Bill Text: CT SB00896 | 2013 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning A Homeless Person's Bill Of Rights.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-07-11 - Signed by the Governor [SB00896 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2013-SB00896-Chaptered.html
Substitute Senate Bill No. 896
AN ACT CONCERNING A HOMELESS PERSON'S BILL OF RIGHTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2013) (a) There is created a Homeless Person's Bill of Rights to guarantee that the rights, privacy and property of homeless persons are adequately safeguarded and protected under the laws of this state. The rights afforded homeless persons to ensure that their person, privacy and property are safeguarded and protected, as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, are available only insofar as they are implemented in accordance with other parts of the general statutes, state rules and regulations, federal law, the state Constitution and the United States Constitution. For purposes of this section, "homeless person" shall have the same meaning as in 42 USC 11302, as amended from time to time.
(b) Each homeless person in this state has the right to:
(1) Move freely in public spaces, including on public sidewalks, in public parks, on public transportation and in public buildings without harassment or intimidation from law enforcement officers in the same manner as other persons;
(2) Have equal opportunities for employment;
(3) Receive emergency medical care;
(4) Register to vote and to vote;
(5) Have personal information protected;
(6) Have a reasonable expectation of privacy in his or her personal property; and
(7) Receive equal treatment by state and municipal agencies.
(c) Each municipality may post in the usual location for municipal notices a notice entitled "HOMELESS PERSON'S BILL OF RIGHTS" that contains the text set forth in subsection (b) of this section.