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<section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="4-2913" title_number="4" title_name="Division of Development Finance" subtitle_number="29" subtitle_name="Statewide Rental Assistance Voucher Program">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department or a public housing agency may deny assistance under the State Program by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>denying a voucher under the State Program;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>withdrawing a State Program voucher;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>refusing to enter into a contract for housing assistance payments; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>refusing to approve a lease under the State Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department or a public housing agency shall deny assistance under the State Program to sex offenders who are subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a State sex offender registration program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department or a public housing agency may deny assistance under the State Program if the Department or a public housing agency finds that any individual residing in a unit rented using assistance from the State Program has been convicted of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a drug–related crime under State law; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a violent crime.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>If the Department or public housing agency denies assistance under the State Program, the Department or the public housing agency shall promptly provide the applicant with a notice explaining the denial and indicating that the applicant may request an informal review.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department or a public housing agency may terminate assistance under the State Program by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>refusing to enter into a State Program contract;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>refusing to approve a lease under the State Program; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>terminating housing assistance payments under a State Program contract.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department or a public agency shall terminate assistance under the State Program for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>families who were evicted under the State program for serious violations of the lease;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>families who fail to sign any forms from the Department or a public housing agency indicating consent to obtain information; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>sex offenders subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a State sex offender registration program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>When determining the denial or termination of assistance under the State Program, the Department may consider all relevant circumstances, including the seriousness of the case, the extent of participation or culpability of individual family members, mitigating circumstances related to the disability of a family member, and the effects of denial or termination of assistance on other family members who were not involved in the action or failure if a family member:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>violates any obligations under the State Program;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>has been evicted from federally assisted housing for violent criminal activity that threatened the health, safety, or welfare of other residents within the preceding 3 years;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>has committed fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the State Program;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>owes a financial obligation to the Department or public housing agency in connection with another housing or rental assistance program;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>breaches a repayment agreement to pay amounts owed to the Department or public housing agency;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>has engaged in or threatened abusive or violent behavior toward Department or public housing agency employees, the property owner or property management staff, or other residents; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>receives assistance under the State Program and is absent from the unit for more than 180 consecutive days.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department or a public housing agency may prohibit other family members who participated in or were culpable for actions specified under this section from residing in a unit rented using assistance from the State Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In making the determination under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Department or a public housing agency may consider:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the seriousness of the case;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the extent of participation by or culpability of individual family members;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>mitigating circumstances related to the disability of a family member; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the effects of the prohibition on other family members who were not involved in the action or failure.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
