Moving to Work Reform Act of 2015

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Moving to Work Reform Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. TERMS OF MOVING TO WORK AGREEMENTS.

    The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may not enter into 
or extend any Moving to Work agreement for any public housing agency 
for participation in the demonstration established under section 204 of 
the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, 
and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (Public Law 104-134; 
110 Stat. 1321), unless such agreement is subject to the following 
terms and conditions for the entire duration of such agreement:
            (1) Evaluation of major policy changes.--A public housing 
        agency may not newly establish any rent policy that raises rent 
        burdens for a significant portion of participating families, 
        any time limitation on the term of housing assistance, or any 
        policy that conditions receipt of housing assistance from 
        program funds on employment status, unless--
                    (A) the policy change will be subject to a detailed 
                evaluation using a rigorous research methodology which 
                includes, at least in part, random assignment to 
                treatment and control groups to compare the impact on 
                assisted families (including families that cease to 
                receive assistance during the term of the evaluation) 
                to similar families not subject to such policy change; 
                and
                    (B) the Secretary determines that adequate Federal 
                or other resources are available to undertake the 
                required evaluation.
            (2) Use of tenant-based rental assistance funds.--A public 
        housing agency may use funds appropriated for renewal of 
        tenant-based rental assistance only for payments to or on 
        behalf of eligible families that assist such families with 
        housing costs, except that up to 10 percent of such funds may 
        be used for other eligible purposes, subject to such 
        requirements as the Secretary shall establish.
            (3) Determination of tenant-based rental assistance 
        funding.--A public housing agency shall receive funding for 
        renewal of tenant-based rental assistance determined using the 
        same formula applied to public housing agencies that do not 
        participate in the demonstration, except that up to 10 percent 
        of such funds may be renewed by adjusting the prior year's 
        funding by an inflation factor determined by the Secretary.
            (4) Prohibition of reduction in number of families 
        assisted.--A public housing agency shall provide ongoing 
        housing assistance resulting in average cost burdens no higher 
        than those of families assisted under sections 8 and 9 of the 
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f, 1437g) to 
        substantially the same number of eligible low-income families 
        as the agency could assist if it expended the full amount of 
        funding it receives under such sections 8 and 9 pursuant to the 
        requirements of such sections.
            (5) Housing choice.--If the Secretary determines that a 
        disproportionately low share of families assisted by a public 
        housing agency using funds appropriated pursuant to sections 8 
        and 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 lives in 
        neighborhoods with low crime, high-performing schools, or other 
        indicators of high opportunity, the public housing agency shall 
        develop and implement a plan to expand families' access to such 
        neighborhoods.
            (6) Determination of public housing operating funding.--A 
        public housing agency shall receive funding for operation and 
        management of public housing determined using the same formula 
        applied to public housing agencies that do not participate in 
        the demonstration, except that, for an agency that currently 
        receives such funding under an alternative formula established 
        by its Moving to Work agreement, the Secretary shall phase in 
        the requirements of this paragraph in a manner sufficient so as 
        to avoid reducing funding by more than 10 percent per year.
            (7) Retained provisions.--The Secretary shall not waive any 
        of the following provisions of the United States Housing Act of 
        1937:
                    (A) Subsections (a)(2)(A) and (b)(1) of section 16 
                (42 U.S.C. 1437n; relating to targeting for new 
                admissions).
                    (B) Section 2(b) (42 U.S.C. 1437(b); relating to 
                tenant representatives on the public housing agency 
                board of directors).
                    (C) Section 3(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2); 
                relating to definitions for the terms ``low-income 
                families'', ``very low-income families'', and 
                ``extremely low-income families'').
                    (D) Section 5A(e) (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1(e); relating 
                to the formation of and consultation with a resident 
                advisory board).
                    (E) Sections 6(f)(1) and 8(o)(8)(B) (42 U.S.C. 
                1437d(f)(1), 1437f(o)(8)(B); relating to compliance of 
                units assisted with housing quality standards or other 
                codes).
                    (F) Section 6(k) (42 U.S.C. 1437d(k); relating to 
                grievance procedures for public housing tenants).
                    (G) Section 7 (42 U.S.C. 1437e; relating to 
                designation of housing for elderly and disabled 
                households).
                    (H) Sections 8(ee) and 6(u) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(ee), 
                1437d(n); relating to records, certification and 
                confidentiality regarding domestic violence).
                    (I) Paragraphs (3) and (4)(i) of section 6(c) and 
                sections 982.552 and 982.553 of the Secretary's 
                regulations (42 U.S.C. 1437d(c) and 24 C.F.R. 982.552, 
                982.553; relating to rights of applicants).
                    (J) Section 6(l) (42 U.S.C. 1437d(l); relating to 
                public housing lease requirements), except that for 
                units assisted both with program funds and low-income 
                housing tax credits, the initial lease term may be less 
                than 12 months if required to conform lease terms with 
                such tax credit requirements.
                    (K) Subparagraphs (C) through (F) of section 
                8(o)(7) and section 8(o)(20) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o); 
                relating to lease requirements and eviction protections 
                for families assisted with tenant-based assistance).
                    (L) Section 8(o)(13)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(B); 
                relating to the 20-percent portfolio cap on the use of 
                voucher funds for project-based vouchers), except as 
                follows:
                            (i) A public housing agency that, pursuant 
                        to a Moving to Work agreement in effect on the 
                        date of the enactment of this Act, is using or 
                        has committed voucher funds as of such date of 
                        enactment for project-based vouchers in excess 
                        of the 20-percent cap may continue to use such 
                        funds in excess of such cap, but not in excess 
                        of the percentage in use or committed as of 
                        such date of enactment pursuant to such 
                        agreement, or as specified in clause (ii), 
                        whichever is higher.
                            (ii) A public housing agency may use 
                        voucher funds for project-based vouchers in 
                        excess of the 20-percent cap, but not to exceed 
                        35 percent, if such use meets one of the 
                        following criteria:
                                    (I) The project-based vouchers 
                                serve homeless or other special needs 
                                families, as defined by the Secretary.
                                    (II) The project-based vouchers are 
                                used in a low-poverty area, as defined 
                                by the Secretary.
                                    (III) The project-based vouchers 
                                are used in connection with a 
                                demonstration of a project-based 
                                program that is subject to evaluation 
                                by the Secretary.
                    (M) Section 8(o)(13)(E) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(E); 
                relating to the ability of families with project-based 
                vouchers to move, using tenant-based vouchers, after 12 
                months of occupancy), unless the Secretary determines 
                that waiver of such section is necessary to implement 
                transitional or time-limited housing policies subject 
                to evaluation described in paragraph (1) of this 
                section.
                    (N) Section 8(r)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(r)(1); 
                relating to the portability of vouchers).
                    (O) The following requirements applicable to 
                resident councils and jurisdiction-wide resident 
                organizations:
                            (i) Establishment of resident councils and 
                        resident organizations under section 20 (42 
                        U.S.C. 1437r).
                            (ii) Minimum amount of public housing 
                        agency support for such councils and 
                        organizations under section 20.
                            (iii) Involvement of such councils and 
                        organizations in public housing agency 
                        operations, as authorized under sections 
                        3(c)(2), 6(c)(5)(C), and 9(e) (42 U.S.C. 
                        1437a(c)(2), 1437d(c)(5)(C), 1437g(e)).

SEC. 3. ASSESSMENT OF DEMONSTRATION.

    The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall conduct a 
comprehensive evaluation of the Moving to Work demonstration and, upon 
completion of the evaluation, submit to the Congress a report--
            (1) describing and analyzing the risks and potential 
        benefits of expanding the Moving to Work demonstration program 
        to additional agencies compared to those of maintaining the 
        demonstration program at its current size; and
            (2) identifying reforms, and selection criteria in case the 
        demonstration program is expanded, that would improve the 
        program's effectiveness in testing innovative policies while 
        minimizing adverse effects on low-income families and ensuring 
        efficient use of Federal funds to meet the most pressing 
        housing needs.

Summary: Moving to Work Reform Act of 2015 This bill prohibits the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from entering into or extending any Moving to Work agreement for any public housing agency (PHA) for participation in the Moving to Work Demonstration Program, unless the agreement is subject to specified terms and conditions set forth by this Act for its entire duration. (Under the Moving to Work Demonstration Program up to 30 selected PHAs, including Indian housing authorities, may administer the public or Indian housing program and the Section 8 housing assistance payments program in ways designed to reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in federal expenditures, provide incentives for heads of households to become economically self-sufficient, and increase housing choices for lower-income families.) Under such an agreement a PHA:   may not establish any new rent policy that raises rent burdens for a significant portion of participating families, or causes specified other results, unless certain conditions are met; may use funds appropriated for renewal of tenant-based rental assistance only for payments assisting eligible families with housing costs;  shall receive funding for renewal of tenant-based rental assistance under the same formula applied to nonparticipating PHAs; must provide ongoing housing assistance to substantially the same number of eligible low-income families as it could assist ordinarily but with average cost burdens no higher than those of families assisted under Sections 8 (low-income housing assistance) and 9 (Public Housing Capital and Operating Funds) of the United States Housing Act of 1937; and  develop and implement a plan to expand families' access to neighborhoods with low crime, high-performing schools, or other indicators of high opportunity, if a disproportionately low share of PHA-assisted families lives in such neighborhoods.   HUD may not waive specified housing-related requirements. HUD must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Demonstration Program to:  analyze the risks and potential benefits of expanding it to additional agencies; and identify reforms, and selection criteria in case the Demonstration Program is expanded, that would improve its effectiveness in testing innovative policies while minimizing adverse effects on low-income families and ensuring efficient use of federal funds to meet the most pressing housing needs.