program.
- Substantially changes the preservation program by:
- permitting owners of developments covered by the preservation laws to prepay their mortgages;
- providing a funding priority for certain owners who decide to sell to nonprofit or tenant pur-chasers;
- extending the dates for owners deciding to "switch" to a sale plan (now April 15), receiving a sales funding priority (now August 15), or allowing HUD to reallocate remaining funds for other priorities (now August 15).
- Broadens the grounds for eviction and allows expedited eviction grievance procedures for public and assisted housing tenants who have a pattern of drug or alcohol abuse.
- Allows HUD to renew expiring Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation contracts for a one-year term.
- Begins to implement restricted occupancy of housing designated for the elderly and disabled.
- Authorizes self-help housing programs, including $25 million for Habitat for Humanity.
- Pub. L. No. 104-120, ___ Stat. ___ (Mar. 28, 1996). For a review of the bill, see Limited Housing Authorization Bill Adopted, 26 HOUS. L. BULL. 38 (Mar. 1996).
- 142 CONG. REC. S1900-03 (Mar. 12, 1996).
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