Volunteer First Responder Housing Act

To expand eligibility for certain housing programs for qualified volunteer first responders. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Bona fide volunteer; eligible employer; qualified services The terms bona fide volunteer eligible employer qualified services section 457(e) (2) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 5304 (3) Qualified volunteer first responder The term qualified volunteer first responder (A) is a bona fide volunteer performing qualified services for an eligible employer; (B) has volunteered for not less than 2 continuous years for an eligible employer; (C) during each of the 2 years described in subparagraph (B)— (i) met the minimum requirements for active membership established by the eligible employer; or (ii) if the eligible employer did not establish minimum requirements, volunteered for not less than 200 hours; and (D) is certified as a firefighter or other responder in the State, unit of general local government, or Indian tribe in which the individual is serving as volunteer. 3. Department of Agriculture Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (a) In general A qualified volunteer first responder who submits to the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the Secretary (b) Verification letter To be eligible for a verified deduction under subsection (a), a qualified volunteer first responder shall submit to the Secretary a verification letter from the head of the eligible employer for which the qualified volunteer first responder volunteers, which shall— (1) include the date on which the qualified volunteer first responder joined the eligible employer as a volunteer; (2) attest to the Secretary that the qualified volunteer first responder— (A) continuously served as a volunteer for the eligible employer during the 2-year period preceding the date of the verification letter; and (B) during each of the 2 years described in subparagraph (A)— (i) met the minimum requirements for active membership established by the eligible employer; or (ii) if the eligible employer did not establish minimum requirements, volunteered for not less than 200 hours; and (3) include a copy of the certification of the qualified volunteer first responder as a firefighter or other responder in the State, unit of general local government, or Indian tribe in which the individual served as a volunteer. 4. Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Department The term Department (2) Secretary The term Secretary (b) Amendments The Secretary shall amend— (1) section 291.530 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, to provide that a qualified volunteer first responder qualifies as a firefighter or emergency medical technician for purposes of the Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program of the Department; and (2) section 291.515 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, to provide that, to qualify to purchase a home through the Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program of the Department, a qualified volunteer first responder shall submit to the Secretary a verification letter from the head of the eligible employer for which the qualified volunteer first responder volunteers, which shall— (A) include the date on which the qualified volunteer first responder joined the eligible employer as a volunteer; (B) attest to the Secretary that the qualified volunteer first responder— (i) continuously served as a volunteer for the eligible employer during the 2-year period preceding the date of the ver­i­fi­ca­tion letter; and (ii) during each of the 2 years described in clause (i)— (I) met the minimum requirements for active membership established by the eligible employer; or (II) if the eligible employer did not establish minimum requirements, volunteered for not less than 200 hours; and (C) include a copy of the certification of the qualified volunteer first responder as a firefighter or other responder in the State, unit of general local government, or Indian tribe in which the individual served as a volunteer.

Summary: Volunteer First Responder Housing Act This bill expands eligibility for assistance under the Department of Agriculture Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program and the Department of Housing and Urban Development Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program with respect to qualified volunteer first responders.