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HUD/PIH RIN: 2577-AD14 Publication ID: Fall 2024 
Title: Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) Revised Performance Indicators and Assessments (FR-6463) 
Abstract:

This proposed rule would revise HUD’s Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) regulations governing the assessments, evaluation, and oversight of public housing agencies (PHAs) administering public housing and Section 8 voucher programs. Under the proposed rule, performance would focus on key indicators such as occupancy, financial, and physical assessments. The proposed rule will establish scoring indicators that are fair across PHAs of differing size and geographical regions and would be based on measurable program outcomes based on data that is already available to HUD. To the greatest extent possible, the proposed rule will also seek to align SEMAP with the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) scoring indicators and reduce or eliminate the reliance on PHA self-certifications as a verification method of PHA performance. HUD held a series of nine listening sessions on the Section Eight Management Assessment Program with PHAs, industry groups, advocates, and program participants from October 2022 through February 2023. Four in person sessions were held for PHAs with 10-25 PHAs attending each session in Atlanta (10/25/2022), Boston (11/27/2022), Seattle (11/15/2022), and Kansas City (11/17/2022). Virtual listening sessions were held for PHAs on December 6th, 8th, and 14th 2022 with approximately 10-15 PHAs attending each. HUD also hosted a session for industry groups and advocates on December 12, 2022, and for program participants on February 21, 2023, with approximately 25 attendees at each of these sessions.

 
Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 24 CFR 985   
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1437(f)    42 U.S.C. 1437d(j)    42 U.S.C. 35359(d))   
Legal Deadline:  None

Statement of Need:

The current SEMAP regulations were largely implemented in September 1998 and though they have gone through technical changes they have not been significantly revised since then. However, the Housing Choice Voucher and Project Based Voucher programs have grown significantly since 1998 from 1.61 million families served to 2.35 million families served. The advancement of technology over the same time period also emphasizes the opportunity for streamlining and automating aspects of program evaluation. Moreover, the current SEMAP regulations largely evaluate PHA compliance based on a PHA’s own review and self-certification. In the proposed rule HUD aims to shift its evaluations to be more data informed.  

The SEMAP proposed rule would result in better measurements of PHA performance and would strengthen the Section 8 voucher programs.

Summary of the Legal Basis:

These regulatory revisions would be implemented consistent with Section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937.

Alternatives:

In developing this proposed rule, HUD sought to ensure its approach would not create additional information collection burdens on PHAs and metrics could be collected reliably and objectively. Another alternative to promulgating this rule would be to maintain HUD’s existing regulations governing SEMAP. However, if HUD does not amend its existing regulations it would fail to modernize the assessment system, further align the system with PHAS, and fail to be responsive to stakeholder concerns about what factors are important to measure and how best to measure such factors.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

Executive Order 12866, as amended, requires the agency to provide its best estimate of the combined aggregate costs and benefits of all regulations included in the agency's Regulatory Plan that will be pursued in fiscal year 2025. HUD expects that neither the total economic costs nor the total efficiency gains will be significant for this proposed rulemaking. HUD already uses scoring systems for Section 8 voucher programs, and the proposed rule does not require any additional recordkeeping.

 

Risks:

This proposed rule may impose minimal additional costs on PHAs in terms of learning and adjusting to the new assessment system. The proposed rule may also impose minimal additional costs on HUD in the form of technical assistance, however, HUD already provides technical assistance to PHAs for a variety of purposes.

Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  04/00/2025 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Steven Durham
Office of Housing Voucher Program, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Public and Indian Housing
451 7th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20410
Phone:202 402-5227