LCO 3917 \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06666-R02- HB.docx 1 of 5 General Assembly Governor's Bill No. 6666 January Session, 2023 LCO No. 3917 Referred to Committee on HOUSING Introduced by: Request of the Governor Pursuant to Joint Rule 9 AN ACT EXPANDING RENTERS' RIGHTS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 47a-21 of the general statutes is 1 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2 1, 2023): 3 (b) (1) [In the case of a tenant under sixty-two years of age, a] A 4 landlord shall not demand a security deposit in an amount that exceeds 5 [two months'] one month's rent. 6 (2) [In the case of a tenant sixty-two years of age or older, a landlord 7 shall not demand a security deposit in an amount that exceeds one 8 month's rent.] Any landlord who has received a security deposit in an 9 amount that exceeds one month's rent prior to October 1, 2023, from a 10 tenant who becomes sixty-two years of age after paying such security 11 deposit, shall return the portion of such security deposit that exceeds 12 one month's rent to the tenant upon the tenant's request. Any landlord 13 who has received a security deposit in an amount that exceeds one 14 Bill No. 6666 LCO 3917 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06666- R02-HB.docx } 2 of 5 month's rent from a tenant prior to October 1, 2023, other than a tenant 15 who becomes sixty-two years of age after paying such security deposit, 16 may, subject to the provisions of this section, retain such deposit until 17 the time the tenancy is terminated. 18 Sec. 2. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of section 19 7-148 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted 20 in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 21 (7) (A) (i) Make rules relating to the maintenance of safe and sanitary 22 housing and prescribe civil penalties for the violation of such rules not 23 to exceed one thousand dollars per violation; 24 (ii) Regulate the mode of using any buildings when such regulations 25 seem expedient for the purpose of promoting the safety, health, morals 26 and general welfare of the inhabitants of the municipality; 27 (iii) Regulate and prohibit the moving of buildings upon or through 28 the streets or other public places of the municipality, and cause the 29 removal and demolition of unsafe buildings and structures; 30 (iv) Regulate and provide for the licensing of parked trailers when 31 located off the public highways, and trailer parks or mobile 32 manufactured home parks, except as otherwise provided by special act 33 and except where there exists a local zoning commission so empowered; 34 (v) Establish lines beyond which no buildings, steps, stoop, veranda, 35 billboard, advertising sign or device or other structure or obstruction 36 may be erected; 37 (vi) Regulate and prohibit the placing, erecting or keeping of signs, 38 awnings or other things upon or over the sidewalks, streets and other 39 public places of the municipality; 40 (vii) Regulate plumbing and house drainage; 41 (viii) Prohibit or regulate the construction of dwellings, apartments, 42 Bill No. 6666 LCO 3917 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06666- R02-HB.docx } 3 of 5 boarding houses, hotels, commercial buildings, youth camps or 43 commercial camps and commercial camping facilities in such 44 municipality unless the sewerage facilities have been approved by the 45 authorized officials of the municipality; 46 Sec. 3. Section 46a-81e of the general statutes is repealed and the 47 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 48 (a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section: 49 (1) To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to 50 refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make 51 unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of sexual 52 orientation or civil union status. 53 (2) To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or 54 privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services 55 or facilities in connection therewith, because of sexual orientation or 56 civil union status. 57 (3) To make, print or publish, or cause to be made, printed or 58 published any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the 59 sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or 60 discrimination based on sexual orientation or civil union status, or an 61 intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. 62 (4) (A) To represent to any person because of sexual orientation or 63 civil union status, that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale 64 or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available. (B) It shall be a 65 violation of this subdivision for any person to restrict or attempt to 66 restrict the choices of any buyer or renter to purchase or rent a dwelling 67 (i) to an area which is substantially populated, even if less than a 68 majority, by persons of the same sexual orientation or civil union status 69 as the buyer or renter, (ii) while such person is authorized to offer for 70 sale or rent another dwelling which meets the housing criteria as 71 expressed by the buyer or renter to such person, and (iii) such other 72 dwelling is in an area which is not substantially populated by persons 73 Bill No. 6666 LCO 3917 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06666- R02-HB.docx } 4 of 5 of the same sexual orientation or civil union status as the buyer or renter. 74 As used in this subdivision, "area" means municipality, neighborhood 75 or other geographic subdivision which may include an apartment or 76 condominium complex. 77 (5) For profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent 78 any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective 79 entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular sexual 80 orientation or civil union status. 81 (6) For any person or other entity engaging in residential-real-estate-82 related transactions to discriminate against any person in making 83 available such a transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such a 84 transaction, because of sexual orientation or civil union status. 85 (7) To deny any person access to or membership or participation in 86 any multiple-listing service, real estate brokers' organization or other 87 service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or 88 renting dwellings, or to discriminate against him in the terms or 89 conditions of such access, membership or participation, on account of 90 sexual orientation or civil union status. 91 (8) To coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the 92 exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his having exercised or 93 enjoyed, or on account of his having aided or encouraged any other 94 person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected 95 by this section. 96 [(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) the rental of a 97 room or rooms in a unit in a dwelling if the owner actually maintains 98 and occupies part of such unit as his residence, or (2) a unit in a dwelling 99 containing not more than four units if the owner actually maintains and 100 occupies one of such other units as his residence.] 101 [(c)] (b) Nothing in this section limits the applicability of any 102 reasonable state statute or municipal ordinance restricting the 103 maximum number of persons permitted to occupy a dwelling. 104 Bill No. 6666 LCO 3917 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06666- R02-HB.docx } 5 of 5 [(d)] (c) Nothing in this section prohibits a person engaged in the 105 business of furnishing appraisals of real property to take into 106 consideration factors other than sexual orientation or civil union status. 107 [(e)] (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, 108 complaints alleging a violation of this section shall be investigated 109 within one hundred days of filing and a final administrative disposition 110 shall be made within one year of filing unless it is impracticable to do 111 so. If the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is unable to 112 complete its investigation or make a final administrative determination 113 within such time frames, it shall notify the complainant and the 114 respondent in writing of the reasons for not doing so. 115 [(f)] (e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be 116 guilty of a class D misdemeanor. 117 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 October 1, 2023 47a-21(b) Sec. 2 October 1, 2023 7-148(c)(7)(A) Sec. 3 October 1, 2023 46a-81e HSG Joint Favorable JUD Joint Favorable