Section 8-359a - (Formerly Sec. 17b-800). Programs for homeless individuals. Standards for shelters(a) The Commissioner of Housing may, upon application of any public or private organization or agency, make grants, within available appropriations, to develop and maintain programs for homeless individuals including programs for emergency shelter services, transitional housing services, on-site social services for available permanent housing and for the prevention of homelessness.(b) Each shelter receiving a grant pursuant to this section (1) shall provide decent, safe and sanitary shelter for residents of the shelter, including, but not limited to, through the provision, on and after July 1, 2023, of free menstrual products, as defined in section 18-69e, in each restroom of such shelter that is accessible to its residents and in a manner that does not stigmatize any resident seeking such products, pursuant to guidelines established by the Commissioner of Public Health under section 89 of this act; (2) shall not suspend or expel a resident without good cause; (3) shall, in the case of a resident who is listed on the registry of sexual offenders maintained pursuant to chapter 969, provide verification of such person's residence at the shelter to a law enforcement officer upon the request of such officer; and (4) shall provide a grievance procedure by which residents can obtain review of grievances, including grievances concerning suspension or expulsion from the shelter. No shelter serving homeless families may admit a person who is listed on the registry of sexual offenders maintained pursuant to chapter 969. The Commissioner of Housing shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing (A) minimum standards for shelter grievance procedures and rules concerning the suspension and expulsion of shelter residents, and (B) standards for the review and approval of the operating policies of shelters receiving a grant under this section. Shelter operating policies shall establish a procedure for the release of information concerning a resident who is listed on the registry of sexual offenders maintained pursuant to chapter 969 to a law enforcement officer in accordance with this subsection. To carry out the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, each shelter may (i) accept donations of menstrual products and grants from any source for the purpose of purchasing such products, and (ii) partner with a nonprofit or community-based organization.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8-359a
(P.A. 83-532, S. 1, 3; P.A. 91-14 ; 91-20 ; P.A. 92-52 , S. 2 ; P.A. 93-262 , S. 1 , 87 ; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 118; P.A. 13-234 , S. 47 .)
Amended by P.A. 22-0118, S. 86 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2022. Annotation to former section 17-31v: Cited. 214 Conn. 256 . Annotation to former section 17b-800: Cited. 233 Conn. 557 .