42 U.S.C. § 12905 — Responsibilities of grantees

(a) Prohibition of substitution of funds: Grant money can't be used to replace other funding a state or local government already set aside for this chapter's purposes. (b) Capability: The recipient must have — in the grantee's or Secretary's judgment — the ability to properly run the grant. (c) Cooperation: The recipient must agree to cooperate and coordinate with the relevant state and local agencies, and other public and private groups, that serve eligible persons in the area. (d) Prohibition of fees: The recipient must agree not to charge any eligible person a fee for housing or services paid for with grant money. (e) Confidentiality: The recipient must agree to keep confidential the names of anyone helped with grant money, and any other information about them. (f) Financial records: The recipient must agree to keep and share with the grantee or Secretary financial records good enough, in the Secretary's judgment, to properly account for and track the grant money. (g) Administrative expenses: A grantee can use up to 3% of its grant for its own administrative costs. A project sponsor can use up to 7% of what it receives for administrative costs tied to running eligible activities, including needed staff. (h) Environmental review: For environmental review purposes, a grant under this chapter counts as assistance for a "special project" under section 3547, and follows the Secretary's regulations for that section. (i) Carbon monoxide alarms: Every dwelling unit assisted under this chapter must have carbon monoxide alarms meeting or exceeding the standards in chapters 9 and 11 of the 2018 International Fire Code, or any other standard the Secretary adopts and publishes in the Federal Register. (j) Qualifying smoke alarms: Every assisted dwelling unit must have "qualifying smoke alarms" installed under applicable building codes and National Fire Protection Association Standard 72, on every level, in or near every sleeping area (including basements, but not crawl spaces or unfinished attics), and in common areas of buildings with such units. "Smoke alarm" has the same meaning as "smoke detector" in section 2225(d) of title 15. A "qualifying smoke alarm" is: for a unit built before December 29, 2022 (and not substantially rehabbed after that date) — one that is either hardwired, or uses a sealed, tamper-resistant 10-year non-rechargeable battery with a silencing feature, and that also gives notice for people with hearing loss as Standard 72 requires; or, for a unit built or substantially rehabbed after December 29, 2022 — one that is hardwired.