Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2024”.
Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2024
A BILL
To require owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in such units, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
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.
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—
the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f);
the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);
the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q); or
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).
Owner— The term owner means—
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;
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;
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
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.
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)).
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Sec. 3 Temperature Sensor Pilot Program
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.
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—
the pilot program includes a diverse range of participants that represent different geographic regions, climate regions, unit sizes, and types of housing; and
the functionality of the temperature sensors that will be tested, including internet connectivity requirements.
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.
Collection of complaint records—
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.
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.
Data collection—
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.
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.
Pilot program evaluation—
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—
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—
that occurred before the installation of the sensor, if known; and
that occurred after the installation of the sensor; and
identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband internet access and tenant participation.
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—
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—
that occurred before the installation of the sensor, if documented; and
that occurred after the installation of the sensor;
identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband internet access and tenant participation; and
compares the utility of various temperature sensor technologies based on—
climate zones;
cost;
features; and
any other factors identified by the Secretary.
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary—
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;
such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to administer the pilot program established under this Act; and
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.