(a) Not later than January 1, 1994, the authority shall establish, within available funds, a program to provide emergency mortgage assistance payments to homeowners who are mortgagors in accordance with the provisions of sections 8-265cc to 8-265kk, inclusive. On and after July 1, 2021, the program shall, within available funds, provide emergency lien assistance payments to homeowners in accordance with the provisions of said sections. Any necessary and related administrative and operational expenses incurred by the authority in implementing the program may be paid from funds made available for the program.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, or any rule of law to the contrary, on and after July 1, 2008, no judgment of strict foreclosure nor any judgment ordering a foreclosure sale shall be entered in any action instituted by the mortgagee to foreclose a mortgage commenced on or after said date, for the foreclosure of an eligible mortgage unless (1) notice to the homeowner who is a mortgagor has been given by the mortgagee in accordance with § 8-265ee and the time for response has expired, and (2) a determination has been made on the homeowner’s application for emergency mortgage assistance payments in accordance with § 8-265ff or the applicable time periods set forth in sections 8-265cc to 8-265kk, inclusive, have expired, whichever is earlier. For purposes of this section and sections 8-265ee to 8-265kk, inclusive, an “eligible mortgage” is a mortgage which satisfies the standards contained in subdivisions (1), (7) and (9) to (12), inclusive, of subsection (e) of § 8-265ff.