REACH Act of 2013

To improve the implementation and oversight for the program under section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 for training and hiring requirements for public housing, Indian housing assistance, and housing and community development programs. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Raising Employment in Affordable Communities and Homes Act of 2013 REACH Act of 2013 2. Section 3 action plans Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701u (1) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection: (e) Action plans (1) Public housing and Indian housing assistance (A) Public housing agencies (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), a public housing agency may not be provided any development assistance pursuant to section 5 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c), or assistance from the Operating Fund or Capital Fund under section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g (ii) Inapplicability to qualified public housing agencies Clause (i) shall not apply to any qualified public housing agency, as such term is defined in section 5A(b)(3)(C) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437c–1(b)(3)(C) (B) Indian tribes (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), an Indian tribe or tribally designated housing entity (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 ( 25 U.S.C. 4103 (ii) Inapplicability Clause (i) shall not apply to any recipient of grant amounts under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 for which the sum of— (I) the number of affordable housing dwelling units administered by such recipient and assisted with such grant amounts, and (II) the number of households provided tenant-based rental assistance with such grant amounts by such recipient, is 550 or fewer. (C) Incorporation in annual plan Such an action plan for a year shall be incorporated— (i) in the case of a public housing agency, in the annual plan under section 5A of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1437c–1 (ii) in the case of an Indian tribe or tribally designated housing entity, the Indian housing plan under section 102 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4112) for the tribe for the program year. (D) Retroactive funding Funds may be provided to any public housing agency, and to any Indian tribe or tribally designated housing entity, retroactively upon the development and inclusion of an action plan under this subsection in an agency’s annual plan, or the tribe’s or tribally designated housing entity’s Indian housing plan, respectively. (2) Other programs The Secretary shall require that each application for housing and community development assistance in an amount exceeding $200,000 shall include an action plan under this subsection that describes activities to be carried out in accordance subsections (c) and (d) of this section. (3) Content An action plan under this subsection for a public housing agency, for an Indian tribe or tribally designated housing entity, or for a recipient of housing and community development assistance, shall specify the agency’s, tribe’s or entity’s, or recipient’s— (A) intended outreach efforts under this section within the community; (B) planned training programs; (C) relevant employment opportunities under this section; and (D) timeline for planned implementation under this section. (4) Oversight The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to review the implementation of annual action plans under this subsection. (5) Penalties The Secretary may establish and impose penalties for public housing agencies, Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities, recipients of housing and community development assistance that do not comply with their action plans to the satisfaction of the Secretary. Such penalties may include— (A) in the case of a public housing agency, or tribe or tribally designated housing entity, withholding of assistance from the Department until compliance is achieved; and (B) in the case of recipients of housing and community development assistance— (i) enforcement actions through the Departmental Enforcement Center of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (ii) withholding future assistance payments; (iii) a flag in the Active Partners Performance System; and (iv) rejection of any further applications for assistance from the Department until compliance is achieved. (6) Authorization of appropriation There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection. . 3. Effective date The amendment under section 2 shall take effect upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Raising Employment in Affordable Communities and Homes Act of 2013 or REACH Act of 2013 - Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 with respect to providing economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons, particularly recipients of federal assistance for housing. Prohibits any assistance to a public housing agency (PHA) under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for any fiscal year for low-income housing projects (development assistance), or assistance from the Operating Fund or Capital Fund under the same Act, unless the PHA prepares an action plan describing activities that will: (1) provide such individuals the training and employment opportunities generated by such assistance, and (2) award contracts for work in connection with such assistance to business concerns that also provide economic opportunities for such individuals. Waives this prohibition for any qualified PHA: (1) the sum of the public housing dwelling units it administers, and the number of tenant-based rental assistance vouchers it administers, is 550 or fewer; and (2) that is not a troubled PHA, and does not have a failing score under the Section 8 Management Assessment Program during the prior 12 months. Prohibits an Indian tribe or tribally designated housing entity (as defined in the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996) from providing any grant amounts under the Act for any program year unless the tribe or entity prepares an action plan meeting the same criteria. Waives this prohibition for any recipient of such grant amounts for which the sum of the affordable housing dwelling units it administers and the number of households provided tenant-based rental assistance with such grant amounts, is 550 or fewer. Requires incorporation of the yearly action plan in: (1) a PHA's annual plan for the fiscal year, or (2) an Indian tribe's (or designated entity's) Indian housing plan for the program year. Allows retroactive funding to any PHA, Indian tribe, or tribally designated entity upon the development and inclusion of an action plan in the PHA's annual plan or the tribe's or tribal entity's Indian housing plan. Directs the Secretary to require that each application for housing and community development assistance exceeding $200,000 include an action plan. Authorizes the Secretary to establish and impose penalties for PHAs, Indian tribes and tribally designated entities, and recipients of housing and community development assistance that do not comply with their action plans to the Secretary's satisfaction.