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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6948
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 4337
Referred to Committee on HOUSING
Introduced by:
(HSG)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES OF
CRIMINAL RECORDS ON HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 46a-64b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 2
As used in sections 46a-51 to 46a-99, inclusive, as amended by this 3
act, and section 2 of this act: 4
(1) "Applicant" means any person considered for, or who requests to 5
be considered for, tenancy within a dwelling. 6
(2) "Background screening company" means any person, corporation, 7
partnership or other entity that regularly engages in the practice of 8
assembling, evaluating or disseminating criminal history information 9
for monetary fees or subscriptions. 10
(3) "Comparable unit" means a dwelling unit that is: (A) Located in 11
the same building or complex as the originally offered unit or in a 12
building or complex of similar quality within the same geographic area; 13
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(B) substantially similar in size, features, amenities and rental price to 14
the originally offered unit; (C) available for occupancy under 15
substantially similar lease terms and conditions; and (D) compliant with 16
all applicable housing quality standards and accessibility requirements. 17
(4) "Conditional offer" means an offer to rent or lease a rental 18
dwelling unit to an applicant that is contingent on a subsequent inquiry 19
into the applicant's criminal record, or any other eligibility criteria that 20
the housing provider may lawfully utilize. 21
(5) "Conviction" means a judgment entered by a court upon a plea of 22
guilty, a plea of nolo contendere or a finding of guilty by a jury or the 23
court, notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus 24
proceeding arising from such judgment. 25
[(1)] (6) "Discriminatory housing practice" means any discriminatory 26
practice specified in section 46a-64c or [section] 46a-81e or section 2 of 27
this act. 28
[(2)] (7) "Dwelling" means any building, structure, mobile 29
manufactured home park or portion thereof which is occupied as, or 30
designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more 31
families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the 32
construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, mobile 33
manufactured home park or portion thereof. 34
[(3)] (8) "Fair Housing Act" means Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 35
1968, as amended from time to time, and known as the federal Fair 36
Housing Act (42 USC 3600-3620). 37
[(4)] (9) "Family" includes a single individual. 38
[(5)] (10) "Familial status" means one or more individuals who have 39
not attained the age of eighteen years being domiciled with a parent or 40
another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; 41
or the designee of such parent or other person having such custody with 42
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the written permission of such parent or other person; or any person 43
who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any 44
individual who has not attained the age of eighteen years. 45
[(6)] (11) "Housing for older persons" means housing: (A) Provided 46
under any state or federal program that the Secretary of the United 47
States Department of Housing and Urban Development determines is 48
specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons as defined 49
in the state or federal program; or (B) intended for, and solely occupied 50
by, persons sixty-two years of age or older; or (C) intended and operated 51
for occupancy by [at least] not fewer than one person fifty-five years of 52
age or older per unit in accordance with the standards set forth in the 53
Fair Housing Act and regulations developed pursuant thereto by the 54
Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban 55
Development. 56
(12) "Housing provider" means a landlord, as defined in section 47a-57
1, an owner of a dwelling, an agent of such landlord or owner, a real 58
estate agent, a property manager, a housing authority created pursuant 59
to section 8-40, a public housing agency or other entity that provides 60
dwelling units to tenants or prospective tenants. 61
[(7)] (13) "Mobile manufactured home park" means a plot of land 62
upon which two or more mobile manufactured homes occupied for 63
residential purposes are located. 64
[(8)] (14) "Physical or mental disability" includes, but is not limited to, 65
intellectual disability, as defined in section 1-1g, and physical disability, 66
as defined in subdivision (15) of section 46a-51, and also includes, but is 67
not limited to, persons who have a handicap as that term is defined in 68
the Fair Housing Act. 69
[(9)] (15) "Residential-real-estate-related transaction" means (A) the 70
making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance 71
for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing or maintaining a 72
dwelling, or secured by residential real estate; or (B) the selling, 73
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brokering or appraising of residential real property. 74
[(10)] (16) "To rent" includes to lease, to sublease, to let and to 75
otherwise grant for a consideration the right to occupy premises not 76
owned by the occupant. 77
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) Except as provided in 78
subsections (g) and (h) of this section, it shall be a discriminatory 79
housing practice in violation of this section for a housing provider to 80
require an applicant to complete any housing application or to make any 81
oral inquiry about an applicant's criminal record prior to the provision 82
of a conditional offer. 83
(b) Prior to accepting any application fee, a housing provider shall 84
disclose in writing to the applicant: (1) Whether the eligibility criteria of 85
the housing provider includes the review and consideration of criminal 86
history; and (2) a statement that the applicant, pursuant to this 87
subsection, may provide evidence demonstrating inaccuracies within 88
the applicant's criminal record or evidence of rehabilitation or other 89
mitigating factors. 90
(c) After issuing a conditional offer to an applicant, a housing 91
provider may only consider criminal convictions as follows, based on 92
the law in the effect when the rental application is submitted: (1) 93
Without any time limitation or age restriction, convictions for: (A) 94
Murder as provided in section 53a-54a of the general statutes; (B) felony 95
murder as provided in section 53a-54c of the general statutes; (C) 96
trafficking in persons as provided in section 53a-192a of the general 97
statutes; (D) a sexually violent offense as defined in section 54-250 of the 98
general statutes; (E) one of the following violent felony offenses 99
involving a firearm: (i) Kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm as 100
provided in section 53a-92a of the general statutes; (ii) manslaughter in 101
the first degree with a firearm as provided in section 53a-55a of the 102
general statutes; (iii) kidnapping in the second degree with a firearm as 103
provided in section 53a-94a of the general statutes; (iv) manslaughter in 104
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the second degree with a firearm as provided in section 53a-56a of the 105
general statutes; (v) assault in the second degree with a firearm resulting 106
in serious physical injury as provided in section 53a-60a of the general 107
statutes; or (vi) burglary in the second degree with a firearm as provided 108
in section 53a-102a of the general statutes, (2) a conviction for a felony 109
offense carrying a maximum term of imprisonment exceeding twenty 110
years, provided the applicant's release from a correctional institution 111
occurred within the five years immediately preceding the date the rental 112
application is submitted, and the applicant was above the age of twenty-113
four at the time the offense occurred, (3) a conviction for a felony offense 114
carrying a maximum term of imprisonment between five and twenty 115
years, inclusive, provided the applicant's release from a correctional 116
institution occurred within the three years immediately preceding the 117
date the rental application is submitted and the applicant was above the 118
age of twenty-four at the time the offense occurred, or (4) a conviction 119
for a felony offense carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of less 120
than five years, provided the applicant's release from a correctional 121
institution occurred within the one year immediately preceding the date 122
the rental application is submitted and the applicant was above the age 123
of twenty-four at the time the offense occurred. 124
(d) For purposes of verifying an applicant's release date from a 125
correctional institution under subsection (c) of this section, a housing 126
provider shall accept as sufficient evidence of a release date any of the 127
following forms of documentation, including, but not limited to: (1) 128
Release documentation issued by the Department of Correction, (2) a 129
certificate of discharge or similar official document or letter from the 130
correctional institution from which such applicant was released, (3) 131
documentation from the Board of Pardons and Parole confirming the 132
release date, (4) court records indicating the release date, (5) a letter from 133
a parole or probation officer confirming the release date, (6) a written 134
statement from an authorized representative of a halfway house, reentry 135
program or community organization providing reentry services to the 136
individual, (7) records obtained from any publicly accessible state, 137
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government or correctional database showing release date information, 138
or (8) any other government-issued document that verifies the release 139
date. Documentation provided under this subsection shall be deemed 140
valid if it clearly states the release date and contains identifying 141
information that reasonably matches the applicant. A housing provider 142
shall not require multiple forms of documentation of the release date if 143
one valid form is provided. 144
(e) Within the applicable time period specified in subsection (c) of this 145
section, before withdrawing a conditional offer based on the criminal 146
conviction of any applicant, a housing provider shall consider (1) the 147
nature and severity of the criminal offense, (2) the age of the applicant 148
at the time of the offense, (3) the length of time elapsed since the offense, 149
(4) the relationship, if any, the crime may have to the prospective 150
tenancy of the convicted person, and (5) any information produced by 151
the applicant, or produced on the applicant's behalf, regarding the 152
applicant's rehabilitation or good conduct since the offense. 153
(f) Upon withdrawing a conditional offer based on criminal history, 154
the housing provider shall provide the applicant with written 155
notification that includes, with specificity, the reason or reasons for the 156
withdrawal of the conditional offer. 157
(g) Background screening companies shall only report to housing 158
providers criminal conviction information that housing providers are 159
permitted to consider under subsection (c) of this section. 160
(h) In ascertaining whether an applicant has committed a crime, a 161
housing provider shall comply with all applicable laws, including, but 162
not limited to, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq., as 163
amended from time to time. An applicant's rental application may not 164
be denied based on (1) an official or unofficial record of an arrest or a 165
charge or other allegation of a criminal act not followed by a conviction, 166
(2) a violation of a condition of probation or parole resulting from 167
conduct that would not be a criminal act if it were not prohibited by 168
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such condition, (3) a record of a conviction that has been erased, or (4) a 169
conviction for conduct that occurred when the applicant was a minor. 170
(i) Before withdrawing a conditional offer under this section, a 171
housing provider shall provide written notice to the applicant that the 172
offer requires further review due to the applicant's criminal record. The 173
housing provider shall provide the applicant not less than five business 174
days in which to respond to such notice and present relevant mitigating 175
information regarding the conviction and evidence that the applicant 176
would be a suitable tenant. Such evidence may include, but is not 177
limited to, the following factors: (1) The nature and severity of the 178
criminal offense, (2) the facts or circumstances surrounding the criminal 179
conduct, (3) the age of the applicant at the time of the offense, (4) the 180
length of time elapsed since the offense, (5) evidence the applicant has 181
maintained a good tenant history before or after the offense, (6) the 182
applicant's employment status, (7) any information produced by the 183
applicant, or produced on the applicant's behalf, regarding the 184
applicant's rehabilitation, good character or good conduct since the 185
offense, and (8) any evidence that the offense is unlikely to reoccur. The 186
housing provider shall issue a written decision to the applicant not later 187
than ten business days after receiving the mitigating information that 188
includes, with specificity, the reason or reasons for approval or 189
withdrawal of the conditional offer. During such time period, the 190
housing provider may continue to market and lease the unit to other 191
applicants. If the unit is leased to another applicant and the original 192
applicant is subsequently approved through the review process, the 193
housing provider shall offer the applicant one or more comparable 194
units, if such units exist, and provide the applicant the opportunity to 195
lease one of the comparable units. 196
(j) Housing providers shall maintain written records of their decision-197
making process regarding applicants' criminal records for a minimum 198
of three years following the date of the rental application. Such records 199
shall include: (1) All application materials and criminal history 200
information received, (2) documentation of the analysis conducted 201
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under subsection (d) of this section, (3) copies of all notices and 202
correspondence with the applicant, (4) written explanations of all 203
decisions made, and (5) any other relevant documentation. 204
(k) Except as provided in subsections (l) and (m) of this section, it 205
shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section to (1) 206
discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions or privileges of 207
the rental of a dwelling unit, or in the provision of services or facilities 208
in connection with the rental of such dwelling unit, because of such 209
person's criminal conviction status, (2) make, print or publish, or cause 210
to be made, printed or published, any notice, statement or 211
advertisement with respect to the rental of a dwelling unit that indicates 212
any preference, limitation or discrimination based on criminal 213
conviction status, or an intention to make any such preference, 214
limitation or discrimination, (3) represent to any person because of 215
criminal conviction status that any dwelling unit is not available for 216
inspection or rental if such dwelling unit is so available, and (4) inquire 217
about an applicant's prior arrests, criminal charges or convictions on an 218
initial application for rental of a dwelling unit unless required to do so 219
by federal law. 220
(l) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who 221
applies for federally subsidized public housing who has a conviction for 222
the manufacture or production of methamphetamine on the premises of 223
federally assisted housing, or to a person who applies for federally 224
subsidized public housing who is subject to a lifetime registration 225
requirement under a state registration program pursuant to 24 CFR 226
960.204 and 24 CFR 982.553. Nothing in this section shall be construed 227
to limit the applicability of 24 CFR 960.204 or 24 CFR 982.553 regarding 228
a public housing authority. 229
(m) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) the rental of a 230
room or rooms in a single-family dwelling if the owner maintains and 231
occupies part of such dwelling as such owner's residence, or (2) a unit 232
in a dwelling containing not more than four units if the owner maintains 233
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and occupies one of such units as such owner's residence. 234
(n) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the applicability 235
of any reasonable statute or municipal ordinance restricting the 236
maximum number of persons permitted to occupy a dwelling. 237
(o) Any person aggrieved by a violation of this section may file a 238
complaint not later than one hundred eighty days after the alleged act 239
of discrimination, pursuant to section 46a-82 of the general statutes, as 240
amended by this act. 241
(p) Notwithstanding any other provision of chapter 814c of the 242
general statutes, complaints alleging a violation of this section shall be 243
investigated not later than one hundred days after filing and a final 244
administrative disposition shall be made not later than one year after 245
filing unless it is impracticable to do so. If the Commission on Human 246
Rights and Opportunities is unable to complete its investigation or make 247
a final administrative determination within such time frames, it shall 248
notify the complainant and the respondent, in writing, of the reasons for 249
not doing so. 250
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) Not later than November 251
1, 2025, the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities shall post, 252
and thereafter update as necessary the following information: 253
(1) A model initial disclosure statement on its Internet web site as 254
indicated in subsection (b) of section 2 of this act that provides notice 255
that a housing provider intends to review and consider a person's 256
criminal record in determining eligibility for housing or in taking any 257
other adverse housing action against that person. The statement shall 258
also provide an explanation of the criminal records that may be 259
considered and the manner in which they may be considered, in 260
accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 2 of this act, 261
including information about acceptable forms of documentation to 262
verify release dates from correctional institutions and that only one form 263
of such documentation is required if it contains sufficient identifying 264
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information. The statement shall also inform the person of the right to 265
offer evidence of any mitigating facts or circumstances, including, but 266
not limited to, the person's rehabilitation and good conduct since the 267
criminal offense in question. 268
(2) A model criminal record review notice on its Internet web site that 269
(A) identifies the specific criminal record or records found that meet the 270
criteria under subsection (c) of section 2 of this act; (B) explains how the 271
criminal record or records relate to the housing provider's legitimate 272
interests; and (C) specifies the time period in accordance with subsection 273
(h) of section 2 of this act for submitting evidence of any mitigating facts 274
or circumstances, including, but not limited to, the person's 275
rehabilitation and good conduct since the criminal offense in question. 276
(3) A model standardized evaluation form on its Internet web site for 277
housing providers to use in evaluating evidence and other information 278
received under subsection (c) of section 2 of this act. 279
(b) Not later than November 1, 2025, the Commission on Human 280
Rights and Opportunities shall develop and implement a mandatory 281
training for housing providers on: (1) The requirements of section 2 of 282
this act, (2) proper evaluation of criminal records, (3) fair housing laws 283
and best practices, (4) implicit bias awareness, and (5) the consideration 284
of mitigating evidence. 285
(c) Not later than November 1, 2025, the Criminal Justice Policy and 286
Planning Division within the Office of Policy and Management, in 287
consultation with the Commission on Human Rights and 288
Opportunities, legal experts and criminal justice professionals shall 289
develop, publish and maintain a comprehensive guide detailing 290
maximum sentences for felony offenses, as defined by current law. The 291
guide shall be designed to assist housing providers in complying with 292
section 2 of this act and making informed decisions. The guide shall be 293
accessible in both digital and print formats, with consideration for users 294
with disabilities, and shall include explanatory notes where necessary. 295
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In preparing and updating the guide, the division shall consult with 296
legal experts, criminal justice professionals and community 297
stakeholders. The division shall review and update such guide at least 298
annually, or more frequently as needed, to reflect changes in relevant 299
laws or policies. 300
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) Any landlord subject to the 301
provisions of section 2 of this act shall be immune from liability in any 302
civil action arising as a result of the landlord's decision to rent to 303
individuals with a criminal record or who were otherwise convicted of 304
a criminal offense, or as a result of a landlord's decision to not engage in 305
a criminal background screening. 306
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to: (1) Grant immunity 307
to a housing provider for failure to take reasonable action in connection 308
with actual conduct by a tenant during the tenancy, (2) excuse a housing 309
provider from stopping, preventing or remedying a hostile housing 310
environment created by a tenant's actual conduct during the tenancy, or 311
(3) limit any other legal obligations of the housing provider under state 312
or federal law. 313
Sec. 5. Section 8-45a of the general statutes is repealed and the 314
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 315
A housing authority, as defined in subsection (b) of section 8-39, in 316
determining eligibility for the rental of public housing units may 317
establish criteria and consider relevant information concerning (1) an 318
applicant's or any proposed occupant's history of criminal activity 319
involving: (A) Crimes of physical violence to persons or property, (B) 320
crimes involving the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution or use of, or 321
possession with intent to manufacture, sell, use or distribute, a 322
controlled substance, as defined in section 21a-240, or (C) other criminal 323
acts which would adversely affect the health, safety or welfare of other 324
tenants, (2) an applicant's or any proposed occupant's abuse, or pattern 325
of abuse, of alcohol when the housing authority has reasonable cause to 326
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believe that such applicant's or proposed occupant's abuse, or pattern of 327
abuse, of alcohol may interfere with the health, safety or right to 328
peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents, and (3) an 329
applicant or any proposed occupant who is subject to a lifetime 330
registration requirement under section 54-252 on account of being 331
convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a 332
sexually violent offense. In evaluating any such information, the 333
housing authority shall give consideration to the time, nature and extent 334
of the applicant's or proposed occupant's conduct and to factors which 335
might indicate a reasonable probability of favorable future conduct such 336
as evidence of rehabilitation and evidence of the willingness of the 337
applicant, the applicant's family or the proposed occupant to participate 338
in social service or other appropriate counseling programs and the 339
availability of such programs. Except as otherwise provided by law, a 340
housing authority shall limit its consideration of an applicant's or 341
proposed occupant's history of criminal activity to the applicable time 342
periods established under subsection (c) of section 2 of this act. 343
Sec. 6. Subdivision (8) of section 46a-51 of the general statutes is 344
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 345
1, 2025): 346
(8) "Discriminatory practice" means a violation of section 4a-60, 4a-347
60a, 4a-60g, 31-40y, subsection (b), (d), (e) or (f) of section 31-51i, 348
subparagraph (C) of subdivision (15) of section 46a-54, subdivisions (16) 349
and (17) of section 46a-54, section 46a-58, 46a-59, 46a-60, 46a-64, 46a-64c, 350
section 2 of this act, section 46a-66 or 46a-68, sections 46a-68c to 46a-68f, 351
inclusive, sections 46a-70 to 46a-78, inclusive, subsection (a) of section 352
46a-80, sections 46a-81b to 46a-81o, inclusive, sections 46a-80b to 46a-353
80e, inclusive, sections 46a-80k to 46a-80m, inclusive, or section 19a-354
498c; 355
Sec. 7. Subdivision (14) of section 46a-54 of the general statutes is 356
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 357
1, 2025): 358
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(14) To require the posting, by any respondent or other person subject 359
to the requirements of section 46a-64, 46a-64c, section 2 of this act, 360
section 46a-81d or 46a-81e, of such notices of statutory provisions as it 361
deems desirable; 362
Sec. 8. Section 46a-74 of the general statutes is repealed and the 363
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 364
No state department, board or agency may permit any 365
discriminatory practice in violation of section 46a-59, 46a-64, 46a-64c, 366
section 2 of this act, sections 46a-80b to 46a-80e, inclusive, or 46a-80k to 367
46a-80m, inclusive. 368
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 46a-82 of the general statutes is 369
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 370
1, 2025): 371
(a) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged discriminatory 372
practice, except for an alleged violation of section 4a-60g or 46a-68 or the 373
provisions of sections 46a-68c to 46a-68f, inclusive, may, by himself or 374
herself or by such person's attorney, file with the commission a 375
complaint in writing under oath, except that a complaint that alleges a 376
violation of section 46a-64c or section 2 of this act need not be notarized. 377
The complaint shall state the name and address of the person alleged to 378
have committed the discriminatory practice, provide a short and plain 379
statement of the allegations upon which the claim is based and contain 380
such other information as may be required by the commission. The 381
commission whenever it has reason to believe that a person who is 382
named as party to a discriminatory practice complaint has engaged or 383
is engaged in conduct that constitutes a violation of part VI, of chapter 384
952, may refer such matter to the Office of the Chief State's Attorney and 385
said office shall conduct a further investigation as deemed necessary. 386
After the filing of a complaint, the commission shall provide the 387
complainant with a notice that: (1) Acknowledges receipt of the 388
complaint; and (2) advises of the time frames and choice of forums 389
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available under this chapter. 390
Sec. 10. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 46a-83 of the 391
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 392
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 393
(a) Not later than fifteen days after the date of filing of any 394
discriminatory practice complaint pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of 395
section 46a-82 as amended by this act, or an amendment to such 396
complaint adding an additional respondent, the commission shall serve 397
the respondent as provided in section 46a-86a with the complaint and a 398
notice advising of the procedural rights and obligations of a respondent 399
under this chapter. The respondent shall either (1) file a written answer 400
to the complaint as provided in subsection (b) of this section, or (2) not 401
later than ten days after the date of receipt of the complaint, provide 402
written notice to the complainant and the commission that the 403
respondent has elected to participate in pre-answer conciliation, except 404
that a discriminatory practice complaint alleging a violation of section 405
46a-64c or 46a-81e shall not be subject to pre-answer conciliation. A 406
complaint sent by first class mail shall be considered to be received not 407
later than two days after the date of mailing, unless the respondent 408
proves otherwise. The commission shall conduct a pre-answer 409
conciliation conference not later than thirty days after the date of 410
receiving the respondent's request for pre-answer conciliation. 411
(b) Except as provided in this subsection, not later than thirty days 412
after the date (1) of receipt of the complaint, or (2) on which the 413
commission determines that the pre-answer conciliation conference was 414
unsuccessful, the respondent shall file a written answer to the 415
complaint, under oath, with the commission. The respondent may 416
request, and the commission may grant, one extension of time of not 417
more than fifteen days within which to file a written answer to the 418
complaint. An answer to any amendment to a complaint shall be filed 419
within twenty days of the date of receipt [to] of such amendment. The 420
answer to any complaint alleging a violation of section 46a-64c, section 421
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2 of this act or section 46a-81e shall be filed not later than ten days after 422
the date of receipt of the complaint. 423
(c) Not later than sixty days after the date of the filing of the 424
respondent's answer, the executive director or the executive director's 425
designee shall conduct a case assessment review to determine whether 426
the complaint should be retained for further processing or dismissed 427
because (1) it fails to state a claim for relief or is frivolous on its face, (2) 428
the respondent is exempt from the provisions of this chapter, or (3) there 429
is no reasonable possibility that investigating the complaint will result 430
in a finding of reasonable cause. The case assessment review shall 431
include the complaint, the respondent's answer and the responses to the 432
commission's requests for information, and the complainant's 433
comments, if any, to the respondent's answer and information 434
responses. The executive director or the executive director's designee 435
shall send notice of any action taken pursuant to the case assessment 436
review in accordance with the provisions of section 46a-86a. For any 437
complaint dismissed pursuant to this subsection, the executive director 438
or the executive director's designee shall issue a release of jurisdiction 439
allowing the complainant to bring a civil action under section 46a-100. 440
This subsection and subsection (e) of this section shall not apply to any 441
complaint alleging a violation of section 46a-64c, section 2 of this act or 442
section 46a-81e. The executive director shall report the results of the case 443
assessment reviews made pursuant to this subsection to the commission 444
quarterly during each year. 445
Sec. 11. Subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of section 46a-83 of the 446
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 447
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 448
(2) If the investigator makes a finding that there is reasonable cause 449
to believe that a violation of section 46a-64c or section 2 of this act has 450
occurred, the complainant and the respondent shall have twenty days 451
from sending of the reasonable cause finding to elect a civil action in lieu 452
of an administrative hearing pursuant to section 46a-84. If either the 453
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complainant or the respondent requests a civil action, the commission, 454
through the Attorney General or a commission legal counsel, shall 455
commence an action pursuant to subsection (b) of section 46a-89, as 456
amended by this act, not later than ninety days after the date of receipt 457
of the notice of election. If the Attorney General or a commission legal 458
counsel believes that injunctive relief, punitive damages or a civil 459
penalty would be appropriate, such relief, damages or penalty may also 460
be sought. The jurisdiction of the Superior Court in an action brought 461
under this subdivision shall be limited to such claims, counterclaims, 462
defenses or the like that could be presented at an administrative hearing 463
before the commission, had the complaint remained with the 464
commission for disposition. A complainant may intervene as a matter 465
of right in a civil action without permission of the court or the parties to 466
such action. If the Attorney General or commission legal counsel, as the 467
case may be, determines that the interests of the state will not be 468
adversely affected, the complainant or attorney for the complainant 469
shall present all or part of the case in support of the complaint. If the 470
Attorney General or a commission legal counsel determines that a 471
material mistake of law or fact has been made in the finding of 472
reasonable cause, the Attorney General or a commission legal counsel 473
may decline to bring a civil action and shall remand the file to the 474
investigator for further action. The investigator shall complete any such 475
action not later than ninety days after receipt of such file. 476
Sec. 12. Subsection (c) of section 46a-86 of the general statutes is 477
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 478
1, 2025): 479
(c) In addition to any other action taken under this section, upon a 480
finding of a discriminatory practice prohibited by section 46a-58, 46a-481
59, 46a-64, 46a-64c, section 2 of this act, section 46a-81b, 46a-81d or 46a-482
81e, the presiding officer shall determine the damage suffered by the 483
complainant, which damage shall include, but not be limited to, the 484
expense incurred by the complainant for obtaining alternate housing or 485
space, storage of goods and effects, moving costs and other costs 486
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LCO No. 4337 17 of 19
actually incurred by the complainant as a result of such discriminatory 487
practice and shall allow reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The 488
amount of attorney's fees allowed shall not be contingent upon the 489
amount of damages requested by or awarded to the complainant. 490
Sec. 13. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 46a-89 of the 491
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 492
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 493
(b) (1) Whenever a complaint filed pursuant to section 46a-82, alleges 494
a violation of section 46a-64, 46a-64c, section 2 of this act, section 46a-495
81d or 46a-81e, and the commission believes that injunctive relief is 496
required or that the imposition of punitive damages or a civil penalty 497
would be appropriate, the commission may bring a petition in the 498
superior court for the judicial district in which the discriminatory 499
practice which is the subject of the complaint occurred or the judicial 500
district in which the respondent resides. 501
Sec. 14. Subsection (b) of section 46a-90a of the general statutes is 502
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 503
1, 2025): 504
(b) When the presiding officer finds that the respondent has engaged 505
in any discriminatory practice prohibited by section 46a-60, 46a-64, 46a-506
64c, section 2 of this act, section 46a-81c, 46a-81d or 46a-81e and grants 507
relief on the complaint, requiring that a temporary injunction remain in 508
effect, the executive director may, through the procedure outlined in 509
subsection (a) of section 46a-95, petition the court which granted the 510
original temporary injunction to make the injunction permanent. 511
Sec. 15. Section 46a-98a of the general statutes is repealed and the 512
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 513
Any person claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of section 46a-514
64c, section 2 of this act, or section 46a-81e or by a breach of a conciliation 515
agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter, may bring an action in 516
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LCO No. 4337 18 of 19
the Superior Court, or the housing session of said court if appropriate 517
within one year of the date of the alleged discriminatory practice or of a 518
breach of a conciliation agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter. 519
No action pursuant to this section may be brought in the Superior Court 520
regarding the alleged discriminatory practice after the commission has 521
obtained a conciliation agreement pursuant to section 46a-83, as 522
amended by this act, or commenced a hearing pursuant to section 46a-523
84, except for an action to enforce the conciliation agreement. The court 524
shall have the power to grant relief, by injunction or otherwise, as it 525
deems just and suitable. The court may grant any relief which a 526
presiding officer may grant in a proceeding under section 46a-86, as 527
amended by this act, or which the court may grant in a proceeding 528
under section 46a-89 as amended by this act. The commission, through 529
commission legal counsel or the Attorney General, may intervene as a 530
matter of right in any action brought pursuant to this section without 531
permission of the court or the parties. 532
Sec. 16. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 47a-23c of the 533
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 534
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 535
(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, this 536
section applies to any tenant who resides in a building or complex 537
consisting of five or more separate dwelling units or who resides in a 538
mobile manufactured home park and who is either: (A) Sixty-two years 539
of age or older, or whose spouse, sibling, parent or grandparent is sixty-540
two years of age or older and permanently resides with that tenant, or 541
(B) a person with a physical or mental disability, as defined in 542
subdivision [(12)] (10) of section 46a-64b, as amended by this act, or 543
whose spouse, sibling, child, parent or grandparent is a person with a 544
physical or mental disability who permanently resides with that tenant, 545
but only if such disability can be expected to result in death or to last for 546
a continuous period of at least twelve months. 547
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LCO No. 4337 19 of 19
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2025 46a-64b
Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 8-45a
Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 46a-51(8)
Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 46a-54(14)
Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 46a-74
Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 46a-82(a)
Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 46a-83(a) to (c)
Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 46a-83(g)(2)
Sec. 12 October 1, 2025 46a-86(c)
Sec. 13 October 1, 2025 46a-89(b)(1)
Sec. 14 October 1, 2025 46a-90a(b)
Sec. 15 October 1, 2025 46a-98a
Sec. 16 October 1, 2025 47a-23c(a)(1)
Statement of Purpose:
To prohibit housing providers from considering a prospective tenant's
felony conviction in connection with a rental application after certain
time periods.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]