Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-6528
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Introduced: 2022-01-28
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government information and archives

Housing and community development funding

Housing for the elderly and disabled

Lighting, heating, cooling

Low- and moderate-income housing

Performance measurement

Public housing
Latest action: action_date: 2022-07-27
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-01-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022</b></p> <p>This bill requires owners of certain federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in those units within a year after the bill is enacted. The bill also requires those owners to record the temperature in those units at least six times each day and to report that information to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.</p>

action_date: 2022-07-20
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><b>Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022</b></p> <p>This bill establishes a pilot program through which the Department of Housing and Urban Development must award grants to public housing agencies and owners of certain federally assisted rental housing to install in dwelling units (with the written permission of tenants) temperature sensors for purposes of ensuring that units comply with temperature-related requirements.</p>

action_date: 2022-07-26
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022</b></p> <p>This bill establishes a pilot program through which the Department of Housing and Urban Development must award grants to public housing agencies and owners of certain federally assisted rental housing to install in dwelling units (with the written permission of tenants) temperature sensors for purposes of ensuring that units comply with temperature-related requirements.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6528 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2022 Mr. Torres of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To require owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in such units, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022 . 2. Temperature sensors (a) Installation and maintenance (1) In general Each owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, ensure that, at all times pursuant to paragraph (2), such temperature sensors are installed and maintained in accordance with the rule issued by the Secretary under paragraph (3) on each level of such dwelling unit owned by such owner. (2) Rulemaking The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, issue a rule that establishes standards and requirements for the installation and maintenance of temperature sensors in covered federally assisted rental dwelling units. (b) Data reporting (1) In general Each owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit shall, 6 times each day, collect data from temperature sensors installed pursuant to subsection (a) and such data shall include the temperature recorded during each temperature reading and the time and date of each temperature reading. (2) Guidance The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, publish guidance with respect to— (A) the collection of temperature sensor data by owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units, including the protection of personally identifiable information; (B) the retention of such data by such owners for not less than 2 years; and (C) the reporting of such data to the Secretary unless a tenant of the covered federally assisted dwelling unit has opted out of having such data reported by the owner to the Secretary. (c) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress that— (1) describes the status of the implementation of subsection (a), and includes— (A) the percentage of covered federally assisted dwelling units without a temperature sensor pursuant to subsection (b); (B) the percentage of temperature sensors that have been installed by owners of covered federally assisted dwelling units; and (C) the number of fatalities that occurred due to fire, hypothermia, heat exhaustion, and other temperature-related causes in covered dwelling units and whether a temperature sensor was present in such dwelling unit; and (2) discloses the results of data collection instituted by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development before the date of the enactment of this Act to determine the prevalence of temperature sensors in covered federally assisted dwelling units. (d) Relation to State law This section does not annul, alter, or affect, or exempt any person subject to the provisions of this section from complying with, the laws of any State with respect to installing or maintaining temperature sensors, except to the extent that those laws are inconsistent with any provision of this section, and then only to the extent of the inconsistency. The Secretary is authorized to determine whether such inconsistencies exist and may not determine that any State law is inconsistent with any provision of this section if the Secretary determines that such law provides for greater protection or safety. (e) Definitions For the purposes of this Act: (1) Assistance The term assistance means any grant, loan, subsidy, contract, cooperative agreement, or other form of financial assistance, but such term does not include the insurance or guarantee of a loan, mortgage, or pool of loans or mortgages. (2) Temperature sensor The term temperature sensor means an internet capable temperature reporting device able to track the ambient air temperature to the tenth degree Fahrenheit and Celsius. (3) Covered Federally assisted housing The term covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit means a residential dwelling unit that is made available for rental and for which assistance is provided, or that is part of a housing project for which assistance is provided, under— (A) the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ); (B) the programs for rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ), including— (i) the program for project-based rental assistance; and (ii) the program for tenant-based rental assistance; (C) the AIDS Housing Opportunities program under subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq. ); (D) the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ); or (E) the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ); and (F) the programs under sections 514, 515, and 516 of the Housing Act of 1949. (4) Owner The term owner means, with respect to a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit, any private person or entity, including a cooperative, an agency of the Federal Government, or a public housing agency, having the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units. (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

tv_txt: IB 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6528 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in such units, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022 . 2. Temperature Sensor Pilot Program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a temperature sensor 3-year pilot program to provide grants to public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install and test the efficacy of temperature sensors in residential dwelling units to ensure such units remain in compliance with temperature requirements. (b) Application The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot program established pursuant to subsection (a) and such criteria shall be designed to ensure— (1) the pilot program includes a diverse range of participants that represent different geographic regions, climate regions, unit sizes and types of housing; and (2) the functionality of the temperature sensors that will be tested, including internet connectivity requirements. (c) Installation Each public housing agency or owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives one or more temperature sensors under this Act shall, after receiving written permission from the resident of a dwelling unit, install such temperature sensor and monitor the data from such temperature sensor. (d) Collection of complaint records (1) In general Each public housing agency or owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives one or more temperature sensors under this Act shall collect and retain information about temperature-related complaints and violations. (2) Definitions The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, define the terms temperature-related complaints and temperature-related violations for the purposes of this Act. (e) Data collection (1) In general Data collected from temperature sensors provided to public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units under this Act shall be retained until the Secretary notifies the public housing agency or owner that the pilot program and the evaluation of the pilot program are complete. (2) Personally identifiable information The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish standards for the protection of personally identifiably information collected during the pilot program by public housing agencies, owners of federally assisted rental dwelling units, and the Secretary. (f) Pilot program evaluation (1) Interim evaluation Not later than 12 months after the establishment of the pilot program under this Act, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints and violations in federally assisted rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and climate region— (i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor, if known; and (ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor; and (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband Internet access and tenant participation. (2) Final evaluation Not later than 36 months after the conclusion of the pilot program established by the Secretary under this Act, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints and violations in federally assisted rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and climate region— (i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor; and (ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor; (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband Internet access and tenant participation; and (C) compare the utility of various temperature sensor technologies based on— (i) climate zones; (ii) cost; (iii) features; and (iv) any other factors identified by the Secretary. (g) Definitions For the purposes of this Act: (1) Temperature sensor The term temperature sensor means an internet capable temperature reporting device able to measure ambient air temperature to the tenth degree Fahrenheit and Celsius. (2) Covered federally assisted housing The term covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit means a residential dwelling unit that is made available for rental and for which assistance is provided, or that is part of a housing project for which assistance is provided, under— (A) the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ); (B) the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ); (C) the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ); or (D) the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ). (3) Owner The term owner means— (A) with respect to the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ), any private person or entity, including a cooperative, an agency of the Federal government, or a public housing agency, having the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units; (B) with respect to public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ), a public housing agency or an owner entity of public housing units as defined in section 905.108 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations; (C) with respect to the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ), a private nonprofit organization as defined under section 202(k)(4) of the Housing Act of 1959; and (D) with respect to the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ), a private nonprofit organization as defined under section 811(k)(5) of section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (h) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary— (1) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to provide grants to owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units participating in the pilot program established under this Act; (2) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to administer the pilot program established under this Act; and (3) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to provide technical assistance to owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units that are participating in the pilot program established under this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives July 26, 2022. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6528 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 27, 2022 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs AN ACT To require owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in such units, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022 . 2. Temperature Sensor Pilot Program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a temperature sensor 3-year pilot program to provide grants to public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install and test the efficacy of temperature sensors in residential dwelling units to ensure such units remain in compliance with temperature requirements. (b) Application The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot program established pursuant to subsection (a) and such criteria shall be designed to ensure— (1) the pilot program includes a diverse range of participants that represent different geographic regions, climate regions, unit sizes and types of housing; and (2) the functionality of the temperature sensors that will be tested, including internet connectivity requirements. (c) Installation Each public housing agency or owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives one or more temperature sensors under this Act shall, after receiving written permission from the resident of a dwelling unit, install such temperature sensor and monitor the data from such temperature sensor. (d) Collection of complaint records (1) In general Each public housing agency or owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives one or more temperature sensors under this Act shall collect and retain information about temperature-related complaints and violations. (2) Definitions The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, define the terms temperature-related complaints and temperature-related violations for the purposes of this Act. (e) Data collection (1) In general Data collected from temperature sensors provided to public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units under this Act shall be retained until the Secretary notifies the public housing agency or owner that the pilot program and the evaluation of the pilot program are complete. (2) Personally identifiable information The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish standards for the protection of personally identifiably information collected during the pilot program by public housing agencies, owners of federally assisted rental dwelling units, and the Secretary. (f) Pilot program evaluation (1) Interim evaluation Not later than 12 months after the establishment of the pilot program under this Act, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints and violations in federally assisted rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and climate region— (i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor, if known; and (ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor; and (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband Internet access and tenant participation. (2) Final evaluation Not later than 36 months after the conclusion of the pilot program established by the Secretary under this Act, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints and violations in federally assisted rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and climate region— (i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor; and (ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor; (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband Internet access and tenant participation; and (C) compare the utility of various temperature sensor technologies based on— (i) climate zones; (ii) cost; (iii) features; and (iv) any other factors identified by the Secretary. (g) Definitions For the purposes of this Act: (1) Temperature sensor The term temperature sensor means an internet capable temperature reporting device able to measure ambient air temperature to the tenth degree Fahrenheit and Celsius. (2) Covered federally assisted housing The term covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit means a residential dwelling unit that is made available for rental and for which assistance is provided, or that is part of a housing project for which assistance is provided, under— (A) the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ); (B) the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ); (C) the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ); or (D) the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ). (3) Owner The term owner means— (A) with respect to the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ), any private person or entity, including a cooperative, an agency of the Federal government, or a public housing agency, having the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units; (B) with respect to public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ), a public housing agency or an owner entity of public housing units as defined in section 905.108 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations; (C) with respect to the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ), a private nonprofit organization as defined under section 202(k)(4) of the Housing Act of 1959; and (D) with respect to the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ), a private nonprofit organization as defined under section 811(k)(5) of section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (h) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary— (1) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to provide grants to owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units participating in the pilot program established under this Act; (2) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to administer the pilot program established under this Act; and (3) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to provide technical assistance to owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units that are participating in the pilot program established under this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives July 26, 2022. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 328 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6528 [Report No. 117–422] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2022 Mr. Torres of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services July 20, 2022 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 28, 2022 A BILL To require owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in such units, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022 . 2. Temperature Sensor Pilot Program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a temperature sensor 3-year pilot program to provide grants to public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install and test the efficacy of temperature sensors in residential dwelling units to ensure such units remain in compliance with temperature requirements. (b) Application The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot program established pursuant to subsection (a) and such criteria shall be designed to ensure— (1) the pilot program includes a diverse range of participants that represent different geographic regions, climate regions, unit sizes and types of housing; and (2) the functionality of the temperature sensors that will be tested, including internet connectivity requirements. (c) Installation Each public housing agency or owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives one or more temperature sensors under this Act shall, after receiving written permission from the resident of a dwelling unit, install such temperature sensor and monitor the data from such temperature sensor. (d) Collection of complaint records (1) In general Each public housing agency or owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives one or more temperature sensors under this Act shall collect and retain information about temperature-related complaints and violations. (2) Definitions The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, define the terms temperature-related complaints and temperature-related violations for the purposes of this Act. (e) Data collection (1) In general Data collected from temperature sensors provided to public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units under this Act shall be retained until the Secretary notifies the public housing agency or owner that the pilot program and the evaluation of the pilot program are complete. (2) Personally identifiable information The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish standards for the protection of personally identifiably information collected during the pilot program by public housing agencies, owners of federally assisted rental dwelling units, and the Secretary. (f) Pilot program evaluation (1) Interim evaluation Not later than 12 months after the establishment of the pilot program under this Act, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints and violations in federally assisted rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and climate region— (i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor, if known; and (ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor; and (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband Internet access and tenant participation. (2) Final evaluation Not later than 36 months after the conclusion of the pilot program established by the Secretary under this Act, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints and violations in federally assisted rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and climate region— (i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor; and (ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor; (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband Internet access and tenant participation; and (C) compare the utility of various temperature sensor technologies based on— (i) climate zones; (ii) cost; (iii) features; and (iv) any other factors identified by the Secretary. (g) Definitions For the purposes of this Act: (1) Temperature sensor The term temperature sensor means an internet capable temperature reporting device able to measure ambient air temperature to the tenth degree Fahrenheit and Celsius. (2) Covered federally assisted housing The term covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit means a residential dwelling unit that is made available for rental and for which assistance is provided, or that is part of a housing project for which assistance is provided, under— (A) the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ); (B) the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ); (C) the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ); or (D) the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ). (3) Owner The term owner means— (A) with respect to the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ), any private person or entity, including a cooperative, an agency of the Federal government, or a public housing agency, having the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units; (B) with respect to public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ), a public housing agency or an owner entity of public housing units as defined in section 905.108 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations; (C) with respect to the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ), a private nonprofit organization as defined under section 202(k)(4) of the Housing Act of 1959; and (D) with respect to the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ), a private nonprofit organization as defined under section 811(k)(5) of section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (h) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary— (1) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to provide grants to owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units participating in the pilot program established under this Act; (2) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to administer the pilot program established under this Act; and (3) such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to provide technical assistance to owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units that are participating in the pilot program established under this Act.

July 20, 2022 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed