RULEMAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION.

SEC. 559. RULEMAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION. (a) Interim Regulations.— The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue such interim regulations as may be necessary to implement the amendments made by this subtitle and other provisions in this title which relate to section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. (b) Final Regulations.— The Secretary shall issue final regulations necessary to implement the amendments made by this subtitle and other provisions in this title which relate to section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 not later then 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Factors For Consideration.— Before the publication of the final regulations under subsection (b), in addition to public comments invited in connection with the publication of the interim rule, the Secretary shall— (1) seek recommendations on the implementation of sections 8(o)(6)(B), 8(o)(7)(B), and 8(o)(10)(D) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and of renewals of expiring tenant-based assistance from organizations representing— 112 STAT. 2616 (A) State or local public housing agencies; (B) owners and managers of tenant-based housing assisted under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937; (C) families receiving tenant-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937; and (D) legal service organizations; and (2) convene not less than 2 public forums at which the persons or organizations making recommendations under paragraph (1) may express views concerning the proposed disposition of the recommendations. (d) Conversion Assistance.— (1) In general.— The Secretary may provide for the conversion of assistance under the certificate and voucher programs under subsections (b) and (o) of section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as in effect before the applicability of the amendments made by this subtitle, to the voucher program established by the amendments made by this subtitle. (2) Continued applicability.— The Secretary may apply the provisions of the United States Housing Act of 1937, or any other provision of law amended by this subtitle, as those provisions were in effect immediately before the date of the enactment of this Act (except that such provisions shall be subject to any amendments to such provisions that may be contained in title II of this Act), to assistance obligated by the Secretary before October 1, 1999, for the certificate or voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, if the Secretary determines that such action is necessary for simplification of program administration, avoidance of hardship, or other good cause. (e) Effective Date.— This section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.