Substitute Senate Bill No. 320 Summary

• Defines "tenant of the authority" as someone living in housing owned/managed by a housing authority or receiving direct housing assistance from such authority.

• Requires at least one tenant commissioner (for 5-member authorities) or at least two (for authorities with more than 5 members) to be selected through tenant input and elections.

• Allows tenants to form recognized tenant organizations with fair elections; if recognized, tenant commissioners must be selected by tenant election, by-laws procedures, or appointed by the authority if no election occurs.

• Requires housing authorities to use neutral third-party organizations to administer tenant commissioner elections when practicable, selected with agreement of the official tenant organization.

• Permits tenant commissioners and registrars of voters to serve as justices of the peace despite other restrictions on commissioners holding public office.