Researcher: KS Page 1 3/29/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6430
AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING AUTHORITY JURISDICTION.
SUMMARY
By law, municipal and regional housing authorities exercise certain
powers, such as developing and operating affordable housing projects
and administering tenant-based voucher programs (e.g., Section 8).
Current law requires that housing authorities exercise these powers
within their area of operation. This bill authorizes them to operate
outside of their municipal or regional boundaries by adopting an
expanded area of operation.
In doing so, the bill appears to allow housing authorities to exercise
the same powers in the expanded area of operation as they may
currently exercise in their area of operation, subject to certain
limitations. Specifically, the bill prohibits housing authorities, in an
expanded area of operation, from (1) establishing or maintaining a
police force or (2) acquiring property by eminent domain.
The bill defines an "expanded area of operation" as an area (1)
adopted by a housing authority and (2) designated by the Department
of Housing (DOH) under its mobility counseling program as a high- or
very high-opportunity census tract (see BACKGROUND). It requires
that any part of the census tract be located within 10 miles of the
municipality in which the initial housing authority is located.
Lastly, the bill makes several technical and conforming changes,
including (1) redefining “area of operation” to broadly mean a
municipal area of operation and, if adopted, an expanded area of
operation and (2) eliminating obsolete definitions.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021
BACKGROUND 2021HB-06430-R000158-BA.DOCX
Researcher: KS Page 2 3/29/21
Mobility Counseling Program - Opportunity Areas
State law requires DOH, within existing resources, to operate a
residence mobility counseling program to help certain individuals and
families relocate to higher opportunity areas through education and
support services. “Opportunity areas” are those designated as such
using opportunity mapping analysis that incorporates a census tract
level assessment of educational, economic, and neighborhood
characteristics, including education data and crime rates. DOH must
make the mapping analysis available on its website.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Housing Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 11 Nay 4 (03/11/2021)