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Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions To Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19 (notice, 86 FR 16731, March 31, 2021)

Summary

A notice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), printed in the Federal Register as 86 FR 16731 (March 31, 2021). It announces the extension of an Order under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act temporarily halting residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID–19, through June 30, 2021. The Order bars a landlord, owner of a residential property or other person with a legal right to pursue eviction or possessory action from evicting any covered person in a jurisdiction where it applies. It defines terms including "Available government assistance" and names Tiffany Brown, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff, CDC, as the contact.

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Cite this document

“Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions To Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19 (notice, 86 FR 16731, March 31, 2021).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/temporary-halt-in-residential-evictions-to-prevent-the-further-spread-370a28d52d/, SHA-256 ea52b4acebe721cefdc1c8b7dfed17d401f031aeaea1f77eb00b1a45baf47a8d.

Full text

                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / Notices                                                     16731

                                            collection that are required to obtain a                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                              the Declaration can be found at: https://
                                            benefit: Specifically, the request for                  HUMAN SERVICES                                        www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
                                            designation as a wholesale or limited                                                                         covid-eviction-declaration.html.
                                            purpose bank, the strategic plan, and the               Centers for Disease Control and
                                                                                                    Prevention                                            Centers for Disease Control and
                                            recordkeeping and reporting                                                                                   Prevention Department of Health and
                                            requirements associated with data                                                                             Human Services
                                                                                                    Temporary Halt in Residential
                                            regarding consumer loans and lending                    Evictions To Prevent the Further
                                            performance, affiliate lending data, and                                                                      Order Under Section 361 of the Public
                                                                                                    Spread of COVID–19                                    Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264) and
                                            data on lending by a consortium or a
                                                                                                    AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and               42 Code of Federal Regulations 70.2
                                            third party.
                                                                                                    Prevention (CDC), Department of Health                Temporary Halt in Residential
                                               Most of the information collected
                                                                                                    and Human Services (HHS).                             Evictions To Prevent the Further
                                            under Regulation BB is not considered
                                                                                                    ACTION: Agency order.                                 Spread of COVID–19
                                            confidential. However, if a respondent
                                            elects to submit a strategic plan                       SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease                      Summary
                                            pursuant to 12 CFR 228.27, the                          Control and Prevention (CDC), located                    Subject to the limitations under
                                            respondent may submit additional                        within the Department of Health and                   ‘‘Applicability,’’ a landlord, owner of a
                                            information to the Board relating to the                Human Services (HHS) announces the                    residential property, or other person 1
                                            strategic plan on a confidential basis, so              extension of an Order under Section 361               with a legal right to pursue eviction or
                                            long as the goals in the plan are                       of the Public Health Service Act to                   possessory action, shall not evict any
                                            sufficiently specific to enable the public              temporarily halt residential evictions to             covered person from any residential
                                            and the Board to judge the merits of the                prevent the further spread of COVID–19.               property in any jurisdiction to which
                                            plan. The Board will determine whether                  DATES: This Order is effective April 1,               this Order applies during the effective
                                            the additional information is entitled to               2021 through June 30, 2021.                           period of the Order.
                                            confidential treatment on a case-by-case                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      Definitions
                                            basis.                                                  Tiffany Brown, Acting Deputy Chief of
                                                                                                    Staff, Centers for Disease Control and                  ‘‘Available government assistance’’
                                               To the extent a respondent submits                                                                         means any governmental rental or
                                            information contained in or related to                  Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS
                                                                                                    H21–10, Atlanta, GA 30329. Phone:                     housing payment benefits available to
                                            examination, operating, or condition                                                                          the individual or any household
                                                                                                    404–639–7000. Email: cdcregulations@
                                            reports prepared by, or on behalf of, or                                                                      member.
                                                                                                    cdc.gov.
                                            for the use of an agency responsible for                                                                        ‘‘Available housing’’ means any
                                            the regulation or supervision of                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            available, unoccupied residential
                                            financial institutions, the respondent                  Background                                            property, or other space for occupancy
                                            may request confidential treatment                                                                            in any seasonal or temporary housing,
                                                                                                       This Order further extends the                     that would not violate federal, state, or
                                            pursuant to exemption 8 of the Freedom
                                                                                                    original temporary eviction moratorium                local occupancy standards and that
                                            of Information Act (FOIA).4 To the                      Order published on September 4, 2020,
                                            extent a respondent submits nonpublic                                                                         would not result in an overall increase
                                                                                                    as initially extended by the                          of housing cost to such individual.
                                            commercial or financial information                     Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,
                                            which is both customarily and actually                                                                          ‘‘Covered person’’ 2 means any tenant,
                                                                                                    and further extended by the Order                     lessee, or resident of a residential
                                            treated as private by the respondent, the               published on January 29, 2021 set to
                                            respondent may request confidential                                                                           property who provides to their landlord,
                                                                                                    expire on March 31, 2021, with                        the owner of the residential property, or
                                            treatment pursuant to exemption 4 of                    modifications through June 30, 2021.                  other person with a legal right to pursue
                                            the FOIA.5                                              Because of COVID–19, household
                                               Current actions: On December 11,                     crowding and transmission, and the                       1 For purposes of this Order, ‘‘person’’ includes

                                            2020, the Board published an initial                    increased risk of individuals sheltering              corporations, companies, associations, firms,
                                            notice in the Federal Register (85 FR                   in close quarters in congregate settings              partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies,
                                                                                                    such as homeless shelters, which may                  as well as individuals.
                                            80097) requesting public comment for                                                                             2 This definition is based on factors that are
                                            60 days on the extension, without                       be unable to provide adequate social                  known to contribute to evictions and thus increase
                                            revision, of the FR BB. The comment                     distancing as populations increase,                   the need for individuals to move into close quarters
                                            period for this notice expired on                       extending the temporary halt on                       in new congregate or shared living arrangements or
                                                                                                    evictions, subject to further extension,              experience homelessness. Individuals who suffer
                                            February 9, 2021. The Board did not                                                                           job loss, have limited financial resources, are low
                                                                                                    modification, or rescission, is
                                            receive any comments. The Board                                                                               income, or have high out-of-pocket medical
                                                                                                    appropriate.                                          expenses are more likely to be evicted for
                                            adopted the extension, without revision,                   The Order is extended through June                 nonpayment of rent than others not experiencing
                                            of the FR BB as originally proposed.                    30, 2021 based on current and projected               these factors. See Desmond, M., Gershenson, C.,
                                              Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve             epidemiological context of SARS-CoV–2                 Who gets evicted? Assessing individual,
                                                                                                                                                          neighborhood, and network factors, Soc Sci Res.
                                            System, March 25, 2021.                                 transmission throughout the United                    2017;62:362–377. doi:10.1016/
                                            Michele Taylor Fennell,                                 States. Although daily incidence of                   j.ssresearch.2016.08.017, (identifying job loss as a
                                            Deputy Associate Secretary of the Board.                COVID–19 decreased and plateaued                      possible predictor of eviction because renters who
                                                                                                    between January and March 25, 2021,                   lose their jobs experience not only a sudden loss of
                                            [FR Doc. 2021–06549 Filed 3–30–21; 8:45 am]                                                                   income but also the loss of predictable future
                                                                                                    widespread transmission continues at




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                                            BILLING CODE 6210–01–P
                                                                                                                                                          income). According to one survey, over one quarter
                                                                                                    high levels, making the Order still                   (26%) of respondents also identified job loss as the
                                                                                                    necessary, especially given that                      primary cause of homelessness. See 2019 San
                                                                                                    previous plateaus have led to secondary               Francisco Homeless Count & Survey
                                                                                                                                                          Comprehensive Report, Applied Survey Research,
                                                                                                    and tertiary phases of acceleration.                  at 22, https://hsh.sfgov.org/wp-content/uploads/
                                              4 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(8).                                    A copy of the Order is provided                    2020/01/2019HIRDReport_SanFrancisco_
                                              5 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4).                                 below. A copy of the signed Order and                 FinalDraft-1.pdf. (last viewed Mar. 24, 2021).



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                                            16732                        Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / Notices

                                            eviction or a possessory action,3 a                         (4) The individual is using best efforts           Background
                                            declaration under penalty of perjury                      to make timely partial payments that are                There is currently a pandemic of a
                                            indicating that:                                          as close to the full payment as the                  respiratory disease (‘‘COVID–19’’)
                                               (1) The individual has used best                       individual’s circumstances may permit,               caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS–
                                            efforts to obtain all available                           taking into account other                            COV–2) that has now spread globally,
                                            government assistance for rent or                         nondiscretionary expenses; and                       including cases reported in all fifty
                                            housing;                                                    (5) Eviction would likely render the
                                               (2) The individual either (i) earned no                                                                     states within the United States, plus the
                                                                                                      individual homeless—or force the                     District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
                                            more than $99,000 (or $198,000 if filing                  individual to move into and live in
                                            jointly) in Calendar Year 2020, or                                                                             As of March 25, 2021, there have been
                                                                                                      close quarters in a new congregate or                almost 125 million cases of COVID–19
                                            expects to earn no more than $99,000 in                   shared living setting—because the
                                            annual income for Calendar Year 2021                                                                           globally, resulting in over 2,700,000
                                                                                                      individual has no other available                    deaths.9 Over 29,700,000 cases have
                                            (or no more than $198,000 if filing a                     housing options.
                                            joint tax return),4 (ii) was not required                                                                      been identified in the United States,
                                            to report any income in 2020 to the U.S.                    ‘‘Evict’’ and ‘‘Eviction’’ means any               with new cases reported daily, and over
                                            Internal Revenue Service, or (iii)                        action by a landlord, owner of a                     540,000 deaths due to the disease.10
                                            received an Economic Impact Payment                       residential property, or other person                Although transmission has decreased
                                            (stimulus check).5 6                                      with a legal right to pursue eviction or             since a peak in January 2021, the
                                               (3) The individual is unable to pay the                possessory action, to remove or cause                current number of cases per day remains
                                            full rent or make a full housing payment                  the removal of a covered person from a               almost twice as high as the initial peak
                                            due to substantial loss of household                      residential property. This definition also           in April 2020 and transmission rates are
                                            income, loss of compensable hours of                      does not prohibit foreclosure on a home              similar to the second peak in July 2020.
                                            work or wages, a lay-off, or                              mortgage.                                               The virus that causes COVID–19
                                            extraordinary 7 out-of-pocket medical                       ‘‘Residential property’’ means any                 spreads very easily and sustainably
                                            expenses;                                                 property leased for residential purposes,            between people who are in close contact
                                                                                                      including any house, building, mobile                with one another (within about 6 feet),
                                               3 As used throughout this Order, this would            home or land in a mobile home park,8                 mainly through respiratory droplets
                                            include, without limitation, an agent or attorney         or similar dwelling leased for residential           produced when an infected person
                                            acting on behalf of the landlord or the owner of the      purposes, but shall not include any                  coughs, sneezes, or talks. Individuals
                                            residential property.
                                               4 According to one study, the national two-            hotel, motel, or other guest house rented            without symptoms can also spread the
                                            bedroom housing wage in 2020 was $23.96 per hour          to a temporary guest or seasonal tenant              virus.11 Among adults, the risk for
                                            (approximately, $49,837 annually), meaning that an        as defined under the laws of the state,              severe illness from COVID–19 increases
                                            hourly wage of $23.96 was needed to afford a              territorial, tribal, or local jurisdiction.          with age, with older adults at highest
                                            modest two-bedroom house without spending more
                                            than 30% of one’s income on rent. The hourly wage           ‘‘State’’ shall have the same definition           risk. Severe illness means that persons
                                            needed in Hawaii (the highest cost U.S. State for         as under 42 CFR 70.1, meaning ‘‘any of               with COVID–19 may require
                                            rent) was $38.76 (approximately $80,621 annually).        the 50 states, plus the District of                  hospitalization, intensive care, or a
                                            See Out of Reach: How Much do you Need to Earn                                                                 ventilator to help them breathe, and
                                            to Afford a Modest Apartment in Your State?,              Columbia.’’
                                            National Low Income Housing Coalition, https://             ‘‘U.S. territory’’ shall have the same             may be fatal. People of any age with
                                            reports.nlihc.org/oor (last visited Mar. 23, 2021). As    definition as under 42 CFR 70.1,                     certain underlying medical conditions
                                            further explained herein, because this Order is
                                                                                                      meaning ‘‘any territory (also known as               (e.g. cancer, obesity, serious heart
                                            intended to serve the critical public health goal of                                                           conditions, or diabetes) are at increased
                                            preventing evicted individuals from potentially           possessions) of the United States,
                                            contributing to the interstate spread of COVID–19         including American Samoa, Guam, the                  risk for severe illness from COVID–19.12
                                            through movement into close quarters in new               Northern Mariana Islands, the                           COVID–19 presents a historic threat to
                                            congregate, shared housing settings, or though
                                                                                                      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the                 public health, and COVID–19 cases have
                                            homelessness, the higher income thresholds listed                                                              been detected in every county in the
                                            here have been determined to better serve this goal.      U.S. Virgin Islands.’’
                                               5 ‘‘Stimulus check’’ includes payments made                                                                 continental United States.13 Between
                                            pursuant to Section 2201 of the CARES Act, to             Statement of Intent                                  December 2020 and January 2021, the
                                            Section 9601 of the American Rescue Plan Act of                                                                number of deaths per day from COVID–
                                            2021, or to any similar federally authorized                 This Order shall be interpreted and
                                                                                                                                                           19 consistently exceeded any other
                                            payments made to individual natural persons in            implemented in a manner as to achieve
                                            2020 and 2021. Eligibility for the 2020 or 2021           the following objectives:                               9 COVID–19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems
                                            stimulus checks has been based on an income that
                                            is equal to or lower than the income thresholds              • Mitigating the spread of COVID–19               Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins
                                            described above and does not change or expand             within crowded, congregate or shared                 University (JHU), Johns Hopkins Coronavirus
                                            who is a covered person under this Order since it         living settings, or through unsheltered              Resource Center, https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/
                                            was entered into on September 4, 2020.                                                                         map.html (last visited Mar. 25, 2021).
                                               6 A person is likely to qualify for protection under
                                                                                                      homelessness;                                           10 COVID Data Tracker, Centers for Disease

                                            this Order if they receive the following benefits: (a)       • Mitigating the further spread of                Control and Prevention, https://covid.cdc.gov/
                                            Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);           COVID–19 from one state or territory                 covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home (last visited
                                            (b) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program             into any other state or territory;                   Mar. 25, 2021).
                                                                                                                                                              11 Johansson MA, Quandelacy TM, Kada S, et al.
                                            (SNAP); (c) Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or
                                            (d) Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI)           • Mitigating the further spread of                SARS–CoV–2 Transmission From People Without
                                            to the extent that income limits for these programs       COVID–19 by temporarily suspending                   COVID–19 Symptoms. JAMA Netw Open.
                                            are less than or equal to the income limits for this      the eviction of covered persons from                 2021;4(1):e2035057. doi:10.1001/
                                            Order. However, it is the individual’s responsibility                                                          jamanetworkopen.2020.35057
                                                                                                      residential property for nonpayment of                  12 People with Certain Medical Conditions,
                                            to verify that their income is within the income
                                                                                                      rent; and




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                                            limits described.                                                                                              Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://
                                               7 Extraordinary expenses are defined as those that        • Supporting response efforts to                  www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-
                                            prevented you from paying some or all of your rent        COVID–19 at the federal, state, local,               precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
                                            or providing for other basic necessities like food                                                             (last updated Mar. 15, 2021).
                                                                                                      territorial, and tribal levels.                         13 US COVID–19 cases and deaths by state,
                                            security. To qualify as an extraordinary medical
                                            expense, the unreimbursed medical expense is on                                                                USAFacts, https://usafacts.org/visualizations/
                                            that is likely to exceed 7.5% of one’s adjusted gross      8 Mobile home parks may also be referred to as      coronavirus-covid-19-spread-map/ (last visited Mar.
                                            income for the year.                                      manufactured housing communities.                    24, 2021).



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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / Notices                                                      16733

                                            cause.14 Although transmission levels                   those targeted in this Order, to higher-                unemployed.24 The persistent spread of
                                            have decreased since January, between                   than-average COVID–19 rates.18                          COVID–19 continues to necessitate
                                            February 25 and March 25, 2021, the                        In recent months, new variants of                    preventive action.
                                            daily incidence of COVID–19 remained                    SARS–CoV–2 have also emerged                               In the context of a pandemic, eviction
                                            comparable to the summer peak of                                                                                moratoria—like quarantine, isolation,
                                                                                                    globally.19 Epidemiological evaluation
                                            transmission in July 2020, which is                                                                             and social distancing—can be an
                                                                                                    of these variants shows increased
                                            higher than the daily incidence when                                                                            effective public health measure utilized
                                                                                                    transmissibility as well as possible
                                            the Order initially took effect in                                                                              to prevent the spread of communicable
                                                                                                    increased mortality. The current
                                            September, 2020. Furthermore, 37% of                                                                            disease. Eviction moratoria facilitate
                                                                                                    substantial levels of transmission and
                                            counties in the United States are                                                                               self-isolation by people who become ill
                                                                                                    the emergence of variants highlight the                 or who are at risk for severe illness from
                                            categorized as experiencing ‘‘high’’                    persistent and dynamic nature of the                    COVID–19 due to an underlying
                                            transmission (over 100 cases per                        pandemic and the need for continued                     medical condition. They also allow state
                                            100,000 people or greater than 10% test                 protections.                                            and local authorities to more easily
                                            positivity) and an additional 30% of                       To respond to this public health                     implement, as needed, stay-at-home and
                                            counties are categorized as experiencing                threat, Federal, state, and local                       social distancing directives to mitigate
                                            ‘‘substantial’’ transmission (50–99.99                  governments have taken unprecedented                    the community spread of COVID–19.
                                            cases per 100,000 people or 8–9.99%                     or exceedingly rare actions, including                     Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid,
                                            test positivity).15 No counties are                     border closures, restrictions on travel,                Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
                                            currently considered free of spread, and                stay-at-home orders, mask requirements,                 Act (Pub. L. 116–136) to aid individuals
                                            only 8% of counties are considered to                   and eviction moratoria. In particular,                  and businesses adversely affected by
                                            have low transmission.16                                the COVID–19 pandemic has triggered                     COVID–19 in March 2020. Section 4024
                                               Two-dose mRNA COVID–19                               unprecedented restrictions on interstate                of the CARES Act provided a 120-day
                                            vaccination became available in                         and foreign travel. For example, many                   moratorium on eviction filings as well
                                            December 2020 and as of March 27,                       states require travelers arriving from                  as other protections for tenants in
                                            2021 over 50 million people in the                      other states to obtain negative test                    certain rental properties with federal
                                            United States (more than 15% of the                     results and/or quarantine upon                          assistance or federally related financing.
                                            population) have been fully                             arrival.20 For international travel, all                These protections helped alleviate the
                                            immunized.17 In February 2021, a single                 passengers age two or older—including                   public health consequences of tenant
                                                                                                    U.S. citizens—must obtain a negative                    displacement during the COVID–19
                                            dose COVID–19 vaccine also became
                                                                                                    test result or show proof of recovery                   pandemic. The CARES Act eviction
                                            available. CDC continues to update
                                                                                                    before they may board a flight to the                   moratorium expired on July 24, 2020.
                                            guidance for COVID–19 precautions
                                                                                                    United States.21 Despite the need for                   The protections in the CARES Act
                                            among individuals who have been fully                                                                           supplemented temporary eviction
                                            vaccinated; however, currently there are                travel precautions, airport use has
                                                                                                    increased in recent weeks, leading to                   moratoria and rent freezes implemented
                                            no recommended changes to COVID–19                                                                              by governors and other local officials
                                            prevention recommendations related to                   heightened concerns of interstate
                                                                                                    transmission.22 SARS–CoV–2                              using emergency powers. Researchers
                                            activities in public, such as avoiding                                                                          estimated that this temporary federal
                                            crowded and poorly ventilated places.                   transmission, behavior change, and
                                                                                                    travel restrictions have devastated                     moratorium provided relief to a material
                                            This is particularly important given                                                                            portion of the nation’s roughly 43
                                            continued transmission. Even as                         industries that depend on the movement
                                                                                                    of people, such as the travel, leisure,                 million renters.25 The CARES act also
                                            COVID–19 vaccines continue to be                                                                                provided funding streams for emergency
                                                                                                    and hospitality.23 Ten months after the
                                            distributed, it remains critical to                                                                             rental assistance; surveys estimate that
                                                                                                    initial wave of closures due to COVID–
                                            maintain COVID–19 precautions to                                                                                this assistance became available to the
                                                                                                    19, over 16 percent of the hospitality
                                            avoid further rises in transmission and                                                                         public through rental assistance
                                                                                                    and leisure sector’s labor force was
                                            to guard against yet another increase in                                                                        programs by July 2020.26
                                            the rates of new infections. It is                        18 COVID Data Tracker, Centers for Disease
                                                                                                                                                               The federal moratorium provided by
                                            important to note that despite higher                   Control and Prevention, https://covid.cdc.gov/
                                                                                                                                                            the CARES Act, however, did not reach
                                            rates of vaccine coverage, the                          covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home (last visited      all renters. Many renters who fell
                                            simultaneous roll-back of community                     Mar. 25, 2021).                                         outside the scope of the Federal
                                            mitigation efforts may continue to                        19 Abdool Karim SS, de Oliveira T. New SARS–
                                                                                                                                                            moratorium were instead protected
                                                                                                    CoV–2 Variants—Clinical, Public Health, and             under state and local moratoria. In
                                            expose vulnerable populations, such as                  Vaccine Implications [published online ahead of
                                            those targeted in this Order, to higher-                print, 2021 Mar 24]. N Engl J Med. 2021;10.1056/        August, it was estimated that as many
                                            than-average COVID–19 rates. It is                      NEJMc2100362. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2100362.                 as 30–40 million people in America
                                            important to note that despite higher                     20 Travel During COVID–19, Centers for Disease        could be at risk of eviction.27 In early
                                                                                                    Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/
                                            rates of vaccine coverage, the                          coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-             24 Labor Force Statistics from the Current
                                            simultaneous roll-back of community                     covid19.html (last updated Feb. 16, 2021).              Population Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
                                            mitigation efforts may continue to                        21 Id.
                                                                                                                                                            https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea31.htm (last
                                            expose vulnerable populations, such as                    22 Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder, CDC Urges              updated Mar. 5, 2021).
                                                                                                    Americans to Avoid Travel as Airport Screenings            25 See CARES Act Eviction Moratorium,
                                                                                                    Approach Pandemic Peak, U.S. News, https://             Congressional Research Service, https://
                                              14 Woolf SH, Chapman DA, Lee JH. COVID–19 as
                                                                                                    www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-          crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11320
                                            the Leading Cause of Death in the United States.        03-22/cdc-urges-americans-to-avoid-travel-as-           (last visited Mar. 23, 2021).
                                            JAMA. 2021;325(2):123–124. doi:10.1001/




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                                                                                                    airport-screenings-approach-pandemic-peak (last            26 Vincent Reina et al., COVID–19 Emergency
                                            jama.2020.24865.                                        visited Mar. 26, 2021).                                 Rental Assistance: Analysis of a National Survey of
                                              15 COVID–19 Integrated County View, Centers for         23 Aaron Klein & Ember Smith, Explaining the          Programs, Research Brief, https://nlihc.org/sites/
                                            Disease Control and Prevention, https://                economic impact of COVID–19: Core industries and        default/files/HIP_NLIHC_Furman_Brief_FINAL.pdf
                                            covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view (last     the Hispanic workforce, Brookings Institute, https://   (last visited Mar. 26, 2021).
                                            visited Mar. 22, 2021).                                 www.brookings.edu/research/explaining-the-                 27 See Emily Benfer et al., The COVID–19 Eviction
                                              16 Id.
                                                                                                    economic-impact-of-covid-19-core-industries-and-        Crisis: An Estimated 30–40 Million People in
                                              17 Id.                                                the-hispanic-workforce/ (last visited Mar. 23, 2021).                                              Continued




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                                            16734                        Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / Notices

                                            March, 2021, the Census Household                       September, suggesting high demand and                 if recommendations are not followed,
                                            Pulse Survey estimated that over 4                      likelihood of mass evictions.31                       lead to exposures.
                                            million adults who are not current on                                                                            Preliminary modeling projections and
                                                                                                    Eviction and Risk of COVID–19
                                            rent perceive that they are at imminent                                                                       observational data from COVID–19
                                                                                                    Transmission
                                            risk of eviction.28 A wave of evictions                                                                       incidence comparisons across states that
                                            on that scale would be unprecedented                       Evicted renters must move, which                   implemented and lifted eviction
                                            in modern times.29 A large portion of                   leads to multiple outcomes that increase              moratoria indicate that evictions
                                            those who are evicted may move into                     the risk of COVID–19 spread.                          substantially contribute to COVID–19
                                            close quarters in shared housing or, as                 Specifically, many evicted renters move               transmission. In mathematical models
                                            discussed below, become homeless,                       into close quarters in shared housing or              where eviction led exclusively to
                                            thus becoming at higher risk of COVID–                  other congregate settings. According to               sharing housing with friends or family,
                                            19.                                                     the Census Bureau American Housing                    lifting eviction moratoria led to a 40%
                                                                                                    Survey, 32% of renters reported that                  increased risk of contracting COVID–19
                                               On September 4, 2020, the CDC
                                                                                                    they would move in with friends or                    among people who were evicted and
                                            Director issued an Order temporarily
                                                                                                    family members upon eviction, which                   those with whom they shared housing
                                            halting evictions in the United States for
                                                                                                    would introduce new household                         after eviction (pre-peer review).
                                            the reasons described therein. That
                                                                                                    members and potentially increase                      Compared to a scenario where no
                                            Order was set to expire on December 31,
                                                                                                    household crowding. Studies show that                 evictions occurred, the models also
                                            2020, subject to further extension,
                                                                                                    COVID–19 transmission occurs readily                  predicted a 5–50% increased risk of
                                            modification, or rescission. Section 502
                                                                                                    within households. The secondary                      infection, even for those who did not
                                            of Title V, Division N of the
                                                                                                    attack rate in households has been                    share housing, as a result of increased
                                            Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
                                                                                                    estimated to be 17%, and household                    overall transmission. The authors
                                            extended the Order until January 31,
                                                                                                    contacts are estimated to be 6 times                  estimated that anywhere from 1,000 to
                                            2021. With the extension of the Order,                  more likely to become infected by an
                                            Congress also provided $25 billion for                                                                        100,000 excess cases per million
                                                                                                    index case of COVID–19 than other                     population could be attributable to
                                            emergency rental assistance for the                     close contacts. A study of pregnant
                                            payment of rent and rental arrears.                                                                           evictions depending on the eviction and
                                                                                                    women in New York City showed that                    infection rates.
                                            Congress later provided an additional                   women in large households (greater
                                            $21.55 billion in emergency rental                                                                               An analysis of observational data from
                                                                                                    number of residents per household)
                                            assistance when it passed the American                                                                        state-based eviction moratoria in the 43
                                                                                                    were three times as likely to test
                                            Rescue Plan.                                                                                                  states and the District of Columbia
                                                                                                    positive for SARS–CoV–2 than those in
                                               On January 29, 2021, following an                                                                          showed significant increases in COVID–
                                                                                                    smaller households, and those in
                                            assessment of the ongoing pandemic,                                                                           19 incidence and mortality
                                                                                                    neighborhoods with greater household
                                            the CDC Director renewed the Order                                                                            approximately 2–3 months after eviction
                                                                                                    crowding (≤1 resident per room) were
                                            until March 31, 2021. This Order further                                                                      moratoria were lifted (pre-peer review).
                                                                                                    twice as likely to test positive.
                                            extends and modifies the prior Eviction                                                                       Specifically, the authors compared the
                                                                                                       Throughout the United States,
                                            Moratoria until June 30, 2021, for the                                                                        COVID–19 incidence and mortality rates
                                                                                                    counties with the highest proportion of
                                            reasons described herein, subject to                                                                          in states that lifted their moratoria with
                                                                                                    crowded households have experienced
                                            revision based on the changing public                                                                         the rates in states that maintained their
                                                                                                    COVID–19 mortality rates 2.6 times
                                            health landscape. To the extent any                                                                           moratoria. In these models, the authors
                                                                                                    those of counties with the lowest
                                            provision of this Order conflicts with                                                                        controlled for time-varying indicators of
                                                                                                    proportion of crowded households.
                                            prior Orders, this Order is controlling.                                                                      each state’s test count as well as major
                                                                                                       Shared housing is not limited to                   public-health interventions including
                                               Researchers estimate that, in 2020,                  friends and family. It includes a broad               lifting stay-at-home orders, school
                                            Federal, state, and local eviction                      range of settings, including transitional             closures, and mask mandates. After
                                            moratoria led to over one million fewer                 housing and domestic violence and                     adjusting for these other changes, they
                                            evictions than the previous year.30                     abuse shelters. Special considerations                found that the incidence of COVID–19
                                            Additional research shows that, despite                 exist for such housing because of the                 in states that lifted their moratoria was
                                            the CDC eviction moratorium leading to                  challenges of maintaining social                      1.6 times that of states that did not at
                                            an estimated 50% decrease in eviction                   distance. Residents often gather closely              10 weeks post-lifting (95% CI 1.0, 2.3),
                                            filings compared to the historical                      or use shared equipment, such as                      a ratio that grew to 2.1 at ≥16 weeks (CI
                                            average, there have still been over                     kitchen appliances, laundry facilities,               1.1, 3.9). Similarly, they found that
                                            100,000 eviction filings since                          stairwells, and elevators. Residents may              mortality in states that lifted their
                                                                                                    have unique needs, such as disabilities,              moratoria was 1.6 times that of states
                                            America are at Risk, Aspen Institute, https://          chronic health conditions, cognitive                  that did not at 7 weeks post-lifting (CI
                                            www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/the-covid-19-         decline, or limited access to technology,             1.2, 2.3), a ratio that grew to 5.4 at ≥16
                                            eviction-crisis-an-estimated-30-40-million-people-      and thus may find it more difficult to
                                            in-america-are-at-risk/ (last visited Mar. 23, 2021).                                                         weeks (CI 3.1, 9.3). The authors
                                               28 Household Pulse Survey, United States Census
                                                                                                    take actions to protect themselves from               estimated that, nationally, over 433,000
                                            Bureau, https://www.census.gov/data-tools/demo/         COVID–19. CDC recommends that                         cases of COVID–19 and over 10,000
                                            hhp/#/?measures=EVR (last visited Mar. 25, 2021).       shelters provide new residents with a                 deaths could be attributed to lifting state
                                               29 As a baseline, approximately 900,000 renters      clean mask, keep them isolated from                   moratoria.32
                                            are evicted every year in the United States.            others, screen for symptoms at entry, or
                                            Princeton University Eviction Lab. National
                                                                                                    arrange for medical evaluations as




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                                            Estimates: Eviction in America, The Eviction Lab:                                                               32 Leifheit, Kathryn M. and Linton, Sabriya L. and
                                            Princeton University, https://evictionlab.org/          needed depending on symptoms.                         Raifman, Julia and Schwartz, Gabriel and Benfer,
                                            national-estimates/ (last visited Mar. 24, 2021).       Accordingly, an influx of new residents               Emily and Zimmerman, Frederick J and Pollack,
                                               30 Pete Hepburn & Renee Louis, Preliminary
                                                                                                    at facilities that offer support services             Craig, Expiring Eviction Moratoriums and COVID–
                                            Analysis: Six Months of the CDC Eviction                could potentially overwhelm staff and,                19 Incidence and Mortality (November 30, 2020).
                                            Moratorium, The Eviction Lab: Princeton                                                                       Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/
                                            University, https://evictionlab.org/six-months-cdc/                                                           abstract=3739576 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/
                                            (last visited Mar. 26, 2021).                             31 Id.                                              ssrn.3739576.



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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / Notices                                             16735

                                               Although data are limited, available                 36% of shelter residents. COVID–19                    people to move, often into close quarters
                                            evidence suggests evictions lead to                     testing in a single shelter in San                    in new shared housing settings with
                                            interstate spread of COVID–19 in two                    Francisco led to the identification of 101            friends or family, or congregate settings
                                            ways. First, an eviction may lead the                   cases (67% of those tested). Data from                such as homeless shelters. The ability of
                                            evicted members of a household to                       557 universal diagnostic testing events               these settings to adhere to best practices,
                                            move across state lines. Of the 35                      at homeless shelters in 21 states show                such as social distancing and other
                                            million Americans who move each year,                   an average of 6% positivity among                     infection control measures, decreases as
                                            15% move to a new state. Second, even                   shelter clients. Data comparing the                   populations increase.
                                            if a particular eviction, standing alone,               incidence or severity of COVID–19
                                                                                                                                                          Modifications
                                            would not always result in interstate                   among people experiencing
                                            displacement, the mass evictions that                   homelessness directly to the general                     In addition to extending the effective
                                            would occur in the absence of this                      population are limited. However, during               period of the prior orders, this Order
                                            Order would inevitably increase the                     the 15-day period of the outbreak in                  makes several modifications. A
                                            interstate spread of COVID–19. This                     Boston, MA, researchers estimated a                   description of each modification
                                            Order cannot effectively mitigate                       cumulative incidence of 46.3 cases of                 follows:
                                            interstate transmission of COVID–19                     COVID–19 per 1000 persons                                CDC added a statement in the
                                            without covering intrastate evictions, as               experiencing homelessness, as                         ‘‘Statement of Intent’’ section consistent
                                            the level of spread of SARS-CoV–2                       compared to 1.9 cases per 1000 among                  with the clarification of the ‘‘Evict’’ and
                                            resulting from these evictions can lead                 Massachusetts adults (pre-print).                     ‘‘Eviction’’ definitions. The statement
                                            to SARS-CoV–2 transmission across                          CDC guidance recommends increasing                 now specifically clarifies that one
                                            state borders. Moreover, intrastate                     physical distance between beds in                     intended purpose of this Order is to
                                            spread facilitates interstate spread in the             homeless shelters. To adhere to this                  mitigate the spread of COVID–19 by
                                            context of communicable disease                         guidance, shelters have limited the                   temporarily suspending the eviction of
                                            spread, given the nature of infectious                  number of people served throughout the                covered persons from residential
                                            disease. In the aggregate, the mass-scale               United States. In many places,                        property for nonpayment of rent.
                                            evictions that will likely occur in the                 considerably fewer beds are available to                 CDC modified the ‘‘Applicability’’
                                            absence of this Order will inevitably                   individuals who become homeless.                      section to add the following points:
                                            increase interstate spread of COVID–19.                 Shelters that do not adhere to the                       A signed declaration submitted under
                                                                                                    guidance, and operate at ordinary or                  a previous order remains valid
                                            Eviction, Homelessness, and Risk of                     increased occupancy, are at greater risk              notwithstanding the issuance of this
                                            Severe Disease From COVID–19                            for the types of outbreaks described                  extended and modified order, and
                                               Evicted individuals without access to                above. The challenge of mitigating                    covered persons do not need to submit
                                            support or other assistance options may                 disease transmission in homeless                      a new declaration under this Order.
                                            become homeless, including older                        shelters has been compounded because                  Evictions for nonpayment of rent
                                            adults or those with underlying medical                 some organizations have chosen to stop                initiated prior to September 4, 2020, but
                                            conditions, who are more at risk for                    or limit volunteer access and                         not yet completed are subject to this
                                            severe illness from COVID–19 than the                   participation.                                        Order, but those that were completed
                                            general population. In Seattle-King                        In the context of the current                      before September 4, 2020, are not
                                            County, 5–15% of people experiencing                    pandemic, large increases in evictions                subject to the Order. While the Order
                                            homelessness between 2018 and 2020                      resulting in homelessness could have at               does not prohibit evictions for engaging
                                            cited eviction as the primary reason for                least two potential negative                          in criminal activity while on the leased
                                            becoming homeless. Additionally, some                   consequences. One is if homeless                      premises, covered persons may not be
                                            individuals and families who are                        shelters increase occupancy in ways                   evicted on the sole basis that they are
                                            evicted may originally stay with family                 that increase the exposure risk to                    alleged to have committed the crime of
                                            or friends, but subsequently seek                       COVID–19. The other is if homeless                    trespass (or similar state-law offense)
                                            homeless services. Among people who                     shelters limit new admissions, leading                where the underlying activity is a
                                            entered shelters throughout the United                  to increases in unsheltered                           covered person remaining in a
                                            States in 2017, 27% were staying with                   homelessness, which is associated with                residential property despite
                                            family or friends beforehand.                           significantly heightened risk of                      nonpayment of rent. Individuals who
                                               People experiencing homelessness are                 mortality generally. Neither                          are confirmed to have, who have been
                                            at high risk for COVID–19. It may be                    consequence is in the interest of the                 exposed to, or who might have COVID–
                                            more difficult for these persons to                     public health.                                        19 and take reasonable precautions to
                                            consistently access the necessary                          Additionally, research suggests that               not spread the disease should not be
                                            resources to adhere to public health                    the population of persons who would be                evicted on grounds that they pose a
                                            recommendations to prevent COVID–19.                    evicted and those experiencing                        health or safety threat to other residents.
                                            For instance, it may not be possible to                 homelessness may be at risk of severe                    Even if a particular eviction, standing
                                            avoid certain congregate settings such as               disease from COVID–19. Five studies                   alone, would not always result in
                                            homeless shelters, or easily access                     have shown an association between                     interstate displacement, the mass
                                            facilities to engage in handwashing with                eviction and hypertension, which has                  evictions that would occur in the
                                            soap and water.                                         been associated with more severe                      absence of this Order would inevitably
                                               Extensive outbreaks of COVID–19                      outcomes from COVID–19. Also, people                  increase the interstate spread of COVID–
                                            have been identified in homeless                        experiencing homelessness often have                  19. Moreover, increases in intrastate
                                            shelters. In Seattle, Washington, a                     underlying conditions that increase                   spread further facilitate interstate spread




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                                            network of three related homeless                       their risk of severe outcomes of COVID–               in the context of communicable disease
                                            shelters experienced an outbreak that                   19. Among patients with COVID–19,                     spread.
                                            led to 43 cases among residents and staff               homelessness has been associated with                    The ‘‘Background,’’ ‘‘Eviction and
                                            members. In Boston, Massachusetts,                      increased likelihood of hospitalization.              Risk of COVID–19 Infection’’ and
                                            universal COVID–19 testing at a single                     In short, evictions threaten to increase           ‘‘Eviction, Homelessness, and Risk of
                                            shelter revealed 147 cases, representing                the spread of COVID–19 as they force                  Severe Disease from COVID–19’’


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                                            16736                       Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / Notices

                                            subsections have been revised to reflect                precludes the charging or collecting of                resident of a residential property
                                            updated epidemiological and other                       fees, penalties, or interest as a result of            remaining in a residential property
                                            relevant information in support of this                 the failure to pay rent or other housing               despite the nonpayment of rent, such
                                            Order.                                                  payment on a timely basis, under the                   invocation conflicts with this Order and
                                               CDC added a new section titled                       terms of any applicable contract.                      is preempted pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
                                            ‘‘Declaration Forms’’ with the following                Nothing in this Order precludes                        264(e).
                                            points:                                                 evictions based on a tenant, lessee, or                   Individuals who are confirmed to
                                               To qualify as a covered person eligible              resident: (1) Engaging in criminal                     have, who have been exposed to, or who
                                            for the protections of this Order, a                    activity while on the premises; (2)                    might have COVID–19 and take
                                            tenant, lessee, or resident of a                        threatening the health or safety of other              reasonable precautions to not spread the
                                            residential property must provide a                     residents; 33 (3) damaging or posing an                disease may not be evicted on grounds
                                            completed and signed copy of a                          immediate and significant risk of                      that they may pose a health or safety
                                            declaration with the elements listed in                 damage to property; (4) violating any                  threat to other residents.
                                            the definition of ‘‘Covered Person’’ to                 applicable building code, health                          The Order is extended through June
                                            their landlord, owner of the residential                ordinance, or similar regulation relating              30, 2021, based on the current and
                                            property where they live, or other                      to health and safety; or (5) violating any             projected epidemiological context of
                                            person who has a right to have them                     other contractual obligation, other than               SARS-CoV–2 transmission throughout
                                            evicted or removed.                                     the timely payment of rent or similar                  the United States. Although daily
                                               Tenants, lessees, or residents of a                  housing-related payment (including                     incidence of COVID–19 decreased and
                                            residential property may use any                        non-payment or late payment of fees,                   plateaued between January and March
                                            written document in place of the                        penalties, or interest).                               25, 2021, widespread transmission
                                            Declaration Form if it includes the                        A signed declaration submitted under                continues at high levels, making the
                                            required information as in the Form, is                 a previous order remains valid                         Order still necessary, especially given
                                            signed, and includes a perjury                          notwithstanding the issuance of this                   that previous plateaus have led to
                                            statement.                                              extended and modified order, and                       secondary and tertiary phases of
                                               Tenants, lessees, or residents of a                  covered persons do not need to submit                  acceleration. Furthermore, the number
                                            residential property can use a form                     a new declaration under this Order.                    of deaths per day continues at levels
                                            translated into other Languages.                           Any evictions for nonpayment of rent                comparable to or higher than when this
                                               In some circumstances, it may be                     initiated prior to September 4, 2020, but              Order was established in September
                                            appropriate for one member of the                       not yet completed, are subject to this                 2020.34 This 90-day extension will
                                            residence to provide an executed                        Order. Any tenant, lessee, or resident of              allow the assessment of natural changes
                                            declaration on behalf of the other adult                a residential property who qualifies as                to COVID–19 incidence, the influences
                                            residents who are party to the lease,                   a ‘‘Covered Person’’ and is still present              of new variants, and the expansion of
                                            rental agreement, or housing contract.                  in a rental unit is entitled to protections            COVID–19 vaccine coverage to
                                               CDC modified the ‘‘Findings and                      under this Order. Any eviction that was                determine if there is a continued need
                                            Action’’ section to, among other things,                completed prior to September 4, 2020,                  for a national eviction moratorium.
                                            further explain that this Order is not a                is not subject to this Order.
                                                                                                       Under this Order, covered persons                   Declaration Forms
                                            rule within the meaning of the
                                            Administrative Procedure Act and, to                    may be evicted for engaging in criminal                   To qualify for the protections of this
                                            the extent a court finds that the Order                 activity while on the premises. But                    Order, a tenant, lessee, or resident of a
                                            qualifies as a rule, there is good cause                covered persons may not be evicted on                  residential property must provide a
                                            to dispense with prior public notice and                the sole basis that they are alleged to                completed and signed copy of a
                                            comment.                                                have committed the crime of trespass (or               declaration with the elements listed in
                                                                                                    similar state-law offense) where the                   the definition of ‘‘Covered person’’ to
                                            Applicability                                           underlying activity is a covered person                their landlord, owner of the residential
                                               This Order does not apply in any                     remaining in a residential property for                property where they live, or other
                                            state, local, territorial, or tribal area with          nonpayment of rent. Permitting such                    person who has a right to have them
                                            a moratorium on residential evictions                   evictions would result in substantially                evicted or removed from where they
                                            that provides the same or greater level                 more evictions overall, thus increasing                live. To assist tenants and landlords, the
                                            of public-health protection than the                    the risk of disease transmission as                    CDC created a standardized declaration
                                            requirements listed in this Order or to                 otherwise covered persons move into                    form that can be downloaded here:
                                            the extent its application is prohibited                congregate settings or experience                      https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
                                            by federal court order. In accordance                   homelessness. This result would be                     ncov/downloads/declaration-form.pdf.
                                            with 42 U.S.C. 264(e), this Order does                  contrary to the stated objectives of this                 Tenants, lessees, and residents of
                                            not preclude state, local, territorial, and             Order, and therefore would diminish                    residential property are not obligated to
                                            tribal authorities from imposing                        their effectiveness. Moreover, to the                  use the CDC form. Any written
                                            additional requirements that provide                    extent such criminal trespass laws are                 document that an eligible tenant, lessee,
                                            greater public-health protection and are                invoked to establish criminal activity                 or residents of residential property
                                            more restrictive than the requirements                  solely based on a tenant, lessee, or                   presents to their landlord will comply
                                            in this Order.                                                                                                 with this Order, as long as it contains
                                               This Order is a temporary eviction                     33 Individuals who might have COVID–19 are
                                                                                                                                                           the required elements of ‘‘Covered
                                            moratorium to prevent the further                       advised to stay home except to get medical care.       person’’ as described in this order. In
                                                                                                    Accordingly, individuals who might have COVID–
                                            spread of COVID–19. This Order does                                                                            addition, tenants, lessees, and residents




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                                                                                                    19 and take reasonable precautions to not spread
                                            not relieve any individual of any                       the disease should not be evicted on the ground that
                                            obligation to pay rent, make a housing                  they may pose a health or safety threat to other          34 Trends in Number of COVID–19 Cases and

                                            payment, or comply with any other                       residents. See What to Do if You are Sick, Centers     Deaths in the US Reported to CDC, by State/
                                                                                                    for Disease Control and Prevention, https://           Territory, Centers for Disease Control and
                                            obligation that the individual may have                 www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-          Prevention, https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-
                                            under a tenancy, lease, or similar                      sick/steps-when-sick.html (last updated Mar. 17,       tracker/#trends_dailytrendsdeaths (last visited Mar.
                                            contract. Nothing in this Order                         2021).                                                 22, 2021).



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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / Notices                                             16737

                                            of residential property are allowed to                    4, 2020 Order is hereby modified and                 since January, between February 25,
                                            declare in writing that they meet the                     extended through June 30, 2021.                      2021 and March 25, 2021, the daily
                                            elements of covered person in other                          Accordingly, a landlord, owner of a               incidence of COVID–19 remained
                                            languages.                                                residential property, or other person                comparable to the summer peak of
                                               All declarations, regardless of form                   with a legal right to pursue eviction or             transmission in July 2020. Daily
                                            used, must be signed, and must include                    possessory action shall not evict any                incidence in the last 30 days has
                                            a statement that the tenant, lessee, or                   covered person from any residential                  remained consistently higher than the
                                            resident of a residential property                        property in any state or U.S. territory in           daily incidence when the Order took
                                            understands that they could be liable for                 which there are documented cases of                  effect in September 2020. Furthermore,
                                            perjury for any false or misleading                       COVID–19 that provides a level of                    37% of counties in the United States are
                                            statements or omissions in the                            public-health protections below the                  categorized as experiencing ‘‘high’’
                                            declaration. This Order does not                          requirements listed in this Order.                   transmission (over 100 cases per
                                            preclude a landlord challenging the                          This Order is not a rule within the               100,000 people or greater than 10% test
                                            truthfulness of a tenant’s, lessee’s, or                  meaning of the Administrative                        positivity) and an additional 30% of
                                            resident’s declaration in court, as                       Procedure Act (APA) but rather an                    counties are categorized as experiencing
                                            permitted under state or local law.                       emergency action taken under the                     ‘‘substantial’’ transmission (50–99.99
                                               In certain circumstances, such as                      existing authority of 42 CFR 70.2. The               cases per 100,000 people or 8–9.99%
                                            individuals filing a joint tax return, it                 purpose of section 70.2, which was                   test positivity). No counties are
                                            may be appropriate for one member of                      promulgated through notice-and-                      currently considered free of spread, and
                                            the residence to provide an executed                      comment rulemaking, is to enable CDC                 only 8% of counties are considered to
                                            declaration on behalf of the other adult                  to take swift steps to prevent contagion             have low transmission. Because of these
                                            residents party to the lease, rental                      without having to seek a second round                reasons and because the current
                                            agreement, or housing contract. The                       of public comments and without a delay               extension is set to expire on March 31,
                                            declaration may be signed and                             in effective date.36                                 2021, I hereby conclude that immediate
                                            transmitted either electronically or by                      In the event that this Order qualifies            action is again necessary without prior
                                            hard copy.                                                as a rule under the APA, notice and                  notice and comment and without a
                                                                                                      comment and a delay in effective date                delay in the effective date.
                                            Findings and Action                                       are not required because there is good                  The rapidly changing nature of the
                                               For the reasons described herein, I am                 cause to dispense with prior public                  pandemic requires not only that CDC act
                                            extending and modifying the September                     notice and comment and the                           swiftly, but also deftly to ensure that its
                                            4, 2020 Order, as extended by section                     opportunity to comment on this Order                 actions are commensurate with the
                                            502 of Title V, Division N of the                         and the delay in effective date. See 5               threat. This necessarily involves
                                            Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021                     U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). Considering the                 assessing evolving conditions that
                                            and further extended by the January 29,                   public health emergency caused by                    inform CDC’s determinations.
                                            2021 Order. I have determined that                        COVID–19, it would be impracticable                     Although the pandemic is dynamic
                                            extending the temporary halt in                           and contrary to the public health, and               and the situation evolves over time, the
                                            evictions in this Order constitutes a                     by extension the public interest, to                 fundamental public health threat that
                                            reasonably necessary measure under 42                     delay the issuance and effective date of             existed on September 4, 2020, and
                                            CFR 70.2 to prevent the further spread                    this Order.                                          January 29, 2021—the risk of large
                                            of COVID–19 throughout the United                            In the September 4, 2020 Order, the               numbers of residential evictions
                                            States. I have further determined that                    previous CDC Director determined that                contributing to the spread of COVID–19
                                                                                                      good cause existed because the public                throughout the United States—
                                            measures by states, localities, or
                                                                                                      health emergency caused by COVID–19                  continues to exist. Without this Order,
                                            territories that do not meet or exceed
                                                                                                      made it impracticable and contrary to                there is every reason to expect that
                                            these minimum protections are
                                                                                                      the public health, and by extension the              evictions will increase. It is imperative
                                            insufficient to prevent the interstate
                                                                                                      public interest, to delay the issuance               that public health authorities act
                                            spread of COVID–19.35
                                                                                                      and effective date of the Order. The                 quickly to help ward off an
                                               Based on the convergence of COVID–
                                                                                                      previous Director also found that a                  unprecedented wave of evictions, which
                                            19, household crowding and
                                                                                                      delay in the effective date of the Order             would threaten new spikes in SARS-
                                            transmission, and the increased risk of
                                                                                                      would permit the occurrence of                       CoV–2 transmission at a critical
                                            individuals sheltering in close quarters
                                                                                                      evictions—potentially on a mass scale—               juncture in fight against COVID–19.
                                            in congregate settings such as homeless                                                                        Such mass evictions and the attendant
                                            shelters, which may be unable to                          that would have potentially significant
                                                                                                      consequences. For these reasons, the                 public-health consequences would be
                                            provide adequate social distancing as                                                                          very difficult, if not impossible, to
                                            populations increase, I have determined                   previous Director concluded that the
                                                                                                      delay in the effective date of the Order             reverse. It would be impracticable and
                                            that extending the temporary halt on                                                                           contrary to the public interest to delay
                                            evictions is appropriate.                                 would defeat the purpose of the Order
                                                                                                      and endanger the public health and,                  the issuance and effective date of the
                                               Therefore, under 42 CFR 70.2, subject                                                                       Order pending notice-and-comment
                                            to the limitations under the                              therefore, determined that immediate
                                                                                                      action was necessary. As a result, the               rulemaking for the reasons described
                                            ‘‘Applicability’’ section, the September                                                                       herein, and because of the ever-
                                                                                                      previous Director issued the Order
                                                                                                      without prior notice and comment and                 changing landscape of the pandemic
                                              35 In the United States, public health measures are
                                                                                                      without a delay in the effective date. I             and the uncertainty of whether Congress
                                            implemented at all levels of government, including
                                                                                                      made similar findings in the January 29,             would grant another extension as it did




jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
                                            the federal, state, local, and tribal levels. Publicly-
                                            available compilations of pending measures                2021 Order.                                          in December 2020.
                                            indicate that eviction moratoria and other                   As noted above, although                             Similarly, if this Order qualifies as a
                                            protections from eviction have expired or are set to                                                           rule under the APA, the Office of
                                            expire in many jurisdictions. COVID–19 Housing            transmission levels have decreased
                                            Policy Scorecard, The Eviction Lab: Princeton
                                                                                                                                                           Information and Regulatory Affairs
                                            University, https://evictionlab.org/covid-policy-           36 Chambless Enters., LLC v. Redfield, No. 20–     (OIRA) has determined that it would be
                                            scorecard/ (last visited Mar. 23, 2021).                  1455, 2020 WL 7588849, (W.D. La. 2020).              an economically significant regulatory


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                                            16738                       Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / Notices

                                            action pursuant to Executive Order                      Notice of Available Federal Resources                   HUD stands at the ready to support
                                            12866 and a major rule under the                           While this Order to prevent eviction               American communities take these steps
                                            Congressional Review Act (CRA). But                     is effectuated to protect the public                  to reduce the spread of COVID–19 and
                                            there would not be a delay in its                       health, the states and units of local                 maintain economic prosperity. For
                                            effective date. CDC has determined that                 government are reminded that the                      program support, including technical
                                            for the same reasons, there would be                    Federal Government has deployed                       assistance, please visit
                                            good cause under the CRA to make the                    unprecedented resources to address the                www.hudexchange.info/program-
                                            requirements herein effective                           pandemic, including housing assistance.               support. For further information on
                                            immediately. Thus, this action has been                    The Department of Housing and                      HUD resources, tools, and guidance
                                            reviewed by OIRA.                                       Urban Development (HUD), the                          available to respond to the COVID–19
                                                                                                    Department of Agriculture, and                        pandemic, state and local officials are
                                               If any provision of this Order, or the
                                                                                                    Treasury have informed CDC that                       directed to visit https://www.hud.gov/
                                            application of any provision to any
                                                                                                    unprecedented emergency resources                     coronavirus. These tools include
                                            persons, entities, or circumstances, shall
                                                                                                    have been appropriated through various                toolkits for Public Housing Authorities
                                            be held invalid, the remainder of the                                                                         and Housing Choice Voucher landlords
                                            provisions, or the application of such                  Federal agencies that assist renters and
                                                                                                    landlords during the pandemic,                        related to housing stability and eviction
                                            provisions to any persons, entities, or                                                                       prevention, as well as similar guidance
                                            circumstances other than those to which                 including $46.55 billion to the Treasury
                                                                                                    through the Consolidated                              for owners and renters in HUD-assisted
                                            it is held invalid, shall remain valid and                                                                    multifamily properties. Furthermore,
                                                                                                    Appropriations Act of 2021 and the
                                            in effect.                                                                                                    tenants can visit consumerfinance.gov/
                                                                                                    American Rescue Plan (ARP).
                                               This Order shall be enforced by                      Furthermore, in 2020 44 states and 310                housing for up-to-date information on
                                            federal authorities and cooperating state               local jurisdictions allocated about $3.9              rent relief options, protections, and key
                                            and local authorities through the                       billion toward emergency rental                       deadlines.
                                            provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571; 42                  assistance, largely from funds                        Effective Date
                                            U.S.C. 243, 268, 271; and 42 CFR 70.18.                 appropriated to Treasury and HUD from
                                            However, this Order has no effect on the                the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and                        This Order is effective on April 1,
                                            contractual obligations of renters to pay               Economic Security (CARES).37 These                    2021, and will remain in effect through
                                            rent and shall not preclude charging or                 three rounds of federal appropriations                June 30, 2021, subject to revision based
                                            collecting fees, penalties, or interest as              also provided substantial resources for               on the changing public health
                                            a result of the failure to pay rent or other            homeless services, homeowner                          landscape.
                                            housing payment on a timely basis,                      assistance, and supplemental stimulus                   Authority: The authority for this Order is
                                            under the terms of any applicable                       and unemployment benefits that low                    Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act
                                            contract.                                               income renters used to pay rent.                      (42 U.S.C. 264) and 42 CFR 70.2.
                                                                                                       Visit https://home.treasury.gov/                     Dated: March 29, 2021.
                                            Criminal Penalties                                      policy-issues/cares/state-and-local-                  Sherri Berger,
                                               Under 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571; 42 U.S.C.                governments for more information about                Acting Chief of Staff, Centers for Disease
                                            271; and 42 CFR 70.18, a person                         the Coronavirus Relief Fund and https://              Control and Prevention.
                                            violating this Order may be subject to a                home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/                [FR Doc. 2021–06718 Filed 3–29–21; 4:15 pm]
                                            fine of no more than $100,000 or one                    emergency-rental-assistance-program                   BILLING CODE 4163–18–P
                                                                                                    for more information about the
                                            year in jail, or both, if the violation does
                                                                                                    Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
                                            not result in a death, or a fine of no
                                                                                                    HUD has further informed CDC that                     DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                            more than $250,000 or one year in jail,
                                                                                                    forbearance policies for mortgages                    HUMAN SERVICES
                                            or both if the violation results in a
                                                                                                    backed by the federal government are in
                                            death, or as otherwise provided by law.                                                                       Centers for Disease Control and
                                                                                                    effect until June 30, 2021, which
                                            An organization violating this Order                    provide many landlords, especially                    Prevention
                                            may be subject to a fine of no more than                smaller landlords, with temporary relief
                                            $200,000 per event if the violation does                as new emergency rental assistance                    Notice of Re-Establishment of the
                                            not result in a death or $500,000 per                   programs are deployed.                                Advisory Committee to the Director
                                            event if the violation results in a death                  HUD, USDA and Treasury grantees                      Pursuant to Section 222 of the Public
                                            or as otherwise provided by law. The                    and partners play a critical role in                  Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a), as
                                            U.S. Department of Justice may initiate                 prioritizing efforts to support this goal.            amended and the Federal Advisory
                                            criminal proceedings as appropriate                     As grantees decide how to deploy                      Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C.
                                            seeking imposition of these criminal                    CDBG–CV and ESG–CV funds provided                     App), the Director, Centers for Disease
                                            penalties.                                              by the new funding from the CARES                     Control and Prevention (CDC),
                                            Notice to Cooperating State and Local                   Act, Consolidated Appropriations Act of               announces the re-establishment of the
                                            Officials                                               2021, and ARP all communities should                  Advisory Committee to the Director,
                                                                                                    assess what resources have already been               Centers for Disease Control and
                                              Under 42 U.S.C. 243, the U.S.                         allocated to prevent evictions and                    Prevention.
                                            Department of Health and Human                          homelessness through temporary rental                   The Secretary, Department of Health
                                            Services is authorized to cooperate with                assistance and homelessness                           and Human Services (HHS) and by
                                            and aid state and local authorities in the              prevention, particularly to the most                  delegation, the Director, CDC, are




jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
                                            enforcement of their quarantine and                     vulnerable households.                                authorized under Sections 301 and 311
                                            other health regulations and to accept                                                                        of the Public Health Service Act, [42
                                                                                                       37 Vincent Reina et al., COVID–19 Emergency
                                            state and local assistance in the                                                                             U.S.C. Sections 241 and 243], as
                                                                                                    Rental Assistance: Analysis of a National Survey of
                                            enforcement of federal quarantine rules                 Programs, Research Brief, https://nlihc.org/sites/
                                                                                                                                                          amended to: (1) Conduct, encourage,
                                            and regulations, including in the                       default/files/HIP_NLIHC_Furman_Brief_FINAL.pdf        cooperate with, and assist other
                                            enforcement of this Order.                              (last visited Mar. 26, 2021).                         appropriate public authorities, scientific


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