(a) Prior to July 1, 2029, when a mortgagee commences an action for the foreclosure of a mortgage on residential real property with a return date during the period from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2029, inclusive, or, with respect to real property owned by a religious organization, a return date during the period from October 1, 2011, to June 30, 2029, inclusive, the mortgagee shall give notice to the mortgagor of the Ezequiel Santiago Foreclosure Mediation Program established pursuant to § 49-31m by attaching to the front of the writ, summons and complaint that is served on the mortgagor: (1) A copy of the notice of foreclosure mediation, in such form as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes, (2) a copy of the foreclosure mediation certificate form described in subsection (c) of this section, in such form as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes, (3) a blank appearance form, in such form as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes, (4) with respect to an action for the foreclosure of a mortgage on residential real property with a return date during the period from October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2013, inclusive, a mediation information form and a notice containing contact information for authority-approved consumer credit counseling agencies, which form and notice shall be in such form as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes, and which form shall be designed to elicit current financial information and such other nonfinancial information from the mortgagor as the Chief Court Administrator, in consultation with representatives from the banking industry and consumer advocates, determines will further the objectives of the mediation program. The Chief Court Administrator shall develop a premediation review protocol pursuant to which the mediator shall request that any documents submitted to the mediator for initial review that are incomplete, contain errors or are likely to be found unacceptable by the mortgagee be completed or corrected and that the completed or corrected documents be resubmitted to the mediator for review. Such premediation review, including any recommendations to complete or correct documents, shall not be construed to be the practice of law on behalf of any party to the mediation or the provision of legal advice by the mediator. The instructions to the mediation information form shall explain that the completed mediation information form, along with accompanying documentation reasonably requested from the mortgagor by way of such instructions, shall be delivered to the mortgagee’s counsel not later than fifteen business days prior to the date of the initial mediation session, as identified in the notice provided pursuant to subsection (a) of § 49-31n, and (5) for an action to foreclose a mortgage on residential real property with a return date on or after October 1, 2013, the mediation information form shall instruct the mortgagor as to the objectives of the mediation program, explain the preliminary process of meeting with the mediator as described in subsection (d) of this section, instruct the mortgagor to begin gathering financial documentation commonly used in foreclosure mediation for use in meeting with the mediator and in mediation, and include a notice containing contact information for authority-approved consumer counseling agencies, which shall be in such form as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes. The content of the mediation information form shall be designed by the Chief Court Administrator in consultation with representatives from the banking industry and consumer advocates.

(b) The court shall issue a notice of foreclosure mediation described in subsection (c) of this section to the mortgagor not later than the date three business days after the date the mortgagee returns the writ to the court.

(c) The notice of foreclosure mediation shall instruct the mortgagor to file the appearance and foreclosure mediation certificate forms with the court not later than the date fifteen days from the return date for the foreclosure action. With respect to actions with a return date during the period from October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2013, inclusive, such notice shall remind the mortgagor to deliver the completed mediation information form and the accompanying documentation described in subsection (a) of this section and encourage such delivery in advance of the required date. With respect to actions with a return date during the period from October 1, 2013, to June 30, 2029, inclusive, such notice shall instruct the mortgagor to begin gathering financial information commonly used in foreclosure mediation for use in meeting with the mediator and in mediation. The mediation information form and accompanying documentation shall not, without the explicit written instruction of the mortgagor, be publicly available. Such notice of foreclosure mediation shall be accompanied by materials from the Department of Banking, as prescribed by the Chief Court Administrator, which shall describe the community-based resources available to the mortgagor, including authority-approved housing counseling agencies that may assist with preparation for mediation and application for mortgage assistance programs. The foreclosure mediation certificate form shall require the mortgagor to provide sufficient information to permit the court to confirm that the defendant in the foreclosure action is a mortgagor, and to certify that said mortgagor has sent a copy of the mediation certificate form to the plaintiff in the action. With respect to actions with a return date on or after October 1, 2015, in order to ensure that all necessary consents to the disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information have been provided to the mortgagee, such that a spouse may be considered a permitted successor-in-interest, the court shall confirm that the foreclosure mediation certificate submitted by (1) the spouse or former spouse provides consent to the full disclosure by the mortgagee of such spouse’s or former spouse’s nonpublic personal financial information to any other person who is obligated as a borrower on the note, to the extent the mortgagee has such information, and (2) any other person who is a mortgagor provides consent to the full disclosure by the mortgagee of such person’s nonpublic personal financial information to such spouse or former spouse, to the extent the mortgagee has such information. If a foreclosure mediation certificate is not submitted by a mortgagor, other than a spouse or former spouse claiming to be a permitted successor-in-interest, the court shall confirm, in lieu of the requirements of subdivision (2) of this subsection, that the foreclosure mediation certificate submitted by the spouse or former spouse contains a statement, signed by the spouse or former spouse, certifying that all persons who are obligated on the note have otherwise given documentation to the mortgagee which allows for the full disclosure by the mortgagee of such person’s nonpublic personal information to the spouse or former spouse, to the extent the mortgagee has such information. Such a certification may be rebutted conclusively by the mortgagee if the mortgagee submits a written statement to the court in which the mortgagee certifies that, based upon reasonable belief, the mortgagee does not possess such documentation.

(d) Upon receipt of the mortgagor’s appearance and foreclosure mediation certificate forms, and provided the court confirms the defendant in the foreclosure action is a mortgagor and that said mortgagor has sent a copy of the mediation certificate form to the plaintiff, the court shall assign the case to mediation and issue notice of such assignment to all appearing parties, which notice shall include an electronic mail address for all communications related to the mediation. The court shall issue such notice not earlier than the date five business days after the return date or by the date three business days after the date on which the court receives the mortgagor’s appearance and foreclosure mediation certificate forms, whichever is later, except that if the court does not receive the appearance and foreclosure mediation certificate forms from the mortgagor by the date fifteen days after the return date for the foreclosure action, the court shall not assign the case to mediation. Promptly upon receipt of the notice of assignment, but not later than the thirty-fifth day following the return date, the mortgagee or its counsel shall deliver to the mediator, via the electronic mail address provided for communications related to the mediation, and to the mortgagor, via first class, priority or overnight mail, (1) an account history identifying all credits and debits assessed to the loan account and any related escrow account in the immediately preceding twelve-month period and an itemized statement of the amount required to reinstate the mortgage loan with accompanying information, written in plain language, to explain any codes used in the history and statement which are not otherwise self-explanatory, (2) the name, business mailing address, electronic mail address, facsimile number and direct telephone number of an individual able to respond with reasonable adequacy and promptness to questions relative to the information submitted to the mediator pursuant to this subdivision, and any subsequent updates to such contact information, which shall be provided reasonably promptly to the mediator via the electronic mail address provided for communication related to the mediation, (3) current versions of all reasonably necessary forms and a list of all documentation reasonably necessary for the mortgagee to evaluate the mortgagor for common alternatives to foreclosure that are available through the mortgagee, if any, (4) a copy of the note and mortgage, including any agreements modifying such documents, (5) summary information regarding the status of any pending foreclosure avoidance efforts being undertaken by the mortgagee, (6) a copy of any loss mitigation affidavit filed with the court, (7) at the mortgagee’s option, (A) information regarding the condition of mortgaged property, and (B) such other information as the mortgagee may determine is relevant to meeting the objectives of the mediation program, (8) if the mortgage is a federally backed mortgage loan, as defined in Section 4022 of P.L. 116-136, the history of the mortgagee’s compliance with any obligation to notify the mortgagor of loss mitigation or foreclosure alternative options available for federally backed mortgage loans, including, without limitation, any such options required or made available pursuant to any order, directive or regulation issued by any federal governmental authority in response to COVID-19 during the public health and civil preparedness emergencies declared by the Governor on March 10, 2020, or any extension of such declarations, and (9) the history of foreclosure avoidance efforts voluntarily undertaken by the mortgagee with respect to the mortgagor. For the purposes of this subsection, “COVID-19” means the respiratory disease designated by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 2019, and any related mutation thereof recognized by the World Health Organization as a communicable respiratory disease. Following the mediator’s receipt of such information, the court shall assign a mediator to the mediation and schedule a meeting with the mediator and all mortgagors who are relevant and necessary to the mediation and to any agreement being contemplated in connection with the mediation and shall endeavor to hold such meeting on or prior to the forty-ninth day following the return date. The notice of such meeting shall instruct the mortgagor to complete the forms prior to the meeting and to furnish such forms together with the documentation contained in the list, as provided by the mortgagee following the filing of the foreclosure mediation certificate, at the meeting. At such meeting, the mediator shall review such forms and documentation with the mortgagor, along with the information supplied by the mortgagee, in order to discuss the options that may be available to the mortgagor, including any community-based resources, and assist the mortgagor in completing the forms and furnishing the documentation necessary for the mortgagee to evaluate the mortgagor for alternatives to foreclosure. The mediator may elect to conduct such meeting or any subsequent meeting with the mortgagor on a virtual platform approved by the mediator and may determine whether any mortgagor may be excused from an in-person appearance at such meeting or subsequent meeting. The mediator may excuse any mortgagor from attending such meeting or any subsequent meetings, provided the mortgagor shows good cause for nonattendance. Such good cause may include, but is not limited to, the mortgagor no longer owning the home pursuant to a judgment of marital dissolution and related transfer via deed, or no longer residing in the home and not being a necessary party to any agreement being contemplated in connection with the mediation. As soon as practicable, but in no case later than the eighty-fourth day following the return date, or the extended deadline if such an extended deadline is established pursuant to this subdivision, the mediator shall facilitate and confirm the submission by the mortgagor of the forms and documentation to the mortgagee’s counsel via electronic means and, at the mortgagee’s election, directly to the mortgagee per the mortgagee’s instruction, and determine, based on the participating mortgagor’s attendance at the meetings and the extent the mortgagor completed the forms and furnished the documentation contemplated in this subdivision, or failed to perform such tasks through no material fault of the mortgagee, and file a report with the court indicating, (A) whether mediation shall be scheduled with the mortgagee, (B) whether the mortgagor attended scheduled meetings with the mediator, (C) whether the mortgagor fully or substantially completed the forms and furnished the documentation requested by the mortgagee, (D) the date on which the mortgagee supplied the forms and documentation, and (E) any other information the mediator determines to be relevant to the objectives of the mediation program. The mediator may file, and the court may grant, a motion for extension of the premediation period beyond the eighty-fourth day following the return date if good cause can be shown for such an extension. Any such motion shall be filed, with a copy simultaneously sent to the mortgagee and as soon as practicable to the mortgagor, not later than the eighty-fourth day following the return date. The mortgagee and mortgagor shall each have five business days from the day the motion was filed to file an objection or supplemental papers, and the court shall issue its ruling, without a hearing, not later than ten business days from the date the motion was filed. If the court determines that good cause exists for an extension, the court shall therewith establish an extended deadline so that the premediation period shall end as soon thereafter as may be practicable, but not later than thirty-five days from the date of the ruling, taking into account the complexity of the mortgagor’s financial circumstances, the mortgagee’s documentation requirements, and the timeliness of the mortgagee’s and mortgagor’s compliance with their respective premediation obligations. If the court denies the mediator’s motion, the extended deadline for purposes of this subdivision shall be three days after the court rules on the motion. No meeting or communication between the mediator and mortgagor under this subdivision shall be treated as an impermissible ex parte communication. If the mediator determines that the mortgagee shall participate in mediation, the court shall promptly issue notice to all parties of such determination and schedule a mediation session between the mortgagee and all mortgagors who are relevant and necessary to the mediation and to any agreement being contemplated in connection with the mediation, in accordance with subsection (a) of § 49-31n, to be held not later than five weeks following the submission to the mortgagee of the forms and documentation contemplated in this subsection. The mediator may excuse any mortgagor from attending the mediation session or subsequent meetings, provided good cause is shown for nonattendance. Such good cause may include, but is not limited to, the mortgagor no longer owning the home pursuant to a judgment of marital dissolution and related transfer via deed, no longer residing in the home or not being a necessary party to any agreement being contemplated in connection with the mediation. If the mediator determines that no sessions between the mortgagee and mortgagor shall be scheduled, the court shall promptly issue notice to all parties regarding such determination and mediation shall be terminated. Any mortgagor wishing to contest such determination shall petition the court and show good cause for reinclusion in the mediation program, including, but not limited to, a material change in financial circumstances or a mistake or misunderstanding of the facts by the mediator.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the court may refer a foreclosure action brought by a mortgagee to the Ezequiel Santiago Foreclosure Mediation Program established pursuant to § 49-31m at any time, for good cause shown, provided the mortgagor has filed an appearance in said action and further provided the court shall, not later than the date three business days after the date on which it makes such referral, send a notice to each appearing party assigning the case to mediation and requiring the parties to participate in the premediation process described in subsection (d) of this section, with the court establishing deadlines to ensure that the premediation process is to be completed by the parties as expeditiously as the circumstances warrant and permit. When determining whether good cause exists, the court shall consider whether the parties are likely to benefit from mediation and, in the case of a referral after prior attempts at mediation have been terminated, whether there has been a material change in circumstances.

(f) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any rule of law, prior to July 1, 2029, (1) for the period of time which shall not exceed eight months from the return date, the mortgagor shall be permitted to file an answer, special defenses or counterclaims, but no mortgagee or mortgagor shall make any motion, request or demand with respect to the other, except those motions, requests or demands that relate to the mediation program described in § 49-31m and the mediation sessions held pursuant to such program, provided (A) a mortgagor seeking to contest the court’s jurisdiction may file a motion to dismiss and the mortgagee may object to such motion to dismiss in accordance with applicable law and the rules of the courts, and (B) if the mortgagor elects to make any other motion, request or demand with respect to the mortgagee, the eight-month limit shall no longer apply to either party; and (2) no judgment of strict foreclosure nor any judgment ordering a foreclosure sale shall be entered in any action subject to the provisions of this subsection and instituted by the mortgagee to foreclose a mortgage on residential real property or real property owned by a religious organization unless: (A) The mediation period set forth in subsection (a) of § 49-31n has expired or has otherwise terminated, whichever is earlier, and, if fewer than eight months has elapsed from the return date at the time of termination, fifteen days have elapsed since such termination and any pending motion or request to extend the mediation period has been heard and denied by the court, or (B) the mediation program is not otherwise required or available. Nothing in this subdivision shall affect any motion made or any default or judgment entered on or before June 30, 2011.

(g) With respect to foreclosure actions with a return date during the period from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2029, inclusive, notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any rule of law to the contrary, the mortgagee shall be permitted following the eight-month or fifteen-day period described in subsection (f) of this section, to simultaneously file, as applicable, (1) a motion for default, and (2) a motion for judgment of strict foreclosure or a motion for judgment of foreclosure by sale with respect to the mortgagor in the foreclosure action.

(h) None of the mortgagor’s or mortgagee’s rights in the foreclosure action shall be waived by participation in the Ezequiel Santiago Foreclosure Mediation Program.