Procedures for Actions and Review of Actions

24 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart G
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

24 C.F.R. § 81.81 General.

This subpart sets forth procedures for: (a) The Secretary to issue cease-and-desist orders and impose civil money penalties to enforce the housing goal provisions implemented in subpart B of this part and the information submission and reporting requirements implemented in subpart E of this part; and (b) Hearings, in accordance with 12 U.S.C. 4542(c)(4)(B), on the Secretary's disapproval of new programs that the Secretary determines are not in the public interest.

24 C.F.R. § 81.82 Cease-and-desist proceedings.

(a) Issuance. The Secretary may issue and serve upon a GSE a written notice of charges justifying issuance of a cease-and-desist order, if the Secretary determines the GSE: (1) Has failed to submit, within the time prescribed in § 81.22, a housing plan that substantially complies with 12 U.S.C. 4566(c), as implemented by § 81.22; (2) Is failing or has failed, or there is reasonable cause to believe that the GSE is about to fail, to make a good-faith effort to comply with a housing plan submitted to and approved by the Secretary; or (3) Has failed to submit any of the information required under sections 309(m) or (n) of the Fannie Mae Charter Act, sections 307(e) or (f) of the Freddie Mac Act, or subpart E of this part. (b) Procedures—(1) Content of notice. The notice of charges shall provide: (i) A concise statement of the facts constituting the alleged misconduct and the violations with which the GSE is charged; (ii) Notice of the GSE's right to a hearing on the record; (iii) A time and date for a hearing on the record; (iv) A statement of the consequences of failing to contest the matter; and (v) The effective date of the order if the GSE does not contest the matter. (2) Administrative Law Judge. A HUD Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) shall preside over any hearing conducted under this section. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with § 81.84 and, to the extent the provisions are not inconsistent with any of the procedures in this part or FHEFSSA, with 24 CFR part 26, subpart B. (3) Issuance of order. If the GSE consents to the issuance of the order or the ALJ finds, based on the hearing record, that a preponderance of the evidence established the conduct specified in the notice of charges, the ALJ may issue and serve upon the GSE an order requiring the GSE to: (i) Submit a housing plan that substantially complies with 12 U.S.C. 4566(c), as implemented by § 81.22; (ii) Comply with a housing plan; or (iii) Provide the information required under subpart E of this part. (4) Effective date. An order under this section shall be effective as provided in 12 U.S.C. 4581(c) and § 81.84(m).

24 C.F.R. § 81.83 Civil money penalties.

(a) Imposition. The Secretary may impose a civil money penalty on a GSE that has failed: (1) To submit, within the time prescribed in § 81.22, a housing plan that substantially complies with 12 U.S.C. 4566(c), as implemented by § 81.22; (2) To make a good-faith effort to comply with a housing plan submitted and approved by the Secretary; or (3) To submit any of the information required under sections 309(m) or (n) of the Fannie Mae Charter Act, sections 307(e) or (f) of the Freddie Mac Act, or subpart E of this part. (b) Amount of penalty. The amount of the penalty shall not exceed: (1) For any failure described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, $35,000 for each day that the failure occurs; and (2) For any failure described in paragraphs (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section, $16,000 for each day that the failure occurs. (c) Factors in determining amount of penalty. In determining the amount of a penalty under this section, the Secretary shall consider the factors in 12 U.S.C. 4585(c)(2) including the public interest. (d) Procedures—(1) Notice of Intent. The Secretary shall notify the GSE in writing of the Secretary's determination to impose a civil money penalty by issuing a Notice of Intent to Impose Civil Money Penalties (“Notice of Intent”). The Notice of Intent shall provide: (i) A concise statement of the facts constituting the alleged misconduct; (ii) The amount of the civil money penalty; (iii) Notice of the GSE's right to a hearing on the record; (iv) The procedures to follow to obtain a hearing; (v) A statement of the consequences of failing to request a hearing; and (vi) The date the penalty shall be due unless the GSE contests the matter. (2) To appeal the Secretary's decision to impose a civil money penalty, the GSE shall, within 20 days of service of the Notice of Intent, file a written Answer with the Chief Docket Clerk, Office of Hearings and Appeals, Department of Housing and Urban Development, at the address provided in the Notice of Intent. (3) Administrative law judge. A HUD ALJ shall preside over any hearing conducted under this section, in accordance with § 81.84 and, to the extent the provisions are not inconsistent with any of the procedures in this part or FHEFSSA, with 24 CFR part 26, subpart B. (4) Issuance of order. If the GSE consents to the issuance of the order or the ALJ finds, on the hearing record, that a preponderance of the evidence establishes the conduct specified in the notice of charges, the ALJ may issue an order imposing a civil money penalty. (5) Consultation with the Director. In the Secretary's discretion, the Director of OFHEO may be requested to review any Notice of Intent, determination, order, or interlocutory ruling arising from a hearing. (e) Action to collect penalty. The Secretary may request the Attorney General of the United States to bring an action to collect the penalty, in accordance with 12 U.S.C. 4585(d). Interest on, and other charges for, any unpaid penalty may be assessed in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3717. (f) Settlement by Secretary. The Secretary may compromise, modify, or remit any civil money penalty that may be, or has been, imposed under this section.

24 C.F.R. § 81.84 Hearings.

(a) Applicability. The hearing procedures in this section apply to hearings on the record to review cease-and-desist orders, civil money penalties, and new programs disapproved based upon a determination by the Secretary that such programs are not in the public interest, in accordance with 12 U.S.C. 4542(c)(4)(B). (b) Hearing requirements. (1) Hearings shall be held in the District of Columbia. (2) Hearings shall be conducted by a HUD ALJ authorized to conduct proceedings under 24 CFR part 26, subpart B. (c) Timing. Unless an earlier or later date is requested by a GSE and the request is granted by the ALJ, a hearing shall be fixed for a date not earlier than 30 days, nor later than 60 days, after: (1) Service of the notice of charges under § 81.82; (2) Service of the Notice of Intent to Impose Civil Money Penalty(ies) under § 81.83; or (3) Filing of a request for a hearing under § 81.54(b). (d) Procedure. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 24 CFR part 26, subpart B to the extent that such provisions are not inconsistent with any of the procedures in this part or FHEFSSA. (e) Service—(1) To GSE. Any service required or authorized to be made by the Secretary under this subpart G may be made to the Chief Executive Officer of a GSE or any other representative as the GSE may designate in writing to the Secretary. (2) How service may be made. A serving party shall use one or more of the following methods of service: (i) Personal service; (ii) Delivering the papers to a reliable commercial courier service, overnight delivery service, or the U.S. Post Office for Express Mail Delivery; or (iii) Transmission by electronic media, only if the parties mutually agree. The serving party shall mail an original of the filing after any proper service using electronic media. (f) Subpoena authority—(1) General. In the course of or in connection with any hearing, the Secretary and the ALJ shall have the authority to: (i) Administer oaths and affirmations; (ii) Take and preserve testimony under oath; (iii) Issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum; and (iv) Revoke, quash, or modify subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued under this paragraph (f). (2) Witnesses and documents. The attendance of witnesses and the production of documents provided for in this section may be required from any place in any State. A witness may be required to appear, and a document may be required to be produced, at: (i) The hearing; and (ii) Any place that is designated for attendance at a deposition or production of a document under this section. (3) Enforcement. In accordance with 12 U.S.C. 4588(c), the Secretary may request the Attorney General of the United States to enforce any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued pursuant to this section. If a subpoenaed person fails to comply with all or any portion of a subpoena issued pursuant to this paragraph (f), the subpoenaing party or any other aggrieved person may petition the Secretary to seek enforcement of the subpoena. A party's petition to the Secretary for enforcement of a subpoena in no way limits the sanctions that may be imposed by the ALJ on a party who fails to comply with a subpoena issued under this paragraph (f). (4) Fees and expenses. Witnesses subpoenaed under this section shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the district courts of the United States and may seek reasonable expenses and attorneys fees in any court having jurisdiction of any proceeding instituted under this section. Such expenses and fees shall be paid by the GSE or from its assets. (g) Failure to appear. If a GSE fails to appear at a hearing through a duly authorized representative, the GSE shall be deemed to have consented to the issuance of the cease-and-desist order, the imposition of the penalty, or the disapproval of the new program, whichever is applicable. (h) Public hearings. (1) All hearings shall be open to the public, unless the ALJ determines that an open hearing would be contrary to the public interest. Where a party makes a timely motion to close a hearing and the ALJ denies the motion, such party may file with the Secretary within 5 working days a request for a closed hearing, and any party may file a reply to such a request within 5 working days of service of such a motion. Such motions, requests, and replies are governed by § 26.38 of this title. When a request for a closed hearing has been filed with the Secretary under this paragraph (h)(1), the hearing shall be stayed until the Secretary has advised the parties and the ALJ, in writing, of the Secretary's decision on whether the hearing should be closed. (2) Failure to file a timely motion, request or reply is deemed a waiver of any objection regarding whether the hearing will be public or closed. A party must file any motion for a closed hearing within 10 days after: (i) Service of the notice of charges under § 81.82; (ii) Service of the Notice of Intent to Impose Civil Money Penalt(ies) under § 81.83; or (iii) Filing of a request for a hearing under § 81.54(b). (i) Decision of ALJ. After each hearing, the ALJ shall issue an initial decision and serve the initial decision on the GSE, the Secretary, any other parties, and the HUD General Counsel. This service will constitute notification that the case has been submitted to the Secretary. (j) Review of initial decision—(1) Secretary's discretion. The Secretary, in the Secretary's discretion, may review any initial decision. (2) Requested by a party. Any party may file a notice of appeal of an initial decision to the Secretary in accordance with § 26.51(c) of this title. Any waiver of the limitations contained in § 26.51(f) of this title on the number of pages for notices of appeal and responses, of the time limitation in § 26.51(c) of this title for filing a notice of appeal of the initial decision, or any other waivers under this subpart shall not be subject to the publication requirements in 42 U.S.C. 3535(q). (k) Final decision. (1) The initial decision will become the final decision unless the Secretary issues a final decision within 90 days after the initial decision is served on the Secretary. (2) Issuance of final decision by Secretary. The Secretary may review any finding of fact, conclusion of law, or order contained in the initial decision of the ALJ and may issue a final decision in the proceeding. Any decision shall include findings of fact upon which the decision is predicated. The Secretary may affirm, modify, or set aside, in whole or in part, the initial decision or may remand the initial decision for further proceedings. The final decision shall be served on all parties and the ALJ. (l) Decisions on remand. If the initial decision is remanded for further proceedings, the ALJ shall issue an initial decision on remand within 60 days of the date of issuance of the decision to remand, unless it is impractical to do so. (m) Modification. The Secretary may modify, terminate, or set aside any order in accordance with 12 U.S.C. 4582(b)(2).

24 C.F.R. § 81.85 Public disclosure of final orders and agreements.

(a) Disclosure. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the Secretary shall make available to the public final orders; written agreements and statements; and modifications and terminations of those orders, agreements, and statements, as set forth in 12 U.S.C. 4586(a) and the implementing regulations in this subpart G. The retention of records of these orders, agreements, and statements, and their modifications and terminations, are governed by 12 U.S.C. 4586(e). (b) Exceptions to disclosure. Exceptions to disclosure will be determined in accordance with 12 U.S.C. 4586 (c), (d), and (f) and paragraph (c) of this section. (c) Filing documents under seal—(1) Request by party. Upon the denial by the ALJ of a motion for a protective order, any party may request the Secretary to file any document or part of a document under seal if the party believes that disclosure of the document would be contrary to the public interest. Any other party may file with the Secretary a reply to such a request within 5 working days after a request is made or some other time to be determined by the Secretary. Such requests and replies are governed by § 26.38 of this title. (2) Effect of request. A document or part of a document that is the subject of a timely request to the Secretary to file under seal will not be disclosed under this section until the Secretary has advised the parties and the ALJ, in writing, of the Secretary's decision on whether the document or part of a document should be filed under seal. The ALJ shall take all appropriate steps to preserve the confidentiality of such documents or parts of documents, including closing portions of the hearing to the public. (3) Time of request. Failure to file with the Secretary a timely request or a reply is deemed a waiver of any objection regarding the decision on whether a document is to be disclosed. A party must make its request to file a document under seal at least 10 days before the commencement of the hearing. A request may be filed at any other time before or during the course of the hearing, but the requesting party's obligation to produce the document or parts of the document will not be affected by the party's pending request to the Secretary, unless the Secretary expressly directs the ALJ to treat the document as protected from disclosure until the Secretary makes a final written decision on whether the document should be filed under seal. If the Secretary's direction to the ALJ is made orally, that direction must be reduced to writing and filed with the ALJ within 3 working days of the making of the oral order or the document will then be subject to disclosure pending the Secretary's final written decision on disclosure.

24 C.F.R. § 81.86 Enforcement and jurisdiction.

If a GSE fails to comply with a final decision, the Secretary may request the Attorney General of the United States to bring an action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for the enforcement of the notice or order. Such request may be made: (a) For a cease-and-desist order: (1) Upon expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the service of the order on the GSE; or (2) Upon the effective time specified in an order issued upon consent; and (b) For a civil money penalty, when the order imposing the penalty is no longer subject to review under 12 U.S.C. 4582 and 4583 and the implementing regulations at §§ 81.84 and 81.87.

24 C.F.R. § 81.87 Judicial review.

(a) Commencement. In a proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 4581 or 4585, as implemented by §§ 81.82 or 81.83, a GSE that is a party to the proceeding may obtain review of any final order issued under § 81.84 by filing in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, within 30 days after the date of service of such order, a written petition praying that the order of the Secretary be modified, terminated, or set aside. (b) Filing of record. Upon receiving a copy of a petition, the Chief Docket Clerk, Office of Hearings and Appeals, shall file in the court the record in the proceeding, as provided in 28 U.S.C. 2112. (c) No automatic stay. The commencement of proceedings for judicial review under this section shall not, unless specifically ordered by the court, operate as a stay of any order issued by the Secretary.

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