AN ACT CONCERNING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITIES.

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

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2018) Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance to the contrary, each municipality shall adopt an ordinance, if applicable, to protect seniors, veterans and low-income families from water pollution control authority foreclosures by restricting accelerated foreclosure proceedings for past due sewer fees owed by any such person. For purposes of this section, "municipality" means any town, city, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2018) Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance to the contrary, any municipality may adopt an ordinance, if applicable, to lower the interest rate charged by such municipality on delinquent sewer assessments.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2018) Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance to the contrary, any municipality may adopt an ordinance, if applicable, to restrict assignees of water pollution control authorities from purchasing foreclosed properties and to establish financial guidelines that trigger foreclosure for nonpayment of fees.

Statement of Purpose:

To protect consumers from unfair and abusive water pollution control authority proceedings and charges.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]