LCO \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00194-R02-
SB.docx
1 of 7
General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 194
January Session, 2021
Referred to Committee on HOUSING
Introduced by:
(HSG)
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A RIGHT TO HOUSING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) It shall be the goal of 1
this state to progressively implement policies that will respect, protect 2
and fulfill a right to affordable, decent, safe and stable housing for every 3
resident of this state. 4
(b) Each state agency, as defined in section 1-79 of the general 5
statutes, and each political subdivision of the state, in implementing the 6
provisions of this section, shall: 7
(1) Consider the right to housing under subsection (a) of this section 8
and the components of such right set forth in subsection (c) of this 9
section when adopting or revising policies, regulations or grant criteria 10
that implicate, impact or affect such right. 11
(2) When implementing such policies, regulations or grant criteria, 12
give priority to assisting households with incomes below fifty per cent 13
of the area median income, as described in section 8-39a of the general 14 Substitute Bill No. 194
LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00194-
R02-SB.docx }
2 of 7
statutes. 15
(3) To the extent practicable, attempt to serve households currently 16
experiencing homelessness or at risk of housing loss and those in the 17
lower range of the income group to which the agency's or political 18
subdivision's programs are directed. 19
(c) The right to housing includes, but is not limited to, the following 20
components: 21
(1) The right to protection from housing loss: This right implicates 22
governmental programs that ensure the legal security of persons and 23
households at risk of losing housing or experiencing homelessness, 24
including eviction prevention programs, legal assistance in evictions, 25
financial assistance, support services and problem-solving counseling; 26
(2) The right to safe housing that meets all basic needs: This right 27
implicates the internal habitability of the home as well as the necessary 28
services and infrastructure to support a healthy and dignified standard 29
of living; 30
(3) The right to housing and affordability: This right implicates 31
governmental programs that provide rental assistance, encourage the 32
maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of existing housing and enlarge 33
the stock of new low-cost housing, all of which ensure the ability to 34
secure and maintain housing without risking access to other essential 35
needs; 36
(4) The right to rehousing assistance for persons and households that 37
have become homeless: This right implicates governmental programs 38
that support the transition of persons experiencing homelessness to 39
long-term permanent housing that is affordable; and 40
(5) The right to recognition of special circumstances: This right 41
implicates the adaptation of governmental programs to ensure 42
accessibility to households facing particular obstacles to finding 43
affordable, decent, safe and stable housing, whether because of race, 44 Substitute Bill No. 194
LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00194-
R02-SB.docx }
3 of 7
religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, 45
unemployment, criminal record, eviction history, family status, source 46
of income, immigration status, cultural traditions, having been victims 47
of fraud and financial manipulation or other obstacles. 48
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a right to 49
housing committee to review existing and proposed housing policies 50
and advise on (1) the state's progressive implementation of a right to 51
housing; and (2) gaps and needs of vulnerable populations with regard 52
to access to permanent housing, including, but not limited to, (A) 53
individuals experiencing homelessness, including homeless youth; 54
individuals with disabilities, including physical disabilities and 55
disabilities related to mental health, substance abuse and 56
developmental conditions; (B) individuals with past or current criminal 57
justice system involvement; (C) individuals from historically 58
marginalized racial and ethnic groups; (D) individuals from historically 59
marginalized groups based on sexual orientation, gender identity or 60
gender expression; (E) survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, 61
dating violence, stalking and sexual trafficking; (F) refugees and 62
immigrants; and (G) veterans. 63
(b) The committee shall consist of the following members: 64
(1) Three appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 65
one with expertise in homelessness policies and programs, one with 66
expertise in low-income housing policies and programs and one with 67
expertise in matters relating to evictions and housing court; 68
(2) Three appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one 69
with expertise in fair housing protections, one with expertise in the 70
development of low-income housing and one with expertise in, or 71
personal experience with, disability and housing insecurity; 72
(3) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of 73
Representatives, one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 74
criminal justice impact on housing insecurity, one with expertise in, or 75 Substitute Bill No. 194
LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00194-
R02-SB.docx }
4 of 7
personal experience with, the impact of race or ethnicity on housing 76
insecurity and one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 77
impact of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression on 78
housing insecurity; 79
(4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one with 80
expertise in, or personal experience with, the impact of sexual violence, 81
domestic violence, dating violence or stalking on housing insecurity, 82
one with experience in, or personal experience with, the impact of sex 83
trafficking and housing insecurity and one with expertise in, or personal 84
experience with, the impact of refugee or immigrant status on housing 85
insecurity; 86
(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of 87
Representatives, one with expertise in, or personal experience with, the 88
impact on veteran status on housing insecurity and one of whom is a 89
current or recent recipient of homeless assistance, low-income housing 90
assistance or assistance in an eviction or housing summary process 91
matter; 92
(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, both of whom 93
are current or recent recipients of homeless assistance, low-income 94
housing assistance or assistance in an eviction or housing summary 95
process matter; and 96
(7) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee. 97
(c) Any member of the committee appointed under subdivision (1), 98
(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 99
of the General Assembly. 100
(d) All initial appointments to the committee shall be made not later 101
than sixty days after the effective date of this section. Appointed 102
members of the committee shall serve for three-year terms which shall 103
commence on the date of appointment and may serve until a successor 104
is appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the respective appointing 105
authority pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 106 Substitute Bill No. 194
LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00194-
R02-SB.docx }
5 of 7
(e) The chairperson of the committee shall be jointly appointed by the 107
speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore 108
of the Senate. Upon appointment of such chairperson, the work of the 109
committee may begin even if all other appointments have not yet been 110
made. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the committee, 111
which shall be held not later than ninety days after the effective date of 112
this section. If appointments under subsection (b) of this section are not 113
made within the sixty-day period specified in said subsection, the 114
chairperson may designate individuals with the required expertise to 115
serve on the committee until appointments are made pursuant to 116
subsection (b) of this section. 117
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 118
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing 119
shall serve as the administrative staff of the committee. 120
(g) The committee shall meet not less than twice per fiscal year. 121
(h) The Department of Housing shall provide presentations and data 122
regarding its implementation of the right to housing at the request of 123
the committee. 124
(i) Not later than July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the committee 125
shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint 126
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 127
matters relating to housing, in accordance with the provisions of section 128
11-4a of the general statutes. 129
(j) During any regular or special session of the General Assembly, the 130
committee shall identify and review any proposed legislation impacting 131
the right to housing and may provide testimony on any such proposals 132
given a public hearing before any relevant committees of the General 133
Assembly, providing analysis on the potential impact of the legislation 134
on the right to housing and the vulnerable populations described in 135
subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to preserve such right. 136
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) The Commissioner of 137 Substitute Bill No. 194
LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00194-
R02-SB.docx }
6 of 7
Housing shall, within available appropriations, appoint an employee to 138
serve as Housing Advocate within the Department of Housing and 139
provide timely assistance to recipients of Department of Housing 140
services concerning complaints and grievances related to the right of 141
housing outlined by sections 1 and 2 of this act. 142
(b) The Housing Advocate, in consultation with the commissioner, 143
shall: 144
(1) Receive, review, record and attempt to resolve any complaints and 145
grievances regarding the right to housing; 146
(2) Compile and analyze data on such complaints and grievances; 147
(3) Assist residents in understanding their rights under the right to 148
housing established under section 1 of this act; 149
(4) Provide information to the public, agencies, legislators and others 150
regarding the problems and concerns of residents in regard to the right 151
to housing; 152
(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of 153
federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies relating to tenants' 154
rights, affordable housing, homelessness prevention, the impact of 155
criminal justice and summary process involvement on housing 156
accessibility and other issues related to the right to housing; and 157
(6) Provide data and recommendations to the right to housing 158
committee established in section 2 of this act as requested. 159
(c) Not later than July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the 160
Commissioner of Housing shall submit a report, in accordance with the 161
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 162
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 163
relating to housing. The commissioner shall report on: (1) The 164
implementation of the provisions of this section; (2) the overall 165
effectiveness of the Housing Advocate position established in 166 Substitute Bill No. 194
LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00194-
R02-SB.docx }
7 of 7
subsection (a) of this section; and (3) any additional recommendations 167
for the Department of Housing to implement the right to housing 168
established in section 1 of this act. 169
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 2 from passage New section
Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 New section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
Section 1(c) was rewritten to conform to standard drafting conventions.
HSG Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO