Livable Communities Act of 2014

To create livable communities through coordinated public investment and streamlined requirements, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Livable Communities Act of 2014 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) when rural, suburban, and urban communities plan transportation, housing, and water infrastructure strategically it is estimated that these communities could save nearly $122,000,000,000 in infrastructure costs over the next 25 years; (2) key Federal programs are missing a vital opportunity to boost economic growth at the local and regional level through better coordination of housing, transportation, and related infrastructure investments; (3) Federal regulations and policies should support community efforts to implement and sustain progress toward the achievement of locally defined development goals, in terms of— (A) geographic location and proximity to existing resources; (B) developing transportation choices that serve the needs of all users and fit within the context of the community; and (C) maintaining structural and indoor environmental quality and minimizing health hazards; and (4) greater coordination of public investment will provide direct support for immediate job creation and lay the groundwork for long-term resilience and prosperity by leveraging significant private sector and philanthropic investment to make the most of Federal funding. 3. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to strengthen rural, suburban, and urban economies by enabling communities to establish goals for the future and to chart a course for achieving such goals; (2) to promote local leadership by encouraging communities to develop innovative solutions that reflect the unique economic assets and needs of the communities; (3) to maximize returns on Federal funding of housing, transportation, and other infrastructure projects through the coordination of Federal grant programs, regulations, and requirements, by reducing the number of duplicative Federal programs and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and policies of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other Federal agencies, as appropriate; and (4) to ensure that Federal funding supports locally defined long range development goals. 4. Definitions In this Act, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Affordable housing The term affordable housing (2) Comprehensive regional plan The term comprehensive regional plan (A) uses a cooperative, locally controlled, and inclusive public engagement process to identify needs and goals across a region and to integrate related planning processes; (B) prioritizes projects for implementation, including healthy housing projects; and (C) is tied to capital improvement programs and annual budgets. (3) Department The term Department (4) Director The term Director (5) Extremely low-income family The term extremely low-income family (A) 30 percent of the median income in the area in which the family lives, as determined by the Secretary, with appropriate adjustments for the size of the family; or (B) a percentage of the median income in the area in which the family lives, as determined by the Secretary upon a finding by the Secretary that such percentage is necessary due to unusually high or low family incomes in the area in which the family lives, with appropriate adjustments for the size of the family. (6) Healthy housing The term healthy housing (7) Housing-related health hazard The term housing-related health hazard (8) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 4103 (9) Livable community The term livable community (A) provides safe, reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation choices; (B) provides long-term affordable, accessible, energy-efficient, and location-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities; (C) supports, revitalizes, and encourages the growth of existing communities and maximizes the cost-effectiveness of existing infrastructure; (D) promotes economic development and economic competitiveness; (E) preserves the environment and natural resources; (F) protects agricultural land, rural land, and green spaces; and (G) supports public health and improves the quality of life for residents of, and workers in, the community. (10) Location-efficient The term location-efficient (A) to lower living expenses for working families; (B) to enhance mobility; (C) to encourage private investment in transit-oriented development; and (D) to encourage private sector infill development and maximize the use of existing infrastructure. (11) Low-income family The term low-income family (12) Metropolitan planning organization The term metropolitan planning organization section 134(b) (13) Office The term Office (14) Regional council The term regional council (A) accountable to units of general local government; (B) delivers a variety of Federal, State, and local programs; and (C) performs planning functions and provides professional and technical assistance. (15) Rural planning organization The term rural planning organization (A) that— (i) works in cooperation with the department of transportation (or equivalent entity) of a State to plan transportation networks and advise officials of the State on transportation planning; and (ii) is located in a rural area— (I) with a population of not less than 5,000; and (II) that is not located in an area represented by a metropolitan planning organization; or (B) that is a regional transportation planning organization, as defined in section 5303 (16) Secretary The term Secretary (17) State The term State (18) Transit-oriented development The term transit-oriented development (19) Unit of general local government The term unit of general local government (A) a city, county, town, township, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State; or (B) a combination of general purpose political subdivisions, as determined by the Secretary. (20) Unit of special purpose local government The term unit of special purpose local government (A) means a division of a unit of general purpose government that serves a special purpose and does not provide a broad array of services; and (B) includes an entity such as a school district, a housing agency, a transit agency, and a parks and recreation district. (21) Very low-income family The term very low-income family 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) 5. Office of sustainable housing and communities (a) Office established There is established in the Department an Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, which shall— (1) coordinate Federal policies that— (A) encourage locally directed comprehensive and integrated planning and development at the State, regional, and local levels; (B) encourage coordinated public investments through the development of comprehensive regional plans; (C) provide long-term affordable, accessible, energy-efficient, healthy, and location-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities, particularly for low-, very low-, and extremely low-income families; and (D) achieve other goals consistent with the purposes of this Act; (2) review Federal programs and policies to determine barriers to interagency collaboration and make recommendations to promote the ability of local communities to access resources in the Department and throughout the Federal Government and coordinate with and conduct outreach to Federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, on methods to reduce duplicative programs and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs within the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department; (3) conduct research and advise the Secretary on the research agenda of the Department relating to coordinated development, in collaboration with the Office of Policy Development and Research of the Department; (4) implement and oversee the grant programs established under this Act by— (A) developing the process and format for grant applications for each grant program; (B) promulgating regulations or guidance relating to each grant program; (C) selecting recipients of grants under each grant program; (D) creating performance measures for recipients of grants under each grant program; (E) developing technical assistance and other guidance to assist recipients of grants and potential applicants for grants under each grant program; (F) monitoring and evaluating the performance of recipients of grants under each grant program; and (G) carrying out such other activities relating to the administration of the grant programs under this Act as the Secretary determines are necessary; (5) provide guidance, information on best practices, and technical assistance to communities seeking to adopt sustainable development policies and practices; (6) administer initiatives of the Department relating to the policies described in paragraph (1), as determined by the Secretary; and (7) work with the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration of the Department of Transportation and other offices and administrations of the Department of Transportation, as appropriate— (A) to encourage transit-oriented development; and (B) to coordinate Federal housing, community development, and transportation policies, including the policies described in paragraph (1). (b) Director The head of the Office shall be the Director of the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities. (c) Duties relating to grant programs (1) In general The Director shall carry out the grant programs established under this Act. (2) Small and rural communities grant program The Director shall coordinate with the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to small and rural communities under sections 7 and 8. (3) Technical assistance for grant recipients and applicants The Director may— (A) coordinate with other Federal agencies to establish interagency and multidisciplinary teams to provide technical assistance to recipients of, and prospective applicants for, grants under this Act; (B) by Federal interagency agreement, transfer funds to another Federal agency to facilitate and support technical assistance; and (C) make contracts with third parties to provide technical assistance to grant recipients and prospective applicants for grants. 6. Comprehensive planning grant program (a) Definitions In this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Consortium of units of general local governments The term consortium of units of general local governments (A) represents all or part of a metropolitan statistical area, a micropolitan statistical area, or a noncore area; (B) has the authority under State, tribal, or local law to carry out planning activities, including surveys, land use studies, environmental or public health analyses, and development of urban revitalization plans; and (C) has provided documentation to the Secretary sufficient to demonstrate that the purpose of the consortium is to carry out a project using a grant awarded under this Act. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a partnership between a consortium of units of general local government and an eligible partner; or (B) an Indian tribe, if— (i) the Indian tribe has— (I) a tribal entity that performs housing and land use planning functions; and (II) a tribal entity that performs transportation and transportation planning functions; and (ii) the Secretary determines that the isolated location and land expanse of the Indian tribe require the Secretary to treat the tribe as an eligible entity for purposes of carrying out activities using a grant awarded under this section. (3) Eligible partner The term eligible partner (A) a metropolitan planning organization, a rural planning organization, or a regional council; or (B) a metropolitan planning organization, a rural planning organization, or a regional council, and— (i) a State; (ii) an Indian tribe; (iii) a State and an Indian tribe; or (iv) an institution of higher education. (4) Grant program The term grant program (5) Noncore area The term noncore area (b) Comprehensive planning grant program established The Director shall establish a comprehensive planning grant program to make grants to eligible entities to carry out a project— (1) to coordinate locally defined planning processes across jurisdictions and agencies; (2) to identify regional partnerships for developing and implementing a comprehensive regional plan; (3) to conduct or update assessments to determine regional needs and promote economic and community development; (4) to develop or update— (A) a comprehensive regional plan; or (B) goals and strategies to implement an existing comprehensive regional plan and other related activities; and (5) to identify local zoning and other code changes necessary to implement a comprehensive regional plan and promote sustainable development. (c) Grants (1) Diversity of grantees The Director shall ensure geographic diversity among and adequate representation from each of the following categories: (A) Small and rural communities Eligible entities that represent all or part of a noncore area, a micropolitan area, or a small metropolitan statistical area with a population of not more than 200,000. (B) Mid-sized metropolitan communities Eligible entities that represent all or part of a metropolitan statistical area with a population of more than 200,000 and not more than 500,000. (C) Large metropolitan communities Eligible entities that represent all or part of a metropolitan statistical area with a population of more than 500,000. (2) Award of funds to small and rural communities (A) In general The Director shall— (i) award not less than 15 percent of the funds under the grant program to eligible entities described in paragraph (1)(A); and (ii) ensure diversity among the geographic regions and the size of the population of the communities served by recipients of grants that are eligible entities described in paragraph (1)(A). (B) Insufficient applications If the Director determines that insufficient approvable applications have been submitted by eligible entities described in paragraph (1)(A), the Director may award less than 15 percent of the funds under the grant program to eligible entities described in paragraph (1)(A). (3) Federal share (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under the grant program may not exceed 80 percent. (B) Exceptions (i) Small and rural communities In the case of an eligible entity described in paragraph (1)(A), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under the grant program may be 90 percent. (ii) Indian tribes In the case of an eligible entity that is an Indian tribe, the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under the grant program may be 100 percent. (C) Non-Federal share (i) In-kind contributions For the purposes of this section, in-kind contributions may be used for all or part of the non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under the grant program. (ii) Other Federal funding Federal funding from sources other than the grant program may not be used for the non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under the grant program. (4) Availability of funds (A) In general An eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program shall— (i) obligate any funds received under the grant program not later than 2 years after the date on which the grant agreement under subsection (g) is made; and (ii) expend any funds received under the grant program not later than 4 years after the date on which the grant agreement under subsection (g) is made. (B) Unobligated amounts After the date described in subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary may award to another eligible entity, to carry out activities under this section, any amounts that an eligible entity has not obligated under subparagraph (A)(i). (d) Application (1) In general An eligible entity that desires a grant under this section shall submit to the Director an application, at such time and in such manner as the Director shall prescribe, that contains— (A) a description of the project proposed to be carried out by the eligible entity; (B) a budget for the project that includes the anticipated Federal share of the cost of the project and a description of the source of the non-Federal share; (C) the designation of a lead agency or organization, which may be the eligible entity, to receive and manage any funds received by the eligible entity under the grant program; (D) a signed copy of a memorandum of understanding among local jurisdictions, including, as appropriate, a State, an Indian tribe, units of general purpose local government, units of special purpose local government, metropolitan planning organizations, rural planning organizations, and regional councils that demonstrates— (i) the creation of an eligible entity; (ii) a description of the nature and extent of planned collaboration between the eligible entity and any partners of the eligible entity; (iii) a commitment to develop a comprehensive regional plan; and (iv) a commitment to implement the plan after the plan is developed; (E) a certification that the eligible entity has— (i) secured the participation, or made a good-faith effort to secure the participation, of transportation providers and public housing agencies within the area affected by the comprehensive regional plan and the entities described in clause (ii); and (ii) created, or will create not later than 1 year after the date of the grant award, a regional advisory board to provide input and feedback on the development of the comprehensive regional plan that includes representatives of a State, the metropolitan planning organization, the rural planning organization, the regional council, local jurisdictions, non-profit organizations, and others, as deemed appropriate by the eligible entity, given the local context of the comprehensive planning effort; (F) a certification that the eligible entity has solicited public comment on the contents of the project description under subparagraph (A) that includes— (i) a description of the process for receiving public comment relating to the proposal; and (ii) such other information as the Director may require; (G) a description of how the eligible entity will carry out the activities under subsection (f); and (H) such additional information as the Director may require. (2) Indian tribes An eligible entity that is an Indian tribe is not required to submit the certification under paragraph (1)(E). (e) Selection In evaluating an application for a grant under the grant program, the Director shall consider the extent to which the application— (1) demonstrates that the applicant has or will have the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the project; (2) demonstrates the extent to which the consortium has developed partnerships throughout an entire region, including, as appropriate, partnerships with the entities described in subsection (d)(1)(D); (3) demonstrates integration with local efforts in economic development and job creation; (4) demonstrates a strategy for implementing a comprehensive regional plan through regional infrastructure investment plans and local land use plans; (5) promotes diversity among the geographic regions and the size of the population of the communities served by recipients of grants under this section; (6) demonstrates a commitment to seeking substantial public input during the planning process and public participation in the development of the comprehensive regional plan; (7) demonstrates that a Federal grant is necessary to accomplish the project proposed to be carried out; (8) minimizes the Federal share necessary to carry out the project and leverages State, local, or private resources; and (9) demonstrates such other qualities as the Director may determine. (f) Eligible activities An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall carry out a project that includes 1 or more of the following activities: (1) Coordinating locally defined planning processes across jurisdictions and agencies. (2) Identifying potential regional partnerships for developing and implementing a comprehensive regional plan. (3) Conducting or updating assessments to determine regional needs, including healthy housing, and promote economic and community development. (4) Developing or updating— (A) a comprehensive regional plan; or (B) goals and strategies to implement an existing comprehensive regional plan. (5) Implementing local zoning and other code changes necessary to implement a comprehensive regional plan and promote sustainable development. (g) Grant agreement Each eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program shall agree to establish, in coordination with the Director, performance measures, reporting requirements, and any other requirements that the Director determines are necessary, that the eligible entity shall meet at the end of each year in which the eligible entity receives funds under the grant program. (h) Public outreach (1) Outreach required Each eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program shall perform substantial outreach activities— (A) to engage a broad cross-section of community stakeholders in the process of developing a comprehensive regional plan, including low-income families, minorities, older adults, and economically disadvantaged community members; and (B) to create an effective means for stakeholders to participate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive regional plan. (2) Finalization of comprehensive regional plan (A) In general An eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program may not finalize a comprehensive regional plan before the eligible entity holds a public hearing to obtain the views of citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties. (B) Availability of information Not later than 30 days before a hearing described in subparagraph (A), an eligible entity shall make the proposed comprehensive regional plan and all information relevant to the hearing— (i) available to the public for inspection during normal business hours; and (ii) available on a publically accessible website. (C) Notice Not later than 30 days before a hearing described in subparagraph (A), an eligible entity shall publish notice— (i) of the hearing; and (ii) that the information described in subparagraph (B) is available. (i) Violation of grant agreement or failure To comply with public outreach requirements If the Director determines that an eligible entity has not met the performance measures established in the grant agreement under subsection (g), is not making reasonable progress toward meeting such measures, is otherwise in violation of the grant agreement, or has not complied with the public outreach requirements under subsection (h), the Director may— (1) withhold financial assistance until the requirements under the grant agreement or under subsection (h), as applicable, are met; or (2) terminate the grant agreement. (j) Report on the comprehensive planning grant (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date on which the grant agreement under subsection (g) expires, an eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program shall submit a final report on the project to the Secretary. (2) Contents of report The report shall include— (A) a detailed explanation of the activities undertaken using the grant, including an explanation of the completed project and how it achieves specific transit-oriented, transportation, housing, or sustainable community goals within the region; (B) a discussion of any obstacles encountered in the planning process and how the eligible entity overcame the obstacles; (C) an evaluation of the success of the project using the performance measures established in the grant agreement under subsection (g), including an evaluation of the planning process and how the project contributes to carrying out the comprehensive regional plan; and (D) any other information the Director may require. (3) Interim report The Director may require an eligible entity to submit an interim report before the date on which the project for which the grant is awarded is completed. (k) Authorization of appropriations (1) Authorization There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the award of grants under this section, to remain available until expended— (A) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and (B) $125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019. (2) Technical assistance The Director may use not more than 2 percent of the amounts made available under this subsection for a fiscal year for technical assistance under section 5(c)(3). 7. Community challenge grant program (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the terms consortium of units of general local governments eligible entity eligible partner (2) the term grant program (b) Community challenge grant program established The Director shall establish a community challenge grant program to make grants to eligible entities to— (1) promote integrated planning and investments across policy and governmental jurisdictions; and (2) implement projects identified in a comprehensive regional plan. (c) Grants (1) Diversity of grantees The Director shall ensure geographic diversity among and adequate representation from eligible entities in each of the categories described in section 6(c)(1). (2) Terms and conditions Except as otherwise provided in this section, a grant under the grant program shall be made on the same terms and conditions as a grant under section 6. (3) Expending funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program shall expend any funds received under the grant program not later than 5 years after the date on which the grant agreement under subsection (g) is made. (d) Application (1) Contents An eligible entity that desires a grant under the grant program shall submit to the Director an application, at such time and in such manner as the Director shall prescribe, that contains— (A) a copy of the comprehensive regional plan, whether developed as part of the comprehensive planning grant program under section 6 or developed independently; (B) a description of the project or projects proposed to be carried out using a grant under the grant program; (C) a description of any preliminary actions that have been or must be taken at the local or regional level to implement the project or projects described under subparagraph (B), including the revision of land use or zoning policies; (D) a signed copy of a memorandum of understanding among local jurisdictions, including, as appropriate, a State, units of general purpose local government, units of special purpose local government, metropolitan planning organizations, rural planning organizations, and regional councils that demonstrates— (i) the creation of a consortium of units of general local government; and (ii) a commitment to implement the activities described in the comprehensive regional plan; (E) a certification that the eligible entity has solicited public comment on the contents of the project or projects described in subparagraph (B) that includes— (i) a certification that the eligible entity made information about the project or projects available and afforded citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties a reasonable opportunity to examine the content of the project or projects and to submit comments; (ii) a description of the process for receiving public comment, and a description of the outreach efforts to affected populations and stakeholders; and (iii) a certification that the eligible entity— (I) held a public hearing to obtain the views of citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties; (II) made the proposed project or projects and all information relevant to the hearing available for inspection by the public during normal business hours not less than 30 days before the hearing under subclause (I); and (III) published a notice informing the public of the hearing under subclause (I) and the availability of the information described in subclause (II); (F) a budget for the project or projects that includes the Federal share of the cost of the project or projects requested and a description of the source of the non-Federal share; and (G) such additional information as the Director may require. (2) Indian tribes An eligible entity that is an Indian tribe is not required to submit a memorandum of understanding under paragraph (1)(D). (e) Selection In evaluating an application for a grant under the grant program, the Director shall consider the extent to which the application— (1) demonstrates that the applicant has or will have the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the project; (2) demonstrates the extent to which the eligible entity has developed partnerships throughout an entire region, including partnerships with units of special purpose local government and transportation providers; (3) demonstrates clear and meaningful interjurisdictional cooperation and coordination of housing (including healthy housing), transportation, and environmental policies and plans; (4) demonstrates a commitment to implementing a comprehensive regional plan and documents action taken or planned to implement the plan; (5) minimizes the Federal share necessary to carry out the project and leverages a significant amount of State, local, or private resources; (6) identifies original and innovative ideas to overcoming regional problems, including local land use and zoning (or other code) obstacles to carrying out the comprehensive regional plan; (7) promotes diversity among the geographic regions and the size of the population of the communities served by recipients of grants under the grant program; (8) demonstrates a commitment to substantial public input throughout the implementation process; (9) demonstrates that a Federal grant is necessary to accomplish the project or projects proposed to be carried out; and (10) demonstrates such other qualities as the Director may determine. (f) Grant activities (1) Planning activities (A) In general An eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program may use not more than 10 percent of the grant for planning activities. (B) Limitation Activities related to the updating, reform, or development of a local code, plan, or ordinance to implement projects contained in a comprehensive regional plan shall not be considered planning activities for the purposes of a grant under the grant program. (2) Projects and investments An eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program shall carry out 1 or more projects that are designed to achieve the goals identified in a comprehensive regional plan. (g) Grant agreement Each eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program shall agree to establish, in coordination with the Director, performance measures, reporting requirements, and any other requirements that the Director determines are necessary, that the eligible entity shall meet at the end of each year in which the eligible entity receives funds under the grant program. (h) Violation of grant agreement If the Director determines that an eligible entity has not met the performance measures established under subsection (g), is not making reasonable progress toward meeting such measures, or is otherwise in violation of the grant agreement, the Director may— (1) withhold financial assistance until the requirements under the grant agreement are met; or (2) terminate the grant agreement. (i) Report on the community challenge grant (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date on which the grant agreement under subsection (g) expires, an eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program shall submit a final report on the project to the Secretary. (2) Contents of report The report shall include— (A) a detailed explanation of the activities undertaken using the grant, including an explanation of the completed project and how it achieves specific transit-oriented, transportation, housing, or sustainable community goals within the region; (B) a discussion of any obstacles encountered in the planning and implementation process and how the eligible entity overcame the obstacles; (C) an evaluation of the success of the project using the performance measures established under subsection (g), including an evaluation of the planning and implementation process and how the project contributes to carrying out the comprehensive regional plan; and (D) any other information the Director may require. (3) Interim report The Director may require an eligible entity to submit an interim report before the date on which the project for which the grant is awarded is completed. (j) Authorization of appropriations (1) Authorization There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the award of grants under this section, to remain available until expended— (A) $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016; (B) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; (C) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; and (D) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2019. 8. Credit facility to support transit-oriented development (a) Definitions In this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Eligible applicant The term eligible applicant (2) Eligible area The term eligible area ½ (3) Eligible borrower The term eligible borrower (A) a governmental entity, authority, agency, or instrumentality; (B) a corporation, partnership, joint venture, or trust on behalf of which an eligible applicant has submitted an application under subsection (c); or (C) any other legal entity undertaking an infrastructure development project on behalf of which an eligible applicant has submitted an application under subsection (c). (4) Major public transportation facility The term major public transportation facility (A) a fixed-guideway public transportation station; (B) a high speed rail or intercity rail station connecting to public transportation; (C) an intermodal facility connecting multiple public transportation lines; or (D) a public transportation center located in an area other than an urbanized area. (5) Planned major public transportation facility The term planned major public transportation facility (A) appropriate environmental reviews have been completed; and (B) funding for construction can be reasonably anticipated. (6) Project The term project (A) property enhancement, including conducting environmental remediation, park development, and open space acquisition; (B) improvement of mobility, including rehabilitating, or providing for additional, streets, public transportation stations, structured parking, walkways, and bikeways; (C) utility development, including rehabilitating or relocating existing, or providing for new drinking water, wastewater, electric, and gas utilities; or (D) community service facilities, such as child care centers. (7) Public transportation The term public transportation section 5302 (b) Loan program established The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, may make or guarantee loans under this section to eligible borrowers for projects. (c) Application (1) In general An eligible applicant may submit to the Secretary an application for a loan or loan guarantee under this section— (A) to fund a project carried out by the eligible applicant; or (B) on behalf of an eligible borrower, to fund a project carried out by the eligible borrower. (d) Selection criteria (1) In general The Secretary may make a loan or loan guarantee under this section for a project that— (A) is part of a community-wide development plan, as defined by the Secretary; (B) promotes sustainable development; and (C) ensures that not less than 15 percent of any housing units constructed or substantially rehabilitated as part of transit-oriented development supported by the project are affordable over the long term to, and occupied at time of initial occupancy by— (i) renters with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income; or (ii) homeowners with incomes at or below 100 percent of the area median income. (2) Considerations The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall select the recipients of loans and loan guarantees under this section based on the extent to which— (A) the transit-oriented development supported by the project will encourage increased use of transit; (B) the transit-oriented development supported by the project will create or preserve long-term affordable housing units in addition to the housing units required to be made available under paragraph (1)(C) or will provide deeper affordability than required under paragraph (1)(C); (C) the project will facilitate and encourage additional development or redevelopment in the overall public transportation station area; (D) the local government has adopted policies that— (i) promote long-term affordable housing; and (ii) allow high-density, mixed-use development near public transportation stations; (E) the transit-oriented development supported by the project is part of a comprehensive regional plan; (F) the eligible borrower has established a reliable, dedicated revenue source to repay the loan; (G) the project is not financially viable for the eligible borrower without a loan or loan guarantee under this section; and (H) a loan or loan guarantee under this section would be used in conjunction with non-Federal resources to fund the project. (e) Eligible sources of repayment A loan made or guaranteed under this section shall be repayable, in whole or in part, from dedicated revenue sources, which may include— (1) user fees; (2) property tax revenues; (3) sales tax revenues; (4) other revenue sources dedicated to the project by property owners and businesses; and (5) a bond or other indebtedness backed by one of the revenue sources listed in this paragraph. (f) Interest rate The Secretary shall establish an interest rate for loans made or guaranteed under this section with reference to a benchmark interest rate (commonly known as a yield (g) Maximum maturity The maturity of a loan made or guaranteed under this section may not exceed the lesser of— (1) 35 years; or (2) 90 percent of the useful life of any project to be financed by the loan, as determined by the Secretary. (h) Maximum loan guarantee rate (1) In general The guarantee rate on a loan guaranteed under this section may not exceed 75 percent of the amount of the loan. (2) Lower guarantee rate for low-risk borrowers The Secretary shall establish a guarantee rate for loans to eligible borrowers that the Secretary determines pose a lower risk of default that is lower than the guarantee rate for loans to other eligible borrowers. (i) Fees The Secretary shall establish fees for loans made or guaranteed under this section at a level that is sufficient to cover all or part of the costs to the Federal Government of making or guaranteeing a loan under this section. (j) Nonsubordination A loan made or guaranteed under this section may not be subordinated to the claims of any holder of an obligation relating to the project in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency, or liquidation. (k) Commencement of repayment The scheduled repayment of principal or interest on a loan made or guaranteed under this section shall commence not later than 5 years after the date of substantial completion of a project. (l) Repayment deferral for loans (1) In general If, at any time after the date of substantial completion of a project, the Secretary determines that dedicated revenue sources of an eligible borrower are insufficient to make the scheduled loan repayments of principal and interest on a loan made or guaranteed under this section, the Secretary may, subject to criteria established by the Secretary, allow the eligible borrower to add unpaid principal and interest to the outstanding balance of the loan. (2) Treatment of deferred payments Any payment deferred under this section shall— (A) continue to accrue interest until fully repaid; and (B) be scheduled to be amortized over the remaining term of the loan. (m) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for the cost of loans and loan guarantees under this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019. 9. Healthy homes (a) Federal initiative To support healthy housing and eradicate housing-Related health hazards The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, shall lead the Federal initiative to support healthy housing and eradicate housing-related health hazards by— (1) reviewing, monitoring, and evaluating Federal housing, health, energy, and environmental programs and identifying areas of overlap and duplication that could be improved; (2) identifying best practices and model programs, including practices and programs that link services for low-income families and services for health hazards; (3) identifying best practices for finance products, building codes, and regulatory practices; (4) researching training programs and work practices that can accurately assess housing-related health hazards; (5) promoting collaboration among Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies and non-governmental organizations; and (6) coordinating with all relevant Federal agencies. (b) Assessment The Secretary shall conduct a collaborative, interagency assessment of best practices for— (1) coordinating activities relating to healthy housing; (2) removing unnecessary barriers to interagency coordination in Federal statutes and regulations; and (3) creating incentives in programs of the Federal Government to advance the complementary goals of improving environmental health, energy conservation, and the availability of housing. (c) Study and report on sustainable building features and indoor environmental quality in housing (1) Study The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, and any other Federal agency that the Secretary determines is appropriate, shall conduct a detailed study of how sustainable building features in housing, such as energy efficiency, affect— (A) the quality of the indoor environment; (B) the prevalence of housing-related health hazards; and (C) the health of occupants of the housing. (2) Report Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study under paragraph (1). (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 10. Ineligibility of individuals who are not lawfully present (a) In general No housing assisted using a grant under this Act may be made available to an individual who is not lawfully present in the United States. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act may be construed to alter the restrictions or definitions under section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 1436a

Summary: Livable Communities Act of 2014 - Establishes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) an Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC) to review and coordinate federal policies that: encourage locally directed comprehensive and integrated planning and development at the state, regional, and local levels, and coordinated public investments through development of comprehensive regional plans; and provide long-term affordable, accessible, energy-efficient, healthy and location-efficient housing choices for all people, particularly low-income families. Requires the OSHC Director to establish a program to make comprehensive planning grants and community challenge grants to units of general local government or Indian tribes to carry out projects meeting specified criteria. Authorizes the Secretary of HUD to make or guarantee (up to 75% of) loans to eligible governmental, corporate, or partnership borrowers for infrastructure development projects used to support transit-oriented development. Requires the Director of the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes to lead the federal initiative to support healthy housing and eradicate housing-related health hazards. Requires the Secretary to study how sustainable building features in housing, such as energy efficiency, affect: (1) the quality of the indoor environment, (2) the prevalence of housing-related health hazards, and (3) the health of the occupants.