GAO STUDY ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COSTS.

SEC. 585. GAO STUDY ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COSTS. (a) Study.— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study that provides an objective and independent accounting and analysis of the full cost to the Federal Government, public housing agencies, State and local governments, and other entities, per assisted household, of the Federal assisted housing programs, taking into account the qualitative differences among Federal assisted housing programs in accordance with applicable standards of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (b) Contents.— The study under this section shall— (1) analyze the full cost to the Federal Government, public housing agencies, State and local governments, and other parties, per assisted household, of the Federal assisted housing programs, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and shall conduct the analysis on a nationwide and regional basis and in a manner such that accurate per unit cost comparisons may be made between Federal assisted housing programs, including grants, direct subsidies, tax concessions, Federal mortgage insurance liability, periodic renovation and rehabilitation, and modernization costs, demolition costs, and other ancillary costs such as security; and (2) measure and evaluate qualitative differences among Federal assisted housing programs in accordance with applicable standards of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (c) Prohibition of Recommendations.— In conducting the study under this section and reporting under subsection (e), the Comptroller General may not make any recommendations regarding Federal housing policy. (d) Federal Assisted Housing Programs.— For purposes of this section, the term “Federal assisted housing programs” means— (1) the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937, except that the study under this section shall differentiate between and compare the development and construction of new public housing and the assistance of existing public housing structures; 112 STAT. 2646 (2) the certificate program for rental assistance under section 8(b)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937; (3) the voucher program for rental assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937; (4) the programs for project-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937; (5) the rental assistance payments program under section 521(a)(2)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949; (6) the program for housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959; (7) the program for housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; (8) the program for financing housing by a loan or mortgage insured under section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act that bears interest at a rate determined under the proviso of section 221(d)(5) of such Act; (9) the program under section 236 of the National Housing Act; (10) the program for construction or substantial rehabilitation under section 8(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as in effect before October 1, 1983; and (11) any other program for housing assistance administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the Secretary of Agriculture, under which occupancy in the housing assisted or housing assistance provided is based on income, as the Comptroller General may determine. (e) Report.— Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Congress a final report which shall contain the results of the study under this section, including the analysis and estimates required under subsection (b). (f) Effective Date.— This section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.