Researcher: JS Page 1 4/4/23
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6808
AN ACT ESTABLISHING GRANT PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE THE
CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF HOUSING FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
and the Department of Housing (DOH) to each establish and
administer, within available appropriations, a competitive grant
program to fund certain types of housing development for people with
intellectual disability (IDD).
Under the bill, the DDS program must provide grants to the
following:
1. developers to build housing for people with IDD that gives them
access to transportation and services to facilitate their integration
into the community and
2. people with IDD, and their relative caregivers, to (a) construct
new, accessible residential homes or (b) buy existing homes and
either renovate them to improve their accessibility or convert
them to congregate or supportive housing.
The bill requires the DOH program to provide grants to developers
to construct affordable housing (see BACKGROUND) for people with
IDD. The housing must (1) be intended and designed to house a
significant number of people with IDD and (2) include a significant
number of units with accessibility features (e.g., accessible bathrooms,
light switches, and doorways and hallways at least 32 inches wide). It
requires DOH to determine what constitutes a “significant number” of
people and units. 2023HB-06808-R000413-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JS Page 2 4/4/23
Under the bill both DDS and DOH must develop, by January 1, 2024,
eligibility criteria and an application process for their respective grant
programs and post a description of their program, application, and
application guidelines on their websites in a noticeable location.
It also prohibits both DDS and DOH grant recipients from spending
grant funds for any purposes other than those approved by the
departments and requires the recipients to submit expense reports to
their respective department as the department determines.
Additionally, the bill requires DDS and DOH to annually report,
starting by January 1, 2025, to the Human Services and Housing
committees on their respective grant program’s operation and
effectiveness.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
BACKGROUND
Affordable Housing
By law, housing is considered affordable if a household earning the
municipality’s median income, as determined by the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development, spends no more than 30% of their
income on it (CGS § 8-39a).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Planning and Development Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 21 Nay 0 (03/17/2023)