SB 294 — AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.

Senate General Assembly SubstituteFile Bill No.

294264 February Session, 2022 ANSubstitute ACTSenate CONCERNINGBill HOUSINGNo. PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.

294 Senate, April 4, 2022 The Committee on Housing reported through SEN.

LOPES of the 6th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.

In addition to the provisions of this subsection, no landlord shall deem that a tenant has violated the rental agreement if such violation is a result of family violence committedsSB294 against/ theFile tenant.No.

(c)264 For1 purposessSB294 ofFile this section, a tenant's status as a victim of family violence may be shown by (1) medical, court or police records documenting such violence, (2) a statement from a domestic violence counselor, as defined in section 52-146k of the general statutes, LCO \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2022SB-00294-R01 of 2 SB.docx Substitute Bill No.

294264 documentingcommitted suchagainst violence, or (3) a statement from a licensed medical professional from whom the tenanttenant. has sought services documenting such violence.

(c) For purposes of this section, a tenant's status as a victim of family violence may be shown by (1) medical, court or police records documenting such violence, (2) a statement from a domestic violence counselor, as defined in section 52-146k of the general statutes, documenting such violence, or (3) a statement from a licensed medical professional from whom the tenant has sought services documenting such violence.

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264 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation There is no fiscal impact from the bill, which prohibits a landlord from taking certain adverse actions against a tenant due to that tenant's statusasavictimoffamilyviolence.

Thepossiblereductioninsummary process filings is not anticipated to result in amaterial change to Judicial Branch operations.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sSB294 / File No.

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264 OLR Bill Analysis SB 294 AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.

SUMMARY This bill prohibits landlords from taking certain actions or discriminating against tenants solely because they are or were victims of family violence.

These actions include:

1.

maintaining a summary processaction(i.e., evictionproceeding), 2.

demanding a rent increase, 3.

refusing to renew a rental agreement, 4.

decreasing any rental unit-related services the tenant is entitled to, and 5.

deeming the tenant to have violated the rental agreement if the violation resulted from family violence committed against the tenant.

Tenants may show their status as a victim of family violence using certain records and statements documenting this violence, which include (1) medical, court, or police records and (2) statements from a certified domestic violence counselor or licensed medical professional.

Under the bill, "family violence" means (1) an incident between family or household members resulting in physical harm, bodily injury, or assault or (2) an act of threatened violence between family or household members causing fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault (e.g., stalking or a pattern of threats).

Verbal abuse or arguments do not constitute family violence unless there is present sSB294 / File No.

264 4 sSB294 File No.

264 danger and the likelihood that physical violence will occur.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2022 COMMITTEE ACTION Housing Committee Joint Favorable Yea 15 Nay 0 (03/15/2022) sSB294 / File No.

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