Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 3.djvu/806

 112 STAT. 2636 PUBLIC LAW 105-276—OCT. 21, 1998 Regulations. Courts. of a crime as an adult under any Federal, State, or tribal law. "(B) COVERED HOUSING ASSISTANCE.—The term 'covered housing assistance' means— "(i) a dwelling unit in public housing; "(ii) a dwelling unit in housing that is provided project-based assistance under section 8, including new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects; and "(iii) tenant-based assistance under section 8. "(C) OWNER. —The term 'owner* means, with respect to covered housing assistance described in subparagraph (B)(ii), the entity or private person (including a cooperative or public housing agency) that has the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units in the housing assisted."; and (4) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraphs: "(5) CONFIDENTIALITY. —^A public housing agency receiving information under this subsection may use such information only for the purposes provided in this subsection and such information may not be disclosed to any person who is not an officer, employee, or authorized representative of the agency and who has a job-related need to have access to the information in connection with admission of applicants, eviction of tenants, or termination of assistance. For judicial eviction proceedings, disclosures may be made to the extent necessary. The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish procedures necessary to ensure that information provided under this subsection to a public housing agency is used, and confidentiality of such information is maintained, as required under this subsection. The Secretary shall establish standards for confidentiality of information obtained under this subsection by public housing agencies on behalf of owners. "(6) PENALTY.— Any person who knowingly and willfully requests or obtains any information concerning an applicant for, or tenant of, covered housing assistance pursuant to the authority under this subsection under false pretenses, or any person who knowingly and willfully discloses any such information in any manner to any individual not entitled under any law to receive it, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000. The term 'person' as used in this paragraph include an officer, employee, or authorized representative of any public housing agency. "(7) CIVIL ACTION.—Any applicant for, or tenant of, covered housing assistance affected by (A) a negligent or knowing disclosure of information referred to in this subsection about such person by an officer, employee, or authorized representative of any public housing agency, which disclosure is not authorized by thds subsection, or (B) any other negligent or knowing action that is inconsistent with this subsection, may bring a civil action for damages and such other relief as may be appropriate against any public housing agency responsible for such unauthorized action. The district court of the United States in the district in which the affected applicant or tenant resides, in which such unauthorized action occurred, or in which the officer, employee, or representative alleged to be responsible for any such unauthorized action resides, shall have jurisdiction

�