PUBLIC LAW 101-235—DEC. 15, 1989 103 STAT. 2045 moderate income housing as prescribed by the Secretary. Not- withstanding any existing project covenants or inconsistencies with this section, the Secretary shall take all action necessary to implement this paragraph.". TITLE IV--RURAL HOUSING SEC, 401. ACCOUNTABILITY IN AWARDS OF ASSISTANCE; REMEDIES AND PENALTIES. (a) IN GENERAL.— Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 is amended by adding at the end the following: ACCOUNTABILITY "SEC. 536. (a) NOTICE REGARDING ASSISTANCE. — " (1) PUBLICATiON OF NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY. —The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the availability of any assistance under any program or discretionary fund administered by the Secretary under this title. " (2) PUBLICATiON OF APPLICATiON PROCEDURES.—The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a description of the form and procedures by which application for the assistance may be made, and any deadlines relating to the award or allocation of the assistance. Such description shall be sufficient to enable any eligible applicant to apply for such assistance. "(3) PUBLICATION OF SELECTION CRITERIA. —Not less than 30 days before any deadline by which applications or requests for assistance under any program or discretionary fund adminis- tered by the Secretary must be submitted, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register the criteria by which selection for the assistance will be made. Such criteria shall include any objective measures of housing need, project merit, or efficient use of resources that the Secretary determines are appropriate and consistent with the statute under which the assistance is made available. "(4) DOCUMENTATION OF DECISIONS. — "(A) The Secretary shall award or allocate assistance only in response to a written application in a form approved in advance by the Secretary, except where other award or allocation procedures are specified in statute. "(B) The Secretary shall ensure that documentation and other information regarding each application for assistance is sufficient to indicate the basis on which any award or allocation was made or denied. The preceding sentence shall apply to— (i) any application for an award or allocation of assistance made by the Secretary to a State, unit of general local government, or other recipient of assist- ance, and "(ii) any application for a subsequent award or alloca- tion of such assistance by such State, unit of genereil local government or other recipient. "(C) The Secretary shall ensure that each application and all related documentation and other information referred to in subparagraph (B) is readily available for public inspec- tion for a period of not less than 10 years, beginning not less Federal Register, publication. 42 USC 1490p. State and local governments. Public information.
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