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Connecticut Senate Bill SB00194

Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00194 Compare Versions

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7-General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 194
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9+General Assembly Committee Bill No. 194
810 January Session, 2021
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1014 Referred to Committee on HOUSING
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1317 Introduced by:
1418 (HSG)
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1822 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A RIGHT TO HOUSING.
1923 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
2024 Assembly convened:
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2226 Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) It shall be the goal of 1
2327 this state to progressively implement policies that will respect, protect 2
2428 and fulfill a right to affordable, decent, safe and stable housing for every 3
2529 resident of this state. 4
2630 (b) Each state agency, as defined in section 1-79 of the general 5
2731 statutes, and each political subdivision of the state, in implementing the 6
2832 provisions of this section, shall: 7
2933 (1) Consider the right to housing under subsection (a) of this section 8
3034 and the components of such right set forth in subsection (c) of this 9
3135 section when adopting or revising policies, regulations or grant criteria 10
3236 that implicate, impact or affect such right. 11
3337 (2) When implementing such policies, regulations or grant criteria, 12
3438 give priority to assisting households with incomes below fifty per cent 13
35-of the area median income, as described in section 8-39a of the general 14 Substitute Bill No. 194
39+of the area median income, as described in section 8-39a of the general 14
40+statutes. 15
41+Committee Bill No. 194
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42-statutes. 15
4346 (3) To the extent practicable, attempt to serve households currently 16
4447 experiencing homelessness or at risk of housing loss and those in the 17
4548 lower range of the income group to which the agency's or political 18
4649 subdivision's programs are directed. 19
4750 (c) The right to housing includes, but is not limited to, the following 20
4851 components: 21
4952 (1) The right to protection from housing loss: This right implicates 22
50-governmental programs that ensure the legal security of persons and 23
51-households at risk of losing housing or experiencing homelessness, 24
52-including eviction prevention programs, legal assistance in evictions, 25
53-financial assistance, support services and problem-solving counseling; 26
54-(2) The right to safe housing that meets all basic needs: This right 27
55-implicates the internal habitability of the home as well as the necessary 28
56-services and infrastructure to support a healthy and dignified standard 29
57-of living; 30
58-(3) The right to housing and affordability: This right implicates 31
59-governmental programs that provide rental assistance, encourage the 32
60-maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of existing housing and enlarge 33
61-the stock of new low-cost housing, all of which ensure the ability to 34
62-secure and maintain housing without risking access to other essential 35
63-needs; 36
64-(4) The right to rehousing assistance for persons and households that 37
65-have become homeless: This right implicates governmental programs 38
66-that support the transition of persons experiencing homelessness to 39
67-long-term permanent housing that is affordable; and 40
68-(5) The right to recognition of special circumstances: This right 41
69-implicates the adaptation of governmental programs to ensure 42
70-accessibility to households facing particular obstacles to finding 43
71-affordable, decent, safe and stable housing, whether because of race, 44 Substitute Bill No. 194
53+such governmental programs as those ensuring the legal security of 23
54+persons and households at risk of losing housing or experiencing 24
55+homelessness, including eviction prevention programs, legal assistance 25
56+in evictions, financial assistance, support services and problem-solving 26
57+counseling. 27
58+(2) The right to safe housing that meets all basic needs: This right 28
59+implicates the internal habitability of the home as well as the necessary 29
60+services and infrastructure to support a healthy and dignified standard 30
61+of living. 31
62+(3) The right to housing and affordability: This right implicates 32
63+governmental programs such as those providing rental assistance, 33
64+encouraging the maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of existing 34
65+housing and enlarging the stock of new low-cost housing, all of which 35
66+ensure the ability to secure and maintain housing without risking access 36
67+to other essential needs. 37
68+(4) The right to rehousing assistance for persons and households that 38
69+have become homeless: This right implicates such governmental 39
70+programs as those supporting the transition of persons experiencing 40
71+homelessness to long-term permanent housing that is affordable. 41
72+(5) The right to recognition of special circumstances: This right 42
73+implicates the adaptation of governmental programs to ensure 43
74+accessibility to households facing particular obstacles to finding 44
75+affordable, decent, safe and stable housing, whether because of race, 45
76+Committee Bill No. 194
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78-religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, 45
79-unemployment, criminal record, eviction history, family status, source 46
80-of income, immigration status, cultural traditions, having been victims 47
81-of fraud and financial manipulation or other obstacles. 48
82-Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a right to 49
83-housing committee to review existing and proposed housing policies 50
84-and advise on (1) the state's progressive implementation of a right to 51
85-housing; and (2) gaps and needs of vulnerable populations with regard 52
86-to access to permanent housing, including, but not limited to, (A) 53
87-individuals experiencing homelessness, including homeless youth; 54
88-individuals with disabilities, including physical disabilities and 55
89-disabilities related to mental health, substance abuse and 56
90-developmental conditions; (B) individuals with past or current criminal 57
91-justice system involvement; (C) individuals from historically 58
92-marginalized racial and ethnic groups; (D) individuals from historically 59
93-marginalized groups based on sexual orientation, gender identity or 60
94-gender expression; (E) survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, 61
95-dating violence, stalking and sexual trafficking; (F) refugees and 62
96-immigrants; and (G) veterans. 63
97-(b) The committee shall consist of the following members: 64
98-(1) Three appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 65
99-one with expertise in homelessness policies and programs, one with 66
100-expertise in low-income housing policies and programs and one with 67
101-expertise in matters relating to evictions and housing court; 68
102-(2) Three appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one 69
103-with expertise in fair housing protections, one with expertise in the 70
104-development of low-income housing and one with expertise in, or 71
105-personal experience with, disability and housing insecurity; 72
106-(3) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of 73
107-Representatives, one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 74
108-criminal justice impact on housing insecurity, one with expertise in, or 75 Substitute Bill No. 194
81+religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, 46
82+unemployment, criminal record, eviction history, family status, source 47
83+of income, immigration status, cultural traditions, being victims of fraud 48
84+and financial manipulation or other obstacles. 49
85+Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a right to 50
86+housing committee to review existing and proposed housing policies 51
87+and advise on (1) the state's progressive implementation of a right to 52
88+housing; and (2) gaps and needs of vulnerable populations with regard 53
89+to access to permanent housing, including, but not limited to, (A) 54
90+individuals experiencing homelessness, including homeless youth; 55
91+individuals with disabilities, including physical disabilities and 56
92+disabilities related to mental health, substance abuse and 57
93+developmental conditions; (B) individuals with past or current criminal 58
94+justice system involvement; (C) individuals from historically 59
95+marginalized racial and ethnic groups; (D) individuals from historically 60
96+marginalized groups based on sexual orientation, gender identity or 61
97+gender expression; (E) survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, 62
98+dating violence, stalking and sexual trafficking; (F) refugees and 63
99+immigrants; and (G) veterans. 64
100+(b) The committee shall consist of the following members: 65
101+(1) Three appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 66
102+one with expertise in homelessness policies and programs, one with 67
103+expertise in low-income housing policies and programs and one with 68
104+expertise in matters relating to evictions and housing court; 69
105+(2) Three appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one 70
106+with expertise in fair housing protections, one with expertise in the 71
107+development of low-income housing and one with expertise in, or 72
108+personal experience with, disability and housing insecurity; 73
109+(3) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of 74
110+Representatives, one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 75
111+criminal justice impact on housing insecurity, one with expertise in, or 76
112+Committee Bill No. 194
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115-personal experience with, the impact of race or ethnicity on housing 76
116-insecurity and one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 77
117-impact of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression on 78
118-housing insecurity; 79
119-(4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one with 80
120-expertise in, or personal experience with, the impact of sexual violence, 81
121-domestic violence, dating violence or stalking on housing insecurity, 82
122-one with experience in, or personal experience with, the impact of sex 83
123-trafficking and housing insecurity and one with expertise in, or personal 84
124-experience with, the impact of refugee or immigrant status on housing 85
125-insecurity; 86
126-(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of 87
127-Representatives, one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 88
128-impact on veteran status on housing insecurity and one of whom is a 89
129-current or recent recipient of homeless assistance, low-income housing 90
130-assistance or assistance in an eviction or housing summary process 91
131-matter; 92
132-(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, both of whom 93
133-are current or recent recipients of homeless assistance, low-income 94
134-housing assistance or assistance in an eviction or housing summary 95
135-process matter; and 96
136-(7) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee. 97
137-(c) Any member of the committee appointed under subdivision (1), 98
138-(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 99
139-of the General Assembly. 100
140-(d) All initial appointments to the committee shall be made not later 101
141-than sixty days after the effective date of this section. Appointed 102
142-members of the committee shall serve for three-year terms which shall 103
143-commence on the date of appointment and may serve until a successor 104
144-is appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the respective appointing 105
145-authority pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 106 Substitute Bill No. 194
117+personal experience with, the impact of race or ethnicity on housing 77
118+insecurity and one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 78
119+impact of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression on 79
120+housing insecurity; 80
121+(4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one with 81
122+expertise in, or personal experience with, the impact of sexual violence, 82
123+domestic violence, dating violence or stalking on housing insecurity, 83
124+one with experience in, or personal experience with, the impact of sex 84
125+trafficking and housing insecurity and one with expertise in, or personal 85
126+experience with, the impact of refugee or immigrant status on housing 86
127+insecurity; 87
128+(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of 88
129+Representatives, one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 89
130+impact on veteran status on housing insecurity and one of whom is a 90
131+current or recent recipient of homeless assistance, low-income housing 91
132+assistance or assistance in an eviction or housing summary process 92
133+matter; 93
134+(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, both of whom 94
135+are current or recent recipients of homeless assistance, low-income 95
136+housing assistance or assistance in an eviction or housing summary 96
137+process matter; and 97
138+(7) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee. 98
139+(c) Any member of the committee appointed under subdivision (1), 99
140+(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 100
141+of the General Assembly. 101
142+(d) All initial appointments to the committee shall be made not later 102
143+than sixty days after the effective date of this section. Appointed 103
144+members of the committee shall serve for three-year terms which shall 104
145+commence on the date of appointment and may serve until a successor 105
146+is appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the respective appointing 106
147+Committee Bill No. 194
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152-(e) The chairperson of the committee shall be jointly appointed by the 107
153-speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore 108
154-of the Senate. Upon appointment of such chairperson, the work of the 109
155-committee may begin even if all other appointments have not yet been 110
156-made. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the committee, 111
157-which shall be held not later than ninety days after the effective date of 112
158-this section. If appointments under subsection (b) of this section are not 113
159-made within the sixty-day period specified in said subsection, the 114
160-chairperson may designate individuals with the required expertise to 115
161-serve on the committee until appointments are made pursuant to 116
162-subsection (b) of this section. 117
163-(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 118
164-General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing 119
165-shall serve as the administrative staff of the committee. 120
166-(g) The committee shall meet not less than twice per fiscal year. 121
167-(h) The Department of Housing shall provide presentations and data 122
168-regarding its implementation of the right to housing at the request of 123
169-the committee. 124
170-(i) Not later than July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the committee 125
171-shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint 126
172-standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 127
173-matters relating to housing, in accordance with the provisions of section 128
174-11-4a of the general statutes. 129
175-(j) During any regular or special session of the General Assembly, the 130
176-committee shall identify and review any proposed legislation impacting 131
177-the right to housing and may provide testimony on any such proposals 132
178-given a public hearing before any relevant committees of the General 133
179-Assembly, providing analysis on the potential impact of the legislation 134
180-on the right to housing and the vulnerable populations described in 135
181-subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to preserve such right. 136
182-Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) The Commissioner of 137 Substitute Bill No. 194
152+authority pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 107
153+(e) The chairperson of the committee shall be jointly appointed by the 108
154+speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore 109
155+of the Senate. Upon appointment of such chairperson, the work of the 110
156+committee may begin even if all other appointments have not yet been 111
157+made. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the committee, 112
158+which shall be held not later than ninety days after the effective date of 113
159+this section. If appointments under subsection (b) of this section are not 114
160+made within the sixty-day period specified in said subsection, the 115
161+chairperson may designate individuals with the required expertise to 116
162+serve on the committee until appointments are made pursuant to 117
163+subsection (b) of this section. 118
164+(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 119
165+General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing 120
166+shall serve as the administrative staff of the committee. 121
167+(g) The committee shall meet not less than twice per fiscal year. 122
168+(h) The Department of Housing shall provide presentations and data 123
169+regarding its implementation of the right to housing at the request of 124
170+the committee. 125
171+(i) Not later than July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the committee 126
172+shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint 127
173+standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 128
174+matters relating to housing, in accordance with the provisions of section 129
175+11-4a of the general statutes. 130
176+(j) During any regular or special session of the General Assembly, the 131
177+committee shall identify and review any proposed legislation impacting 132
178+the right to housing and may provide testimony on any such proposals 133
179+given a public hearing before any relevant committees of the General 134
180+Assembly, providing analysis on the potential impact of the legislation 135
181+on the right to housing and the vulnerable populations described in 136
182+Committee Bill No. 194
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189-Housing shall, within available appropriations, appoint an employee to 138
190-serve as Housing Advocate within the Department of Housing and 139
191-provide timely assistance to recipients of Department of Housing 140
192-services concerning complaints and grievances related to the right of 141
193-housing outlined by sections 1 and 2 of this act. 142
194-(b) The Housing Advocate, in consultation with the commissioner, 143
195-shall: 144
196-(1) Receive, review, record and attempt to resolve any complaints and 145
197-grievances regarding the right to housing; 146
198-(2) Compile and analyze data on such complaints and grievances; 147
199-(3) Assist residents in understanding their rights under the right to 148
200-housing established under section 1 of this act; 149
201-(4) Provide information to the public, agencies, legislators and others 150
202-regarding the problems and concerns of residents in regard to the right 151
203-to housing; 152
204-(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of 153
205-federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies relating to tenants' 154
206-rights, affordable housing, homelessness prevention, the impact of 155
207-criminal justice and summary process involvement on housing 156
208-accessibility and other issues related to the right to housing; and 157
209-(6) Provide data and recommendations to the right to housing 158
210-committee established in section 2 of this act as requested. 159
211-(c) Not later than July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the 160
212-Commissioner of Housing shall submit a report, in accordance with the 161
213-provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 162
214-committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 163
215-relating to housing. The commissioner shall report on: (1) The 164
216-implementation of the provisions of this section; (2) the overall 165
217-effectiveness of the Housing Advocate position established in 166 Substitute Bill No. 194
187+subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to preserve such right. 137
188+Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) The Commissioner of 138
189+Housing shall, within available appropriations, appoint an employee to 139
190+serve as Housing Advocate within the Department of Housing and 140
191+provide timely assistance to recipients of Department of Housing 141
192+services concerning complaints and grievances related to the right of 142
193+housing outlined by sections 1 and 2 of this act. 143
194+(b) The Housing Advocate, in consultation with the commissioner, 144
195+shall: 145
196+(1) Receive, review, record and attempt to resolve any complaints and 146
197+grievances regarding the right to housing; 147
198+(2) Compile and analyze data on such complaints and grievances; 148
199+(3) Assist residents in understanding their rights under the right to 149
200+housing established under section 1 of this act; 150
201+(4) Provide information to the public, agencies, legislators and others 151
202+regarding the problems and concerns of residents in regard to the right 152
203+to housing; 153
204+(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of 154
205+federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies relating to tenants' 155
206+rights, affordable housing, homelessness prevention, the impact of 156
207+criminal justice and summary process involvement on housing 157
208+accessibility and other issues related to the right to housing; and 158
209+(6) Provide data and recommendations to the right to housing 159
210+committee established in section 2 of this act as requested. 160
211+(c) Not later than July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the 161
212+Commissioner of Housing shall submit a report, in accordance with the 162
213+provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 163
214+committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 164
215+Committee Bill No. 194
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224-subsection (a) of this section; and (3) any additional recommendations 167
225-for the Department of Housing to implement the right to housing 168
226-established in section 1 of this act. 169
220+relating to housing. The commissioner shall report on: (1) The 165
221+implementation of the provisions of this section; (2) the overall 166
222+effectiveness of the Housing Advocate position established in 167
223+subsection (a) of this section; and (3) any additional recommendations 168
224+for the Department of Housing to implement the right to housing 169
225+established in section 1 of this act. 170
227226 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
228227 sections:
229228
230229 Section 1 October 1, 2021 New section
231230 Sec. 2 from passage New section
232231 Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 New section
233232
234-Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
235-Section 1(c) was rewritten to conform to standard drafting conventions.
233+Statement of Purpose:
234+To establish a right to housing for all residents of the state.
235+[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
236+that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
237+underlined.]
236238
237-HSG Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
239+Co-Sponsors: SEN. ANWAR, 3rd Dist.
240+
241+S.B. 194
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238243