2023 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 8 - Zoning, Planning, Housing and Economic and Community Development
Chapter 128 - Department of Housing: Municipal Housing Projects
Section 8-44a. - Housing authority programs for social and supplementary services, project rehabilitation and improvement and energy conservation. State grants-in-aid, loans and deferred loans. Rental Rehabilitation Fund. Operation or management plan for housing projects.

(a) Any housing authority may prepare and submit to the Commissioner of Housing for approval a program of social and supplementary services and project rehabilitation and improvement for any or all housing projects within the jurisdiction of such housing authority. Such program shall include the estimated costs of the services, rehabilitation and improvement and the method and staff required to carry out such program. After approval of such program by the commissioner, the state, acting by and in the discretion of the commissioner, may enter into a contract with the housing authority conditioned upon the housing authority performing the program approved. Such contract shall provide for state financial assistance in the form of a grant-in-aid, loan, deferred loan or combination thereof equal to the cost of such program, including administrative or other cost or expense to be incurred by the state in connection with such program as approved by the commissioner, provided such contract shall provide financial assistance in the form of a loan, or deferred loan rather than a grant only in a case where, and to the extent that, repayment ability exists because of an adequate rental structure or funds are made available by an agency of the United States government in such amounts and for such periods of time as are required to repay such loan, together with interest. The contract shall further provide that in the event such funds provided by an agency of the United States government shall terminate prior to complete repayment of a loan or deferred loan made pursuant to this subsection, the remaining balance of such loan shall be deemed to be a grant-in-aid. In the case of a deferred loan, the contract shall require that payments on interest are due immediately but that payments on principal may be made at a later time.

(b) Said commissioner shall establish a program of rehabilitation and major repair, including any repair, replacement or installation as may be necessary for energy conservation, of (1) existing rental housing projects developed with state financial assistance, pursuant to this chapter or chapter 129, to restore such projects to a sound, habitable and energy-efficient condition, (2) housing developed with state financial assistance pursuant to chapter 138b, (3) projects developed with state financial assistance pursuant to section 8-214f, and (4) projects developed with state financial assistance pursuant to section 8-218. Each housing authority, nonprofit corporation, community housing development corporation, municipal developer or other eligible developer, shall prepare and submit to said commissioner a request for any necessary construction, rehabilitation and major repair with respect to each such housing project within the jurisdiction of such authority, nonprofit corporation, community housing development corporation, municipal developer or other eligible developer, including the construction or rehabilitation of facilities adjacent to such project which are functionally related to and serve the needs of such project. Each such request shall include a detailed description and the estimated cost of such construction, rehabilitation or major repair. After approval by said commissioner of such construction, rehabilitation or major repair as requested, or any part thereof, the state, acting by and in the discretion of said commissioner, may enter into a contract with such authority, nonprofit corporation, community housing development corporation, municipal developer or other eligible developer, providing for state financial assistance in the form of a grant-in-aid, loan, deferred loan or combination thereof equal to the cost of such approved construction, rehabilitation or major repair, including, in the case of grants-in-aid or loans or deferred loans financed from the proceeds of the state's general obligation bonds issued pursuant to any authorization, allocation or approval of the State Bond Commission made prior to July 1, 1990, administrative or other cost or expense to be incurred by the state in connection with such program as approved by the commissioner, provided such contract shall provide financial assistance in the form of a loan or deferred loan rather than a grant only in a case where, and to the extent that, repayment ability exists because of an adequate rental structure or funds are made available by an agency of the United States government in such amounts and for such periods of time as are required to repay such loan or deferred loan, together with interest. The contract shall further provide that in the event such funds provided by an agency of the United States government shall terminate prior to complete repayment of a loan or deferred loan made pursuant to this subsection, the remaining balance of such loan or deferred loan shall be deemed to be a grant-in-aid. Such grants-in-aid, loans or deferred loans shall be provided from the proceeds of state bonds authorized and issued in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section.

(c) For the purposes of subsection (b) of this section the State Bond Commission shall have power, from time to time to authorize issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate forty-two million dollars. All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization, which is signed by or on behalf of the Commissioner of Housing and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

(d) The proceeds from the sale of the bonds and notes authorized by subsection (c) of this section, except refunding bonds and notes, shall be deposited in a fund designated the “Rental Rehabilitation Fund”, which fund shall be used to make the grants, loans and deferred loans authorized by subsection (b) of this section. Payments from the fund to authorities shall be made by the State Treasurer on certification of the Commissioner of Housing in accordance with the contract for financial assistance between the state and such authority. All payments by an authority of state service charges, as authorized by subsection (f) of this section, financed from the proceeds of the state's general obligation bonds authorized pursuant to any authorization, allocation or approval of the State Bond Commission made prior to July 1, 1990, shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in said fund. All payments of service charges not financed from the proceeds of the state's general obligation bonds shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Housing Repayment and Revolving Loan Fund.

(e) The State Treasurer is authorized to invest such moneys in the Rental Rehabilitation Fund as he deems to be available for such purpose in obligations of or guaranteed by the state or the United States of America or agencies or instrumentalities thereof and, without limitation on the foregoing, in such other obligations, including time deposits or certificates of deposit, as may be permitted investments by the Treasurer for the General Fund of the state and secured in such manner as the Treasurer may require.

(f) Grants, loans and deferred loans or combinations thereof made under the authority of this section and financed from the proceeds of the state's general obligation bonds authorized pursuant to any authorization, allocation or approval of the State Bond Commission made prior to July 1, 1990, shall include, as part of the project cost, a state service charge, as approved by the Commissioner of Housing.

(g) The Commissioner of Housing shall approve an operation or management plan of each housing project, which shall provide an income adequate for debt service, administration, including a state service charge, other operating costs and establishment of reasonable reserves for repairs, maintenance and replacements, vacancy and collection losses.

(h) Subject to the approval of the Governor, any administrative or other cost or expense incurred by the state in connection with the carrying out of the provisions of this section, including the hiring of necessary employees and the entering upon necessary contracts, may be paid from the Rental Rehabilitation Fund.

(i) Any principal and interest payments received pursuant to this section from eligible developers shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund.

(1967, P.A. 522, S. 22; 1969, P.A. 379; P.A. 77-564; 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-83, S. 1–4; 78-303, S. 81, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 3, 4, 10; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 79-4, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-397, S. 1, 2; P.A. 81-105; 81-230; 81-355; P.A. 84-443, S. 2, 20; P.A. 85-558, S. 3, 17; P.A. 86-217, S. 1, 2; 86-396, S. 4, 25; P.A. 87-380, S. 1, 2; 87-405, S. 2, 26; P.A. 90-238, S. 2, 32; P.A. 92-166, S. 1, 31; 92-214; P.A. 93-309, S. 12, 29; 93-435, S. 70, 95; P.A. 94-40, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 06-93, S. 4; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)

History: 1969 act deleted provisions concerning relief from repayment of principal and interest not exceeding 2% of state loans and grants-in-aid for additional assistance in contracts between housing authority and state; P.A. 77-564 added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re rehabilitation and repair programs for moderate rental housing projects and re bonding for financing such programs; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of economic development for commissioner of community affairs, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-83 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to include loans and to clarify specific conditions governing which form financial assistance is to take; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner of economic development for department of economic development; P.A. 79-598 substituted commissioner of housing for commissioner of economic development; October, 1979, P.A. 79-4 amended Subsec. (b) to include repairs etc. for energy conservation and energy efficiency and amended Subsec. (c) to set June 30, 1980, deadline for bond issuance, to raise limit from $10,000,000 to $12,000,000 with $2,000,000 reserved for energy conservation expenditures; P.A. 80-397 amended Subsec. (c) to change deadline to June 30, 1983, and to increase limit to $15,000,000 with $3,000,000 reserved for energy conservation expenditures; P.A. 81-105 extended the moderate rental rehabilitation program for five years to a total of ten; P.A. 81-230 allowed financial assistance in form of loan rather than grant where repayment ability exists because of adequate rental structure; P.A. 81-355 provided for state recovery of administrative costs and service charges, created moderate rental rehabilitation fund and provided for approval by the commissioner of an operation or management plan for each housing project in new Subsecs. (d) to (i); P.A. 84-443 amended Subsec. (c) to increase the authorization limit to $22,000,000 and to remove the authorization deadline; P.A. 85-558 increased the bond authorization limit in Subsec. (c) to $29,000,000; P.A. 86-217 amended Subsec. (b) to repeal prohibition on paying grants, loans or combination thereof under Subsec. (b) after end of tenth year following establishment of program; P.A. 86-396 increased bond authorization from $29,000,000 to $35,000,000; P.A. 87-380 made technical changes, changed “moderate rental housing” to “rental housing”, made Subsec. (b) program applicable to rental housing projects developed with state financial assistance and to adjacent facilities, including construction thereof, and eliminated $3,000,000 reserved for energy conservation expenditures from Subsec. (c); P.A. 87-405 increased the bond authorization from $35,000,000 to $42,000,000; P.A. 90-238 revised provisions re administrative expenses, state service fees and allocation of moneys to various housing funds; P.A. 92-166 amended Subsec. (a) by making deferred loans a form of financial assistance available under the section and further provided that payments on interest are due immediately but that payments on principal may be made at a later time and made technical changes to Subsecs. (b), (d) and (f) consistent with changes in Subsec. (a); P.A. 92-214 amended Subsec. (b) by making rehabilitation and repair of housing for the homeless reimbursable expenses under the program and making nonprofit corporations, community housing development corporations and municipal developers eligible applicants and adding Subdiv. designations; P.A. 93-309 added new Subsec. (j) prohibiting the commissioner of housing, on and after July 1, 1994, or the effective date of regulations adopted under Sec. 8-437, from accepting applications for housing developments that qualify for financial assistance under Sec. 8-433, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-435 amended Subsec. (j) by deleting the reference to “July 1, 1994,” re the deadline for the receipt by the commissioner of housing of certain applications for state financial assistance, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-40 amended Subsec. (b) to make program applicable to projects developed with financial assistance under Secs. 8-214f, 8-432 and 8-218, and to add reference to eligible developers under Sec. 8-430(17), effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 06-93 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting references to repealed sections and deleted former Subsec. (j) re regulations and application to program repealed by the same act; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, references to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development were changed editorially by the Revisors to references to Commissioner of Housing, effective June 19, 2013.

See Sec. 8-226 re use of prior bond proceeds for purposes of this section.

Cited. 213 C. 354.