General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 5345
January Session, 2013 LCO No. 1087
Referred to Committee on GENERAL LAW
Introduced by:
REP. RITTER E., 38th Dist.
General Assembly
Proposed Bill No. 5345
January Session, 2013
LCO No. 1087
Referred to Committee on GENERAL LAW
Introduced by:
REP. RITTER E., 38th Dist.
AN ACT CONCERNING HOMEMAKER COMPANION AGENCIES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
That sections 20-678 and 20-679 of the general statutes be amended to provide greater consumer protection in contracts for service with homemaker companion agencies. Such protection shall include, but not be limited to, requirements that: (1) Such agencies inform a client of the results of background checks on agency employees before such employees are sent to a client's home; (2) section 20-678 of the general statutes contain a more clear definition of "comprehensive background check"; (3) services and levels of care be clearly defined by such agencies and validated by a third-party, primary care provider; (4) a client pay only for services rendered and cannot be billed for excess costs when such agency provides a higher-skilled individual than needed; (5) contracts between such agencies and clients not be enforceable if they do not comply with all requirements provided in section 20-679 of the general statutes; (6) contracts contain a conspicuous, boldface notice from such agency that it cannot guarantee the extent to which services will be covered under insurance plans; and (7) a client has a right to cancel at any time in the absence of a stated period of duration and must be clearly so informed by such agencies.
Statement of Purpose:
To provide greater protection for consumers contracting for services with homemaker companion agencies.