STUDY OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR EVALUATING PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES.

SEC. 563. STUDY OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR EVALUATING PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES. (a) In General.— The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall provide under subsection (e) for a study to be conducted to determine the effectiveness of various alternative methods of evaluating the performance of public housing agencies and other providers of federally assisted housing. (b) Purposes.— The purposes of the study under this section shall be— (1) to identify and examine various methods of evaluating and improving the performance of public housing agencies in 112 STAT. 2625administering public housing and tenant-based rental assistance programs and of other providers of federally assisted housing, which are alternatives to oversight by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (2) to identify specific monitoring and oversight activities currently conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and to evaluate whether such activities should be eliminated, expanded, modified, or transferred to other entities (including governmental and private entities) to increase accuracy and effectiveness and improve monitoring. (c) Evaluation of Various Performance Evaluation Systems.— To carry out the purposes under subsection (b), the study under this section shall identify, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of regulating and evaluating the performance of public housing agencies and other providers of federally assisted housing, including the following methods: (1) Current system.— The system pursuant to the United States Housing Act of 1937, including the methods and requirements under such system for reporting, auditing, reviewing, sanctioning, and monitoring of such agencies and housing providers and the public housing management assessment program pursuant to section 6(j) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. (2) Accreditation models.— Various models that are based upon accreditation of such agencies and housing providers, subject to the following requirements: (A) The study shall identify and analyze various models used in other industries and professions for accreditation and determine the extent of their applicability to the programs for public housing and federally assisted housing. (B) If any accreditation models are determined to be applicable to the public and federally assisted housing programs, the study shall identify appropriate goals, objectives, and procedures for an accreditation program for such agencies and housing providers. (C) The study shall evaluate the feasibility and merit of establishing an independent accreditation and evaluation entity to assist, supplement, or replace the role of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in assessing and monitoring the performance of such agencies and housing providers. (D) The study shall identify the necessary and appropriate roles and responsibilities of various entities that would be involved in an accreditation program, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Inspector General of the Department, an accreditation entity, independent auditors and examiners, local entities, and public housing agencies. (E) The study shall estimate the costs involved in developing and maintaining such an independent accreditation program. (3) Performance based models.— Various performance-based models, including systems that establish performance goals or targets, assess the compliance with such goals or targets, and provide for incentives or sanctions based on performance relative to such goals or targets. 112 STAT. 2626 (4) Local review and monitoring models.— Various models providing for local, resident, and community review and monitoring of such agencies and housing providers, including systems for review and monitoring by local and State governmental bodies and agencies. (5) Private models.— Various models using private contractors for review and monitoring of such agencies and housing providers. (6) Other models.— Various models of any other systems that may be more effective and efficient in regulating and evaluating such agencies and housing providers. (d) Consultation.— The entity that, pursuant to subsection(e), carries out the study under this section shall, in carrying out the study, consult with individuals and organizations experienced in managing public housing, private real estate managers, representatives from State and local governments, residents of public housing, families and individuals receiving tenant-based assistance, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Comptroller General of the United States. (e) Contract to Conduct Study.— (1) In general.— Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall enter into a contract, within 90 days of the enactment of this Act, with a public or nonprofit private entity to conduct the study under this section, using amounts made available pursuant to subsection (g). (2) National academy of public administration.— The Secretary shall request the National Academy of Public Administration to enter into the contract under paragraph (1) to conduct the study under this section. If such Academy declines to conduct the study, the Secretary shall carry out such paragraph through other public or nonprofit private entities, selected through a competitive process. (f) Report.— (1) Interim report.— The Secretary shall ensure that, not later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the execution of the contract under subsection (e)(1), the entity conducting the study under this section submits to the Congress an interim report describing the actions taken to carry out the study, the actions to be taken to complete the study, and any findings and recommendations available at the time. (2) Final report.— The Secretary shall ensure that— (A) not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the execution of the contract under subsection (e)(1), the study required under this section is completed and a report describing the findings and recommendations as a result of the study is submitted to the Congress; and (B) before submitting the report under this paragraph to the Congress, the report is submitted to the Secretary, national organizations for public housing agencies, and other appropriate national organizations at such time to provide the Secretary and such agencies an opportunity to review the report and provide written comments on the report, which shall be included together with the report upon submission to the Congress under subparagraph (A). 112 STAT. 2627 (g) Effective Date.— This section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.