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 Indian tribe 42 U.S.C. 1471(b) (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) continuously served as a volunteer for the eligible employer during the 2-year period preceding the date on which the individual submits a verification letter under section 3(b) or 4(b); (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 first responder in the State, political subdivision of a State, or jurisdiction of an 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 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 meets the requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 2(3); and (3) include a copy of the certification described in section 2(3)(D). 4. Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program and similar programs (a) Eligibility A qualified volunteer first responder who submits to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) a verification letter in accordance with subsection (b) shall qualify as a firefighter or emergency medical technician for purposes of any single family property disposition program carried out by the Secretary by regulation under section 204(g) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1710(g) (b) Verification Letter To qualify to purchase a home under a single family property disposition program referred to in subsection (a), a qualified 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 meets the requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 2(3); (3) include a copy of the certification described in section 2(3)(D); and (4) include a certification from the qualified volunteer first responder of the responder’s good faith intention to continue serving as a volunteer for the eligible employer for not less than 1 year following the date of closing.

Summary: Volunteer First Responder Housing Act This bill expands eligibility to qualified volunteer first responders for assistance under (1) the Department of Agriculture Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, and (2) certain Department of Housing and Urban Development single-family property disposition programs.