Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2019

To reauthorize the Assets for Independence Act, to provide for the approval of applications to operate new demonstration programs and to renew existing programs, to enhance program flexibility, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; reference; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2019 (b) Reference Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to that section or other provision of the Assets for Independence Act ( 42 U.S.C. 604 (c) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; reference; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings. Sec. 3. Sense of Congress. Sec. 4. Definitions. Sec. 5. Applications. Sec. 6. Demonstration authority; annual grants. Sec. 7. Reserve Fund. Sec. 8. Eligibility for participation. Sec. 9. Deposits by qualified entities. Sec. 10. Regulations. Sec. 11. Annual progress reports. Sec. 12. Sanctions. Sec. 13. Evaluations. Sec. 14. Costs of training qualified entities. Sec. 15. Waiver authority. Sec. 16. Authorization of appropriations. Sec. 17. Conforming amendments. Sec. 18. General effective date. 2. Findings Section 402 is amended— (1) in paragraph (2), by striking Fully ½ Almost 1/4 (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: Traditional public assistance programs concentrate on income and consumption and have lacked an asset-building component to promote and support the transition to increased economic self-sufficiency. 3. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that a qualified entity conducting a demonstration project under the Assets for Independence Act ( 42 U.S.C. 604 (1) the rate at which the entity matches contributions by individuals participating in the project under section 410(a)(1) of such Act; or (2) the number of individuals participating in the project. 4. Definitions Section 404 is amended— (1) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows: (4) Household The term household ; (2) in paragraph (5)(A)— (A) by striking clause (iii); (B) by redesignating clauses (iv) through (vi) as clauses (iii) through (v), respectively; and (C) in clause (iv), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking clause (vi) clause (v) (3) in paragraph (7)(A)— (A) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows: (ii) a State or local government agency (or a public housing agency, as defined in section 3(b)(6) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6) 25 U.S.C. 4103(22) ; and (B) by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following: (iii) a credit union designated as a low-income credit union by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA); or (iv) an organization designated as a community development financial institution by the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund). ; and (4) in paragraph (8)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in the first sentence— (I) by inserting of an eligible individual or the dependent of an eligible individual (as such term is used in subparagraph (E)(ii)) expenses (II) by inserting , or to a vendor pursuant to an education purchase plan approved by a qualified entity (ii) in clause (i)— (I) in subclause (II), by inserting or for courses described in subclause (III) eligible educational institution (II) by adding at the end the following new subclauses: (III) Preparatory courses Preparatory courses for an examination required for admission to an eligible educational institution, for successful performance at an eligible educational institution, or for a professional licensing or certification examination. (IV) Room and board and transportation Room and board and transportation, including commuting expenses, necessary to enable attendance at courses of instruction at an eligible educational institution or attendance at courses described in subclause (III). ; (iii) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows: (ii) Eligible educational institution The term eligible educational institution (I) an institution described in section 101 or 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (II) an area career and technical education school, as defined in section 3(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302(3) ; and (iv) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) Education purchase plan The term education purchase plan (I) for the purchase of items or services described in subclauses (II) through (IV) of clause (i) from entities other than eligible educational institutions; (II) that includes a description of the items or services to be purchased; and (III) that includes such information as a qualified entity may request from the eligible individual involved regarding the necessity of the items or services to a course of study at an eligible educational institution or a course described in clause (i)(III). ; (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by amending clause (i) to read as follows: (i) Principal residence The term principal residence 12 U.S.C. 1709(b) ; and (ii) in clause (iii)— (I) by amending subclause (I) to read as follows: (I) In general Subject to subclause (II), the term qualified first-time homebuyer (aa) has no sole present ownership interest in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of acquisition of the principal residence to which this subparagraph applies (except for an interest in such principal residence); and (bb) has no co-ownership interest in a principal residence on the date of acquisition of the principal residence to which this subparagraph applies (except for an interest in such principal residence). ; (II) by redesignating subclause (II) as subclause (III); and (III) by inserting after subclause (I) the following new subclause: (II) Exception for victims of domestic violence An individual participating in the project involved who is a recent or current victim of domestic violence (as defined in section 40002(a)(8) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 42 U.S.C. 13925(a)(8) ; (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; (D) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: (C) Home replacement, repair, or improvement Qualified replacement costs or qualified repair or improvement costs with respect to a principal residence, if paid from an individual development account directly to the persons to whom the amounts are due. In this subparagraph: (i) Principal residence The term principal residence (I) with respect to payment of qualified replacement costs, a main residence the qualified replacement costs of which do not exceed 120 percent of the median house price in the area, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for purposes of section 203(b) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1709(b) (II) with respect to qualified repair or improvement costs, a main residence the value of which does not exceed, on the day before the commencement of the repairs or improvements, 120 percent of such median house price. (ii) Qualified replacement costs The term qualified replacement costs (I) a manufactured home that was manufactured, assembled, or imported for resale before the initial effectiveness of any Federal manufactured home construction and safety standards established pursuant to section 604 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5403 (II) a residence that fails to meet local building codes or is not legally habitable. (iii) Qualified repair or improvement costs The term qualified repair or improvement costs ; and (E) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) Qualified tuition programs Contributions paid from an individual development account of an eligible individual directly to a qualified tuition program (as defined in subsection (b) of section 529 . 5. Applications Section 405 is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(4), by adding at the end the following: Such funds include funds received under the Community Services Block Grant Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9901 25 U.S.C. 450b 25 U.S.C. 4101 42 U.S.C. 5301 (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (h) Applications for new projects and renewals of existing projects For project years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2019 (1) Announcement of procedures Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2019 (A) to conduct a demonstration project under this title; or (B) for renewal of authority to conduct a demonstration project under this title. (2) Approval The Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, approve applications submitted pursuant to the procedures announced under paragraph (1), taking into account the assessments required by subsection (c) and giving special consideration to the applications described in paragraph (3). (3) Special consideration The applications described in this paragraph are the following: (A) Applications submitted by qualified entities proposing to conduct demonstration projects under this title that will target the following populations: (i) Individuals who are or have been in foster care. (ii) Victims of domestic violence (as defined in section 40002(a)(8) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 42 U.S.C. 13925(a)(8) (iii) Victims of— (I) a major disaster declared to exist by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 42 U.S.C. 5191 (II) a situation similar to a major disaster or emergency described in subclause (I) declared to exist by the Governor of a State. (iv) Formerly incarcerated individuals. (v) Individuals who are unemployed or underemployed. (B) Applications described in subsection (d). (4) Contracts with nonprofit entities Subsection (f) shall continue to apply. (5) Grandfathering of existing statewide programs Subsection (g) shall continue to apply, except that any reference in such subsection to the date of enactment of this Act or to $1,000,000 shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of the enactment of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2019 . 6. Demonstration authority; annual grants Section 406(a) is amended by inserting (or, in the case of an application approved under section 405(h)(2), not later than 30 days after the date of the approval of such application) the date of enactment of this title 7. Reserve Fund Section 407(c) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting or organizations organization (2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: (3) Limitation on uses (A) In general Of the amount provided to a qualified entity under section 406(b)— (i) not more than 5.5 percent shall be used for the purpose described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1); (ii) not less than 80 percent shall be used for the purpose described in subparagraph (B) of such paragraph; and (iii) not more than 14.5 percent shall be used for the purposes described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of such paragraph. (B) Joint administration of project If two or more qualified entities are jointly administering a demonstration project, no one such entity shall use more than its proportional share of the percentage indicated in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1). . 8. Eligibility for participation Section 408 is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) Income tests The household meets either of the following income tests: (A) Adjusted gross income test The adjusted gross income of the household for the last taxable year ending in or with the preceding calendar year does not exceed the greater of— (i) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line, as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) (ii) 80 percent of the median income for the area for such taxable year, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for purposes of section 3(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2) (B) Modified adjusted gross income test (i) In general The modified adjusted gross income of the household for the last taxable year ending in or with the preceding calendar year does not exceed the amount described in clause (ii) for the individual whose eligibility is being determined under this section. (ii) Amount described The amount described in this clause for an individual is as follows: (I) Married filing jointly $40,000 for an individual described in subsection (a)(1) of section 1 (II) Surviving spouse $40,000 for an individual described in subsection (a)(2) of such section. (III) Head of household $30,000 for an individual described in subsection (b) of such section. (IV) Single or married filing separately $20,000 for an individual described in subsection (c) or (d) of such section. (iii) Adjustment for inflation (I) In general In the case of a calendar year described in clause (i) that is after 2020, the dollar amounts in clause (ii) shall be the dollar amounts determined under this clause (or clause (ii)) for the previous year increased by the annual percentage increase (if any) in the consumer price index (all items; U.S. city average) as of September of the calendar year described in clause (i). (II) Rounding Any dollar amount determined under subclause (I) that is not a multiple of $100 shall be rounded to the next greatest multiple of $100. ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Adjustment for inflation (i) In general In the case of a calendar year described in subparagraph (A) that is after 2020, the dollar amount in such subparagraph shall be the dollar amount determined under this clause (or such subparagraph) for the previous year increased by the annual percentage increase (if any) in the consumer price index (all items; U.S. city average) as of September of the calendar year described in such subparagraph. (ii) Rounding Any dollar amount determined under clause (i) that is not a multiple of $100 shall be rounded to the next greatest multiple of $100. ; (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection: (b) Calculating income of household (1) Adjusted gross income For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(A), the adjusted gross income of a household for a taxable year is the sum of the adjusted gross incomes of the individuals who are members of the household at the end of such year. (2) Modified adjusted gross income For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(B), the modified adjusted gross income of a household for a taxable year is the sum of the modified adjusted gross incomes of the individuals who are members of the household at the end of such year. ; and (4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— (A) by striking , including (B) by striking The Secretary (1) In general The Secretary ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (2) Individuals who move because of major disasters or emergencies or to find employment (A) In general The regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) shall establish procedures under which an individual described in subparagraph (B) may transfer from one demonstration project under this title to another demonstration project under this title that is being conducted in another community by a qualified entity that agrees to accept the individual into the project. Such regulations shall not permit such a transfer unless such qualified entity has sufficient amounts in its Reserve Fund to make the deposits required by section 410 with respect to the individual. (B) Individual described An individual described in this subparagraph is an individual participating in a demonstration project under this title who moves from the community in which the project is being conducted— (i) because of— (I) a major disaster declared to exist in such community by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 42 U.S.C. 5191 (II) a situation similar to a major disaster or emergency described in subclause (I) declared to exist in such community by the Governor of a State; or (III) a qualifying life event experienced by such individual; or (ii) in order to secure employment. (C) Qualifying life event defined For purposes of subparagraph (B)(i)(III), the term qualifying life event (i) means an event determined by the Secretary to be similar to an event that would permit the individual to make an election change with respect to a cafeteria plan under section 125 (ii) includes— (I) a change in the legal marital status of the individual; (II) a change in the number of dependents of the individual (as such term is used in section 404(8)(E)(ii)); (III) the birth or death of a child of the individual; (IV) the adoption or placement for adoption of a child by the individual; (V) a change in the provider of daycare for a child of the individual, or a significant increase in the cost of such daycare; and (VI) a change in employment status of the individual, the individual’s spouse, or a dependent of the individual (as such term is used in section 404(8)(E)(ii)). (3) Relocation to community where no project is available (A) In general An individual described in subparagraph (B) shall be permitted to withdraw funds from the individual development account of the individual during the 1-year period following the date such individual moves to another community in the same manner that an individual is permitted under section 410(d)(2) to withdraw funds during the 1-year period following the end of a demonstration project. (B) Individual described An individual described in this subparagraph is an individual who— (i) moves to a community where no demonstration project under this title is being conducted; or (ii) after moving to another community and making such efforts as the Secretary may require to transfer to another demonstration project under this title, is, for any reason other than a violation of the requirements of this title or regulations promulgated by the Secretary under this title, not accepted into another demonstration project under this title. (C) Funds remaining in IDA Any funds remaining in an individual development account after the end of the 1-year period described in subparagraph (A) shall be treated in the same manner as funds remaining in an individual development account after the end of the 1-year period described in subsection (d)(2)(A) of section 410 are treated under subsection (f) of such section. (4) Relocation by other individuals The regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) shall prohibit any individual who is unable to continue participating in a demonstration project under this title for any reason, except for an individual described in paragraph (2)(B) or (3)(B), from being eligible to participate in any other demonstration project conducted under this title. . 9. Deposits by qualified entities Section 410 is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting 2 times an amount equal to (2) in subsection (b), by striking $2,000 $5,000 (3) in subsection (c), by striking $4,000 $10,000 (4) in subsection (d)— (A) by striking The Secretary shall (1) In general The Secretary shall ; (B) in paragraph (1), as amended by subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the following: The Secretary may waive the application of the preceding sentence in the case of an individual who has participated in another demonstration project under this title (including successful completion after transferring from one project to another project as described in section 408(c)(2)) or an asset-building project similar to the demonstration projects conducted under this title. (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Access for 1 year after end of project (A) In general The Secretary shall ensure that an eligible individual is able to withdraw funds from an individual development account of the individual during the 1-year period following the end of the demonstration project with respect to which deposits were made into such account (whether such project ends by reason of expiration of the authority under section 406(a) of the qualified entity to conduct the demonstration project, termination of such authority under section 413 without transfer to another qualified entity, or otherwise). (B) Approval of withdrawals During the period described in subparagraph (A), an eligible individual may only make a withdrawal if the withdrawal is approved in writing— (i) by a responsible official of the qualified entity; or (ii) by the Secretary, if the Secretary terminated the authority of the qualified entity to conduct the demonstration project under section 413 or the Secretary determines that the qualified entity is otherwise unable or unwilling to participate in the approval process. ; and (5) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Unused funds in IDA If funds remain in an individual development account after the end of the 1-year period described in subsection (d)(2)(A), such funds shall be disposed of as considered appropriate by the Secretary or a nonprofit entity (as such term is used in section 404(7)(A)(i)) designated by the Secretary. . 10. Regulations Section 411 is amended— (1) in the heading, by inserting ; regulations projects (2) by striking A qualified entity (a) Local control over demonstration projects A qualified entity ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Regulations Subject to subsection (a), not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2019 . 11. Annual progress reports (a) In general Section 412(b) is amended by striking subsection (a) to subsection (a) to the Secretary. (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to reports submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 12. Sanctions (a) In general Section 413 is amended— (1) by amending subsection (b)(5) to read as follows: (5) if, by the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the termination, the Secretary has not found a qualified entity (or entities) described in paragraph (3), shall— (A) make every effort to identify, without conducting a competition (unless the Secretary determines that conducting a competition would be feasible and appropriate), another qualified entity (or entities), in the same or a different community, willing and able to conduct one or more demonstration projects under this title that may differ from the project being terminated; (B) in identifying a qualified entity (or entities) under subparagraph (A), give priority to qualified entities that— (i) are participating in demonstration projects conducted under this title; (ii) have waiting lists for participants in such demonstration projects; and (iii) can demonstrate the availability of non-Federal funds described in section 405(c)(4), in addition to any such funds committed to any demonstration projects being conducted by the qualified entity at the time the Secretary considers identifying the entity under subparagraph (A), to be committed to the demonstration project (or projects) described in subparagraph (A) as matching contributions; and (C) if the Secretary identifies a qualified entity (or entities) under subparagraph (A)— (i) transfer to the entity (or entities) control over the Reserve Fund established pursuant to section 407 with respect to the project being terminated; and (ii) authorize the entity (or entities) to use such Reserve Fund to conduct a demonstration project (or projects) in accordance with an application approved under subsection (e) or (h)(2) of section 405 and the requirements of this title. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Focus on community of terminated project In identifying another qualified entity (or entities) under paragraph (3) or (5) of subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, select a qualified entity (or entities) in the community served by the demonstration project being terminated. . (b) Effective date (1) In general The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to terminations occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Discretionary application to previous terminations The Secretary of Health and Human Services may apply such amendment to terminations occurring within the 1-year period ending on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act. In the case of such an application, any reference in such amendment to the date of the termination is deemed a reference to such date of enactment. 13. Evaluations Section 414 is amended— (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: (a) In general The Secretary may enter into one or more contracts with one or more independent research organizations to evaluate the demonstration projects conducted under this title, individually and as a group, including all qualified entities participating in and sources providing funds for the demonstration projects conducted under this title. Such contract or contracts may also provide for the evaluation of other asset-building programs and policies targeted to low-income individuals. ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking paragraph (3); (B) in paragraph (4), by striking , and how such effects vary among different populations or communities (C) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6); and (D) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (7) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and (3) in subsections (b) and (c), by inserting (or organizations) research organization 14. Costs of training qualified entities The Assets for Independence Act ( 42 U.S.C. 604 (1) by redesignating section 416 as section 417; and (2) by inserting after section 415 the following new section: 416. Costs of training qualified entities If the Secretary determines that a qualified entity conducting a demonstration project under this title should receive training in order to conduct the project in accordance with an application approved under subsection (e) or (h)(2) of section 405 or the requirements of this title, or to otherwise successfully conduct the project, the Secretary may use funds appropriated under section 418 to cover the necessary costs of such training, including the costs of travel, accommodations, and meals. . 15. Waiver authority The Assets for Independence Act ( 42 U.S.C. 604 (1) by redesignating section 417, as so redesignated by section 14(1) of this Act, as section 418; and (2) by inserting after section 416 the following new section: 417. Waiver authority In order to carry out the purposes of this title, the Secretary may waive any requirement of this title— (1) relating to— (A) the definition of a qualified entity; (B) the approval of a qualified entity to conduct a demonstration project under this title or to receive a grant under this title; (C) eligibility criteria for individuals to participate in a demonstration project under this title; (D) amounts or limitations with respect to— (i) the matching by a qualified entity of amounts deposited by an eligible individual in the individual development account of the individual; (ii) the amount of funds that may be granted to a qualified entity by the Secretary; or (iii) uses by a qualified entity of the funds granted to the qualified entity by the Secretary; or (E) the withdrawal of funds from an individual development account only for qualified expenses or as an emergency withdrawal; or (2) the waiver of which is necessary to— (A) permit the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security; (B) allow individuals to be placed on a waiting list to participate in a demonstration project under this title; or (C) allow demonstration projects under this title to be targeted to populations described in section 405(h)(3)(A) and to successfully recruit individuals from such populations for participation. . 16. Authorization of appropriations Section 418, as redesignated by section 15(1) of this Act, is amended by inserting after 2003 and $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 17. Conforming amendments (a) In general Section 414(e) is amended by striking section 416 section 418 (b) Table of contents The table of contents in section 2 of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998 ( Public Law 105–285 (1) By striking the item relating to section 411 and inserting the following new item: Sec. 411. Local control over demonstration projects; regulations. . (2) By striking the items relating to sections 415 and 416 and inserting the following new items: Sec. 415. No reduction in benefits. Sec. 416. Costs of training qualified entities. Sec. 417. Waiver authority. Sec. 418. Authorization of appropriations. . 18. General effective date The amendments made by sections 4 through 9 of this Act shall apply to project years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and otherwise makes changes to certain demonstration projects that fund individual development accounts (IDAs). (IDAs are matched savings accounts through which low-income individuals may save targeted amounts for qualifying purposes such as first-time home ownership or post-secondary education.) Specifically, the bill (1) expands qualifying expenses for purposes of education and home replacement, repair, or improvement; (2) allows public housing agencies to participate in demonstration projects; (3) increases income eligibility limits; and (4) makes other changes with respect to terminated projects, reporting, and other requirements. The Department of Health and Human Services must give special consideration to applications from certain categories of individuals, including individuals who are or have been in foster care. In addition, an individual who is a recent or current victim of domestic violence shall not, for purposes of project participation, fail to qualify as a first-time homebuyer by reason of having a co-ownership interest in a principal residence with a person who committed domestic violence against the individual.