HOMEOWNERSHIP DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SEC. 132. HOMEOWNERSHIP DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA. (a) Establishment.—The Secretary shall carry out a program to facilitate self-sufficiency and homeownership of single-family homes administered by the Housing Authority of the city of Omaha, in the State of Nebraska (in this section referred to as the “Housing Authority”), to demonstrate the effectiveness of promoting homeownership and providing support services. (b) Participating Public housing Units.—For purposes of the demonstration program, the Secretary shall authorize the Housing Authority to designate single-family housing units for eventual homeownership. Over the term of the demonstration, the demonstration program may be applied to not more than 20 percent of the total number of public housing units administered by the Housing Authority. In conducting the demonstration, the Housing Authority shall affirmatively further fair housing objectives. (c) Nondisplacement.—No person who is a tenant of public housing may be involuntarily relocated or displaced as a result of the demonstration program. (d) Economic Self-Sufficiency.— (1) Establishment of participatton criteria.—The Housing Authority shall establish criteria for the participation of families in the demonstration program. Such criteria shall be based on factors that may reasonably be expected to predict a family’s ability to succeed in the homeownership program established by this section. (2) Contents of participation criteria.—The criteria referred to in paragraph (1) shall include evidence of interest 106 STAT. 3713by the family in homeownership, the employment status and history of employment of family members, and maintenance by the family of the family’s previous dwelling. (e) Provision of Supportive Services.—The Housing Authority shall ensure the availability of supportive services to each family participating in the demonstration program through its own resources and through coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies and private entities. Supportive services available under the demonstration program may include counseling, remedial education, education for completion of high school, job training and preparation, financial counseling emphasizing planning for homeownership, and any other appropriate services. (f) Reports to Congress.— (1) Biennial report.—Upon the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, and each 2-year period thereafter, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the demonstration program established under this section. (2) Final report.—Not later than 60 days after termination of the demonstration program pursuant to subsection (h), the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a final report evaluating the effectiveness of the demonstration program. (g) Regulations.—Not later than the expiration of the 90- day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue interim regulations to carry out this section, which shall take effect upon issuance. The Secretary shall issue final regulations to carry out this subtitle after notice and opportunity for public comment regarding the interim regulations, pursuant to the provisions of section 553 of title 5, United States Code (notwithstanding subsections (a)(2), (b)(B), and (d)(3) of such section). The duration of the period for public comment shall not be less than 60 days, and the final regulations shall be issued not later than the expiration of the 60-day period beginning upon the conclusion of the comment period and shall take effect upon issuance. (h) Termination.—The demonstration program established under this section shall terminate 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.