House Bill No. 6534 seeks to amend the laws governing appointments to municipal housing authorities in Connecticut by redefining the term "governing body" to include the legislative body of the municipality or the board of selectmen in towns where the legislative body is a town meeting. The bill modifies the appointment process for housing authority commissioners, transferring the authority from the chief executive officer (CEO) to the local legislative body, which will now appoint five residents as commissioners, with the possibility of appointing two additional residents under specific operational conditions. It also clarifies the definition of a "tenant of the authority" and introduces new requirements for commissioner appointments, including mandatory training for newly appointed commissioners and restrictions on holding other public offices.

Additionally, the bill makes several technical changes, such as replacing "chairman" with "chairperson" throughout the text and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the housing authority, including the employment of a secretary who will serve as the executive director. It establishes that all appointments and promotions, except for the secretary, must comply with civil service laws in municipalities that have such regulations. The bill also allows for the removal of commissioners for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct and is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, with no anticipated fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 8-41, 8-67
PD Joint Favorable: 8-41, 8-67
File No. 704: 8-41, 8-67