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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6641
January Session, 2021
LCO No. 5486
Referred to Committee on PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Introduced by:
(PD)
AN ACT CONCERNING TH E REMOTE AND ONLINE PROVISION OF
MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 1-2 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 2
(a) Each provision of the general statutes, the special acts or the 3
charter of any town, city or borough which requires the insertion of an 4
advertisement of a legal notice in a daily newspaper shall be construed 5
to permit such advertisement to be inserted in a weekly newspaper or, 6
if such provision applies to a town, city or borough, posted on the 7
Internet web site of the town, city or borough; but this section shall not 8
be construed to reduce or otherwise affect the time required by law for 9
giving such notice. Whenever notice of any action or other proceeding 10
is required to be given by publication in a newspaper, either by statute 11
or order of court, the newspaper selected for that purpose, unless 12
otherwise expressly prescribed, shall be one having a substantial 13
circulation in the town in which at least one of the parties, for whose 14
benefit such notice is given, resides. 15 Raised Bill No. 6641
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(b) Each provision of the general statutes, the special acts or the 16
charter of any town, city or borough or district that requires the filing of 17
any notice by the clerk of any town, city, borough or district, shall be 18
construed to permit the posting of such notice on the Internet web site 19
of such town, city, borough or district, in a manner prescribed by such 20
clerk. 21
Sec. 2. Section 1-225 of the general statutes is repealed and the 22
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 23
(a) As used in this section, "electronic equipment" means any 24
technology that facilitates real-time public access to and participation in 25
meetings, including, but not limited to, telephonic, video or other 26
conferencing platforms. 27
(b) The meetings of all public agencies, except executive sessions, as 28
defined in subdivision (6) of section 1-200, shall be open to the public. 29
Any such meetings may be held by means of electronic equipment or 30
simultaneously in person and by means of electronic equipment, 31
provided any such meetings shall allow for the opportunity to provide 32
comment or testimony, vote and otherwise participate in such meeting, 33
as applicable. The votes of each member of any such public agency upon 34
any issue before such public agency shall be reduced to writing and 35
made available for public inspection within forty-eight hours and shall 36
also be recorded in the minutes of the [session] meeting at which taken. 37
Not later than seven days after the date of the [session] meeting to which 38
such minutes refer, such minutes and any audio or video recording or 39
transcript taken of such meeting shall be available for public inspection 40
and posted on such public agency's Internet web site, if available, except 41
that no public agency of a political subdivision of the state shall be 42
required to post such minutes, recording or transcript on an Internet 43
web site. Each public agency shall make, keep and maintain a record of 44
the proceedings of its meetings. 45
[(b)] (c) Each such public agency of the state shall file not later than 46
January thirty-first of each year in the office of the Secretary of the State 47 Raised Bill No. 6641
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the schedule of the regular meetings of such public agency for the 48
ensuing year and shall post such schedule on such public agency's 49
Internet web site, if available, except that such requirements shall not 50
apply to the General Assembly, either house thereof or to any committee 51
thereof. Any other provision of the Freedom of Information Act 52
notwithstanding, the General Assembly at the commencement of each 53
regular session in the odd-numbered years, shall adopt, as part of its 54
joint rules, rules to provide notice to the public of its regular, special, 55
emergency or interim committee meetings. The chairperson or secretary 56
of any such public agency of any political subdivision of the state shall 57
file, not later than January thirty-first of each year, with the clerk of such 58
subdivision the schedule of regular meetings of such public agency for 59
the ensuing year, and no such meeting of any such public agency shall 60
be held sooner than thirty days after such schedule has been filed. The 61
chief executive officer of any multitown district or agency shall file, not 62
later than January thirty-first of each year, with the clerk of each 63
municipal member of such district or agency, the schedule of regular 64
meetings of such public agency for the ensuing year, and no such 65
meeting of any such public agency shall be held sooner than thirty days 66
after such schedule has been filed. 67
[(c)] (d) The agenda of the regular meetings of every public agency, 68
except for the General Assembly, shall be available to the public and 69
shall be filed, not less than twenty-four hours before the meetings to 70
which they refer, (1) in such agency's regular office or place of business, 71
and (2) in the office and on the Internet web site of the Secretary of the 72
State for any such public agency of the state, in the office of the clerk of 73
such subdivision for any public agency of a political subdivision of the 74
state or in the office of the clerk of each municipal member of any 75
multitown district or agency, and (3) on such public agency's Internet 76
web site. Such agenda shall include instructions for the public, by means 77
of electronic equipment or in-person, as applicable, to attend and 78
provide comment, vote or otherwise participate in such meeting, as 79
applicable. For any such public agency of the state, such agenda shall be 80
posted on the public agency's and the Secretary of the State's web sites. 81 Raised Bill No. 6641
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Upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of a public 82
agency present and voting, any subsequent business not included in 83
such filed agendas may be considered and acted upon at such meetings. 84
[(d)] (e) Notice of each special meeting of every public agency, except 85
for the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee 86
thereof, shall be posted not less than twenty-four hours before the 87
meeting to which such notice refers on the public agency's Internet web 88
site, if available, and given not less than twenty-four hours prior to the 89
time of such meeting by filing a notice of the time and place thereof in 90
the office of the Secretary of the State for any such public agency of the 91
state, in the office of the clerk of such subdivision for any public agency 92
of a political subdivision of the state and in the office of the clerk of each 93
municipal member for any multitown district or agency. The secretary 94
or clerk shall cause any notice received under this section to be posted 95
in his office. Such notice shall be given not less than twenty-four hours 96
prior to the time of the special meeting; provided, in case of emergency, 97
except for the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee 98
thereof, any such special meeting may be held without complying with 99
the foregoing requirement for the filing of notice but a copy of the 100
minutes of every such emergency special meeting adequately setting 101
forth the nature of the emergency and the proceedings occurring at such 102
meeting shall be filed with the Secretary of the State, the clerk of such 103
political subdivision, or the clerk of each municipal member of such 104
multitown district or agency, as the case may be, not later than seventy-105
two hours following the holding of such meeting. The notice shall 106
specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be 107
transacted, and include instructions for the public to, by means of 108
electronic equipment or in person, as applicable, attend and provide 109
comment, vote and otherwise participate in the special meeting, as 110
applicable. No other business shall be considered at such meetings by 111
such public agency. In addition, such written notice shall be delivered 112
to the usual place of abode of or by electronic mail to each member of 113
the public agency so that the same is received prior to such special 114
meeting. The requirement of delivery of such written notice may be 115 Raised Bill No. 6641
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dispensed with as to any member who at or prior to the time the meeting 116
convenes files with the clerk or secretary of the public agency a written 117
waiver of delivery of such notice. Such waiver may be given by 118
[telegram] electronic mail. The requirement of delivery of such written 119
notice may also be dispensed with as to any member who is actually 120
present at the meeting at the time it convenes. Nothing in this section 121
shall be construed to prohibit any agency from adopting more stringent 122
notice requirements. 123
[(e)] (f) No member of the public shall be required, as a condition to 124
attendance at a meeting of any such body, to register the member's 125
name, or furnish other information, or complete a questionnaire or 126
otherwise fulfill any condition precedent to the member's attendance. 127
Any member of a public agency or the public who participates orally in 128
a meeting of a public agency conducted by means of electronic 129
equipment shall state such member's name and title, if applicable, at the 130
outset of each occasion that such member participates orally during an 131
uninterrupted dialogue or series of questions and answers. 132
[(f)] (g) A public agency may hold an executive session, as defined in 133
subdivision (6) of section 1-200, upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds 134
of the members of such body present and voting, taken at a public 135
meeting and stating the reasons for such executive session, as defined in 136
section 1-200. 137
[(g)] (h) In determining the time within which or by when a notice, 138
agenda, record of votes or minutes of a special meeting or an emergency 139
special meeting are required to be filed under this section, Saturdays, 140
Sundays, legal holidays and any day on which the office of the agency, 141
the Secretary of the State or the clerk of the applicable political 142
subdivision or the clerk of each municipal member of any multitown 143
district or agency, as the case may be, is closed, shall be excluded. 144
Sec. 3. Section 7-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the following 145
is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 146
(a) As used in this section, "electronic equipment" means any 147 Raised Bill No. 6641
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technology that facilitates real-time public access to and participation in 148
meetings, including, but not limited to, telephonic, video or other 149
conferencing platforms. 150
(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, there shall be held in each 151
town, annually, a town meeting for the transaction of business proper 152
to come before such meeting, which meeting shall be designated as the 153
annual town meeting. Special town meetings may be convened when 154
the selectmen deem it necessary, and they shall warn a special town 155
meeting on application of twenty inhabitants qualified to vote in town 156
meetings, such meeting to be held within twenty-one days after 157
receiving such application. Any town meeting may be held by means of 158
electronic equipment or simultaneously in person and by means of 159
electronic equipment, provided any such meeting shall allow for the 160
opportunity to provide comment or testimony, vote and otherwise 161
participate in such meeting, as applicable. Any town meeting may be 162
adjourned from time to time as the interest of the town requires. 163
[(b)] (c) Where any town's public buildings do not contain adequate 164
space for holding annual or special town meetings, any such town may 165
hold any such meeting outside the boundaries of the town, provided 166
such meetings are held at the nearest practical locations to the town. 167
Sec. 4. Section 7-6 of the general statutes is repealed and the following 168
is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 169
At any town meeting other than a regular or special town election or 170
at any meeting of any fire, sewer or school district or any other 171
municipal subdivision of any town incorporated by any special act, any 172
person who is an elector of such town may vote and any citizen of the 173
United States of the age of eighteen years or more who, jointly or 174
severally, is liable to the town, district or subdivision for taxes assessed 175
against him on an assessment of not less than one thousand dollars on 176
the last-completed grand list of such town, district or subdivision, or 177
who would be so liable if not entitled to an exemption under subdivision 178
(17), (19), (22), (23), (25) or (26) of section 12-81, may vote, unless 179 Raised Bill No. 6641
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restricted by the provisions of any special act relating to such town, 180
district or subdivision. Any such meeting may be held by means of 181
electronic equipment or simultaneously in person and by means of 182
electronic equipment, provided any such meeting shall allow for the 183
opportunity to vote, as applicable. As used in this section, "electronic 184
equipment" means any technology that facilitates real-time public 185
access to and participation in meetings, including, but not limited to, 186
telephonic, video or other conferencing platforms. 187
Sec. 5. Section 7-34a of the general statutes is amended by adding 188
subsection (f) as follows (Effective October 1, 2021): 189
(NEW) (f) Any town clerk who receives a fee pursuant to this section 190
shall permit the payment of such fee on an Internet web site designated 191
by the clerk, in a manner prescribed by the clerk. 192
Sec. 6. Section 7-51a of the general statutes is amended by adding 193
subsection (e) as follows (Effective October 1, 2021): 194
(NEW) (e) Any registrar of vital statistics who receives payment 195
pursuant to this section shall permit such payment to be made on an 196
Internet web site designated by the registrar, in a manner prescribed by 197
the registrar. 198
Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) For the purposes of sections 199
7-148j, 7-148k, 7-148bb, 7-148ii and 7-152b of the general statutes, as 200
amended by this act, "electronic equipment" means any technology that 201
facilitates real-time communication between two or more individuals, 202
including, but not limited to, telephonic, video and other conferencing 203
platforms. 204
Sec. 8. Section 7-148j of the general statutes is repealed and the 205
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 206
Any board, commission, council, committee or other agency 207
established or designated pursuant to sections 7-148i to 7-148n, 208
inclusive, and subparagraph (B) of subdivision (9) of subsection (c) of 209 Raised Bill No. 6641
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section 7-148, may be given the following powers: (1) The power to issue 210
subpoenas or subpoenas duces tecum, enforceable upon application to 211
the Superior Court, to compel the attendance of persons at hearings 212
either in person or by means of electronic equipment and the production 213
of books, documents, records and papers; (2) the power to issue written 214
interrogatories and require written answers under oath thereto, 215
enforceable upon application to the Superior Court; (3) the power to 216
hold hearings relating to any allegation of discriminatory practice which 217
it has found reasonable cause to believe has occurred and to issue any 218
appropriate orders including those authorized by section 46a-86; and (4) 219
the power to petition the Superior Court for enforcement of any order 220
issued by it upon a finding that a violation of the local code of prohibited 221
discriminatory practices has occurred, including the power to petition 222
the Superior Court for temporary injunctive relief upon a finding that 223
irreparable harm to the complainant will otherwise occur or for any 224
other relief authorized by sections 46a-89 and 46a-90a. 225
Sec. 9. Section 7-148k of the general statutes is repealed and the 226
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 227
Any complaint filed pursuant to sections 7-148i to 7-148n, inclusive, 228
and subparagraph (B) of subdivision (9) of subsection (c) of section 7-229
148 shall be made under oath. No finding of a violation of a local code 230
of prohibited discriminatory practices shall be made except after a 231
hearing conducted in person or by means of electronic equipment. The 232
respondent at any such hearing shall be given reasonable advance 233
written notice of the hearing, shall be entitled to be represented by 234
counsel, and shall be permitted to testify and present and cross-examine 235
witnesses. The decision resulting from the hearing shall be in writing 236
and shall include written findings of the facts upon which the decision 237
is based. 238
Sec. 10. Section 7-148bb of the general statutes is repealed and the 239
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 240
Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any special 241 Raised Bill No. 6641
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act, municipal charter or home rule ordinance, the chief elected officials 242
of two or more municipalities may initiate a process for such 243
municipalities to enter into an agreement to share revenues received for 244
payment of real and personal property taxes. The agreement shall be 245
prepared pursuant to negotiations and shall contain all provisions on 246
which there is mutual agreement between the municipalities, including, 247
but not limited to, specification of the tax revenues to be shared, 248
collection and uses of such shared revenue. The agreement shall 249
establish procedures for amendment, termination and withdrawal. The 250
negotiations shall include an opportunity for public participation. Such 251
participation may take place in person, in writing or by means of 252
electronic equipment. The agreement shall be approved by each 253
municipality that is a party to the agreement by resolution of the 254
legislative body. As used in this section "legislative body" means the 255
council, commission, board, body or town meeting, by whatever name 256
it may be known, having or exercising the general legislative powers 257
and functions of a municipality and "municipality" means any town, city 258
or borough, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and 259
borough. 260
Sec. 11. Section 7-148ii of the general statutes is repealed and the 261
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 262
(a) Any person who, on or after October 1, 2011, commences an action 263
to foreclose a mortgage on residential property shall register such 264
property with the town clerk of the municipality in which the property 265
is located at the time and place of the recording of the notice of lis 266
pendens as to the residential property being foreclosed in accordance 267
with section 52-325. Such registration may be completed electronically 268
in a manner prescribed by such clerk and shall be maintained by the 269
municipality separate and apart from the land records. 270
(b) Registration made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall 271
contain (1) the name, address, telephone number and electronic mail 272
address of the plaintiff in the foreclosure action and, if such plaintiff is 273
an entity or an individual who resides out-of-state, the name, address, 274 Raised Bill No. 6641
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telephone number and electronic mail address of a direct contact in the 275
state, provided such a direct contact is available; (2) the name, address, 276
telephone number and electronic mail address of the person, local 277
property maintenance company or other entity serving as such 278
plaintiff's contact with the municipality for any matters concerning the 279
residential property; and (3) the following heading in at least ten-point 280
boldface capital letters: NOTICE TO MUNICIPALITY: REGISTRATION 281
OF PROPERTY BEING FORECLOSED. The plaintiff in the foreclosure 282
action shall indicate on such registration whether it prefers to be 283
contacted by first class mail or electronic mail and the preferred 284
addresses for such communications. Such plaintiff shall report to the 285
town clerk of the municipality in which the property is located, by mail, 286
electronic mail or other form of delivery, any change in the information 287
provided on the registration not later than thirty days following the date 288
of the change of information. At the time of registration, such plaintiff 289
shall pay a land record filing fee to the municipality as specified in 290
section 7-34a, as amended by this act. 291
(c) Any person in whom title to a residential property has vested on 292
or after October 1, 2011, through a foreclosure action pursuant to 293
sections 49-16 to 49-21, inclusive, or 49-26, shall register such property, 294
in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, with the municipality 295
in which such property is located not later than fifteen days after 296
absolute title vests in such person. If such person is the plaintiff in the 297
foreclosure action, such person shall, prior to the expiration of such 298
fifteen-day period, update the registration with any change in 299
registration information for purposes of complying with said subsection 300
(d). The updated registration shall include the following heading in at 301
least ten-point boldface capital letters: NOTICE TO MUNICIPALITY: 302
UPDATED REGISTRATION FOR PROPERTY ACQUIRED THROUGH 303
FORECLOSURE. 304
(d) Registration made pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall 305
be mailed, sent by electronic mail or delivered to the town clerk of the 306
municipality in which the residential property is located and include (1) 307
the name, address, telephone number and electronic mail address of the 308 Raised Bill No. 6641
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registrant and, if the registrant is an entity or an individual who resides 309
out-of-state, the name, address, telephone number and electronic mail 310
address of a direct contact in the state, provided such a direct contact is 311
available; (2) the date on which absolute title vested in the registrant; (3) 312
the name, address, telephone number and electronic mail address of the 313
person, local property maintenance company or other entity responsible 314
for the security and maintenance of the residential property; and (4) the 315
following heading in at least ten-point boldface capital letters: NOTICE 316
TO MUNICIPALITY: REGISTRATION OF PROPERTY ACQUIRED 317
THROUGH FORECL OSURE. The registration, or updated registration, 318
shall be accompanied by a land record filing fee payable to the 319
municipality as specified in section 7-34a, as amended by this act. The 320
registrant shall report to the town clerk by mail, electronic mail or other 321
form of delivery any change in the information provided on the 322
registration not later than thirty days from the date of the change in 323
information. 324
(e) If a registrant required to register pursuant to subsection (c) of this 325
section fails to comply with any provision of the general statutes or of 326
any municipal ordinance concerning the repair or maintenance of real 327
estate, including, without limitation, an ordinance relating to the 328
prevention of housing blight pursuant to subparagraph (H)(xv) of 329
subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of section 7-148, the maintenance of safe 330
and sanitary housing as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision 331
(7) of subsection (c) of section 7-148, or the abatement of nuisances as 332
provided in subparagraph (E) of subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of 333
section 7-148, the municipality may issue a notice to the registrant citing 334
the conditions on such property that violate such provisions. Such 335
notice shall be sent by either first class or electronic mail, or both, and 336
shall be sent to the address or addresses of the registrant identified on 337
the registration. A copy of such notice shall be sent by first class mail or 338
electronic mail to the person, property maintenance company or other 339
entity responsible for the security and maintenance of the residential 340
property designated on the registration. Such notice shall comply with 341
section 7-148gg. 342 Raised Bill No. 6641
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(f) The notice described in subsection (e) of this section shall provide 343
a date, reasonable under the circumstances, by which the registrant shall 344
remedy the condition or conditions on such registrant's property. If the 345
registrant, registrant's contact or registrant's agent does not remedy the 346
condition or conditions on such registrant's property before the date 347
following the date specified in such notice, the municipality may enforce 348
its rights under the relevant provisions of the general statutes or of any 349
municipal ordinance. 350
(g) A municipality shall only impose registration requirements upon 351
registrants and plaintiffs in foreclosure actions in accordance with this 352
section, except that any municipal registration requirements effective on 353
or before October 1, 2009, shall remain effective. 354
(h) Any plaintiff in a foreclosure action who fails to register in 355
accordance with this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of one 356
hundred dollars for each violation, up to a maximum of five thousand 357
dollars. Each property for which there has been a failure to register shall 358
constitute a separate violation. 359
(i) Any person in whom title to a residential property has vested on 360
or after October 1, 2011, through a foreclosure action pursuant to 361
sections 49-16 to 49-21, inclusive, or 49-26, and who has not registered 362
in accordance with subsection (c) of this section within thirty days of 363
absolute title vesting in such owner shall be subject to a civil penalty of 364
two hundred fifty dollars for each violation, up to a maximum of 365
twenty-five thousand dollars. Each property for which there has been a 366
failure to register shall constitute a separate violation. 367
(j) An authorized official of the municipality may file a civil action in 368
Superior Court to collect the penalties imposed pursuant to subsections 369
(h) and (i) of this section, which penalties shall be payable to the 370
treasurer of such municipality. Such penalties shall not create or 371
constitute a lien against the residential property. 372
(k) Neither the registration by a foreclosing party nor the failure to 373
register in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall imply or 374 Raised Bill No. 6641
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create any legal obligations on the part of the foreclosing party to repair, 375
maintain or secure the residential property for which a registration is 376
required prior to the time that title passes to the foreclosing party. 377
Sec. 12. Section 7-152b of the general statutes is repealed and the 378
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 379
(a) Any town, city or borough may establish by ordinance a parking 380
violation hearing procedure in accordance with this section. The 381
Superior Court shall be authorized to enforce the assessments and 382
judgments provided for under this section. 383
(b) The chief executive officer of the town, city or borough shall 384
appoint one or more parking violation hearing officers, other than 385
policemen or persons who issue parking tickets or work in the police 386
department, to conduct the hearings authorized by this section. 387
(c) A town, city or borough may, at any time within two years from 388
the expiration of the final period for the uncontested payment of fines, 389
penalties, costs or fees for any alleged violation under any ordinance 390
adopted pursuant to section 7-148 or sections 14-305 to 14-308, inclusive, 391
send notice to the motor vehicle operator, if known, or the registered 392
owner of the motor vehicle by first class mail at his address according 393
to the registration records of the Department of Motor Vehicles or by 394
electronic mail, if the operator or owner's electronic mail address is 395
known. Such notice shall inform the operator or owner: (1) Of the 396
allegations against him and the amount of the fines, penalties, costs or 397
fees due; (2) that he may contest his liability before a parking violations 398
hearing officer by delivering in person, by electronic mail or by mail 399
written notice within ten days of the date thereof; (3) that if he does not 400
demand such a hearing, an assessment and judgment shall enter against 401
him; and (4) that such judgment may issue without further notice. 402
Whenever a violation of such an ordinance occurs, proof of the 403
registration number of the motor vehicle involved shall be prima facie 404
evidence in all proceedings provided for in this section that the owner 405
of such vehicle was the operator thereof; provided, the liability of a 406 Raised Bill No. 6641
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lessee under section 14-107 shall apply. 407
(d) If the person who is sent notice pursuant to subsection (c) of this 408
section wishes to admit liability for any alleged violation, such person 409
may, without requesting a hearing, pay the full amount of the fines, 410
penalties, costs or fees admitted to in person or by mail to an official 411
designated by the town, city or borough. Such payment shall be 412
inadmissible in any proceeding, civil or criminal, to establish the 413
conduct of such person or other person making the payment. Any 414
person who does not [deliver or mail written demand for] demand a 415
hearing within ten days of the date of the first notice provided for in 416
subsection (c) of this section shall be deemed to have admitted liability, 417
and the designated town official shall certify such person's failure to 418
respond to the hearing officer. The hearing officer shall thereupon enter 419
and assess the fines, penalties, costs or fees provided for by the 420
applicable ordinances and shall follow the procedures set forth in 421
subsection (f) of this section. 422
(e) Any person who requests a hearing shall be given written notice 423
of the date, time and place for the hearing. Such hearing shall be held 424
not less than fifteen days nor more than thirty days from the date of the 425
mailing of notice, provided the hearing officer shall grant upon good 426
cause shown any reasonable request by any interested party for 427
postponement or continuance. An original or certified copy of the initial 428
notice of violation issued by a policeman or other issuing officer shall be 429
filed and retained by the town, city or borough, be deemed to be a 430
business record within the scope of section 52-180 and be evidence of 431
the facts contained therein. The presence of the policeman or issuing 432
officer shall be required at the hearing if such person so requests. A 433
person wishing to contest his liability shall appear at the hearing in 434
person or by means of electronic equipment, and may present evidence 435
in his behalf. A designated town official, other than the hearing officer, 436
may present evidence on behalf of the town. If such person fails to 437
appear, the hearing officer may enter an assessment by default against 438
him upon a finding of proper notice and liability under the applicable 439
statutes or ordinances. The hearing officer may accept from such person 440 Raised Bill No. 6641
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copies of police reports, Department of Motor Vehicles documents and 441
other official documents by mail and may determine thereby that the 442
appearance of such person is unnecessary. The hearing officer shall 443
conduct the hearing in the order and form and with such methods of 444
proof as he deems fair and appropriate. The rules regarding the 445
admissibility of evidence shall not be strictly applied, but all testimony 446
shall be given under oath or affirmation. The hearing officer shall 447
announce his decision at the end of the hearing. If he determines that 448
the person is not liable, he shall dismiss the matter and enter his 449
determination in writing accordingly. If he determines that the person 450
is liable for the violation, he shall forthwith enter and assess the fines, 451
penalties, costs or fees against such person as provided by the applicable 452
ordinances of that town, city or borough. 453
(f) If such assessment is not paid on the date of its entry, the hearing 454
officer shall send by first class mail a notice of the assessment to the 455
person found liable and shall file, not less than thirty days or more than 456
twelve months after such mailing, a certified copy of the notice of 457
assessment with the clerk of a superior court facility designated by the 458
Chief Court Administrator together with an entry fee of eight dollars. 459
The certified copy of the notice of assessment shall constitute a record 460
of assessment. Within such twelve-month period, assessments against 461
the same person may be accrued and filed as one record of assessment. 462
The clerk shall enter judgment, in the amount of such record of 463
assessment and court costs of eight dollars, against such person in favor 464
of the town, city or borough. Notwithstanding any provision of the 465
general statutes, the hearing officer's assessment, when so entered as a 466
judgment, shall have the effect of a civil money judgment and a levy of 467
execution on such judgment may issue without further notice to such 468
person. 469
(g) A person against whom an assessment has been entered pursuant 470
to this section is entitled to judicial review by way of appeal. An appeal 471
shall be instituted within thirty days of the mailing of notice of such 472
assessment by filing a petition to reopen assessment, together with an 473
entry fee in an amount equal to the entry fee for a small claims case 474 Raised Bill No. 6641
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pursuant to section 52-259, at the Superior Court facility designated by 475
the Chief Court Administrator, which shall entitle such person to a 476
hearing in accordance with the rules of the judges of the Superior Court. 477
Sec. 13. Section 7-245 of the general statutes is repealed and the 478
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 479
For the purposes of this chapter: (1) "Acquire a sewerage system" 480
means obtain title to all or any part of a sewerage system or any interest 481
therein by purchase, condemnation, grant, gift, lease, rental or 482
otherwise; (2) "alternative sewage treatment system" means a sewage 483
treatment system serving one or more buildings that utilizes a method 484
of treatment other than a subsurface sewage disposal system and that 485
involves a discharge to the groundwaters of the state; (3) "community 486
sewerage system" means any sewerage system serving two or more 487
residences in separate structures which is not connected to a municipal 488
sewerage system or which is connected to a municipal sewerage system 489
as a distinct and separately managed district or segment of such system; 490
(4) "construct a sewerage system" means to acquire land, easements, 491
rights-of-way or any other real or personal property or any interest 492
therein, plan, construct, reconstruct, equip, extend and enlarge all or any 493
part of a sewerage system; (5) "decentralized system" means managed 494
subsurface sewage disposal systems, managed alternative sewage 495
treatment systems or community sewerage systems that discharge 496
sewage flows of less than five thousand gallons per day, are used to 497
collect and treat domestic sewage, and involve a discharge to the 498
groundwaters of the state from areas of a municipality; (6) 499
"decentralized wastewater management district" means areas of a 500
municipality designated by the municipality through a municipal 501
ordinance when an engineering report has determined that the existing 502
subsurface sewage disposal systems may be detrimental to public health 503
or the environment and that decentralized systems are required and 504
such report is approved by the Commissioner of Energy and 505
Environmental Protection with concurring approval by the 506
Commissioner of Public Health, after consultation with the local 507
director of health; (7) "electronic equipment" means any technology that 508 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 17 of 46
facilitates real-time communication between two or more individuals, 509
including, but not limited to, telephonic, video and other conferencing 510
platforms; (8) "municipality" means any metropolitan district, town, 511
consolidated town and city, consolidated town and borough, city, 512
borough, village, fire and sewer district, sewer district and each 513
municipal organization having authority to levy and collect taxes; [(8)] 514
(9) "operate a sewerage system" means own, use, equip, reequip, repair, 515
maintain, supervise, manage, operate and perform any act pertinent to 516
the collection, transportation and disposal of sewage; [(9)] (10) "person" 517
means any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, 518
association or public agency; [(10)] (11) "remediation standards" means 519
pollutant limits, performance requirements, design parameters or 520
technical standards for application to existing sewage discharges in a 521
decentralized wastewater management district for the improvement of 522
wastewater treatment to protect public health and the environment; 523
[(11)] (12) "sewage" means any substance, liquid or solid, which may 524
contaminate or pollute or affect the cleanliness or purity of any water; 525
and [(12)] (13) "sewerage system" means any device, equipment, 526
appurtenance, facility and method for collecting, transporting, 527
receiving, treating, disposing of or discharging sewage, including, but 528
not limited to, decentralized systems within a decentralized wastewater 529
management district when such district is established by municipal 530
ordinance pursuant to section 7-247. 531
Sec. 14. Section 7-255 of the general statutes is repealed and the 532
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 533
(a) The water pollution control authority may establish and revise fair 534
and reasonable charges for connection with and for the use of a 535
sewerage system. The owner of property against which any such 536
connection or use charge is levied shall be liable for the payment thereof. 537
Municipally-owned and other tax-exempt property which uses the 538
sewerage system shall be subject to such charges under the same 539
conditions as are the owners of other property, but nothing herein shall 540
be deemed to authorize the levying of any property tax by any 541
municipality against any property exempt by the general statutes from 542 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 18 of 46
property taxation. No charge for connection with or for the use of a 543
sewerage system shall be established or revised until after a public 544
hearing before the water pollution control authority at which the owner 545
of property against which the charges are to be levied shall have an 546
opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed charges. Such hearing 547
may be conducted in person or by means of electronic equipment. 548
Notice of the time, place and purpose of such hearing shall be published 549
at least ten days before the date thereof [in a newspaper having a general 550
circulation in the municipality] on the Internet web site of the 551
municipality. A copy of the proposed charges shall be on file in the office 552
of the clerk of the municipality and available for inspection by the public 553
for at least ten days before the date of such hearing. When the water 554
pollution control authority has established or revised such charges, it 555
shall file a copy thereof in the office of the clerk of the municipality and, 556
not later than five days after such filing, shall cause the same to be 557
published [in a newspaper having a general circulation in the 558
municipality] on the Internet web site of the municipality. Such 559
publication shall state the date on which such charges were filed and the 560
time and manner of paying such charges and shall state that any appeals 561
from such charges must be taken within twenty-one days after such 562
filing. In establishing or revising such charges the water pollution 563
control authority may classify the property connected or to be connected 564
with the sewer system and the users of such system, including 565
categories of industrial users, and may give consideration to any factors 566
relating to the kind, quality or extent of use of any such property or 567
classification of property or users including, but not limited to, (1) the 568
volume of water discharged to the sewerage system, (2) the type or size 569
of building connected with the sewerage system, (3) the number of 570
plumbing fixtures connected with the sewerage system, (4) the number 571
of persons customarily using the property served by the sewerage 572
system, (5) in the case of commercial or industrial property, the average 573
number of employees and guests using the property and (6) the quality 574
and character of the material discharged into the sewerage system. The 575
water pollution control authority may establish minimum charges for 576
connection with and for the use of a sewerage system. Any person 577 Raised Bill No. 6641
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aggrieved by any charge for connection with or for the use of a sewerage 578
system may appeal to the superior court for the judicial district wherein 579
the municipality is located and shall bring any such appeal to a return 580
day of said court not less than twelve or more than thirty days after 581
service thereof. The judgment of the court shall be final. 582
(b) Any municipality may, by ordinance, provide for the payment to 583
the water pollution control authority by such municipality of the whole 584
or a portion of such charges for specified classifications of property or 585
users, provided such classifications are established by the water 586
pollution control authority in accordance with the provisions of 587
subsection (a) of this section and meet the requirements of the federal 588
Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, P.L. 92-500, as 589
amended from time to time. [amended.] 590
(c) Any municipality may, by ordinance, provide for optional 591
methods of payment of sewer use charges to the water pollution control 592
authority by (1) elderly taxpayers who are eligible for tax relief under 593
the provisions of section 12-129b, section 12-170aa, as amended by this 594
act, or a plan of tax relief for elderly taxpayers provided by such 595
municipality in accordance with section 12-129n or (2) any taxpayer 596
under the age of sixty-five who is eligible for tax relief under the 597
provisions of a plan for tax relief provided by such municipality in 598
accordance with subdivision (2) of section 12-129n. 599
Sec. 15. Section 7-257 of the general statutes is repealed and the 600
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 601
The water pollution control authority may order the owner of any 602
building to which a sewerage system is available to connect such 603
building with the system or order the owner to construct and connect 604
the building to an alternative sewage treatment system. No such order 605
shall be issued until after a public hearing with respect thereto is 606
conducted in person or by means of electronic equipment after due 607
notice in writing to such property owner. Any owner aggrieved by such 608
an order may, within twenty-one days, appeal to the superior court for 609 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 20 of 46
the judicial district wherein the municipality is located. Such appeal 610
shall be brought to a return day of said court not less than twelve or 611
more than thirty days after service thereof. The judgment of the court 612
shall be final. If any owner fails to comply with an order to connect, the 613
water pollution control authority shall cause the connection to be made 614
and shall assess the expense thereof against such owner. 615
Sec. 16. Section 7-344 of the general statutes is repealed and the 616
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 617
(a) Not less than two weeks before the annual town meeting, the 618
board shall hold a public hearing, at which itemized estimates of the 619
expenditures of the town for the ensuing fiscal year shall be presented 620
and at which all persons shall be heard in regard to any appropriation 621
which they are desirous that the board should recommend or reject. The 622
board shall, after such public hearing, hold a public meeting at which it 623
shall consider the estimates so presented and any other matters brought 624
to its attention and shall thereupon prepare and cause to be published 625
in a newspaper in such town, if any, otherwise in a newspaper having a 626
substantial circulation in such town, a report in a form prescribed by the 627
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management containing: (1) An 628
itemized statement of all actual receipts from all sources of such town 629
during its last fiscal year; (2) an itemized statement by classification of 630
all actual expenditures during the same year; (3) an itemized estimate of 631
anticipated revenues during the ensuing fiscal year from each source 632
other than from local property taxes and an estimate of the amount 633
which should be raised by local property taxation for such ensuing fiscal 634
year; (4) an itemized estimate of expenditures of such town for such 635
ensuing fiscal year; and (5) the amount of revenue surplus or deficit of 636
the town at the beginning of the fiscal year for which estimates are being 637
prepared; provided any town which, according to the most recent 638
federal census, has a population of less than five thousand may, by 639
ordinance, waive such publication requirement, in which case the board 640
shall provide for the printing or mimeographing of copies of such report 641
in a number equal to ten per cent of the population of such town 642
according to such federal census, which copies shall be available for 643 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 21 of 46
distribution five days before the annual budget meeting of such town. 644
The board shall submit such estimate with its recommendations to the 645
annual town meeting next ensuing, and such meeting shall take action 646
upon such estimate and recommendations, and make such specific 647
appropriations as appear advisable, but no appropriation shall be made 648
exceeding in amount that for the same purpose recommended by the 649
board and no appropriation shall be made for any purpose not 650
recommended by the board. Such estimate and recommendations may 651
include, if submitted to a vote by voting tabulator, questions to indicate 652
whether the budget is too high or too low. The vote on such questions 653
shall be for advisory purposes only, and not binding upon the board. 654
Immediately after the board of assessment appeals has finished its 655
duties and the grand list has been completed, the board of finance shall 656
meet and, with due provision for estimated uncollectible taxes, 657
abatements and corrections, shall lay such tax on such list as shall be 658
sufficient, in addition to the other estimated yearly income of such town 659
and in addition to such revenue surplus, if any, as may be appropriated, 660
not only to pay the expenses of the town for such current year, but also 661
to absorb the revenue deficit of such town, if any, at the beginning of 662
such current year. The board shall prescribe the method by which and 663
the place where all records and books of accounts of the town, or of any 664
department or subdivision thereof, shall be kept. The provisions of this 665
section shall not be construed as preventing a town from making further 666
appropriations upon the recommendation of its board of finance at a 667
special town meeting held after the annual town meeting and prior to 668
the laying of the tax for the current year, and any appropriations made 669
at such special town meeting shall be included in the amount to be 670
raised by the tax laid by the board of finance under the provisions of this 671
section. 672
(b) Any hearing or meeting held pursuant to this section may be held 673
by means of electronic equipment or simultaneously in person and by 674
means of electronic equipment. Any hearing or meeting held by means 675
of electronic equipment shall permit the opportunity to provide 676
comment or testimony, vote and otherwise participate in such hearing 677 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 22 of 46
or meeting, as applicable. 678
Sec. 17. Section 8-2a of the general statutes is repealed and the 679
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 680
The secretary or clerk of each regulatory board of a political 681
subdivision of the state, adopting subdivision or zoning regulations 682
pursuant to the general statutes or a special act, shall publish such 683
regulations on the Internet web site of the subdivision and make printed 684
copies of such regulations available to the public at a reasonable price 685
upon request. 686
Sec. 18. Section 12-111 of the general statutes is repealed and the 687
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 688
(a) Any person, including any lessee of real property whose lease has 689
been recorded as provided in section 47-19 and who is bound under the 690
terms of a lease to pay real property taxes and any person to whom title 691
to such property has been transferred since the assessment date, 692
claiming to be aggrieved by the doings of the assessors of such town 693
may appeal therefrom to the board of assessment appeals. Such appeal 694
shall be filed [,] in writing [,] or by electronic mail in a manner prescribed 695
by such board on or before February twentieth. The [written] appeal 696
shall include, but is not limited to, the property owner's name, name and 697
position of the signer, description of the property which is the subject of 698
the appeal, name, [and] mailing address and electronic mail address of 699
the party to be sent all correspondence by the board of assessment 700
appeals, reason for the appeal, appellant's estimate of value, signature 701
of property owner, or duly authorized agent of the property owner, and 702
date of signature. The board shall notify each aggrieved taxpayer who 703
filed [a written] an appeal in the proper form and in a timely manner, 704
no later than March first immediately following the assessment date, of 705
the date, time and place of the appeal hearing. Such notice shall be sent 706
no later than seven calendar days preceding the hearing date except that 707
the board may elect not to conduct an appeal hearing for any 708
commercial, industrial, utility or apartment property with an assessed 709 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 23 of 46
value greater than one million dollars. The board shall, not later than 710
March first, notify the appellant that the board has elected not to 711
conduct an appeal hearing. An appellant whose appeal will not be heard 712
by the board may appeal directly to the Superior Court pursuant to 713
section 12-117a. The board shall determine all appeals for which the 714
board conducts an appeal hearing and send written notification of the 715
final determination of such appeals to each such person within one week 716
after such determination has been made. Such written notification shall 717
include information describing the property owner's right to appeal the 718
determination of such board. Such board may equalize and adjust the 719
grand list of such town and may increase or decrease the assessment of 720
any taxable property or interest therein and may add an assessment for 721
property omitted by the assessors which should be added thereto; and 722
may add to the grand list the name of any person omitted by the 723
assessors and owning taxable property in such town, placing therein all 724
property liable to taxation which it has reason to believe is owned by 725
such person, at the percentage of its actual valuation, as determined by 726
the assessors in accordance with the provisions of sections 12-64 and 12-727
71, from the best information that it can obtain, and if such property 728
should have been included in the declaration, as required by section 12-729
42 or 12-43, it shall add thereto twenty-five per cent of such assessment; 730
but, before proceeding to increase the assessment of any person or to 731
add to the grand list the name of any person so omitted, it shall mail to 732
such person, postage paid, at least one week before making such 733
increase or addition, a written or printed notice addressed to such 734
person at the town in which such person resides, to appear before such 735
board and show cause why such increase or addition should not be 736
made. When the board increases or decreases the gross assessment of 737
any taxable real property or interest therein, the amount of such gross 738
assessment shall be fixed until the assessment year in which the 739
municipality next implements a revaluation of all real property 740
pursuant to section 12-62, unless the assessor increases or decreases the 741
gross assessment of the property to (1) comply with an order of a court 742
of jurisdiction, (2) reflect an addition for new construction, (3) reflect a 743
reduction for damage or demolition, or (4) correct a factual error by 744 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 24 of 46
issuance of a certificate of correction. Notwithstanding the provisions of 745
this subsection, if, prior to the next revaluation, the assessor increases or 746
decreases a gross assessment established by the board for any other 747
reason, the assessor shall submit a written explanation to the board 748
setting forth the reason for such increase or decrease. The assessor shall 749
also append the written explanation to the property card for the real 750
estate parcel whose gross assessment was increased or decreased. 751
(b) If an extension is granted to any assessor or board of assessors 752
pursuant to section 12-117, as amended by this act, the date by which a 753
taxpayer shall be required to submit a [written] request for appeal to the 754
board of assessment appeals shall be extended to March twentieth and 755
said board shall conduct hearings regarding such requests during the 756
month of April. The board shall send notification to the taxpayer of the 757
time and date of an appeal hearing at least seven calendar days 758
preceding the hearing date, but no later than the first day of April. If the 759
board elects not to hear an appeal for commercial, industrial, utility or 760
apartment property described in subsection (a) of this section, the board 761
shall notify the taxpayer of such decision no later than the first day of 762
April. 763
Sec. 19. Section 12-113 of the general statutes is repealed and the 764
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 765
The board of assessment appeals may reduce the assessment of any 766
person as reflected on the grand list by reducing the valuation, number, 767
quantity or amount of any item of estate therein, or by deleting any item 768
which ought not to be retained in it, provided any such reduction or 769
deletion shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting of said board. 770
The board of assessment appeals shall not reduce the valuation or 771
assessment of property on the grand list belonging to any person who 772
does not appear at a hearing before the board of assessment appeals, 773
either in person or by such person's attorney or agent, and offer or 774
consent to be sworn before it and answer all questions touching such 775
person's taxable property situated in the town. The board of assessment 776
appeals may conduct any meeting or hearing described in this section 777 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 25 of 46
by means of electronic equipment, provided such hearing or meeting is 778
conducted in accordance with all other applicable provisions of law. For 779
the purposes of this section, a person is deemed to have appeared at a 780
hearing in person if such person or such person's attorney or agent 781
attends by means of electronic equipment. As used in this section, 782
"electronic equipment" means any technology that facilitates real-time 783
access to and participation in meetings and hearings, including, but not 784
limited to, telephonic, video or other conferencing platforms. 785
Sec. 20. Section 12-117 of the general statutes is repealed and the 786
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 787
(a) The period prescribed by law for the completion of the duties of 788
any assessor, board of assessors or board of assessment appeals may, for 789
due cause shown, be extended by the chief executive officer of the town 790
for a period not exceeding one month, and in the case of the board of 791
assessment appeals in any town in the assessment year in which a 792
revaluation, pursuant to section 12-62, is required to be effective, such 793
period shall be extended by said chief executive officer for a period not 794
exceeding two months. Not later than two weeks after granting an 795
extension as provided under this subsection, the chief executive officer 796
shall send [written] notice of the extension to the Secretary of the Office 797
of Policy and Management by mail or electronic mail in a manner 798
prescribed by the secretary. 799
(b) If, in the assessment year in which a revaluation is required to be 800
effective, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 801
determines, on the basis of information provided [, in writing,] by the 802
board of assessment appeals and the chief executive officer, that the 803
number of appeals pending before such board is such as to preclude fair 804
and equitable consideration of such appeals within the extended period 805
of time provided under subsection (a) of this section, the secretary may 806
authorize a postponement of the implementation of said revaluation 807
until the assessment day next ensuing. If the secretary authorizes such 808
postponement, the town shall not be subject to the penalty provisions of 809
subsection (d) of section 12-62. Upon receipt of the secretary's notice of 810 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 26 of 46
authorization, the assessor shall revise the real property grand list for 811
the assessment year with respect to which such postponement is 812
applicable, to reflect assessments for such property effective in the 813
assessment year immediately preceding. The real property grand list 814
from which such appeals are taken shall then become the real property 815
grand list for the assessment day next ensuing, subject only to transfers 816
of ownership, additions for new construction, reductions for 817
demolitions and such adjustments as are authorized by the board of 818
assessment appeals, unless the assessor revalues all real property for 819
said assessment day in accordance with section 12-62. The secretary 820
shall not grant an authorization to a town, pursuant to this subsection, 821
in consecutive years. 822
(c) During any assessment year in which the provisions of subsection 823
(b) of this section become applicable, the assessor or board of assessors 824
shall, not later than thirty days after the date on which the Secretary of 825
the Office of Policy and Management authorizes the postponement of 826
revaluation, complete the grand list as required by subsection (b) of this 827
section. An increase notice shall be prepared in the manner prescribed 828
by section 12-55, and, [mailed,] not later than the tenth day after the 829
completion of said grand list, mailed or sent by electronic mail to each 830
owner whose property valuation on said grand list increased above the 831
valuation of such property in the last-preceding assessment year. 832
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12-112, any owner may 833
appeal such increase to the board of assessment appeals not later than 834
thirty days after the date of such notice. If the assessor or board of 835
assessors fails to comply with the notice requirements in this subsection, 836
any such increase shall not take effect until the next succeeding 837
assessment date. 838
Sec. 21. Subsection (a) of section 12-170f of the general statutes is 839
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 840
1, 2021): 841
(a) Any renter, believing himself or herself to be entitled to a grant 842
under section 12-170d for any calendar year, shall apply for such grant 843 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 27 of 46
to the assessor of the municipality in which the renter resides or to the 844
duly authorized agent of such assessor or municipality on or after April 845
first and not later than October first of each year with respect to such 846
grant for the calendar year preceding each such year. [,] Such 847
application shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the 848
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management [to the assessor] or 849
electronically in a manner prescribed by the secretary. A renter may 850
apply to the secretary prior to December fifteenth of the claim year for 851
an extension of the application period. The secretary may grant such 852
extension in the case of extenuating circumstance due to illness or 853
incapacitation as evidenced by a certificate signed by a physician or an 854
advanced practice registered nurse to that extent, or if the secretary 855
determines there is good cause for doing so. A renter making such 856
application shall present to such assessor or agent, in substantiation of 857
the renter's application, a copy of the renter's federal income tax return, 858
and if not required to file a federal income tax return, such other 859
evidence of qualifying income, receipts for money received, or cancelled 860
checks, or copies thereof, and any other evidence the assessor or such 861
agent may require. When the assessor or agent is satisfied that the 862
applying renter is entitled to a grant, such assessor or agent shall issue 863
a certificate of grant in such form as the secretary may prescribe and 864
supply showing the amount of the grant due. 865
Sec. 22. Section 12-170g of the general statutes is repealed and the 866
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 867
Any person aggrieved by the action of the assessor or agent in fixing 868
the amount of the grant under section 12-170f, as amended by this act, 869
or in disapproving the claim therefor may apply to the Secretary of the 870
Office of Policy and Management in writing or electronically in a 871
manner prescribed by the secretary, within thirty business days from 872
the date of notice given to such person by the assessor or agent, giving 873
notice of such grievance. The secretary shall promptly consider such 874
notice and may grant or deny the relief requested, provided such 875
decision shall be made not later than thirty business days after the 876
receipt of such notice. If the relief is denied, the applicant shall be 877 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 28 of 46
notified forthwith, and the applicant may appeal the decision of the 878
secretary in accordance with the provisions of section 12-120b. 879
Sec. 23. Subsection (a) of section 12-170w of the general statutes is 880
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 881
1, 2021): 882
(a) No claim shall be accepted under section 12-170v unless the 883
taxpayer or authorized agent of such taxpayer files an application with 884
the assessor of the municipality in which the property is located, [in such 885
form and manner as the assessor may prescribe,] during the period from 886
February first to and including May fifteenth of any year in which 887
benefits are first claimed. [, including] Such application shall be made in 888
writing or electronically in a manner prescribed by the assessor, and 889
shall include such information as is necessary to substantiate such claim 890
in accordance with requirements in such application. A taxpayer may 891
make application to the assessor in writing or electronically in a manner 892
prescribed by the assessor prior to August fifteenth of the claim year for 893
an extension of the application period. The assessor may grant such 894
extension in the case of extenuating circumstance due to illness or 895
incapacitation as evidenced by a certificate signed by a physician or an 896
advanced practice registered nurse to that extent, or if the assessor 897
determines there is good cause for doing so. The taxpayer shall present 898
to the assessor a paper or electronic copy of such taxpayer's federal 899
income tax return and the federal income tax return of such taxpayer's 900
spouse, if filed separately, for such taxpayer's taxable year ending 901
immediately prior to the submission of the taxpayer's application, or if 902
not required to file a federal income tax return, such other evidence of 903
qualifying income in respect to such taxable year as the assessor may 904
require. Each such application, together with the federal income tax 905
return and any other information submitted in relation thereto, shall be 906
examined by the assessor and a determination shall be made as to 907
whether the application is approved. Upon determination by the 908
assessor that the applying homeowner is entitled to tax relief in 909
accordance with the provisions of section 12-170v and this section, the 910
assessor shall notify the homeowner and the municipal tax collector of 911 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 29 of 46
the approval of such application. The municipal tax collector shall 912
determine the maximum amount of the tax due with respect to such 913
homeowner's residence and thereafter the property tax with respect to 914
such homeowner's residence shall not exceed such amount. After a 915
taxpayer's claim for the first year has been filed and approved such 916
taxpayer shall file such an application biennially. In respect to such 917
application required after the filing and approval for the first year the 918
assessor in each municipality shall notify each such taxpayer concerning 919
application requirements by [regular] mail, or, at the taxpayer's option, 920
electronic mail, not later than February first of the assessment year in 921
which such taxpayer is required to reapply, [enclosing] providing a 922
copy of the required application form. Such taxpayer may submit such 923
application to the assessor, [by mail,] provided it is received by the 924
assessor not later than April fifteenth in the assessment year with 925
respect to which such tax relief is claimed. Not later than April thirtieth 926
of such year the assessor shall notify, by mail evidenced by a certificate 927
of mailing, any such taxpayer for whom such application was not 928
received by said April fifteenth concerning application requirements 929
and such taxpayer shall submit not later than May fifteenth such 930
application personally, or for reasonable cause, by a person acting on 931
behalf of such taxpayer as approved by the assessor. 932
Sec. 24. Section 12-170aa of the general statutes is repealed and the 933
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 934
(a) There is established, for the assessment year commencing 935
October 1, 1985, and each assessment year thereafter, a revised state 936
program of property tax relief for certain elderly homeowners as 937
determined in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, and 938
additionally for the assessment year commencing October 1, 1986, and 939
each assessment year thereafter, the property tax relief benefits of such 940
program are made available to certain homeowners who are 941
permanently and totally disabled as determined in accordance with said 942
subsection (b) of this section. 943
(b) (1) The program established by this section shall provide for a 944 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 30 of 46
reduction in property tax, except in the case of benefits payable as a 945
grant under certain circumstances in accordance with provisions in 946
subsection (j) of this section, applicable to the assessed value of certain 947
real property, determined in accordance with subsection (c) of this 948
section, for any (A) owner of real property, including any owner of real 949
property held in trust for such owner, provided such owner or such 950
owner and such owner's spouse are the grantor and beneficiary of such 951
trust, (B) tenant for life or tenant for a term of years liable for property 952
tax under section 12-48, or (C) resident of a multiple-dwelling complex 953
under certain contractual conditions as provided in said subsection (j) 954
of this section, who (i) at the close of the preceding calendar year has 955
attained age sixty-five or over, or whose spouse domiciled with such 956
homeowner, has attained age sixty-five or over at the close of the 957
preceding calendar year, or is fifty years of age or over and the surviving 958
spouse of a homeowner who at the time of his death had qualified and 959
was entitled to tax relief under this section, provided such spouse was 960
domiciled with such homeowner at the time of his death or (ii) at the 961
close of the preceding calendar year has not attained age sixty-five and 962
is eligible in accordance with applicable federal regulations to receive 963
permanent total disability benefits under Social Security, or has not been 964
engaged in employment covered by Social Security and accordingly has 965
not qualified for benefits thereunder but who has become qualified for 966
permanent total disability benefits under any federal, state or local 967
government retirement or disability plan, including the Railroad 968
Retirement Act and any government-related teacher's retirement plan, 969
determined by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to 970
contain requirements in respect to qualification for such permanent total 971
disability benefits which are comparable to such requirements under 972
Social Security; and in addition to qualification under (i) or (ii) above, 973
whose taxable and nontaxable income, the total of which shall 974
hereinafter be called "qualifying income", in the tax year of such 975
homeowner ending immediately preceding the date of application for 976
benefits under the program in this section, was not in excess of sixteen 977
thousand two hundred dollars, if unmarried, or twenty thousand 978
dollars, jointly with spouse if married, subject to adjustments in 979 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 31 of 46
accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection, evidence of which 980
income shall be required in the form of a signed affidavit to be submitted 981
to the assessor in the municipality in which application for benefits 982
under this section is filed. Such affidavit may be filed electronically, in 983
a manner prescribed by the assessor. The amount of any Medicaid 984
payments made on behalf of such homeowner or the spouse of such 985
homeowner shall not constitute income. The amount of tax reduction 986
provided under this section, determined in accordance with and subject 987
to the variable factors in the schedule of amounts of tax reduction in 988
subsection (c) of this section, shall be allowed only with respect to a 989
residential dwelling owned by such qualified homeowner and used as 990
such homeowner's primary place of residence. If title to real property or 991
a tenancy interest liable for real property taxes is recorded in the name 992
of such qualified homeowner or his spouse making a claim and 993
qualifying under this section and any other person or persons, the 994
claimant hereunder shall be entitled to pay his fractional share of the tax 995
on such property calculated in accordance with the provisions of this 996
section, and such other person or persons shall pay his or their fractional 997
share of the tax without regard for the provisions of this section, unless 998
also qualified hereunder. For the purposes of this section, a "mobile 999
manufactured home", as defined in section 12-63a, or a dwelling on 1000
leased land, including but not limited to a modular home, shall be 1001
deemed to be real property and the word "taxes" shall not include 1002
special assessments, interest and lien fees. 1003
(2) The amounts of qualifying income as provided in this section shall 1004
be adjusted annually in a uniform manner to reflect the annual inflation 1005
adjustment in Social Security income, with each such adjustment of 1006
qualifying income determined to the nearest one hundred dollars. Each 1007
such adjustment of qualifying income shall be prepared by the Secretary 1008
of the Office of Policy and Management in relation to the annual 1009
inflation adjustment in Social Security, if any, becoming effective at any 1010
time during the twelve-month period immediately preceding the first 1011
day of October each year and the amount of such adjustment shall be 1012
distributed to the assessors in each municipality not later than the thirty-1013 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 32 of 46
first day of December next following. 1014
(3) For purposes of determining qualifying income under subdivision 1015
(1) of this subsection with respect to a married homeowner who submits 1016
an application for tax reduction in accordance with this section, the 1017
Social Security income of the spouse of such homeowner shall not be 1018
included in the qualifying income of such homeowner, for purposes of 1019
determining eligibility for benefits under this section, if such spouse is 1020
a resident of a health care or nursing home facility in this state receiving 1021
payment related to such spouse under the Title XIX Medicaid program. 1022
An applicant who is legally separated pursuant to the provisions of 1023
section 46b-40, as of the thirty-first day of December preceding the date 1024
on which such person files an application for a grant in accordance with 1025
subsection (a) of this section, may apply as an unmarried person and 1026
shall be regarded as such for purposes of determining qualifying income 1027
under said subsection. 1028
(c) The amount of reduction in property tax provided under this 1029
section shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, 1030
be determined in accordance with the following schedule: 1031
T1 Qualifying Income Tax Reduction Tax Reduction
T2 As Percentage For Any Year
T3 Over Not Exceeding Of Property Tax
T4 Married Homeowners Maximum Minimum
T5 $ 0 $11,700 50% $1,250 $400
T6 11,700 15,900 40 1,000 350
T7 15,900 19,700 30 750 250
T8 19,700 23,600 20 500 150
T9 23,600 28,900 10 250 150
T10 28,900 None
T11 Unmarried Homeowners
T12 $ 0 $11,700 40% $1,000 $350
T13 11,700 15,900 30 750 250
T14 15,900 19,700 20 500 150 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 33 of 46
T15 19,700 23,600 10 250 150
T16 23,600 None
(d) Any homeowner qualified for tax reduction in accordance with 1032
subsection (b) of this section in an amount to be determined under the 1033
schedule of such tax reduction in subsection (c) of this section, shall in 1034
no event receive less in tax reduction than the minimum amount of such 1035
reduction applicable to the qualifying income of such homeowner 1036
according to the schedule in said subsection (c). 1037
(e) Any claim for tax reduction under this section shall be submitted 1038
for approval, on the application form prepared for such purpose by the 1039
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in the first year claim 1040
for such tax relief is filed and biennially thereafter. Such application 1041
form may be submitted by mail or electronic mail, in a manner 1042
prescribed by the secretary. The amount of tax reduction approved shall 1043
be applied to the real property tax payable by the homeowner for the 1044
assessment year in which such application is submitted and approved. 1045
If any such homeowner has qualified for tax reduction under this 1046
section, the tax reduction determined shall, when possible, be applied 1047
and prorated uniformly over the number of installments in which the 1048
real property tax is due and payable to the municipality in which he 1049
resides. In the case of any homeowner who is eligible for tax reduction 1050
under this section as a result of increases in qualifying income, effective 1051
with respect to the assessment year commencing October 1, 1987, under 1052
the schedule of qualifying income and tax reduction in subsection (c) of 1053
this section, exclusive of any such increases related to social security 1054
adjustments in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, the total 1055
amount of tax reduction to which such homeowner is entitled shall be 1056
credited and uniformly prorated against property tax installment 1057
payments applicable to such homeowner's residence which become due 1058
after such homeowner's application for tax reduction under this section 1059
is accepted. In the event that a homeowner has paid in full the amount 1060
of property tax applicable to such homeowner's residence, regardless of 1061
whether the municipality requires the payment of property taxes in one 1062 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 34 of 46
or more installments, such municipality shall make payment to such 1063
homeowner in the amount of the tax reduction allowed. The 1064
municipality shall be reimbursed for the amount of such payment in 1065
accordance with subsection (g) of this section. In respect to such 1066
application required biennially after the filing and approval for the first 1067
year, the tax assessor in each municipality shall notify each such 1068
homeowner concerning application requirements by [regular] mail, or, 1069
at such homeowner's option, electronic mail, not later than February 1070
first, annually enclosing a copy of the required application form. Such 1071
homeowner may submit such application to the assessor by mail or 1072
electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the assessor, provided it is 1073
received by the assessor not later than April fifteenth in the assessment 1074
year with respect to which such tax reduction is claimed. Not later than 1075
April thirtieth of such year the assessor shall notify, by mail evidenced 1076
by a certificate of mailing, any such homeowner for whom such 1077
application was not received by said April fifteenth concerning 1078
application requirements and such homeowner shall be required not 1079
later than May fifteenth to submit such application personally or by 1080
electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the assessor, or, for 1081
reasonable cause, by a person acting on behalf of such taxpayer as 1082
approved by the assessor. In the year immediately following any year 1083
in which such homeowner has submitted application and qualified for 1084
tax reduction in accordance with this section, such homeowner shall be 1085
presumed, without filing application therefor, to be qualified for tax 1086
reduction in accordance with the schedule in subsection (c) of this 1087
section in the same percentage of property tax as allowed in the year 1088
immediately preceding. If any homeowner has qualified and received 1089
tax reduction under this section and subsequently in any calendar year 1090
has qualifying income in excess of the maximum described in this 1091
section, such homeowner shall notify the tax assessor by mail or 1092
electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the assessor, on or before the 1093
next filing date and shall be denied tax reduction under this section for 1094
the assessment year and any subsequent year or until such homeowner 1095
has reapplied and again qualified for benefits under this section. Any 1096
such person who fails to so notify the tax assessor of his disqualification 1097 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 35 of 46
shall refund all amounts of tax reduction improperly taken and be fined 1098
not more than five hundred dollars. 1099
(f) Any homeowner, believing such homeowner is entitled to tax 1100
reduction benefits under this section for any assessment year, shall 1101
make application as required in subsection (e) of this section, to the 1102
assessor of the municipality in which the homeowner resides, for such 1103
tax reduction at any time from February first to and including May 1104
fifteenth of the year in which tax reduction is claimed. A homeowner 1105
may make application to the secretary prior to August fifteenth of the 1106
claim year for an extension of the application period. The secretary may 1107
grant such extension in the case of extenuating circumstance due to 1108
illness or incapacitation as evidenced by a certificate signed by a 1109
physician or an advanced practice registered nurse to that extent, or if 1110
the secretary determines there is good cause for doing so. Such 1111
application for tax reduction benefits shall be submitted on a form 1112
prescribed and furnished by the secretary to the assessor. In making 1113
application the homeowner shall present to such assessor, in 1114
substantiation of such homeowner's application, a copy of such 1115
homeowner's federal income tax return, including a copy of the Social 1116
Security statement of earnings for such homeowner, and that of such 1117
homeowner's spouse, if filed separately, for such homeowner's taxable 1118
year ending immediately prior to the submission of such application, or 1119
if not required to file a return, such other evidence of qualifying income 1120
in respect to such taxable year as may be required by the assessor. When 1121
the assessor is satisfied that the applying homeowner is entitled to tax 1122
reduction in accordance with this section, such assessor shall issue a 1123
certificate of credit, in such form as the secretary may prescribe and 1124
supply showing the amount of tax reduction allowed. A duplicate of 1125
such certificate shall be delivered to the applicant and the tax collector 1126
of the municipality and the assessor shall keep the fourth copy of such 1127
certificate and a copy of the application. Any homeowner who, for the 1128
purpose of obtaining a tax reduction under this section, wilfully fails to 1129
disclose all matters related thereto or with intent to defraud makes false 1130
statement shall refund all property tax credits improperly taken and 1131 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 36 of 46
shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars. Applications filed 1132
under this section shall not be open for public inspection. 1133
(g) On or before July first, annually, each municipality shall submit 1134
to the secretary a claim for the tax reductions approved under this 1135
section in relation to the assessment list of October first immediately 1136
preceding. On or after December 1, 1987, any municipality that neglects 1137
to transmit to the secretary the claim as required by this section shall 1138
forfeit two hundred fifty dollars to the state, except that the secretary 1139
may waive such forfeiture in accordance with procedures and standards 1140
established by regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54. 1141
Subject to procedures for review and approval of such data pursuant to 1142
section 12-120b, said secretary shall, on or before December fifteenth 1143
next following, certify to the Comptroller the amount due each 1144
municipality as reimbursement for loss of property tax revenue related 1145
to the tax reductions allowed under this section, except that the 1146
secretary may reduce the amount due as reimbursement under this 1147
section by up to one hundred per cent for any municipality that is not 1148
eligible for a grant under section 32-9s. The Comptroller shall draw an 1149
order on the Treasurer on or before the fifth business day following 1150
December fifteenth and the Treasurer shall pay the amount due each 1151
municipality not later than the thirty-first day of December. Any 1152
claimant aggrieved by the results of the secretary's review shall have the 1153
rights of appeal as set forth in section 12-120b. The amount of the grant 1154
payable to each municipality in any year in accordance with this section 1155
shall be reduced proportionately in the event that the total of such grants 1156
in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this 1157
section with respect to such year. 1158
(h) Any person who is the owner of a residential dwelling on leased 1159
land, including any such person who is a sublessee under terms of the 1160
lease agreement applicable to such land, shall be entitled to claim tax 1161
relief under the provisions of this section, subject to all requirements 1162
therein except as provided in this subdivision, with respect to property 1163
taxes paid by such person on the assessed value of such dwelling, 1164
provided (1) the dwelling is such person's principal place of residence, 1165 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 37 of 46
(2) such lease or sublease requires that such person as the lessee or 1166
sublessee, whichever is applicable, pay all property taxes related to the 1167
dwelling and (3) such lease or sublease is recorded in the land records 1168
of the town. 1169
(i) If any person with respect to whom a claim for tax reduction in 1170
accordance with this section has been approved for any assessment year 1171
transfers, assigns, grants or otherwise conveys on or after the first day 1172
of October but prior to the first day of August in such assessment year 1173
the interest in real property to which such claim for tax credit is related, 1174
regardless of whether such transfer, assignment, grant or conveyance is 1175
voluntary or involuntary, the amount of such tax credit shall be a pro 1176
rata portion of the amount otherwise applicable in such assessment year 1177
to be determined by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the 1178
number of full months from the first day of October in such assessment 1179
year to the date of such conveyance and the denominator of which shall 1180
be twelve. If such conveyance occurs in the month of October the 1181
grantor shall be disqualified for tax credit in such assessment year. The 1182
grantee shall be required within a period not exceeding ten days 1183
immediately following the date of such conveyance to notify the 1184
assessor thereof by mail or electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by 1185
the assessor, or in the absence of such notice, upon determination by the 1186
assessor that such transfer, assignment, grant or conveyance has 1187
occurred, the assessor shall (1) determine the amount of tax reduction to 1188
which the grantor is entitled for such assessment year with respect to 1189
the interest in real property conveyed and notify the tax collector of the 1190
reduced amount of tax reduction applicable to such interest and (2) 1191
notify the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management on or before 1192
the October first immediately following the end of the assessment year 1193
in which such conveyance occurs of the reduction in such tax reduction 1194
for purposes of a corresponding adjustment in the amount of state 1195
payment to the municipality next following as reimbursement for the 1196
revenue loss related to such tax reductions. On or after December 1, 1197
1987, any municipality which neglects to transmit to the Secretary of the 1198
Office of Policy and Management the claim as required by this section 1199 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 38 of 46
shall forfeit two hundred fifty dollars to the state provided the secretary 1200
may waive such forfeiture in accordance with procedures and standards 1201
established by regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54. Upon 1202
receipt of such notice from the assessor, the tax collector shall, if such 1203
notice is received after the tax due date in the municipality, within ten 1204
days thereafter mail, [or] hand, or deliver by electronic mail, at the 1205
grantee's option, a bill to the grantee stating the additional amount of 1206
tax due as determined by the assessor. Such tax shall be due and payable 1207
and collectible as other property taxes and subject to the same liens and 1208
processes of collection, provided such tax shall be due and payable in 1209
an initial or single installment not sooner than thirty days after the date 1210
such bill is mailed or handed to the grantee and in equal amounts in any 1211
remaining, regular installments as the same are due and payable. 1212
(j) (1) Notwithstanding the intent in subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, 1213
of this section to provide for benefits in the form of property tax 1214
reduction applicable to persons liable for payment of such property tax 1215
and qualified in accordance with requirements related to age and 1216
income as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a certain annual 1217
benefit, determined in amount under the provisions of subsections (c) 1218
and (d) of this section but payable in a manner as prescribed in this 1219
subsection, shall be provided with respect to any person who (A) is 1220
qualified in accordance with said requirements related to age and 1221
income as provided in subsection (b) of this section, including 1222
provisions concerning such person's spouse, and (B) is a resident of a 1223
dwelling unit within a multiple-dwelling complex containing dwelling 1224
units for occupancy by certain elderly persons under terms of a contract 1225
between such resident and the owner of such complex, in accordance 1226
with which contract such resident occupies a certain dwelling unit 1227
subject to the express provision that such resident has no legal title, 1228
interest or leasehold estate in the real or personal property of such 1229
complex, and under the terms of which contract such resident agrees to 1230
pay the owner of the complex a fee, as a condition precedent to 1231
occupancy and a monthly or other such periodic fee thereafter as a 1232
condition of continued occupancy. In no event shall any such resident 1233 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 39 of 46
be qualified for benefits payable in accordance with this subsection if, as 1234
determined by the assessor in the municipality in which such complex 1235
is situated, such resident's contract with the owner of such complex, or 1236
occupancy by such resident (i) confers upon such resident any 1237
ownership interest in the dwelling unit occupied or in such complex, or 1238
(ii) establishes a contract of lease of any type for the dwelling unit 1239
occupied by such resident. 1240
(2) The amount of annual benefit payable in accordance with this 1241
subsection to any such resident, qualified as provided in subdivision (1) 1242
of this subsection, shall be determined in relation to an assumed amount 1243
of property tax liability applicable to the assessed value for the dwelling 1244
unit which such resident occupies, as determined by the assessor in the 1245
municipality in which such complex is situated. Annually, not later than 1246
the first day of June, the assessor in such municipality, upon receipt of 1247
an application for such benefit submitted in accordance with this 1248
subsection by mail or electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the 1249
assessor, by any such resident, shall determine, with respect to the 1250
assessment list in such municipality for the assessment year 1251
commencing October first immediately preceding, the portion of the 1252
assessed value of the entire complex, as included in such assessment list, 1253
attributable to the dwelling unit occupied by such resident. The 1254
assumed property tax liability for purposes of this subsection shall be 1255
the product of such assessed value and the mill rate in such municipality 1256
as determined for purposes of property tax imposed on said assessment 1257
list for the assessment year commencing October first immediately 1258
preceding. The amount of benefit to which such resident shall be 1259
entitled for such assessment year shall be equivalent to the amount of 1260
tax reduction for which such resident would qualify, considering such 1261
assumed property tax liability to be the actual property tax applicable 1262
to such resident's dwelling unit and such resident as liable for the 1263
payment of such tax, in accordance with the schedule of qualifying 1264
income and tax reduction as provided in subsection (c) of this section, 1265
subject to provisions concerning maximum allowable benefit for any 1266
assessment year under subsections (c) and (d) of this section. The 1267 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 40 of 46
amount of benefit as determined for such resident in respect to any 1268
assessment year shall be payable by the state as a grant to such resident 1269
equivalent to the amount of property tax reduction to which such 1270
resident would be entitled under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this 1271
section if such resident were the owner of such dwelling unit and 1272
qualified for tax reduction benefits under said subsections (a) to (i), 1273
inclusive. 1274
(3) Any such resident entitled to a grant as provided in subdivision 1275
(2) of this subsection shall be required to submit an application to the 1276
assessor in the municipality in which such resident resides for such 1277
grant [to] by mail or electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the 1278
assessor [in the municipality in which such resident resides] at any time 1279
from February first to and including the fifteenth day of May in the year 1280
in which such grant is claimed, on a form prescribed and furnished for 1281
such purpose by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. 1282
Any such resident submitting an application for such grant shall be 1283
required to present to the assessor, in substantiation of such application, 1284
a copy of such resident's federal income tax return, and if not required 1285
to file a federal income tax return, such other evidence of qualifying 1286
income, receipts for money received or cancelled checks, or copies 1287
thereof, and any other evidence the assessor may require. Not later than 1288
the first day of July in such year, the assessor shall submit to the 1289
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management (A) a copy of the 1290
application prepared by such resident, together with such resident's 1291
federal income tax return, if required to file such a return, and any other 1292
information submitted in relation thereto, (B) determinations of the 1293
assessor concerning the assessed value of the dwelling unit in such 1294
complex occupied by such resident, and (C) the amount of such grant 1295
approved by the assessor. Said secretary, upon approving such grant, 1296
shall certify the amount thereof and not later than the fifteenth day of 1297
September immediately following submit approval for payment of such 1298
grant to the State Comptroller. Not later than five business days 1299
immediately following receipt of such approval for payment, the State 1300
Comptroller shall draw his or her order upon the State Treasurer and 1301 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 41 of 46
the Treasurer shall pay the amount of the grant to such resident not later 1302
than the first day of October immediately following. 1303
(k) If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management makes any 1304
adjustments to the grants for tax reductions or assumed amounts of 1305
property tax liability claimed under this section subsequent to the 1306
Comptroller the payment of said grants in any year, the amount of such 1307
adjustment shall be reflected in the next payment the Treasurer shall 1308
make to such municipality pursuant to this section. 1309
Sec. 25. Section 12-170cc of the general statutes is repealed and the 1310
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1311
Any person aggrieved by the action of the assessor or assessors in 1312
fixing the amount of a credit under subsection (f) of section 12-170aa, as 1313
amended by this act, or in disapproving the claim therefor may appeal 1314
to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in writing or 1315
by electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the secretary, within thirty 1316
business days from the date of notice given to such person by the 1317
assessor or assessors, giving notice of such grievance. The secretary shall 1318
promptly consider such notice and may grant or deny the relief 1319
requested, provided such decision shall be made not later than thirty 1320
business days after the receipt of such notice. If the relief is denied, the 1321
applicant shall be notified forthwith and may appeal the decision of the 1322
secretary in accordance with the provisions of section 12-120b. 1323
Sec. 26. Subsection (a) of section 29-263 of the general statutes is 1324
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1325
1, 2021): 1326
(a) Except as provided in subsection (h) of section 29-252a and the 1327
State Building Code adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-1328
252, after October 1, 1970, no building or structure shall be constructed 1329
or altered until an application has been filed with the building official 1330
and a permit issued. Such application shall be filed in person, by mail or 1331
electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the building official. Such 1332
permit shall be issued or refused, in whole or in part, within thirty days 1333 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 42 of 46
after the date of an application. No permit shall be issued except upon 1334
application of the owner of the premises affected or the owner's 1335
authorized agent. No permit shall be issued to a contractor who is 1336
required to be registered pursuant to chapter 400, for work to be 1337
performed by such contractor, unless the name, business address and 1338
Department of Consumer Protection registration number of such 1339
contractor is clearly marked on the application for the permit, and the 1340
contractor has presented such contractor's certificate of registration as a 1341
home improvement contractor. Prior to the issuance of a permit and 1342
within said thirty-day period, the building official shall review the plans 1343
of buildings or structures to be constructed or altered, including, but not 1344
limited to, plans prepared by an architect licensed pursuant to chapter 1345
390, a professional engineer licensed pursuant to chapter 391 or an 1346
interior designer registered pursuant to chapter 396a acting within the 1347
scope of such license or registration, to determine their compliance with 1348
the requirements of the State Building Code and, where applicable, the 1349
local fire marshal shall review such plans to determine their compliance 1350
with the Fire Safety Code. Such plans submitted for review shall be in 1351
substantial compliance with the provisions of the State Building Code 1352
and, where applicable, with the provisions of the Fire Safety Code. 1353
Sec. 27. Section 29-264 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1354
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1355
The State Building Inspector may, upon application by a builder 1356
setting forth that a set of plans and specifications will be utilized in more 1357
than one municipality to acquire building permits, review and approve 1358
any set of plans and specifications for the construction or erection of any 1359
building or structure designed to provide dwelling space for not more 1360
than two families if such set of plans and specifications meet the 1361
requirements of the State Building Code. Any building official shall 1362
issue a building permit upon application by a builder and presentation 1363
to him of such a set of plans and specifications bearing the approval of 1364
the State Building Inspector if all other local ordinances are complied 1365
with. Such application may be delivered in person, by mail or electronic 1366
mail, in a manner prescribed by the building official. 1367 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 43 of 46
Sec. 28. Section 29-266 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1368
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 1369
(a) A board of appeals shall be appointed by each municipality. Such 1370
board shall consist of five members, all of whom shall meet the 1371
qualifications set forth in the State Building Code. A member of a board 1372
of appeals of one municipality may also be a member of the board of 1373
appeals of another municipality. 1374
(b) When the building official rejects or refuses to approve the mode 1375
or manner of construction proposed to be followed or the materials to 1376
be used in the erection or alteration of a building or structure, or when 1377
it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that an 1378
equally good or more desirable form of construction can be employed 1379
in a specific case, or when it is claimed that the true intent and meaning 1380
of the code and regulations have been misconstrued or wrongly 1381
interpreted, or when the building official issues a written order under 1382
subsection (c) of section 29-261, the owner of such building or structure, 1383
whether already erected or to be erected, or his authorized agent may 1384
appeal in writing or by electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the 1385
board of appeals, from the decision of the building official to the board 1386
of appeals. When a person other than such owner claims to be aggrieved 1387
by any decision of the building official, such person or his authorized 1388
agent may appeal, in writing or by electronic mail, in a manner 1389
prescribed by the board of appeals, from the decision of the building 1390
official to the board of appeals, and before determining the merits of 1391
such appeal the board of appeals shall first determine whether such 1392
person has a right to appeal. Upon receipt of an appeal from an owner 1393
or his representative or approval of an appeal by a person other than the 1394
owner, the chairman of the board of appeals shall appoint a panel of not 1395
less than three members of such board to hear such appeal. Such appeal 1396
shall be heard in the municipality for which the building official serves 1397
within five days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, 1398
after the date of receipt of such appeal. Such panel shall render a 1399
decision upon the appeal and file the same with the building official 1400
from whom such appeal has been taken not later than five days, 1401 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 44 of 46
exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, following the day 1402
of the hearing thereon. A copy of such decision shall be mailed, prior to 1403
such filing, to the party taking such appeal. Any person aggrieved by 1404
the decision of a panel may appeal to the Codes and Standards 1405
Committee within fourteen days after the filing of the decision with the 1406
building official. Any determination made by the local panel shall be 1407
subject to review de novo by said committee. 1408
(c) If, at the time that a building official makes a decision under 1409
subsection (b) of this section, there is no board of appeals for the 1410
municipality in which the building official serves, a person who claims 1411
to be aggrieved by such decision may submit an appeal [, in writing,] to 1412
the chief executive officer of such municipality. Such appeal may be 1413
made in writing or by electronic mail, in a manner prescribed by the 1414
chief executive officer. If, within five days, exclusive of Saturdays, 1415
Sundays and legal holidays, after the date of receipt of such appeal by 1416
such officer, the municipality fails to appoint a board of appeals from 1417
among either its own residents or residents of other municipalities, such 1418
officer shall file a notice of such failure with the building official from 1419
whom the appeal has been taken and, prior to such filing, mail a copy 1420
of the notice to the person taking the appeal. Such person may appeal 1421
the decision of the building official to the Codes and Standards 1422
Committee within fourteen days after the filing of such notice with the 1423
building official. If the municipality succeeds in appointing a board of 1424
appeals, the chief executive officer of the municipality shall immediately 1425
transmit the written appeal to such board, which shall review the appeal 1426
in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. 1427
(d) Any person aggrieved by any ruling of the Codes and Standards 1428
Committee may appeal to the superior court for the judicial district 1429
where such building or structure has been or is being erected. 1430
Sec. 29. Subsection (a) of section 32-37 of the general statutes is 1431
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1432
1, 2021): 1433 Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 45 of 46
(a) The powers of the corporation shall be vested in and exercised by 1434
the board of directors. Eight members of the board shall constitute a 1435
quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present 1436
at a meeting of the board shall be necessary and sufficient for any action 1437
taken by the board. No vacancy in the membership of the board shall 1438
impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all 1439
the duties of the board. Any action taken by the board may be 1440
authorized by resolution at any regular or special meeting and shall take 1441
effect immediately unless otherwise provided in the resolution. Notice 1442
of any regular meeting shall be given in writing, by telephone or orally, 1443
not less than forty-eight hours prior to the meeting. Notice of any special 1444
meeting shall be given in accordance with subsection [(d)] (e) of section 1445
1-225, as amended by this act.1446
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2021 1-2
Sec. 2 October 1, 2021 1-225
Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 7-1
Sec. 4 October 1, 2021 7-6
Sec. 5 October 1, 2021 7-34a
Sec. 6 October 1, 2021 7-51a
Sec. 7 October 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 8 October 1, 2021 7-148j
Sec. 9 October 1, 2021 7-148k
Sec. 10 October 1, 2021 7-148bb
Sec. 11 October 1, 2021 7-148ii
Sec. 12 October 1, 2021 7-152b
Sec. 13 October 1, 2021 7-245
Sec. 14 October 1, 2021 7-255
Sec. 15 October 1, 2021 7-257
Sec. 16 October 1, 2021 7-344
Sec. 17 October 1, 2021 8-2a
Sec. 18 October 1, 2021 12-111
Sec. 19 October 1, 2021 12-113
Sec. 20 October 1, 2021 12-117
Sec. 21 October 1, 2021 12-170f(a)
Sec. 22 October 1, 2021 12-170g Raised Bill No. 6641
LCO No. 5486 46 of 46
Sec. 23 October 1, 2021 12-170w(a)
Sec. 24 October 1, 2021 12-170aa
Sec. 25 October 1, 2021 12-170cc
Sec. 26 October 1, 2021 29-263(a)
Sec. 27 October 1, 2021 29-264
Sec. 28 October 1, 2021 29-266
Sec. 29 October 1, 2021 32-37(a)
Statement of Purpose:
To permit remote and online access to certain municipal services.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]