Connecticut 2020 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05305 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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4	4	LCO No. 2044 1 of 7
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6	6	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5305
7	7	February Session, 2020
8	8	LCO No. 2044
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11	11	Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES
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14	14	Introduced by:
15	15	(HS)
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20	20	AN ACT CONCERNING TH E DEPARTMENT OF AGIN G AND
21	21	DISABILITY SERVICES.
22	22	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
23	23	Assembly convened:
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25	25	Section 1. Section 17b-660 of the 2020 supplement to the general 1
26	26	statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
27	27	(Effective July 1, 2020): 3
28	28	The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services is authorized to 4
29	29	accept and use gifts, grants, reimbursements or bequests made 5
30	30	[unconditionally] by will or otherwise for carrying out the purposes of 6
31	31	the donor or of the general statutes concerning the Department of Aging 7
32	32	and Disability Services. Gifts, grants, reimbursements or bequests made 8
33	33	under such conditions as in the judgment of the Commissioner of Aging 9
34	34	and Disability Services are proper and, consistent with the provisions of 10
35	35	[said sections] state and federal law, may be so accepted and shall be 11
36	36	held, invested, reinvested and used in accordance with the conditions 12
37	37	of the gift, grant, reimbursement or bequest. 13
38	38	Sec. 2. Section 10-298 of the 2020 supplement to the general statutes 14
39	39	is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 15 Raised Bill No. 5305
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43	43	LCO No. 2044 2 of 7
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45	45	1, 2020): 16
46	46	(a) The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services shall prepare 17
47	47	and maintain a register of persons who are blind in this state which shall 18
48	48	describe their condition, cause of blindness and capacity for education 19
49	49	and rehabilitative training. The commissioner may register cases of 20
50	50	persons who are liable to become visually impaired or blind, and may 21
51	51	take such measures in cooperation with other authorities as the 22
52	52	commissioner deems advisable for the prevention of blindness or 23
53	53	conservation of eyesight and, in appropriate cases, for the education of 24
54	54	children and for the vocational guidance of adults whose eyesight 25
55	55	approaches visual impairment or blindness. The commissioner shall 26
56	56	establish criteria for low vision care and maintain a list of 27
57	57	ophthalmologists and optometrists that are exclusively authorized to 28
58	58	receive agency funds through established and existing state fee 29
59	59	schedules for the delivery of specifically defined low vision services that 30
60	60	increase the capacity of eligible recipients of such services to maximize 31
61	61	the use of their remaining vision. 32
62	62	[(b) The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services may accept 33
63	63	and receive any bequest or gift of money or personal property and, 34
64	64	subject to the consent of the Governor and Attorney General as provided 35
65	65	in section 4b-22, any devise or gift of real property made to the 36
66	66	Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services, and may hold and use 37
67	67	such money or property for the purposes, if any, specified in connection 38
68	68	with such bequest, devise or gift.] 39
69	69	[(c)] (b) The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services shall 40
70	70	provide the Department of Motor Vehicles with the names of all 41
71	71	individuals sixteen years of age or older who, on or after October 1, 2005, 42
72	72	have been determined to be blind by a physician, an advanced practice 43
73	73	registered nurse or an optometrist, as provided in section 10-305. The 44
74	74	Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services shall provide 45
75	75	simultaneous written notification to any individual whose name is 46
76	76	being transmitted by the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services 47
77	77	to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Commissioner of Aging and 48 Raised Bill No. 5305
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81	81	LCO No. 2044 3 of 7
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83	83	Disability Services shall update the list of names provided to the 49
84	84	Department of Motor Vehicles on a quarterly basis. The list shall also 50
85	85	contain the address and date of birth for each individual reported, as 51
86	86	shown on the records of the Department of Aging and Disability 52
87	87	Services. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain such list on 53
88	88	a confidential basis, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-46d. 54
89	89	The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services shall enter into a 55
90	90	memorandum of understanding with the Commissioner of Motor 56
91	91	Vehicles to effectuate the purposes of this subsection. 57
92	92	Sec. 3. Section 17b-607 of the 2020 supplement to the general statutes 58
93	93	is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 59
94	94	1, 2020): 60
95	95	(a) The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services is authorized 61
96	96	to establish and administer [a fund] state financing activities as outlined 62
97	97	in the federal Assistive Technology Act of 2004, P.L. 108-364, as 63
98	98	amended from time to time, to be known as the Assistive Technology 64
99	99	[Revolving Fund. Said fund] Loan Program. The program shall be used 65
100	100	by [said] the commissioner to make and guarantee loans to persons with 66
101	101	disabilities, [senior citizens] older adults or the family members of 67
102	102	persons with disabilities or [senior citizens] older adults for the 68
103	103	purchase of assistive technology and adaptive equipment and services. 69
104	104	Each such loan shall be made for a term of not more than ten years. Any 70
105	105	loans made under this section [after July 1, 2013,] shall bear interest at a 71
106	106	fixed rate not to exceed six per cent. [Said] The commissioner is 72
107	107	authorized to expend any funds necessary for the reasonable direct 73
108	108	expenses relating to the administration of [said fund. Said] the program. 74
109	109	The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the 75
110	110	provisions of chapter 54, to implement the purposes of this section. 76
111	111	(b) The State Bond Commission shall have power from time to time 77
112	112	to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series in 78
113	113	accordance with section 3-20 and in a principal amount necessary to 79
114	114	carry out the purposes of this section, but not in excess of an aggregate 80
115	115	amount of one million dollars. All of [said] the bonds shall (1) be payable 81 Raised Bill No. 5305
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119	119	LCO No. 2044 4 of 7
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121	121	at such place or places as may be determined by the Treasurer pursuant 82
122	122	to section 3-19, [and shall] (2) bear such date or dates, (3) mature at such 83
123	123	time or times, not exceeding five years from their respective dates, (4) 84
124	124	bear interest at such rate or different or varying rates and payable at 85
125	125	such time or times, (5) be in such denominations, (6) be in such form 86
126	126	with or without interest coupons attached, (7) carry such registration 87
127	127	and transfer privileges, (8) be payable in such medium of payment, and 88
128	128	(9) be subject to such terms of redemption with or without premium as, 89
129	129	irrespective of the provisions of [said] section 3-20, may be provided by 90
130	130	the authorization of the State Bond Commission or fixed in accordance 91
131	131	therewith. The proceeds of the sale of such bonds shall be deposited in 92
132	132	the Assistive Technology [Revolving Fund] Loan Program created by 93
133	133	this section. Such bonds shall be general obligations of the state and the 94
134	134	full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the 95
135	135	payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same 96
136	136	become due. Accordingly, and as part of the contract of the state with 97
137	137	the holders of such bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for 98
138	138	punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made and the 99
139	139	Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. 100
140	140	Net earnings on investments or reinvestments of proceeds, accrued 101
141	141	interest and premiums on the issuance of such bonds, after payment 102
142	142	therefrom of expenses incurred by the Treasurer or State Bond 103
143	143	Commission in connection with their issuance, shall be deposited in the 104
144	144	General Fund of the state. 105
145	145	(c) The Connecticut Tech Act Project, within the Department of Aging 106
146	146	and Disability Services and as authorized by 29 USC 3001, as amended 107
147	147	from time to time, may provide assistive technology evaluation and 108
148	148	training services upon the request of any person or any public or private 109
149	149	entity, to the extent persons who provide assistive technology services 110
150	150	are available. The project may charge a fee to any person or entity 111
151	151	receiving such assistive technology evaluation and training services to 112
152	152	reimburse the department for its costs. The Commissioner of Aging and 113
153	153	Disability Services shall establish fees at reasonable rates that will cover 114
154	154	the department's direct and indirect costs. 115 Raised Bill No. 5305
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158	158	LCO No. 2044 5 of 7
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160	160	Sec. 4. Subsection (c) of section 9-20 of the 2020 supplement to the 116
161	161	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 117
162	162	thereof (Effective July 1, 2020): 118
163	163	(c) The application for admission as an elector shall include a 119
164	164	statement that (1) specifies each eligibility requirement, (2) contains an 120
165	165	attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement, and (3) 121
166	166	requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. Each 122
167	167	registrar of voters and town clerk shall maintain a copy of such 123
168	168	statement in braille, large print and audio form. The Department of 124
169	169	Aging and Disability Services shall, in consultation with the Secretary 125
170	170	of the State, produce a [videotape] video presenting such statement in 126
171	171	voice and sign language and provide the [videotape] video to the 127
172	172	Secretary of the State who shall make [copies of the videotape and 128
173	173	provide a copy] the video available to the registrars of voters of any 129
174	174	municipality. [, upon request and at a cost equal to the cost of making 130
175	175	the copy.] If a person applies for admission as an elector in person to an 131
176	176	admitting official, such admitting official shall, upon the request of the 132
177	177	applicant, administer the elector's oath. 133
178	178	Sec. 5. Section 46a-27 of the general statutes is repealed and the 134
179	179	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2020): 135
180	180	The Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing is 136
181	181	hereby created to advocate, strengthen and advise the Governor and the 137
182	182	General Assembly concerning state policies affecting persons who are 138
183	183	deaf or hard of hearing and their relationship to the public, industry, 139
184	184	health care and educational opportunity. The board shall: 140
185	185	(1) Monitor services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; 141
186	186	(2) Periodically meet with the Commissioners of Public Health, Social 142
187	187	Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Education, 143
188	188	Developmental Services, and Children and Families and the Labor 144
189	189	Commissioner, or the commissioners' designees, to discuss best 145
190	190	practices and gaps in services for persons who are deaf or hard of 146
191	191	hearing; and 147 Raised Bill No. 5305
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197	197	[(3) Refer persons with complaints concerning the qualification and 148
198	198	registration of interpreters for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing 149
199	199	to the entity designated pursuant to section 46a-10b;] 150
200	200	[(4)] (3) Make recommendations for (A) technical assistance and 151
201	201	resources for state agencies in order to serve persons who are deaf or 152
202	202	hard of hearing; (B) public policy and legislative changes needed to 153
203	203	address gaps in services; and (C) the qualifications and registration of 154
204	204	interpreters pursuant to section 46a-33a. The board shall submit such 155
205	205	recommendations, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the Governor 156
206	206	and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 157
207	207	cognizance of matters relating to human services. 158
208	208	Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 46a-29 of the 2020 supplement to the 159
209	209	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 160
210	210	thereof (Effective July 1, 2020): 161
211	211	(a) The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services may request 162
212	212	and shall receive from any department, division, board, bureau, 163
213	213	commission or agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof 164
214	214	such assistance and data as will enable the Department of Aging and 165
215	215	Disability Services to properly carry out its activities under sections 17b-166
216	216	650e and [46a-30] 46a-33 to 46a-33b, inclusive, and to effectuate the 167
217	217	purposes therein set forth. 168
218	218	Sec. 7. Section 17a-301b of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective 169
219	219	July 1, 2020) 170
220	220	Sec. 8. Section 46a-30 of the 2020 supplement to the general statutes 171
221	221	is repealed. (Effective July 1, 2020) 172
222	222	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
223	223	sections:
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225	225	Section 1 July 1, 2020 17b-660
226	226	Sec. 2 July 1, 2020 10-298
227	227	Sec. 3 July 1, 2020 17b-607
228	228	Sec. 4 July 1, 2020 9-20(c) Raised Bill No. 5305
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232	232	LCO No. 2044 7 of 7
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234	234	Sec. 5 July 1, 2020 46a-27
235	235	Sec. 6 July 1, 2020 46a-29(a)
236	236	Sec. 7 July 1, 2020 Repealer section
237	237	Sec. 8 July 1, 2020 Repealer section
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239	239	Statement of Purpose:
240	240	To amend or repeal statutes concerning the Department of Aging and
241	241	Disability Services.
242	242	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
243	243	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
244	244	underlined.]
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