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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 6653
AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTHY HOMES.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Housing (DOH), by January 1,
2022, to establish a pilot program that provides at least 500 residential
dwellings with (1) energy efficiency retrofits (e.g., retrofitting existing
HVAC systems) and (2) residential improvements that reduce health
and safety hazards found in these dwellings, such as the removal,
remediation, and abatement of lead, radon, or other contaminants. The
program ends on December 31, 2031.
Under the bill, the pilot program is funded through the Healthy
Homes Fund (see BACKGROUND). The bill requires the DOH
commissioner, beginning on January 1, 2022, and annually after that
until the program ends, to spend $500,000 from the fund for the
program and any related administrative expenses. These expenses may
include hiring employees and entering into contracts.
The bill also requires the DOH commissioner to report on the pilot
program’s status and expenditures to the Appropriations, Housing,
Energy and Technology, and Planning and Development committees.
The commissioner must do this annually starting by January 1, 2023,
until the pilot program ends.
Lastly, the bill makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021
PILOT PROGRAM
Purpose
Under the bill, the pilot program must annually provide at least 500
residential dwellings with: 2021HB-06653-R000415-BA.DOCX
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1. energy efficient retrofits, including retrofitting existing heating,
ventilation, or air conditioning systems; and
2. residential improvements that reduce health and safety hazards
in these dwellings, including the removal, remediation, and
abatement of lead, radon, and other contaminants.
The bill requires energy efficiency retrofits to be consistent with
guidelines in the Conservation and Load Management Plan that
electric companies, in coordination with gas companies, submit to the
Energy Conservation Management Board under existing law.
Contracts and Employees
The bill also authorizes the DOH commissioner to contract with
nonprofit organizations to hire in-home environmental assessors to
perform the energy efficiency retrofits and residential improvements
described above.
To qualify for this employment, an in-home environmental assessor
must:
1. for energy efficient retrofits, (a) be certified to perform these
retrofits by a nationally recognized certifying organization or
(b) have earned a certificate in energy retrofits, in-home
environmental assessments, or a related field from an accredited
higher education institution, or
2. for residential improvements to reduce health and safety
hazards, (a) be certified to remove, remediate, or abate these
hazards by a nationally recognized certifying organization or (b)
have earned a certificate in the removal, remediation, or
abatement of these hazards, or a related field, from an
accredited higher education institution.
BACKGROUND
Healthy Homes Fund
By law, the Healthy Homes Fund is a separate nonlapsing General
Fund account used to support (1) the Crumbling Foundations 2021HB-06653-R000415-BA.DOCX
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Assistance Fund, which assists homeowners with concrete foundations
damaged by pyrrhotite (i.e., crumbling foundations); (2) homes with
structure subsidence or water damage in New Haven and
Woodbridge; and (3) DOH lead removal, remediation, and abatement
activities. The fund is capitalized by revenue from an annual $12
surcharge on certain homeowners’ insurance policies.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 31 Nay 2 (03/26/2021)