AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOUSING, HUMAN SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) The Commissioner of Housing may appoint a Deputy Commissioner of Housing who shall be qualified by training and experience for the duties of the office of commissioner and shall, in the absence, disability or disqualification of the commissioner, perform all the functions and have all the powers and duties of said office. The position of the Deputy Commissioner of Housing shall be exempt from the classified service.
Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) Wherever in sections 4-66h, 8-13m to 8-13s, inclusive, 8-13u to 8-13x, inclusive, and 12-170e of the general statutes the term "secretary" is used, the term "commissioner" shall be substituted in lieu thereof, and wherever the term "the Office of Policy and Management" is used, the term "Housing" shall be substituted in lieu thereof.
(b) Wherever the term "Economic and Community Development" is used in the following general statutes, the term "Housing" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 4b-21, 7-392, 8-37v, 8-37w, 8-37y, 8-37aa, 8-37jj, 8-37pp, 8-37qq, as amended by this act, 8-37rr, 8-37tt, 8-37vv, 8-37zz, 8-37aaa, 8-37lll, 8-37mmm, 8-39, 8-44a, 8-45, 8-47, 8-49, 8-57, 8-64c, 8-68, 8-68a, 8-68b, 8-68d, 8-68e, 8-68f, 8-68g, 8-68h, 8-68j, 8-70, 8-71, 8-72, 8-72a, 8-73, 8-74, 8-76a, 8-77, 8-78, 8-79, 8-79a, 8-80, 8-82, 8-83, 8-84, 8-85, 8-87, 8-89, 8-92, 8-113a, 8-114a, 8-114d, 8-115a, 8-116a, 8-117b, 8-118a, 8-118b, 8-118c, 8-119a, 8-119c, 8-119h, 8-119i, 8-119j, 8-119k, 8-119l, 8-119m, 8-119x, 8-119dd, 8-119ee, 8-119ff, 8-119gg, 8-119hh, 8-119jj, 8-119zz, 8-126, 8-154a, 8-154c, 8-154e, 8-161, 8-162, 8-169b, 8-169w, 8-206, 8-206e, 8-208, 8-208b, 8-208c, 8-209, 8-214a, 8-214b, 8-214e, 8-214f, 8-214g, 8-214h, 8-215, 8-216, 8-216b, 8-216c, 8-218, 8-218a, 8-218b, 8-218c, 8-218e, 8-219a, 8-219b, 8-219c, 8-219d, 8-219e, 8-220, 8-220a, 8-243, 8-265p, 8-265w, 8-265oo, 8-271, 8-272, 8-273, 8-274, 8-278, 8-279, 8-280, 8-281, 8-284, 8-286, 8-336f, as amended by this act, 8-336m, 8-336p, 8-355, 8-356, 8-357, 8-359, 8-365, 8-367, 8-367a, 8-376, 8-381, 8-384, 8-386, 8-387, 8-388, 8-389, 8-400, 8-401, 8-402, 8-403, 8-404, 8-405, 8-410, 8-411, 8-412, 8-420, 8-423, 12-631, 16a-40, 16a-40j, as amended by this act, 17a-3, 17a-485c, 17b-337, 21-70, 21-70a, 21-84a, as amended by this act, 22a-1d, 29-271, 47-88b, 47-284, 47-288, 47-294, 47-295, 47a-56i, 47a-56j and 47a-56k.
(c) Wherever the term "Social Services" is used in the following general statutes, the term "Housing" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 17b-802, 17b-803, 17b-804, 17b-805, 17b-811a, 17b-812, 17b-812a, 17b-814 and 17b-815.
(d) The Legislative Commissioners' Office shall, in codifying the provisions of this section, make such technical, grammatical and punctuation changes as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
Sec. 3. Subsection (c) of section 8-37i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(c) Said department shall constitute a successor to the functions, powers and duties of the Department of Community Affairs relating to [housing] economic development as set forth in chapters [128, 129,] 130, 131 and 135, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d and 4-39.
Sec. 4. Subsection (b) of section 8-37r of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(b) The Department of Housing shall constitute a successor to the functions, powers and duties of the Department of Economic Development relating to housing, community development, redevelopment and urban renewal as set forth in chapters 128, 129, 130, 135 and 136 in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. The Department of Housing is designated a public housing agency for the purpose of administering the Section 8 existing certificate program and the housing voucher program pursuant to the Housing Act of 1937.
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 8-121 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(a) The Connecticut Housing Authority shall, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39, constitute a successor to the functions, powers and duties of the Commissioner of [Economic and Community Development] Housing relating to the exercise by the Commissioner of [Economic and Community Development] Housing of the powers of a housing authority pursuant to chapter 128 and this chapter.
Sec. 6. Subsection (g) of section 8-206a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(g) In accordance with the provisions of section 4-38d, all powers and duties transferred to the Commissioner of Community Affairs by this section are transferred to the Commissioner of [Economic and Community Development] Housing.
Sec. 7. Section 32-1k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
As used in [sections 8-244b to 8-244d, inclusive, this section and] section 32-1l, as amended by this act, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates another meaning and intent:
(1) "Department" means the Department of Economic and Community Development;
(2) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; and
(3) ["CHFA" means the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, as created under chapter 134; ] "CII" means Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, as created under chapter 581.
[(4) "CII" means Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, as created under chapter 581; and
(5) "SHE" means the State Housing Authority as created under section 8-244b. ]
Sec. 8. Section 32-1l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
In addition to his other powers and duties, the commissioner shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To utilize the department's resources for planning and developing an economic and community development reorganization plan which (A) sets forth policy goals for the department, (B) determines strategies to encourage economic and community development, [and the provision of housing in this state, including housing for very low, low and moderate income families,] (C) determines the feasibility of dividing the operation of programs and resources of the state in support of economic and community development between and among the department [and CHFA] and CII, (D) identifies strategies to increase the leverage of resources of the state used in furtherance of the purposes of [CHFA and] CII, (E) identifies, if feasible, divisions and recommends a timetable and procedures for transferring resources and operations between and among the department [and CHFA] and CII, and (F) recommends specific economic and community development objectives and administrative structures for the department [and CHFA] and CII. In developing such plan, the department shall be the lead agency, in collaboration with [CHFA and] CII, for research, planning and development of the plan and shall solicit community and regional input in the preparation of such plan in such a manner as will best help develop, clarify or further state policies for economic and community development. The commissioner shall submit a copy of the reorganization plan to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce and planning and development;
[(2) To propose to the Governor on or before January 1, 1996, legislation to implement the economic and community development reorganization plan described in subdivision (1) of this section; ]
[(3)] (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the general statutes or any special act and with the approval of the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, to transfer to [CHFA and] CII: (A) Any revenues received by the department or the state in connection with any program or project of the department and the right to receive any such revenues; and (B) any loan assets or equity interests held by the department in connection with any program or project of the department; provided, no such transfer shall be approved by the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management if either determines that such transfer could adversely affect the tax-exempt status of any bonds of the state, the substantial interests of third parties, the financial budget of the state or other essential rights, interests, or prerogatives of the state. The commissioner may impose such conditions as he deems necessary or appropriate with respect to the use by [CHFA or] CII of any revenues, rights, assets, interests or amounts transferred to it by the department under this subdivision; provided, the commissioner may waive any requirement under this subdivision for the adoption of written procedures until July 1, 1996;
[(4)] (3) To award to [CHFA or] CII financial, technical or other assistance. Financial assistance awarded by the department to [CHFA or] CII may take any of the following forms, subject to any conditions imposed by the department: (A) Grants; (B) loans; (C) guarantees; (D) contracts of insurance; and (E) investments. In addition, to the extent funds or resources are available to the department for such purposes, the commissioner may provide such further financial or other assistance to [CHFA and] CII as the commissioner in his sole discretion deems appropriate for any of the purposes of [CHFA and] CII respectively;
[(5)] (4) To enter into such agreements with [CHFA and] CII as may be appropriate for the purpose of performing its duties which agreements may include, but shall not be limited to, provisions for the delivery of services by [CHFA and] CII to third parties, provisions for payment by the department to [CHFA or] CII for the delivery of such services, provisions for advances and reimbursements to the department for any expenses incurred or to be incurred by it in delivery of any services, assistance, revenues, rights, assets and interests and provisions for the sharing with [CHFA or] CII of assistants, agents and other consultants, professionals and employees, and facilities and other real and personal property used in the conduct of the department's affairs; and
[(6)] (5) To provide financial assistance for economic development projects directly or in participation with Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, to purchase participation interests in loans made by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated and enter into any agreements or contracts it deems necessary or convenient in connection with such loans.
Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) As used in