The agency shall have the power and duty to:
(1) In conjunction with the Secretary of the Budget, submit a plan regarding the use of the Commonwealth's share of the Homeowner Assistance Fund authorized under section 3206of the American Rescue Plan to the United States Department of the Treasury by September 30, 2021, or 90 days after any updated Federal deadline for the submission of a plan for Homeowner Assistance under the American Rescue Plan, whichever is later. No later than August 31, 2021, or 60 days after any updated Federal deadline for the submission of a plan for Homeowner Assistance under the American Rescue Plan, whichever is later, the agency shall transmit a copy of the plan to the President pro tempore, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate, the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Housing and Urban Affairs Committee of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Urban Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. The plan shall also be posted on the agency's publicly accessible Internet website.(2) The plan under paragraph (1) shall include the following:(i) Homeowner needs and engagement, including data-driven assessment of homeowner needs and evidence of public participation and community engagement.(ii) Program design, including program description, methods for targeting funding, best practices and coordination with other participants.(iv) Readiness, including staffing and systems, contracts and partnerships and existing and pilot programs.(3) Implement and administer the program in accordance with Federal law and guidance. The agency shall compile and transmit any information necessary to implement the program and comply with programmatic and eligibility requirements under Federal law and guidance. The agency is prohibited from placing any additional stipulations on funding that are in addition to this article or Federal law or guidance.(4) In the agency's discretion, utilize money appropriated prior to the submission of the plan for a pilot program. If the agency utilizes funds for a pilot program, the pilot program shall comply with the provisions of this article.(5) Allocate and disburse grants to eligible individuals.(6) Ensure that assistance under this article is made available to all geographic areas of this Commonwealth.(7) Prepare and submit quarterly reports, in accordance with Federal reporting timelines, to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, the Urban Affairs and Housing Committee of the Senate and the Urban Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. The report shall also be posted and maintained on the department's publicly accessible Internet website and shall include: (i) The total amount of funds expended for the quarter.(ii) The total amount of funds expended since the program began.(iii) The amount of funding remaining.(iv) The total amount of funds expended for administrative expenses for the quarter.(v) The total amount of funds expended for administrative expenses since the program began.(vi) The total number of individuals who applied for assistance, including a breakdown based on the gender, race, county and income of the applicant.(vii) The total number of applications reviewed for the quarter, including a breakdown based on the gender, race, county and income of the applicant.(viii) The total number of applications reviewed since the program began, including a breakdown based on the gender, race, county and income of the applicant.(ix) The total number of applications approved for the quarter, including a breakdown based on the gender, race, county and income of the applicant.(x) The total number of applications approved since the program began, including a breakdown based on the gender, race, county and income of the applicant.(xi) The total number of applications rejected and, if available, the reason for rejection for the quarter, including a breakdown based on the gender, race, county and income of the applicant.(xii) The total number of applications rejected and, if available, the reason for rejection since the program began, including a breakdown based on the gender, race, county and income of the applicant.(8) The agency shall appear in person before the Urban Affairs and Housing Committee of the Senate and the Urban Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives on a quarterly basis to discuss the report submitted under paragraph (7).(9) The agency shall appear in person before the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives upon request to discuss the report submitted under paragraph (7).(10) By September 30, 2025, issue a report with final information on the program to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives and post the report to the agency's publicly accessible Internet website. The report shall include all of the information required under paragraph (7).1929, April 9, P.L. 343, No. 176, art. I-F, §103-F, added by 2021 , June 30, P.L. 62, No. 24, § 7, 7/1/2021