Source: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/ba/2013HB-06366-R000308-BA.htm
Timestamp: 2017-01-18 22:12:57
Document Index: 80922510

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 33', '§ 2', '§ 43', '§ 17', '§ 3', '§ 8', '§ 11', '§ 12', '§ 15', '§ 23', '§ 3', '§ 30', '§ 32', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 34', '§ 68', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§16', '§ 17']

3. rent subsidies,
§§ 2, 17, 33-34, 43, 55-56, 44, 52 & 57-58 — DOH
§§ 33-34, 44, 52 & 57-58 — Commissioner
§ 2 — Deputy Commissioner The bill authorizes the commissioner to appoint a deputy commissioner, whom it exempts from classified service. The appointee must be qualified by training and expertise and assume the commissioner's powers and duties if he or she is unable to perform them, or is disqualified from doing so.
§§ 43, 55 & 56 — Annual Report The bill generally requires the DOH, rather than the DECD, commissioner to report annually to the governor and the General Assembly on the state's housing and community development activities during the preceding fiscal year. Within 30 days after submitting it, the commissioner must post the report on the department's website. The law requires DECD to report by February 1st each year. The bill does not specify when DOH's first report is due. As under current law, the annual report must cover:
8. an analysis of the department's community development portfolio. The bill maintains the last reporting requirement for DECD even though, by law, DOH has assumed responsibility for community development.
It also specifies that DOH's annual report to the governor and General Assembly must incorporate any other annual reporting requirements set by statute concerning housing or community development. It is unclear whether the report should incorporate the rental rebate report described below, which the bill requires to be submitted to the Finance Committee. Rental Rebate Report. The bill requires DOH, rather than OPM, to report annually to the Finance Committee on the rental rebate program for the elderly and people with total permanent disabilities. Current law requires OPM to submit this report by March 1st each year. The bill does not specify when DOH's first report is due. § 17 — Interagency Council on Affordable Housing By law, the council is responsible for advising and assisting the DOH commissioner in planning and implementing the department. The bill adds the following three members to the council, bringing its membership to 16: the (1) commissioners of education and developmental services and (2) president of the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (commonly known as CONN-NAHRO), or their designees. §§ 3, 8-12, 14-16, 18, 19-32 & 35-36, 44-45 — DECD
The bill gives DOH authority over state housing and community development programs. To accomplish this, it transfers to DOH, DECD's responsibilities with respect to, among other things:
1. working with and providing financial assistance to CHFA, to achieve the state's housing and community development goals (§§ 8-10);
2. the state supplier diversity program (formerly called the set-aside program) (§ 11);
3. the affordable housing land use appeals procedure, including maintenance of the assisted housing inventory (§§ 12 & 20);
4. the state's consolidated plan for housing and community development (§ 15);
5. the State-Assisted Housing Sustainability Fund (§ 23);
6. independent living for low- and moderate-income individuals with disabilities (§§ 3 & 29);
7. rental assistance for elderly people residing in state-assisted rental housing (known as ERAP) (§§ 30-31);
8. the community housing land bank and land trust program (§ 32); 9. housing development zones (§§ 3 & 35); 10. congregate housing for the elderly (§§ 3 & 27 - 28); 11. the homeownership loan program (§ 3);
12. grants-in-aid to municipalities financing low- and moderate- income rental housing (§ 3);
13. the Energy Conservation Loan Fund (§ 3);
14. condominium conversion compliance (§ 3); and
15. the Common Interest Ownership Act (§ 3).
§§ 3, 37-43 & 56 — OPM
The bill transfers, from OPM to DOH, responsibility for administering the (1) Housing for Economic Growth Program (i.e., incentive housing zone program) and (2) rental rebate program for the elderly and people with total and permanent disabilities. The bill gives the DOH commissioner 120 days, instead of 90 days as OPM has under current law, to approve payments to municipalities, and forward them to the comptroller, under the rental rebate program. By law, the comptroller must draw an order on the treasurer no later than 15 days after receiving the list of approved payments.
OPM remains responsible for administering the homeowners tax relief program for the elderly and people with disabilities (known as the Circuit Breaker Program). §§ 3, 13, 46 – 51 — DSS
The bill transfers to DOH, DSS' rental assistance and housing provision responsibilities. These include administering:
1. Section 8 housing programs;
2. the rental assistance program (known as RAP), including the transitionary and emergency rental assistance programs;
3. homelessness prevention programs, including emergency shelter services, transitional housing services, and on-site social services;
4. housing for individuals suffering from AIDS; 5. the rent bank program; 6. the security deposit guarantee program;
7. the homefinders program to help families who are homeless or in danger of eviction or foreclosure; and
8. emergency rental assistance for families eligible for the Temporary Family Assistance program.
The bill requires DOH to consult with DSS in administering the latter two programs. And DSS remains responsible for seeking relief, in accordance with state and federal law, from income garnishment orders when it is in the best interests of children and families. In addition, the bill requires DSS and CHFA to collaborate with DOH, rather than DECD, to maintain a demonstration project to provide subsidized assisted living for people residing in affordable housing. The law prohibits DSS from disclosing information concerning individuals who apply for or receive department assistance, with certain exceptions. The bill requires DSS to disclose to the DOH commissioner's authorized representatives information that is necessary for administering the rental rebate program. §§ 34 & 53 — MISCELLANEOUS The bill removes the DECD commissioner as the chairperson of CHFA's board, instead requiring the governor to make that appointment. It also authorizes CRDA to enter into memoranda of understanding as it deems appropriate to carry out is responsibilities. § 68 — REPEALERS The bill repeals provisions concerning:
1. the sale of rental property by a housing authority between October 1, and November 30, 2003 (CGS § 8-45b); 2. a pilot program requiring that certain multifamily housing projects be adaptable for use and occupancy by people with disabilities (CGS § 8-81a); 3. the Housing Advisory Committee (CGS § 8-385);
4. a homeowner loan program that terminated on June 1, 1991 (CGS §§ 8-415 to 8-419); 5. the Home Heating System Loan Fund, which the state treasurer terminated on July 15, 1985 (CGS §16a-40k); and
6. a pilot project to provide affordable housing and support services to families with children with ongoing healthcare service needs (CGS § 17a-54a).
The law established a Department on Aging effective January 1, 2013, and transferred to it all functions, powers, duties, and personnel of the DSS Aging Services Division. Related Bill
sSB 837 (File 11) also (1) makes DOH responsible for the state's congregate and Section 8 housing programs and (2) requires it to consult with the Department on Aging in providing services to people with disabilities under the congregate housing program.