109th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 4639

To require community notice for the placement of group houses, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 18, 2005

Mr. FOSSELLA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

---

A BILL

To require community notice for the placement of group houses, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Group Home Community Notification Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY NOTICE AND HEARINGS.

(a) Requirement- It shall be unlawful for any Federally assisted non-profit that intends to place a group home in a locality to refuse or fail to comply with all State and local laws for the placement of such a group home in that locality, including laws requiring public notification, reporting requirements, and hearings on the matter. Any individual who participates in such a hearing shall be immune from suit based on a claim of discrimination against the disabled for any communication made in the course of such participation.

(b) Definitions- In this Act:

(1) the term `Federally assisted non-profit' means a not for profit private entity who receives Federal financial assistance;

(2) the term Federal financial assistance has the meaning given that term for the purposes of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;

(3) the term `disability' has the meaning given that term for the purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and

(4) the term `group home' has the meaning given that term by the relevant State or local authority.

END