Sec. 303. Landlord-tenant mediation competitive grant program
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/bill/117/s/4789/is/section-303A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary shall award competitive grants under subsections
(b)and
(c)to eligible entities to assist those entities in establishing and administering, or continuing, landlord-tenant mediation programs. The Secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to assist the entities in establishing and administering landlord-tenant mediation programs. The term of an implementation grant shall be 2 years. The amount of an implementation grant shall be not more than $1,500,000. An eligible entity may use an implementation grant to establish— a statewide mediation program; or a mediation program in a political subdivision of a State or in the jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe that demonstrates a high need for such a program due to— the rate of evictions in the political subdivision or Tribal jurisdiction; or other characteristics of the political subdivision or Indian Tribe that contribute to the rate of evictions in the political subdivision or Tribal jurisdiction. The Federal share of the cost of a mediation program established using an implementation grant may not exceed 50 percent. The Secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to assist the entities in continuing activities related to landlord-tenant mediation. The term of a program expansion grant shall be 3 years. The amount of a program expansion grant shall be not more than $1,000,000. Subject to subparagraph (B), amounts made available to an eligible entity under a program expansion grant shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, contributions made by the eligible entity for existing landlord-tenant mediation activities. To the extent that amounts from a program expansion grant are used to replace funding for existing landlord-tenant mediation activities that is reduced for reasons beyond the control of the eligible entity, such use shall not be considered supplanting of amounts contributed by the eligible entity for purposes of subparagraph (A). An eligible entity may use a covered grant to pay for operating costs, staff salaries, mediator compensation, information technology, interpreters, outreach services, and recruitment. An eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall encourage each party participating in the landlord-tenant mediation program funded by the grant to make a good faith effort to discuss potential resolutions. The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that recipients of covered grants represent— diverse geographical areas of the United States; and States, political subdivisions of States, and Indian Tribes of varying population sizes. A tenant may not be charged for participating in landlord-tenant mediation funded by a covered grant. For each year of a covered grant received by an eligible entity, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary a report that— describes how the eligible entity used the grant funds during that year; and includes any performance data, relating to programs funded by the covered grant, that the eligible entity submitted to a State or political subdivision thereof, if applicable. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter.