AN ACT CONCERNING FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) For purposes of this section, (1) "public housing project" means dwelling accommodations operated as a state or federally subsidized multifamily housing project by a housing authority, nonprofit corporation or municipal developer pursuant to chapter 128 of the general statutes or by the Connecticut Housing Authority pursuant to chapter 129 of the general statutes; (2) "housing authority", "nonprofit corporation" and "municipal developer" have the same meanings as provided in section 8-39 of the general statutes; and (3) "political activity" includes (A) an event organized in the interests of a political party or candidate for elective office; (B) initiating, circulating, or signing petitions; (C) community political meetings; (D) campaigning for or against proposed referendum questions, constitutional amendments, legislation and municipal ordinances; or (E) expressing opinions about candidates and political or social issues.

(b) No housing authority, nonprofit corporation, municipality or municipal developer shall prohibit any tenant of a public housing project from using common facilities or community rooms located within such public housing project for political activity.

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

Section 1(a)(2) was reworded to reference the definition of "nonprofit corporation" contained in section 8-39 of the general statutes for clarity.