Substitute Bill No. 6529 Summary

• Requires housing authority commissioners to participate in training provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by January 1, 2022, and all newly appointed commissioners thereafter.

• Mandates criminal history records checks for all housing authority employees hired on or after October 1, 2021, with employment denial only permitted after individualized good-faith assessment considering rehabilitation and job-specific circumstances.

• Establishes procedures for tenant commissioner appointments through elections by authority residents, with 60-day notice requirements and options for tenant organization selection or appointing authority appointment if no election is held within 90 days.

• Allows housing authority commissioners to serve as justices of the peace or registrars of voters, notwithstanding existing prohibitions on holding public office.

• Requires housing authorities to provide tenants with written leases, contact information for management and complaint agencies annually, and adopt procedures for hearing complaints and soliciting tenant input on policy changes.