Grants for planning and implementation associated with affordable housing

(a) Planning grants Not In general The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment if of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, using selection criteria determined by the Secretary, establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to assist planning and implementation activities associated with affordable housing. (b) Use of amounts (1) By regional planning agencies If an eligible entity that receives amounts under this section is a regional planning agency or consortia to of regional planning agencies, such eligible entity shall use such amounts to assist planning activities with respect to affordable housing, including— (1) (A) the development of housing plans; (2) (B) the substantial improvement of State or local housing strategies; (3) (C) the development of new regulatory requirements and processes; (4) the reforming of (D) updating zoning codes; (5) (E) increasing the capacity to conduct housing inspections; (6) (F) increasing the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability; (7) (G) the development of local or regional plans for community development; and (8) (H) the substantial improvement of community development strategies, including strategies designed to— (A) (i) increase the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing; (B) (ii) increase access to public transportation; and (C) (iii) advance sustainable or location-efficient community development goals. (b) Implementation (2) By states, insular areas, metropolitan cities, and livable community investment grants (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment if urban counties If an eligible entity that receives amounts under this section, the Secretary section is a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban county, such eligible entity shall award implementation grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to use such amounts to— (A) implement and administer housing strategies and housing plans; (B) implement and administer any plans to increase housing choice, address disparities in housing needs, and provide greater access to opportunity; (C) fund any community investments that support goals identified in a housing strategy or housing plan; (C) (D) implement and administer regulatory requirements and processes with respect to reformed zoning codes; (D) (E) increase the capacity to conduct housing inspections; (E) (F) increase the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability; (F) (G) implement and administer local or regional plans for community development; and (G) (H) fund any planning to increase— (i) the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing; (ii) access to public transportation; and (iii) any location-efficient community development goals. (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Eligible entity The term (3) Use for administrative costs A eligible entity means a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban county, as that receives amounts under this section may not use more than 10-percent of such terms are defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. (B) Housing plan The term housing plan means a plan to, with respect to an area within the jurisdiction of an eligible entity— (i) increase the amount of available housing to meet the demand amounts for such housing and any projected increase in the demand for such housing; (ii) increase the affordability of housing; (iii) increase the accessibility of housing for people with disabilities, including location-efficient housing; (iv) preserve or improve the quality of housing; (v) reduce barriers to housing development; and (vi) coordinate with transportation-related agencies. (C) Housing strategy The term housing strategy means a housing strategy required under section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. administrative costs. (c) Coordination To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Federal Transit Administrator in carrying out this section. (d) Use for administrative costs Any entity that receives a grant under this section may not use more than 15 percent Additional uses of such grant amounts for administrative costs. (e) Rules of construction (1) In general Except as otherwise provided by this section, amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this section shall be subject to the community development block grant program requirements under subsection (a)(1). (2) Exceptions (A) Housing construction Expenditures on new construction of housing shall be an eligible expense under this section. (B) (2) Buildings for general conduct of government Expenditures on building for the general conduct of government, other than the Federal Government, shall be eligible under this section when necessary and appropriate as a part of a natural hazard mitigation project.project. (e) Definitions In this subsection: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban county, as such terms are defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; or (B) a regional planning agency or consortia of regional planning agencies. (2) Housing plan The term housing plan means a plan to, with respect to an area within the jurisdiction of an eligible entity— (A) increase the amount of available housing to meet the demand for such housing and any projected increase in the demand for such housing; (B) increase the affordability of housing; (C) increase the accessibility of housing for people with disabilities, including location-efficient housing; (D) preserve or improve the quality of housing; (E) reduce barriers to housing development; and (F) coordinate with transportation-related agencies. (3) Housing strategy The term housing strategy means a housing strategy required under section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.