[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3652 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3652
To require owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units
to install temperature sensors in such units, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 24, 2024
Mrs. Gillibrand introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units
to install temperature sensors in such units, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Temperature Safety Act of
2024''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In 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 rental dwelling unit.--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 the 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 (as defined in section 905.108 of title 24, Code
of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation) of
public housing units;
(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 in subsection (k)(4)
of such section 202; 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 in subsection (k)(5) of such section 811.
(4) Public housing agency.--The term ``public housing
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 3(b) of the
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development.
SEC. 3. 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 covered federally
assisted rental dwelling units to ensure those units remain in
compliance with temperature requirements.
(b) Application.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish eligibility
criteria for participation in the pilot program established under
subsection (a), which 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 1 or more
temperature sensors under this Act shall, after receiving written
permission from the resident of a covered federally assisted rental
dwelling unit, install the temperature sensor and monitor the data from
the 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 1
or more temperature sensors under this Act shall collect and
retain information about temperature-related complaints and
violations.
(2) Definitions.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 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 established under this Act are complete.
(2) Personally identifiable information.--Not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall establish standards for the protection of personally
identifiably information collected during the pilot program
established under this Act by public housing agencies, owners
of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units, and the
Secretary.
(f) Pilot Program Evaluation.--
(1) Interim evaluation.--Not later than 1 year 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 covered federally assisted
rental dwelling units with temperature sensors,
disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and
climate region--
(i) that occurred before the installation
of the sensor, if known; and
(ii) that occurred after the installation
of the 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 3 years 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 covered federally assisted
rental dwelling units with temperature sensors,
disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and
climate region--
(i) that occurred before the installation
of the sensor, if documented; and
(ii) that occurred after the installation
of the sensor;
(B) identifies any barriers to full utility of
temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband
internet access and tenant participation; and
(C) compares 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) 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.
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