General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 139
January Session, 2011 *_____SB00139PS____032811____*
General Assembly
Substitute Bill No. 139
January Session, 2011
*_____SB00139PS____032811____*
AN ACT CONCERNING PERSONS RESIDING IN ELDERLY HOUSING AND MEMBERS OF SENIOR CENTERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2011) (a) For purposes of this section, "elderly housing project" means housing for elderly persons pursuant to section 8-114a of the general statutes and congregate housing for the elderly pursuant to section 8-119h of the general statutes.
(b) There is established a senior citizen's bill of rights for residents of elderly housing projects and senior center membership. Each elderly housing project and each senior center shall have a written bill of rights that prescribes the rights afforded to each resident and each member. A designated staff person from each elderly housing project shall provide and explain the bill of rights to the resident at the time that such resident enters into a residency agreement at the elderly housing project. The bill of rights shall include, but not be limited to, that each resident and each member has the right to:
(1) Be treated with consideration, respect and due recognition of personal dignity, individuality and the need for privacy;
(2) Privacy within a private residential unit, subject to rules of the elderly housing project reasonably designed to promote the health, safety and welfare of the resident;
(3) Private communications, including receiving and sending unopened correspondence, telephone access and visiting with persons of one's choice;
(4) Freedom to participate in and benefit from community services and activities so as to achieve the highest possible level of independence, autonomy and interaction within the community;
(5) Exercise civil and religious liberties;
(6) Meet with other residents or members to discuss the policies, procedures and services of the elderly housing project or senior center;
(7) Present grievances and recommend changes in policies, procedures and services to the manager or staff of the elderly housing project or senior center, government officials or any other person without restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal from the elderly housing project or senior center; and
(8) Receive a copy of any rules or regulations of the elderly housing project or senior center.
(c) Each elderly housing project and each senior center shall post in a prominent place the senior citizen's bill of rights, including those rights set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2011) Each housing authority, municipal developer or nonprofit corporation operating elderly housing projects pursuant to part VI of chapter 128 of the general statutes or congregate housing pursuant to part VII of chapter 128 of the general statutes shall allow residents of each housing project or congregate housing maintained by such authority, developer or corporation to establish and maintain a garden if such housing project or congregate housing has land appropriate for use as a garden, provided any such resident establishing a garden shall consult with the authority, developer or corporation regarding the type of herbs, fruits, flowers, vegetables or other plants the resident would like to plant in the garden.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2011 New section
Sec. 2 October 1, 2011 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2011
New section
Sec. 2
October 1, 2011
New section
AGE Joint Favorable Subst. C/R PD
PD Joint Favorable Subst.
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Joint Favorable Subst. C/R
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