Fair and Responsible Lending Act

Bill: 109-hr-4471
Sponsor: Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1]
Introduced: 2005-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Civil actions and liability
Class actions (Civil procedure)
Commerce
Commercial arbitration
Computer software
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Counseling
Credit insurance
Damages
Debtor and creditor
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Federal Reserve System
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to housing
Federal preemption
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Foreclosure
Government Operations and Politics
Government publications
Government publicity
Home ownership
Housing finance
Interest rates
Law
Liability (Law)
Licenses
Limitation of actions
Loan defaults
Mortgages
Science, Technology, Communications
Settlement costs
Social Welfare
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2005-12-08
text: 
 Fair and Responsible Lending Act - Uniform National Mortgage Lending Standards Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to define high-cost home loans. 
 
Revises guidelines regarding: (1) requirements for high-cost home loans; (2) dispute and error resolution; (3) damages, rescission, and liability; (4) state law coordination; (5) state enforcement authority; and (6) disclosure guidelines.
 
Prescribes consumer counseling requirements.
 
Expanding Housing Opportunities Through Education and Counseling Act - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish, in the Office of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Office of Housing Counseling to carry out homeownership and rental counseling functions, including related research, grant administration, public outreach, and development of policy and performance measures. 
 
Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to direct the Secretary to: (1) establish homeownership and rental counseling procedures, and a related a toll-free telephone number and World Wide Web site; (2) certify computer software programs for consumer evaluation of residential mortgage loans; (3) establish a housing counseling multimedia outreach program for vulnerable populations; (4) assist states, local government, and non-profit organizations with consumer education programs about mortgage, refinancing, home equity, or home repair loans; and (5) make grants for state, local government, and nonprofit organization housing counseling assistance. 
 
Requires organizations to use HUD-certified counselors in order to qualify for specified HUD assistance. 
 
Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to: (1) direct the Secretary to prepare an updated booklet to help consumers applying for federally related mortgage loans to understand the nature and costs of real estate settlement services; and (2) prescribe guidelines governing an option for notice of foreclosure prevention counseling availability.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2005-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-12-08
text: Introduced in House