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Bill > S871
US S871
US S871HELP Rural Communities Act of 2015 Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities Act of 2015
summary
Introduced
03/26/2015
03/26/2015
In Committee
03/26/2015
03/26/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
HELP Rural Communities Act of 2015 Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities Act of 2015 Directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to establish an application process under which a person who lives or does business in a state may apply to have an area in the state identified as a rural area if it has not yet been so designated by the CFPB for purposes of federal consumer financial law. Prescribes criteria for the CFPB to consider when evaluating the application. States that if, at any time before submission of an application, the area subject to review has been designated as nonrural by certain federal agencies, the CFPB is not required to consider that designation in its evaluation. Requires the CFPB to: (1) grant or deny the application within 90 days after the public comment period ends; and (2) publish the grant or denial in the Federal Register, including an explanation of the factors upon which the CFPB relied in making its determination. Sunsets this Act two years after its enactment. Amends The Truth in Lending Act with respect to CFPB authority to treat a balloon loan as "a qualified mortgage" to mean a balloon loan extended by any creditor operating in rural or underserved areas even if it does not operate predominantly in them. Exempts such a creditor from the requirements for escrow or impound accounts governing certain consumer credit transactions secured by a first lien on the consumer's principal dwelling.
AI Summary
This bill, the HELP Rural Communities Act of 2015, establishes a process for individuals or businesses in a state to apply to have an area designated as "rural" by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) if it hasn't been already, considering factors like Census Bureau criteria, Office of Management and Budget designations, and Department of Agriculture programs, though it notes that prior non-rural designations by other federal agencies don't have to be considered. The CFPB must decide on these applications within 90 days after a public comment period and publish its decision with an explanation, and this entire designation process will expire two years after the bill becomes law. Additionally, the bill amends the Truth in Lending Act to allow balloon loans, which are loans where the final payment is significantly larger than previous payments, extended by creditors operating in rural or underserved areas to be treated as "qualified mortgages" even if they don't predominantly operate in those areas, and exempts these creditors from requirements for escrow or impound accounts for certain home loans.
Committee Categories
Housing and Urban Affairs
Sponsors (6)
Mitch McConnell (R)*,
Shelley Moore Capito (R),
Deb Fischer (R),
Dean Heller (R),
Rand Paul (R),
Mike Rounds (R),
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2048-2049) (on 03/26/2015)
Official Document
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