Amendments to the Housing Choice Voucher program

Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (5), by adding at the end the following: (C) Exceptions Notwithstanding subparagraph (A)— (i) a public housing agency may accept a third party income calculation and verification of family income for purposes of this subsection if— (I) the calculation and verification was completed for determination of income eligibility for a Federal program or service during the preceding 12-month period; and (II) there has been no change in income or family composition since the calculation and verification under clause (i); and (ii) when using prior year income under section 3(a)(7)(B), a public housing agency shall use the income of the family as determined by the agency or owner for the prior calendar year or another 12-month period ending during the preceding 12 months, taking into consideration any redetermination of income between the start of such prior calendar year or other 12-month period and the date of the annual review.; (2) in paragraph (8)— (A) in subparagraph (A)(iii)— (i) in the clause heading, by striking for interim period; (ii) in the first sentence— (I) by striking before and inserting without performing; and (II) by striking has been completed and all that follows through subparagraph (B); and (iii) in the second sentence, by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting subparagraphs (D) and (F); (B) in subparagraph (C), by adding at the end the following: This subparagraph shall not apply with respect to a dwelling unit for which the public housing agency relied on an alternative inspection method under subparagraph (E) as the initial inspection.; and (C) in subparagraph (E)— (i) in clause (i)— (I) by inserting (I) after (i); (II) in subclause (I), as so designated, by striking and at the end; and (III) by adding at the end the following: (II) the public housing agency (or other entity pursuant to paragraph (11)) conducted the inspection during the preceding 12-month period when the unit was occupied by a previous tenant assisted under this subsection or was vacant; or (III) the public housing agency— (aa) conducted a pre-inspection not more than 60 days before leasing a unit; (bb) conducted a remote or video inspection of a unit; or (cc) allowed a unit to be leased prior to completion of an inspection if the unit passed alternative inspection within the preceding 12-month period, so long as the unit is inspected not later than 15 days after the start of the lease; and; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (23) Use of housing assistance funds for deposits and holding fees (A) In general A public housing agency may use current and prior year available housing assistance for tenant-based rental assistance under this subsection for— (i) standard security deposits for rent, utilities, and any other deposits allowed by the Secretary that are necessary to lease a dwelling unit under this subsection; and (ii) fees to hold an available dwelling unit under this subsection during the inspection and approval process. (B) Maximum amount The maximum amount a public housing agency may provide to or on behalf of a family under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) is the equivalent of 1 month’s rent of the selected unit for each of the purposes under those clauses. (C) Allocation baseline Any funds used for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) shall be part of the allocation baseline for tenant-based contract renewals. (D) Cap The Secretary shall establish a cap to limit the percentage of funds made available under a housing assistance payment contract that a public housing agency may use for the purposes described in subparagraph (A)..