You asked for a summary and legislative history of CGS § 47a-22a, a law on security deposits for elderly and disabled tenants living in public housing.

SUMMARY

During the past years, the legislature has enacted numerous laws related to the landlord and tenant relationship. Some of these enactments have dealt with the security deposits.

CGS § 47a-22a requires housing authorities, community housing development corporations, or other corporations that provide public housing for senior citizens and disabled persons to pay at least 5 ¼% interest on security deposits to tenants who reside there for at least one year.

The General Assembly first passed this legislation in 1979 (P. A. 79-371) as an Act Concerning the Return of Deposits Held by Public Housing Lessors or Owners. The act was amended in 1982 (P. A. 82-246), when the General Assembly passed An Act Concerning the Rate of Interest on Rental Security Deposits. The last amendment (P. A. 93-262) occurred in 1993, when the General Assembly substituted the Department of Social Services (DSS) for the Department on Aging. This agency is authorized to approve public housing for the aged and disabled.

BACKGROUND AND BILL HISTORY

Prior to the passage of the 1979 bill, there was no separate law on security deposits for aged and disabled people. Security deposit laws applied to all tenants regardless to their age and health conditions. Public Act 73-607, the first security deposit law, required landlords to return tenant's security deposits after they moved from the apartment.

In 1979, the legislature discussed that senior and disabled people usually reside in the same apartment until they die and do very little damage to the property. Thus, the General Assembly decided that it is important to return security deposits to the senior and disabled tenants so that they can use the money while they live, rather than wait for their demise and return the security deposits to the members of their family.

Public Act 79-371 required lessors or owners of public housing for senior citizens and disabled persons to pay at least 4% interest on the security deposits that they received from the tenants, who resided there for at least one year. The Committee on Human Services raised the bill that became P. A. 79-379 (SB 1587) and reported it out on April 16, 1979. On April 26, 1979, Senator Martin of the 18^th district explained the bill and the Senate passed it unanimously. On May 9, 1979, the House made a technical amendment to the bill and passed it by a vote of 138 to 6. On May 15, 1979, Senator Martin of the 18th district explained the bill as amended by the House. The bill was placed on the Consent Calendar and passed unanimously. The governor signed P. A. 79-371 on June 6, 1979.

Public Act 82-246 raised the interest to be paid on senior citizens and disabled persons' security deposits from 4% to 5 ¼%.

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