CT
Connecticut Senate Bill SB00002

Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00002 Compare Versions

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7+General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 2
8+January Session, 2021
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4-Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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6-Public Act No. 21-46
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9-AN ACT CONCERNING SOCIAL EQUITY AND THE HEALTH,
10-SAFETY AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.
14+AN ACT CONCERNING SO CIAL EQUITY AND THE HEALTH, SAFETY
15+AND EDUCATION OF CHI LDREN.
1116 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1217 Assembly convened:
1318
14-Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section, (1)
15-"evidence-based" describes a training program that (A) incorporates
16-methods demonstrated to be effective for the intended population
17-through scientifically based research, including statistically controlled
18-evaluations or randomized trials, (B) can be implemented with a set of
19-procedures to allow successful replication in the state, (C) achieves
20-sustained, desirable outcomes, and (D) when possible, has been
21-determined to be cost-beneficial, and (2) "Question, Persuade and Refer
22-(QPR) Institute Gatekeeper Training" means an educational program
23-designed to teach lay and professional persons who work with youth
24-the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond.
25-(b) The Youth Suicide Advisory Board, established pursuant to
26-section 17a-52 of the general statutes, and the Office of the Child
27-Advocate, shall jointly administer an evidence-based youth suicide
28-prevention training program in each local health department and
29-district department of health formed pursuant to section 19a-241 of the
30-general statutes. The training program shall provide certification in QPR
31-Institute Gatekeeper Training, utilizing a training model that will enable Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
19+Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section, (1) 1
20+"evidence-based" describes a training program that (A) incorporates 2
21+methods demonstrated to be effective for the intended population 3
22+through scientifically based research, including statistically controlled 4
23+evaluations or randomized trials, (B) can be implemented with a set of 5
24+procedures to allow successful replication in the state, (C) achieves 6
25+sustained, desirable outcomes, and (D) when possible, has been 7
26+determined to be cost-beneficial, and (2) "Question, Persuade and Refer 8
27+(QPR) Institute Gatekeeper Training" means an educational program 9
28+designed to teach lay and professional persons who work with youth 10
29+the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. 11
30+(b) The Youth Suicide Advisory Board, established pursuant to 12
31+section 17a-52 of the general statutes, and the Office of the Child 13
32+Advocate, shall jointly administer an evidence-based youth suicide 14
33+prevention training program in each district department of health 15
34+formed pursuant to section 19a-241 of the general statutes. The training 16
35+program shall provide certification in QPR Institute Gatekeeper 17
36+Training, utilizing a training model that will enable participants to 18 Substitute Bill No. 2
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35-participants to provide QPR Institute Gatekeeper Training to other
36-individuals upon completion of the training program. Such training
37-program shall be offered not later than July 1, 2022, and at least once
38-every three years thereafter.
39-(c) The director of health for each local health department and district
40-department of health shall determine the eligibility criteria for
41-participation in the youth suicide prevention training program.
42-Participants shall be members of the following groups within such
43-district: (1) Employees of such local health department and district
44-department of health, (2) employees of youth service bureaus
45-established pursuant to section 10-19m of the general statutes, (3) school
46-employees, as defined in section 10-222d of the general statutes, (4)
47-employees and volunteers of youth-serving organizations, (5)
48-employees and volunteers of operators of youth athletic activities, as
49-defined in section 21a-432 of the general statutes, (6) employees of
50-municipal social service agencies, (7) members of paid municipal or
51-volunteer fire departments, and (8) members of local police
52-departments. With respect to school employees, such training program
53-may be included as part of an in-service training program provided
54-pursuant to section 10-220a of the general statutes, as amended by this
55-act.
56-(d) Any individual who has received certification in QPR Institute
57-Gatekeeper Training through the training program administered
58-pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may, during the period in
59-which such certification is valid, provide QPR Institute Gatekeeper
60-Training to any member of a group described in subdivisions (1) to (8),
61-inclusive, of subsection (c) of this section and members of the public.
62-(e) The Youth Suicide Advisory Board and the Office of the Child
63-Advocate may contract with a nongovernmental entity that provides
64-evidence-based suicide prevention training to carry out the provisions
65-of this section. Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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43+provide QPR Institute Gatekeeper Training to other individuals upon 19
44+completion of the training program. Such training program shall be 20
45+offered not later than July 1, 2022, and at least once every three years 21
46+thereafter. 22
47+(c) The director of health for each district department of health shall 23
48+determine the eligibility criteria for participation in the youth suicide 24
49+prevention training program. Participants shall be members of the 25
50+following groups within such district: (1) Employees of such district 26
51+department of health, (2) employees of youth service bureaus 27
52+established pursuant to section 10-19m of the general statutes, (3) school 28
53+employees, as defined in section 10-222d of the general statutes, (4) 29
54+employees and volunteers of youth-serving organizations, (5) 30
55+employees and volunteers of operators of youth athletic activities, as 31
56+defined in section 21a-432 of the general statutes, (6) employees of 32
57+municipal social service agencies, (7) members of paid municipal or 33
58+volunteer fire departments, and (8) members of local police 34
59+departments. With respect to school employees, such training program 35
60+may be included as part of an in-service training program provided 36
61+pursuant to section 10-220a of the general statutes, as amended by this 37
62+act. 38
63+(d) Any individual who has received certification in QPR Institute 39
64+Gatekeeper Training through the training program administered 40
65+pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may, during the period in 41
66+which such certification is valid, provide QPR Institute Gatekeeper 42
67+Training to any member of a group described in subdivisions (1) to (8), 43
68+inclusive, of subsection (c) of this section and members of the public. 44
69+(e) The Youth Suicide Advisory Board and the Office of the Child 45
70+Advocate may contract with a nongovernmental entity that provides 46
71+evidence-based suicide prevention training to carry out the provisions 47
72+of this section. 48
73+Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 20-12b of the general statutes is 49
74+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 50 Substitute Bill No. 2
6875
69-Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section:
70-(1) "Contact hour" means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing
71-education and activities; and
72-(2) "Registration period" means the one-year period for which a
73-license has been renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 of the
74-general statutes and is current and valid.
75-(b) For registration periods beginning on and after January 1, 2022, a
76-physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 370 of the general
77-statutes applying for license renewal shall, during the first renewal
78-period and not less than once every six years thereafter, earn not less
79-than two contact hours of training or education administered by the
80-American Association of Physician Assistants, a hospital or other
81-licensed health care institution or a regionally accredited institution of
82-higher education, on (1) screening for post-traumatic stress disorder,
83-risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training.
84-(c) Each physician assistant applying for license renewal pursuant to
85-section 19a-88 of the general statutes shall sign a statement attesting that
86-he or she has satisfied the continuing education requirements of
87-subsection (b) of this section on a form prescribed by the Department of
88-Health. Each licensee shall retain records of attendance or certificates of
89-completion that demonstrate compliance with the continuing education
90-requirements of subsection (b) of this section for a minimum of three
91-years following the year in which the continuing education was
92-completed and shall submit such records or certificates to the
93-department for inspection not later than forty-five days after a request
94-by the department for such records or certificates.
95-Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 20-73b of the general statutes is
96-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
97-2021): Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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101-(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each physical
102-therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter shall complete a minimum of
103-twenty hours of continuing education during each registration period.
104-For purposes of this section, registration period means the twelve-
105-month period for which a license has been renewed in accordance with
106-section 19a-88 and is current and valid. The continuing education shall
107-be in areas related to the individual's practice, except, on and after
108-January 1, 2022, shall include not less than two hours of training or
109-education on (1) screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of
110-suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training,
111-during the first registration period in which continuing education is
112-required and not less than once every six years thereafter. The
113-requirement described in subdivision (2) of this subsection may be
114-satisfied by the completion of the evidence-based youth suicide
115-prevention training program administered pursuant to section 1 of this
116-act. Qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not
117-limited to, courses offered or approved by the American Physical
118-Therapy Association or any component of the American Physical
119-Therapy Association, a hospital or other licensed health care institution
120-or a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
121-Sec. 4. Section 20-74h of the general statutes is repealed and the
122-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
123-Licenses for occupational therapists and occupational therapy
124-assistants issued under this chapter shall be subject to renewal once
125-every two years and shall expire unless renewed in the manner
126-prescribed by regulation upon the payment of two times the
127-professional services fee payable to the State Treasurer for class B as
128-defined in section 33-182l, plus five dollars. The department shall notify
129-any person or entity that fails to comply with the provisions of this
130-section that the person's or entity's license shall become void ninety days
131-after the time for its renewal unless it is so renewed. Any such license Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
81+2021): 51
82+(a) The department may, upon receipt of a fee of one hundred ninety 52
83+dollars, issue a physician assistant license to an applicant who: (1) Holds 53
84+a baccalaureate or higher degree in any field from a regionally 54
85+accredited institution of higher education; (2) has graduated from an 55
86+accredited physician assistant program; (3) has passed the certification 56
87+examination of the national commission; (4) has satisfied the mandatory 57
88+continuing medical education requirements of the national commission 58
89+for current certification by such commission, [and] (5) on and after 59
90+January 1, 2022, has completed not less than two hours of training or 60
91+education, approved by the Commissioner of Public Health, on (A) 61
92+screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of 62
93+suicide, depression and grief, and (B) suicide prevention training, 63
94+during the first renewal period in which continuing education is 64
95+required and not less than once every six years thereafter, (6) has passed 65
96+any examination or continued competency assessment the passage of 66
97+which may be required by the national commission for maintenance of 67
98+current certification by such commission; and [(5)] (7) has completed not 68
99+less than sixty hours of didactic instruction in pharmacology for 69
100+physician assistant practice approved by the department. 70
101+Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 20-73b of the general statutes is 71
102+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 72
103+2021): 73
104+(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each physical 74
105+therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter shall complete a minimum of 75
106+twenty hours of continuing education during each registration period. 76
107+For purposes of this section, registration period means the twelve-77
108+month period for which a license has been renewed in accordance with 78
109+section 19a-88 and is current and valid. The continuing education shall 79
110+be in areas related to the individual's practice, except, on and after 80
111+January 1, 2022, shall include not less than two hours of training or 81
112+education on (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress 82
113+disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention 83 Substitute Bill No. 2
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134115
135-shall become void upon the expiration of such ninety-day period. The
136-commissioner shall establish additional requirements for licensure
137-renewal which provide evidence of continued competency, which, on
138-and after January 1, 2022, shall include not less than two hours of
139-training or education, offered or approved by the Connecticut
140-Occupational Therapy Association, a hospital or other licensed health
141-care institution or a regionally accredited institution of higher
142-education, on (1) screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of
143-suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training during
144-the first renewal period and not less than once every six years thereafter.
145-The requirement described in subdivision (2) of this section may be
146-satisfied by the completion of the evidence-based youth suicide
147-prevention training program administered pursuant to section 1 of this
148-act. The holder of an expired license may apply for and obtain a valid
149-license only upon compliance with all relevant requirements for
150-issuance of a new license. A suspended license is subject to expiration
151-and may be renewed as provided in this section, but such renewal shall
152-not entitle the licensee, while the license remains suspended and until it
153-is reinstated, to engage in the licensed activity, or in any other conduct
154-or activity in violation of the order or judgment by which the license was
155-suspended. If a license revoked on disciplinary grounds is reinstated,
156-the licensee, as a condition of reinstatement, shall pay the renewal fee.
157-Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section:
158-(1) "Contact hour" means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing
159-education and activities; and
160-(2) "Registration period" means the one-year period for which a
161-license has been renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 of the
162-general statutes and is current and valid.
163-(b) For registration periods beginning on and after January 1, 2022, a
164-registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378 of the general statutes Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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120+training, during the first registration period in which continuing 84
121+education is required and not less than once every six years thereafter. 85
122+Qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not limited 86
123+to, courses offered or approved by the American Physical Therapy 87
124+Association or the Commissioner of Public Health or any component of 88
125+the American Physical Therapy Association, a hospital or other licensed 89
126+health care institution or a regionally accredited institution of higher 90
127+education. 91
128+Sec. 4. Section 20-74h of the general statutes is repealed and the 92
129+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 93
130+Licenses for occupational therapists and occupational therapy 94
131+assistants issued under this chapter shall be subject to renewal once 95
132+every two years and shall expire unless renewed in the manner 96
133+prescribed by regulation upon the payment of two times the 97
134+professional services fee payable to the State Treasurer for class B as 98
135+defined in section 33-182l, plus five dollars. The department shall notify 99
136+any person or entity that fails to comply with the provisions of this 100
137+section that the person's or entity's license shall become void ninety days 101
138+after the time for its renewal unless it is so renewed. Any such license 102
139+shall become void upon the expiration of such ninety-day period. The 103
140+commissioner shall establish additional requirements for licensure 104
141+renewal which provide evidence of continued competency, which, on 105
142+and after January 1, 2022, shall include not less than two hours of 106
143+training or education, approved by the Commissioner of Public Health, 107
144+on (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, 108
145+risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training 109
146+during the first renewal period and not less than once every six years 110
147+thereafter. The holder of an expired license may apply for and obtain a 111
148+valid license only upon compliance with all relevant requirements for 112
149+issuance of a new license. A suspended license is subject to expiration 113
150+and may be renewed as provided in this section, but such renewal shall 114
151+not entitle the licensee, while the license remains suspended and until it 115
152+is reinstated, to engage in the licensed activity, or in any other conduct 116 Substitute Bill No. 2
167153
168-who is actively practicing in this state, and a licensed practical nurse
169-licensed pursuant to chapter 378 of the general statutes who is actively
170-practicing in this state, applying for license renewal shall, during the
171-first renewal period and not less than once every six years thereafter,
172-earn not less than two contact hours of training or education on (1)
173-screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of
174-suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training. For
175-purposes of this section, qualifying continuing education activities
176-include, but are not limited to, in-person and online courses offered or
177-approved by the American Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital
178-Association, Connecticut Nurses Association, Connecticut League for
179-Nursing, a specialty nursing society or an equivalent organization in
180-another jurisdiction, an educational offering sponsored by a hospital or
181-other health care institution or a course offered by a regionally
182-accredited academic institution or a state or local health department.
183-(c) Each registered nurse and licensed practical nurse applying for
184-license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 of the general statutes shall
185-sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the continuing
186-education requirements of subsection (b) of this section on a form
187-prescribed by the Department of Public Health. Each licensee shall
188-retain records of attendance or certificates of completion that
189-demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirements of
190-subsection (b) of this section for a minimum of three years following the
191-year in which the continuing education was completed and shall submit
192-such records or certificates to the department for inspection not later
193-than forty-five days after a request by the department for such records
194-or certificates.
195-Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 20-102ee of the general statutes is
196-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
197-2021):
198-(a) The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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202-accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the regulation
203-of nurse's aides. Such regulations shall require a training program for
204-nurse's aides of not less than one hundred hours. Not less than seventy-
205-five of such hours shall include, but not be limited to, basic nursing
206-skills, personal care skills, care of cognitively impaired residents,
207-recognition of mental health and social service needs, basic restorative
208-services and residents' rights. Not less than twenty-five of such hours
209-shall include, but not be limited to, specialized training in
210-understanding and responding to challenging behaviors related to
211-physical, psychiatric, psychosocial and cognitive disorders. On and after
212-January 1, 2022, not less than two of such hours shall include (1)
213-screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression
214-and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training offered or approved by the
215-American Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital Association,
216-Connecticut Nurses Association or Connecticut League for Nursing, a
217-specialty nursing society or equivalent organization in another
218-jurisdiction, a hospital or other health care institution, a regionally
219-accredited academic institution, or a state or local health department.
220-The requirement described in subdivision (2) of this section may be
221-satisfied by the completion of the evidence-based youth suicide
222-prevention training program administered pursuant to section 1 of this
223-act.
224-Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 20-185k of the general statutes is
225-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
226-2021):
227-(b) A license issued under this section may be renewed annually. The
228-license shall be renewed in accordance with the provisions of section
229-19a-88, for a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars. Each behavior
230-analyst applying for license renewal shall furnish evidence satisfactory
231-to the commissioner of (1) having current certification with the Behavior
232-Analyst Certification Board, and (2) on and after January 1, 2022, Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
159+or activity in violation of the order or judgment by which the license was 117
160+suspended. If a license revoked on disciplinary grounds is reinstated, 118
161+the licensee, as a condition of reinstatement, shall pay the renewal fee. 119
162+Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section: 120
163+(1) "Contact hour" means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing 121
164+education and activities; and 122
165+(2) "Registration period" means the one-year period for which a 123
166+license has been renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 of the 124
167+general statutes and is current and valid. 125
168+(b) For registration periods beginning on and after January 1, 2022, a 126
169+registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-93 of the general 127
170+statutes and a licensed practical nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-128
171+96 of the general statutes applying for license renewal shall, during the 129
172+first renewal period and not less than once every six years thereafter, 130
173+earn not less than two contact hours of training or education on (1) 131
174+screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of 132
175+suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training. For 133
176+purposes of this section, qualifying continuing education activities 134
177+include, but are not limited to, in-person and online courses offered or 135
178+approved by the American Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital 136
179+Association, Connecticut Nurses Association, Connecticut League for 137
180+Nursing, a specialty nursing society or an equivalent organization in 138
181+another jurisdiction, an educational offering sponsored by a hospital or 139
182+other health care institution or a course offered by a regionally 140
183+accredited academic institution or a state or local health department. 141
184+The Commissioner of Public Health may grant a waiver of not more 142
185+than ten contact hours of continuing education for a registered nurse or 143
186+licensed practical nurse who: (A) Engages in activities related to such 144
187+nurse's service as a member of the Connecticut State Board of Examiners 145
188+for Nursing, established pursuant to section 20-88 of the general 146
189+statutes; or (B) assists the Department of Health with its duties to boards 147
190+and commissions as described in section 19a-14 of the general statutes. 148 Substitute Bill No. 2
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236-completing not less than two hours of training or education, offered or
237-approved by the Connecticut Association for Behavior Analysis, a
238-hospital or other licensed health care institution or a regionally
239-accredited institution of higher education, on (A) screening for post-
240-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (B)
241-suicide prevention training, during the first renewal period and not less
242-than once every six years thereafter. The requirement described in
243-subparagraph (B) of this subdivision may be satisfied by the completion
244-of the evidence-based youth suicide prevention training program
245-administered pursuant to section 1 of this act.
246-Sec. 8. Subsection (f) of section 20-195ttt of the general statutes is
247-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
248-2021):
249-(f) A certification issued under this section may be renewed every
250-three years. The license shall be renewed in accordance with the
251-provisions of section 19a-88 for a fee of one hundred dollars. Each
252-certified community health worker applying for license renewal shall
253-furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of having completed
254-a minimum of thirty hours of continuing education requirements,
255-including two hours focused on cultural competency, systemic racism
256-or systemic oppression, [and] two hours focused on social determinants
257-of health and on and after January 1, 2022, two hours of training on (1)
258-screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression
259-and grief, and (2) suicide prevention, provided by the Community
260-Health Worker Advisory Body or training or education providers
261-approved by the Community Health Worker Advisory Body. The
262-requirement described in subdivision (2) of this subsection may be
263-satisfied by the completion of the evidence-based youth suicide
264-prevention training program administered pursuant to section 1 of this
265-act.
266-Sec. 9. Section 20-206mm of the general statutes is repealed and the Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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197+(c) Each registered nurse and licensed practical nurse applying for 149
198+license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 of the general statutes shall 150
199+sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the continuing 151
200+education requirements of subsection (b) of this section on a form 152
201+prescribed by the Department of Public Health. Each licensee shall 153
202+retain records of attendance or certificates of completion that 154
203+demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirements of 155
204+subsection (b) of this section for a minimum of three years following the 156
205+year in which the continuing education was completed and shall submit 157
206+such records or certificates to the department for inspection not later 158
207+than forty-five days after a request by the department for such records 159
208+or certificates. 160
209+Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 20-102ee of the general statutes is 161
210+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 162
211+2021): 163
212+(a) The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in 164
213+accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the regulation 165
214+of nurse's aides. Such regulations shall require a training program for 166
215+nurse's aides of not less than one hundred hours. Not less than seventy-167
216+five of such hours shall include, but not be limited to, basic nursing 168
217+skills, personal care skills, care of cognitively impaired residents, 169
218+recognition of mental health and social service needs, basic restorative 170
219+services and residents' rights. Not less than twenty-five of such hours 171
220+shall include, but not be limited to, specialized training in 172
221+understanding and responding to challenging behaviors related to 173
222+physical, psychiatric, psychosocial and cognitive disorders. On and after 174
223+January 1, 2022, not less than two of such hours shall include screening 175
224+for conditions such as (1) post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, 176
225+depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training from training 177
226+or education providers approved by the commissioner. 178
227+Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 20-185k of the general statutes is 179
228+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 180
229+2021): 181 Substitute Bill No. 2
269230
270-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
271-(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an
272-applicant for a license as a paramedic shall submit evidence satisfactory
273-to the Commissioner of Public Health that the applicant has successfully
274-(1) completed a paramedic training program approved by the
275-commissioner, (2) for applicants applying on and after January 1, 2020,
276-completed mental health first aid training as part of a program provided
277-by an instructor certified by the National Council for Behavioral Health,
278-and (3) passed an examination prescribed by the commissioner.
279-(b) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall present evidence
280-satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (1) is licensed or
281-certified as a paramedic in another state or jurisdiction whose
282-requirements for practicing in such capacity are substantially similar to
283-or higher than those of this state and that the applicant has no pending
284-disciplinary action or unresolved complaint against him or her, or (2)
285-(A) is currently licensed or certified as a paramedic in good standing in
286-any New England state, New York or New Jersey, (B) has completed an
287-initial training program consistent with the National Emergency
288-Medical Services Education Standards, as promulgated by the National
289-Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the paramedic scope of
290-practice model conducted by an organization offering a program that is
291-recognized by the national emergency medical services program
292-accrediting organization, (C) for applicants applying on or after January
293-1, 2020, has completed mental health first aid training as part of a
294-program provided by an instructor certified by the National Council for
295-Behavioral Health, and (D) has no pending disciplinary action or
296-unresolved complaint against him or her.
297-(c) Any person who is certified as an emergency medical technician-
298-paramedic by the Department of Public Health on October 1, 1997, shall
299-be deemed a licensed paramedic. Any person so deemed shall renew his
300-license pursuant to section 19a-88 for a fee of one hundred fifty-five Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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304-dollars.
305-(d) On or after January 1, 2020, each person seeking certification as an
306-emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or
307-advanced emergency medical technician shall apply to the department
308-on forms prescribed by the commissioner. Applicants for certification
309-shall comply with the following requirements: (1) For initial
310-certification, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the
311-commissioner that the applicant (A) has completed an initial training
312-program consistent with the National Emergency Medical Services
313-Education Standards, as promulgated by the National Highway Traffic
314-Safety Administration for the emergency medical responder, emergency
315-medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician
316-curriculum, (B) has passed the examination administered by the
317-national organization for emergency medical certification for an
318-emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or
319-advanced emergency medical technician as necessary for the type of
320-certification sought by the applicant or an examination approved by the
321-department, and (C) has no pending disciplinary action or unresolved
322-complaints against such applicant, (2) a certificate issued under this
323-subsection shall be renewed once every two years in accordance with
324-the provisions of section 19a-88 upon presentation of evidence
325-satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A) has successfully
326-completed continuing education for an emergency medical responder,
327-emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical
328-technician as required by the national organization for emergency
329-medical certification or as approved by the department, or (B) presents
330-a current certification as an emergency medical responder, emergency
331-medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician from the
332-national organization for emergency medical certification, or (3) for
333-certification by endorsement from another state, an applicant shall
334-present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A)
335-is currently certified as an emergency medical responder, emergency Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
236+(b) A license issued under this section may be renewed annually. The 182
237+license shall be renewed in accordance with the provisions of section 183
238+19a-88, for a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars. Each behavior 184
239+analyst applying for license renewal shall furnish evidence satisfactory 185
240+to the commissioner of (1) having current certification with the Behavior 186
241+Analyst Certification Board, and (2) on and after January 1, 2022, 187
242+completing not less than two hours of training or education, approved 188
243+by the Commissioner of Public Health, on (A) screening for conditions 189
244+such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and 190
245+grief, and (B) suicide prevention training during the first renewal period 191
246+and not less than once every six years thereafter. 192
247+Sec. 8. Subsection (f) of section 20-195ttt of the general statutes is 193
248+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 194
249+2021): 195
250+(f) A certification issued under this section may be renewed every 196
251+three years. The license shall be renewed in accordance with the 197
252+provisions of section 19a-88 for a fee of one hundred dollars. Each 198
253+certified community health worker applying for license renewal shall 199
254+furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of having completed 200
255+a minimum of thirty hours of continuing education requirements, 201
256+including two hours focused on cultural competency, systemic racism 202
257+or systemic oppression, [and] two hours focused on social determinants 203
258+of health and on and after January 1, 2022, two hours of training on (1) 204
259+screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of 205
260+suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training, 206
261+provided by training or education providers approved by the 207
262+Commissioner of Public Health. 208
263+Sec. 9. Subsections (d) and (e) of section 20-206mm of the general 209
264+statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 210
265+(Effective July 1, 2021): 211
266+(d) On or after January 1, 2020, each person seeking certification as an 212
267+emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or 213 Substitute Bill No. 2
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339-medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician in good
340-standing by a state that maintains certification or licensing requirements
341-that the commissioner determines are equal to or greater than those in
342-this state, or (B) holds a current certification as an emergency medical
343-responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency
344-medical technician from the national organization for emergency
345-medical certification.
346-(e) On or after January 1, 2022, each person seeking renewal of a
347-certification as an emergency medical responder or emergency medical
348-technician under subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, shall
349-present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such person has,
350-in the previous six year period, completed (1) the evidence-based youth
351-suicide prevention training program administered pursuant to section 1
352-of this act, or (2) not less than two hours of training or education,
353-approved by the Commissioner of Public Health, on (A) screening for
354-post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and
355-(B) suicide prevention.
356-[(e)] (f) On or after January 1, 2020, each person seeking certification
357-as an emergency medical services instructor shall apply to the
358-department on forms prescribed by the commissioner. Applicants for
359-certification shall comply with the following requirements: (1) For initial
360-certification, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the
361-commissioner that the applicant (A) is currently certified by the
362-department as an emergency medical technician or advanced
363-emergency medical technician or licensed by the department as a
364-paramedic, (B) has completed a program of training as an emergency
365-medical instructor based on current national education standards
366-within the prior two years, (C) has completed twenty-five hours of
367-teaching activity under the supervision of a currently certified
368-emergency medical services instructor, (D) has completed written and
369-practical examinations as prescribed by the commissioner, (E) has no Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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274+advanced emergency medical technician shall apply to the department 214
275+on forms prescribed by the commissioner. Applicants for certification 215
276+shall comply with the following requirements: (1) For initial 216
277+certification, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the 217
278+commissioner that the applicant (A) has completed an initial training 218
279+program consistent with the National Emergency Medical Services 219
280+Education Standards, as promulgated by the National Highway Traffic 220
281+Safety Administration for the emergency medical responder, emergency 221
282+medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician 222
283+curriculum, (B) has passed the examination administered by the 223
284+national organization for emergency medical certification for an 224
285+emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or 225
286+advanced emergency medical technician as necessary for the type of 226
287+certification sought by the applicant or an examination approved by the 227
288+department, and (C) has no pending disciplinary action or unresolved 228
289+complaints against such applicant, (2) a certificate issued under this 229
290+subsection shall be renewed once every two years in accordance with 230
291+the provisions of section 19a-88 upon presentation of evidence 231
292+satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A) has successfully 232
293+completed continuing education for an emergency medical responder, 233
294+emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical 234
295+technician as required by the national organization for emergency 235
296+medical certification or as approved by the department, (B) on and after 236
297+January 1, 2022, has completed not less than two hours of training or 237
298+education, approved by the Commissioner of Public Health, on (i) 238
299+screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of 239
300+suicide, depression and grief, and (ii) suicide prevention training during 240
301+the first renewal period and not less than once every six years thereafter, 241
302+or [(B)] (C) presents a current certification as an emergency medical 242
303+responder, emergency medical technician or advanced emergency 243
304+medical technician from the national organization for emergency 244
305+medical certification, or (3) for certification by endorsement from 245
306+another state, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the 246
307+commissioner that the applicant (A) is currently certified as an 247
308+emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician or 248 Substitute Bill No. 2
372309
373-pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaints against the
374-applicant, and (F) effective on a date prescribed by the commissioner,
375-presents documentation satisfactory to the commissioner that the
376-applicant is currently certified as an emergency medical technician,
377-advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic by the national
378-organization for emergency medical certification, or (2) for renewal
379-certification, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the
380-commissioner that the applicant (A) has successfully completed
381-continuing education and teaching activity as required by the
382-department, which, on and after January 1, 2022, shall include not less
383-than two hours of training or education, approved by the Commissioner
384-of Public Health, on (i) screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk
385-of suicide, depression and grief, and (ii) suicide prevention training,
386-during the first renewal period and not less than once every six years
387-thereafter, (B) maintains current certification by the department as an
388-emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician
389-or licensure by the department as a paramedic, and (C) effective on a
390-date as prescribed by the commissioner, presents documentation
391-satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant is currently certified
392-as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical
393-technician or paramedic by the national organization for emergency
394-medical certification.
395-[(f)] (g) A certified emergency medical responder, emergency medical
396-technician, advanced emergency medical technician or emergency
397-medical services instructor shall document the completion of his or her
398-continuing educational requirements through the continuing education
399-platform Internet web site. A certified emergency medical responder,
400-emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician
401-or emergency medical services instructor who is not engaged in active
402-professional practice in any form during a certification period shall be
403-exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section,
404-provided the emergency medical responder, emergency medica l Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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408-technician, advanced emergency medical technician or emergency
409-medical services instructor submits to the department, prior to the
410-expiration of the certification period, an application for inactive status
411-on a form prescribed by the department and such other documentation
412-as may be required by the department. The application for inactive
413-status pursuant to this subsection shall contain a statement that the
414-emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician,
415-advanced emergency medical technician or emergency medical services
416-instructor may not engage in professional practice until the continuing
417-education requirements of this section have been met.
418-[(g)] (h) The commissioner may issue a temporary emergency
419-medical technician certificate to an applicant who presents evidence
420-satisfactory to the commissioner that (1) the applicant was certified by
421-the department as an emergency medical technician prior to becoming
422-licensed as a paramedic pursuant to section 20-206ll, or (2) the
423-applicant's certification as an emergency medical technician has expired
424-and the applicant's license as a paramedic has become void pursuant to
425-section 19a-88. Such temporary certificate shall be valid for a period not
426-to exceed one year and shall not be renewable.
427-[(h)] (i) An applicant who is issued a temporary emergency medical
428-technician certificate pursuant to subsection [(g)] (h) of this section may,
429-prior to the expiration of such temporary certificate, apply to the
430-department for: (1) Renewal of such person's paramedic license, giving
431-such person's name in full, such person's residence and business address
432-and such other information as the department requests, provided the
433-application for license renewal is accompanied by evidence satisfactory
434-to the commissioner that the applicant was under the medical oversight
435-of a sponsor hospital, as those terms are defined in section 19a-175, on
436-the date the applicant's paramedic license became void for nonrenewal;
437-or (2) recertification as an emergency medical technician, provided the
438-application for recertification is accompanied by evidence satisfactory Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
315+advanced emergency medical technician in good standing by a state that 249
316+maintains certification or licensing requirements that the commissioner 250
317+determines are equal to or greater than those in this state, or (B) holds a 251
318+current certification as an emergency medical responder, emergency 252
319+medical technician or advanced emergency medical technician from the 253
320+national organization for emergency medical certification. 254
321+(e) On or after January 1, 2020, each person seeking certification as an 255
322+emergency medical services instructor shall apply to the department on 256
323+forms prescribed by the commissioner. Applicants for certification shall 257
324+comply with the following requirements: (1) For initial certification, an 258
325+applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that 259
326+the applicant (A) is currently certified by the department as an 260
327+emergency medical technician or advanced emergency medical 261
328+technician or licensed by the department as a paramedic, (B) has 262
329+completed a program of training as an emergency medical instructor 263
330+based on current national education standards within the prior two 264
331+years, (C) has completed twenty-five hours of teaching activity under 265
332+the supervision of a currently certified emergency medical services 266
333+instructor, (D) has completed written and practical examinations as 267
334+prescribed by the commissioner, (E) has no pending disciplinary action 268
335+or unresolved complaints against the applicant, and (F) effective on a 269
336+date prescribed by the commissioner, presents documentation 270
337+satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant is currently certified 271
338+as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical 272
339+technician or paramedic by the national organization for emergency 273
340+medical certification, or (2) for renewal certification, an applicant shall 274
341+present evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (A) 275
342+has successfully completed continuing education and teaching activity 276
343+as required by the department, which, on and after January 1, 2022, shall 277
344+include not less than two hours of training or education, approved by 278
345+the Commissioner of Public Health, on (i) screening for conditions such 279
346+as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, 280
347+and (ii) suicide prevention training, during the first renewal period and 281
348+not less than once every six years thereafter, (B) maintains current 282 Substitute Bill No. 2
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442-to the commissioner that the applicant completed emergency medical
443-technician refresher training approved by the commissioner not later
444-than one year after issuance of the temporary emergency medical
445-technician certificate. The department shall recertify such person as an
446-emergency medical technician without the examination required for
447-initial certification specified in regulations adopted by the commissioner
448-pursuant to section 20-206oo.
449-[(i)] (j) Any person certified as an emergency medical responder,
450-emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician
451-or emergency medical services instructor pursuant to this chapter and
452-the regulations adopted pursuant to section 20-206oo whose
453-certification has expired may apply to the Department of Public Health
454-for reinstatement of such certification, provided such person completes
455-the requirements for renewal certification specified in this section. Any
456-certificate issued pursuant to this section shall remain valid for ninety
457-days after the expiration date of such certificate and become void upon
458-the expiration of such ninety-day period.
459-[(j)] (k) The Commissioner of Public Health shall issue an emergency
460-medical technician certification to an applicant who is a member of the
461-armed forces or the National Guard or a veteran and who (1) presents
462-evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such applicant holds a
463-current certification as a person entitled to perform similar services
464-under a different designation by the National Registry of Emergency
465-Medical Technicians, or (2) satisfies the regulations promulgated
466-pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 19a-179. Such
467-applicant shall be exempt from any written or practical examination
468-requirement for certification.
469-[(k)] (l) For the purposes of this section, "veteran" means any person
470-who was discharged or released under conditions other than
471-dishonorable from active service in the armed forces and "armed forces"
472-has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103. Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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355+certification by the department as an emergency medical technician, 283
356+advanced emergency medical technician or licensure by the department 284
357+as a paramedic, and (C) effective on a date as prescribed by the 285
358+commissioner, presents documentation satisfactory to the 286
359+commissioner that the applicant is currently certified as an emergency 287
360+medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or 288
361+paramedic by the national organization for emergency medical 289
362+certification. 290
363+Sec. 10. Section 19a-14c of the general statutes is repealed and the 291
364+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 292
365+(a) For the purposes of this section, "outpatient mental health 293
366+treatment" means the treatment of mental disorders, emotional 294
367+problems or maladjustments with the object of (1) removing, modifying 295
368+or retarding existing symptoms; (2) improving disturbed patterns of 296
369+behavior; and (3) promoting positive personality growth and 297
370+development. Treatment shall not include prescribing or otherwise 298
371+dispensing any medication which is a legend drug as defined in section 299
372+20-571. 300
373+(b) A psychiatrist licensed pursuant to chapter 370, a psychologist 301
374+licensed pursuant to chapter 383, an independent social worker certified 302
375+pursuant to chapter 383b or a marital and family therapist licensed 303
376+pursuant to chapter 383a may provide outpatient mental health 304
377+treatment to a minor without the consent or notification of a parent or 305
378+guardian at the request of the minor if (1) requiring the consent or 306
379+notification of a parent or guardian would cause the minor to reject such 307
380+treatment; (2) the provision of such treatment is clinically indicated; (3) 308
381+the failure to provide such treatment would be seriously detrimental to 309
382+the minor's well-being; (4) the minor has knowingly and voluntarily 310
383+sought such treatment; and (5) in the opinion of the provider of 311
384+treatment, the minor is mature enough to participate in treatment 312
385+productively. The provider of such treatment shall document the 313
386+reasons for any determination made to treat a minor without the consent 314
387+or notification of a parent or guardian and shall include such 315 Substitute Bill No. 2
475388
476-Sec. 10. Section 19a-14c of the general statutes is repealed and the
477-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
478-(a) For the purposes of this section, "outpatient mental health
479-treatment" means the treatment of mental disorders, emotional
480-problems or maladjustments with the object of (1) removing, modifying
481-or retarding existing symptoms; (2) improving disturbed patterns of
482-behavior; and (3) promoting positive personality growth and
483-development. Treatment shall not include prescribing or otherwise
484-dispensing any medication which is a legend drug as defined in section
485-20-571.
486-(b) A psychiatrist licensed pursuant to chapter 370, a psychologist
487-licensed pursuant to chapter 383, an independent social worker certified
488-pursuant to chapter 383b or a marital and family therapist licensed
489-pursuant to chapter 383a may provide outpatient mental health
490-treatment to a minor without the consent or notification of a parent or
491-guardian at the request of the minor if (1) requiring the consent or
492-notification of a parent or guardian would cause the minor to reject such
493-treatment; (2) the provision of such treatment is clinically indicated; (3)
494-the failure to provide such treatment would be seriously detrimental to
495-the minor's well-being; (4) the minor has knowingly and voluntarily
496-sought such treatment; and (5) in the opinion of the provider of
497-treatment, the minor is mature enough to participate in treatment
498-productively. The provider of such treatment shall document the
499-reasons for any determination made to treat a minor without the consent
500-or notification of a parent or guardian and shall include such
501-documentation in the minor's clinical record, along with a written
502-statement signed by the minor stating that (A) [he] the minor is
503-voluntarily seeking such treatment; (B) [he] the minor has discussed
504-with the provider the possibility of involving his or her parent or
505-guardian in the decision to pursue such treatment; (C) [he] the minor
506-has determined it is not in his or her best interest to involve his or her Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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510-parent or guardian in such decision; and (D) [he] the minor has been
511-given adequate opportunity to ask the provider questions about the
512-course of his or her treatment.
513-(c) [After the sixth session of outpatient mental health treatment
514-provided to a minor pursuant to this section, the provider of such
515-treatment shall notify the minor that the consent, notification or
516-involvement of a parent or guardian is required to continue treatment,
517-unless such a requirement would be seriously detrimental to the minor's
518-well-being. If the provider determines such a requirement would be
519-seriously detrimental to the minor's well-being, he shall document such
520-determination in the minor's clinical record, review such determination
521-every sixth session thereafter and document each such review. If the
522-provider determines such a requirement would no longer be seriously
523-detrimental to the minor's well-being, he shall require the consent,
524-notification or involvement of a parent or guardian as a condition of
525-continuing treatment.] (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision
526-(2) of this subsection, a minor may request and receive as many
527-outpatient mental health treatment sessions as necessary without the
528-consent or notification of a parent or guardian. No provider shall notify
529-a parent or guardian of treatment provided pursuant to this section or
530-disclose any information concerning such treatment to a parent or
531-guardian without the consent of the minor.
532-(2) A provider may notify a parent or guardian of treatment provided
533-pursuant to this section or disclose certain information concerning such
534-treatment without the consent of the minor who receives such treatment
535-provided (A) such provider determines such notification or disclosure
536-is necessary for the minor's well-being, (B) the treatment provided to the
537-minor is solely for mental health and not for a substance use disorder,
538-and (C) the minor is provided an opportunity to express any objection
539-to such notification or disclosure. The provider shall document his or
540-her determination concerning such notification or disclosure and any Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
394+documentation in the minor's clinical record, along with a written 316
395+statement signed by the minor stating that (A) [he] the minor is 317
396+voluntarily seeking such treatment; (B) [he] the minor has discussed 318
397+with the provider the possibility of involving his or her parent or 319
398+guardian in the decision to pursue such treatment; (C) [he] the minor 320
399+has determined it is not in his or her best interest to involve his or her 321
400+parent or guardian in such decision; and (D) [he] the minor has been 322
401+given adequate opportunity to ask the provider questions about the 323
402+course of his or her treatment. 324
403+(c) [After the sixth session of outpatient mental health treatment 325
404+provided to a minor pursuant to this section, the provider of such 326
405+treatment shall notify the minor that the consent, notification or 327
406+involvement of a parent or guardian is required to continue treatment, 328
407+unless such a requirement would be seriously detrimental to the minor's 329
408+well-being. If the provider determines such a requirement would be 330
409+seriously detrimental to the minor's well-being, he shall document such 331
410+determination in the minor's clinical record, review such determination 332
411+every sixth session thereafter and document each such review. If the 333
412+provider determines such a requirement would no longer be seriously 334
413+detrimental to the minor's well-being, he shall require the consent, 335
414+notification or involvement of a parent or guardian as a condition of 336
415+continuing treatment.] (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 337
416+(2) of this subsection, a minor may request and receive as many 338
417+outpatient mental health treatment sessions as necessary without the 339
418+consent or notification of a parent or guardian. No provider shall notify 340
419+a parent or guardian of treatment provided pursuant to this section or 341
420+disclose any information concerning such treatment to a parent or 342
421+guardian without the consent of the minor. 343
422+(2) A provider may notify a parent or guardian of treatment provided 344
423+pursuant to this section or disclose certain information concerning such 345
424+treatment without the consent of the minor who receives such treatment 346
425+provided (A) such provider determines such notification or disclosure 347
426+is necessary for the minor's well-being, (B) the treatment provided to the 348 Substitute Bill No. 2
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544-objections expressed by the minor in the minor's clinical record. A
545-provider may disclose to a minor's parent or guardian the following
546-information concerning such minor's outpatient mental health
547-treatment: (i) Diagnosis; (ii) treatment plan and progress in treatment;
548-(iii) recommended medications, including risks, benefits, side effects,
549-typical efficacy, dose and schedule; (iv) psychoeducation about the
550-minor's mental health; (v) referrals to community resources; (vi)
551-coaching on parenting or behavioral management strategies; and (vii)
552-crisis prevention planning and safety planning. A provider shall release
553-a minor's entire clinical record to another provider upon the request of
554-the minor or such minor's parent or guardian.
555-(d) A parent or guardian who is not informed of the provision of
556-outpatient mental health treatment for his or her minor child pursuant
557-to this section shall not be liable for the costs of the treatment provided.
558-Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 10-148a of the general statutes is
559-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
560-2021):
561-(a) For the school year commencing July 1, [2019] 2021, and each
562-school year thereafter, each certified employee shall participate in a
563-program of professional development. Each local and regional board of
564-education shall make available, annually, at no cost to its certified
565-employees, a program of professional development that is not fewer
566-than eighteen hours in length, of which a preponderance is in a small
567-group or individual instructional setting. Such program of professional
568-development shall (1) be a comprehensive, sustained and intensive
569-approach to improving teacher and administrator effectiveness in
570-increasing student knowledge achievement, (2) focus on refining and
571-improving various effective teaching methods that are shared between
572-and among educators, (3) foster collective responsibility for improved
573-student performance, (4) be comprised of professional learning that (A)
574-is aligned with rigorous state student academic achievement standards, Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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433+minor is solely for mental health and not for a substance use disorder, 349
434+and (C) the minor is provided an opportunity to express any objection 350
435+to such notification or disclosure. The provider shall document his or 351
436+her determination concerning such notification or disclosure and any 352
437+objections expressed by the minor in the minor's clinical record. A 353
438+provider may disclose to a minor's parent or guardian the following 354
439+information concerning such minor's outpatient mental health 355
440+treatment: (i) Diagnosis; (ii) treatment plan and progress in treatment; 356
441+(iii) recommended medications, including risks, benefits, side effects, 357
442+typical efficacy, dose and schedule; (iv) psychoeducation about the 358
443+minor's mental health; (v) referrals to community resources; (vi) 359
444+coaching on parenting or behavioral management strategies; and (vii) 360
445+crisis prevention planning and safety planning. A provider shall release 361
446+a minor's entire clinical record to another provider upon the request of 362
447+the minor or such minor's parent or guardian. 363
448+(d) A parent or guardian who is not informed of the provision of 364
449+outpatient mental health treatment for his or her minor child pursuant 365
450+to this section shall not be liable for the costs of the treatment provided. 366
451+Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 10-148a of the general statutes is 367
452+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 368
453+2021): 369
454+(a) For the school year commencing July 1, [2019] 2021, and each 370
455+school year thereafter, each certified employee shall participate in a 371
456+program of professional development. Each local and regional board of 372
457+education shall make available, annually, at no cost to its certified 373
458+employees, a program of professional development that is not fewer 374
459+than eighteen hours in length, of which a preponderance is in a small 375
460+group or individual instructional setting. Such program of professional 376
461+development shall (1) be a comprehensive, sustained and intensive 377
462+approach to improving teacher and administrator effectiveness in 378
463+increasing student knowledge achievement, (2) focus on refining and 379
464+improving various effective teaching methods that are shared between 380
465+and among educators, (3) foster collective responsibility for improved 381 Substitute Bill No. 2
577466
578-(B) is conducted among educators at the school and facilitated by
579-principals, coaches, mentors, distinguished educators, as described in
580-section 10-145s, or other appropriate teachers, (C) occurs frequently on
581-an individual basis or among groups of teachers in a job-embedded
582-process of continuous improvement, and (D) includes a repository of
583-best practices for teaching methods developed by educators within each
584-school that is continuously available to such educators for comment and
585-updating, and (5) include training in culturally responsive pedagogy
586-and practice. Each program of professional development shall include
587-professional development activities in accordance with the provisions
588-of subsection (b) of this section. The principles and practices of social-
589-emotional learning shall be integrated throughout the components of
590-such program of professional development described in subdivisions (1)
591-to (5), inclusive, of this subsection.
592-Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 10-220a of the general statutes is
593-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
594-2021):
595-(b) Not later than a date prescribed by the commissioner, each local
596-and regional board of education shall establish a professional
597-development and evaluation committee. Such professional
598-development and evaluation committee shall consist of (1) at least one
599-teacher, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-144d, selected by the
600-exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen
601-pursuant to section 10-153b, (2) at least one administrator, as defined in
602-subsection (a) of section 10-144e, selected by the exclusive bargaining
603-representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-
604-153b, and (3) such other school personnel as the board deems
605-appropriate. The duties of such committees shall include, but not be
606-limited to, participation in the development or adoption of a teacher
607-evaluation and support program for the district, pursuant to section 10-
608-151b, and the development, evaluation and annual updating of a Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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612-comprehensive local professional development plan for certified
613-employees of the district. Such plan shall: (A) Be directly related to the
614-educational goals prepared by the local or regional board of education
615-pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-220, as amended by this act, (B)
616-on and after July 1, [2011] 2021, be developed with full consideration of
617-the priorities and needs related to student social-emotional learning, in
618-accordance with the provisions of section 10-148a, as amended by this
619-act, and student academic outcomes as determined by the State Board
620-of Education, [and] (C) provide for the ongoing and systematic
621-assessment and improvement of both teacher evaluation and
622-professional development of the professional staff members of each
623-such board, including personnel management and evaluation training
624-or experience for administrators, [shall] and (D) be related to regular
625-and special student needs and may include provisions concerning
626-career incentives and parent involvement. The State Board of Education
627-shall develop guidelines to assist local and regional boards of education
628-in determining the objectives of the plans and in coordinating staff
629-development activities with student needs and school programs.
630-Sec. 13. Subsection (b) of section 10-220 of the general statutes is
631-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
632-2021):
633-(b) The board of education of each local or regional school district
634-shall, with the participation of parents, students, school administrators,
635-teachers, citizens, local elected officials and any other individuals or
636-groups such board shall deem appropriate, prepare a statement of
637-educational goals for such local or regional school district. The
638-statement of goals shall be consistent with state-wide goals pursuant to
639-subsection (c) of section 10-4 and include goals for the integration of
640-principles and practices of social-emotional learning in the program of
641-professional development for the school district, in accordance with the
642-provisions of section 10-148a, as amended by this act, and career Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
472+student performance, (4) be comprised of professional learning that (A) 382
473+is aligned with rigorous state student academic achievement standards, 383
474+(B) is conducted among educators at the school and facilitated by 384
475+principals, coaches, mentors, distinguished educators, as described in 385
476+section 10-145s, or other appropriate teachers, (C) occurs frequently on 386
477+an individual basis or among groups of teachers in a job-embedded 387
478+process of continuous improvement, and (D) includes a repository of 388
479+best practices for teaching methods developed by educators within each 389
480+school that is continuously available to such educators for comment and 390
481+updating, and (5) include training in culturally responsive pedagogy 391
482+and practice. Each program of professional development shall include 392
483+professional development activities in accordance with the provisions 393
484+of subsection (b) of this section. The principles and practices of social-394
485+emotional learning shall be integrated throughout the components of 395
486+such program of professional development described in subdivisions (1) 396
487+to (5), inclusive, of this subsection. 397
488+Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 10-220a of the general statutes is 398
489+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 399
490+2021): 400
491+(b) Not later than a date prescribed by the commissioner, each local 401
492+and regional board of education shall establish a professional 402
493+development and evaluation committee. Such professional 403
494+development and evaluation committee shall consist of (1) at least one 404
495+teacher, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-144d, selected by the 405
496+exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen 406
497+pursuant to section 10-153b, (2) at least one administrator, as defined in 407
498+subsection (a) of section 10-144e, selected by the exclusive bargaining 408
499+representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-409
500+153b, and (3) such other school personnel as the board deems 410
501+appropriate. The duties of such committees shall include, but not be 411
502+limited to, participation in the development or adoption of a teacher 412
503+evaluation and support program for the district, pursuant to section 10-413
504+151b, and the development, evaluation and annual updating of a 414 Substitute Bill No. 2
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646-placement for students who do not pursue an advanced degree
647-immediately after graduation. Each local or regional board of education
648-shall annually establish student objectives for the school year which
649-relate directly to the statement of educational goals prepared pursuant
650-to this subsection and which identify specific expectations for students
651-in terms of skills, knowledge and competence.
652-Sec. 14. Section 10-221 of the general statutes is repealed and the
653-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
654-(a) As used in this section, "virtual learning" means instruction by
655-means of one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of an
656-in-person or remote learning model.
657-[(a)] (b) Boards of education shall prescribe rules for the management,
658-studies, classification and discipline of the public schools and, subject to
659-the control of the State Board of Education, the textbooks to be used;
660-shall make rules for the control, within their respective jurisdictions, of
661-school library media centers, including Internet access and content, and
662-approve the selection of books and other educational media therefor,
663-and shall approve plans for public school buildings and superintend
664-any high or graded school in the manner specified in this title.
665-[(b) Not later than July 1, 1985, each] (c) Each local and regional board
666-of education shall develop, adopt and implement written policies
667-concerning homework, attendance, promotion and retention. The
668-Department of Education shall make available model policies and
669-guidelines to assist local and regional boards of education in meeting
670-the responsibilities enumerated in this subsection.
671-[(c)] (d) Boards of education may prescribe rules to impose sanctions
672-against pupils who damage or fail to return textbooks, library materials
673-or other educational materials. Said boards may charge pupils for such
674-damaged or lost textbooks, library materials or other educational Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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511+comprehensive local professional development plan for certified 415
512+employees of the district. Such plan shall: (A) Be directly related to the 416
513+educational goals prepared by the local or regional board of education 417
514+pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-220, as amended by this act, (B) 418
515+on and after July 1, [2011] 2021, be developed with full consideration of 419
516+the priorities and needs related to student social-emotional learning, in 420
517+accordance with the provisions of section 10-148a, as amended by this 421
518+act, and student academic outcomes as determined by the State Board 422
519+of Education, [and] (C) provide for the ongoing and systematic 423
520+assessment and improvement of both teacher evaluation and 424
521+professional development of the professional staff members of each 425
522+such board, including personnel management and evaluation training 426
523+or experience for administrators, [shall] and (D) be related to regular 427
524+and special student needs and may include provisions concerning 428
525+career incentives and parent involvement. The State Board of Education 429
526+shall develop guidelines to assist local and regional boards of education 430
527+in determining the objectives of the plans and in coordinating staff 431
528+development activities with student needs and school programs. 432
529+Sec. 13. Subsection (b) of section 10-220 of the general statutes is 433
530+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 434
531+2021): 435
532+(b) The board of education of each local or regional school district 436
533+shall, with the participation of parents, students, school administrators, 437
534+teachers, citizens, local elected officials and any other individuals or 438
535+groups such board shall deem appropriate, prepare a statement of 439
536+educational goals for such local or regional school district. The 440
537+statement of goals shall be consistent with state-wide goals pursuant to 441
538+subsection (c) of section 10-4 and include goals for the integration of 442
539+principles and practices of social-emotional learning in the program of 443
540+professional development for the school district, in accordance with the 444
541+provisions of section 10-148a, as amended by this act, and career 445
542+placement for students who do not pursue an advanced d egree 446
543+immediately after graduation. Each local or regional board of education 447 Substitute Bill No. 2
677544
678-materials and may withhold grades, transcripts or report cards until the
679-pupil pays for or returns the textbook, library book or other educational
680-material.
681-[(d) Not later than July 1, 1991, each] (e) Each local and regional board
682-of education shall develop, adopt and implement policies and
683-procedures in conformity with section 10-154a for (1) dealing with the
684-use, sale or possession of alcohol or controlled drugs, as defined in
685-subdivision (8) of section 21a-240, by public school students on school
686-property, including a process for coordination with, and referral of such
687-students to, appropriate agencies, and (2) cooperating with law
688-enforcement officials.
689-[(e) Not later than July 1, 1990, each] (f) Each local and regional board
690-of education shall adopt a written policy and procedures for dealing
691-with youth suicide prevention and youth suicide attempts. Each such
692-board of education may establish a student assistance program to
693-identify risk factors for youth suicide, procedures to intervene with such
694-youths, referral services and training for teachers and other school
695-professionals and students who provide assistance in the program.
696-[(f) Not later than September 1, 1998, each] (g) (1) Each local and
697-regional board of education shall develop, adopt and implement written
698-policies and procedures to encourage parent-teacher communication.
699-These policies and procedures may include monthly newsletters,
700-required regular contact with all parents, flexible parent-teacher
701-conferences, drop-in hours for parents, home visits and the use of
702-technology such as homework hot lines to allow parents to check on
703-their children's assignments and students to [get] receive assistance if
704-needed. [For the school year commencing July 1, 2010, and each school
705-year thereafter, such] Such policies and procedures shall require the
706-district to conduct two flexible parent-teacher conferences for each
707-school year. Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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711-(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year
712-thereafter, the policies and procedures described in subdivision (1) of
713-this subsection shall require the district to (A) offer parents the option
714-of attending any parent-teacher conference by telephonic, video or other
715-conferencing platform, (B) conduct one parent-teacher conference, in
716-addition to those required pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection,
717-during periods when such district provides virtual learning for more
718-than three consecutive weeks, and one additional parent-teacher
719-conference every six months thereafter for the duration of such period
720-of virtual learning, and (C) request from each student's parent the name
721-and contact information of an emergency contact person who may be
722-contacted if the student's parent cannot be reached to schedule a parent-
723-teacher conference required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this
724-subdivision.
725-(3) On and after January 1, 2022, such policies and procedures shall
726-require (A) a teacher conducting a parent-teacher conference required
727-pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection to
728-provide a copy of the document developed pursuant to section 15 of this
729-act to the parent prior to the parent-teacher conference, and (B) if a
730-teacher is unable to make contact with a student's parent in order to
731-schedule a parent-teacher conference required pursuant to
732-subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection after making three
733-attempts, such teacher shall report such inability to the school principal,
734-school counselor or other school administrator designated by the local
735-or regional board of education. Such principal, counselor or
736-administrator shall contact any emergency contact person designated by
737-the student's parent pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of
738-this subsection to ascertain such student and family's health and safety.
739-Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than December 1,
740-2021, the Department of Education shall develop, and annually update,
741-a document for use by local and regional boards of education that Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
550+shall annually establish student objectives for the school year which 448
551+relate directly to the statement of educational goals prepared pursuant 449
552+to this subsection and which identify specific expectations for students 450
553+in terms of skills, knowledge and competence. 451
554+Sec. 14. Section 10-221 of the general statutes is repealed and the 452
555+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 453
556+(a) As used in this section, "virtual learning" means instruction by 454
557+means of one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of a 455
558+remote learning model. 456
559+[(a)] (b) Boards of education shall prescribe rules for the management, 457
560+studies, classification and discipline of the public schools and, subject to 458
561+the control of the State Board of Education, the textbooks to be used; 459
562+shall make rules for the control, within their respective jurisdictions, of 460
563+school library media centers, including Internet access and content, and 461
564+approve the selection of books and other educational media therefor, 462
565+and shall approve plans for public school buildings and superintend 463
566+any high or graded school in the manner specified in this title. 464
567+[(b) Not later than July 1, 1985, each] (c) Each local and regional board 465
568+of education shall develop, adopt and implement written policies 466
569+concerning homework, attendance, promotion and retention. The 467
570+Department of Education shall make available model policies and 468
571+guidelines to assist local and regional boards of education in meeting 469
572+the responsibilities enumerated in this subsection. 470
573+[(c)] (d) Boards of education may prescribe rules to impose sanctions 471
574+against pupils who damage or fail to return textbooks, library materials 472
575+or other educational materials. Said boards may charge pupils for such 473
576+damaged or lost textbooks, library materials or other educational 474
577+materials and may withhold grades, transcripts or report cards until the 475
578+pupil pays for or returns the textbook, library book or other educational 476
579+material. 477
580+[(d) Not later than July 1, 1991, each] (e) Each local and regional board 478 Substitute Bill No. 2
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745-provides information concerning educational, safety, mental health and
746-food insecurity resources and programs available for students and their
747-families. Such document shall contain, but need not be limited to, (1)
748-providers of such resources and programs, including, but not limited to,
749-the Departments of Education, Children and Families and Mental
750-Health and Addiction Services, the United Way of Connecticut and local
751-food banks, (2) descriptions of the relevant resources and programs
752-offered by each provider, including, but not limited to, any program that
753-provides laptop computers, public Internet access or home Internet
754-service to students, (3) contact information for each provider, resource
755-and program, and (4) relevant Internet web sites. The Department of
756-Education shall annually distribute such document electronically to
757-each local and regional board of education.
758-Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section,
759-"virtual learning" means instruction by means of one or more Internet-
760-based software platforms as part of an in-person or remote learning
761-model.
762-(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Education
763-shall develop, and update as necessary, standards for virtual learning.
764-The standards shall not be deemed to be regulations, as defined in
765-section 4-166 of the general statutes.
766-(c) For the school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year
767-thereafter, a local or regional board of education may authorize virtual
768-learning to students in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, provided such
769-board (1) provides such instruction in compliance with the standards
770-developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (2) adopts a
771-policy regarding the requirements for student attendance during virtual
772-learning, which shall (A) be in compliance with the Department of
773-Education's guidance on student attendance during virtual learning,
774-and (B) count the attendance of any student who spends not less than
775-one-half of the school day during such instruction engaged in (i) virtual Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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587+of education shall develop, adopt and implement policies and 479
588+procedures in conformity with section 10-154a for (1) dealing with the 480
589+use, sale or possession of alcohol or controlled drugs, as defined in 481
590+subdivision (8) of section 21a-240, by public school students on school 482
591+property, including a process for coordination with, and referral of such 483
592+students to, appropriate agencies, and (2) cooperating with law 484
593+enforcement officials. 485
594+[(e) Not later than July 1, 1990, each] (f) Each local and regional board 486
595+of education shall adopt a written policy and procedures for dealing 487
596+with youth suicide prevention and youth suicide attempts. Each such 488
597+board of education may establish a student assistance program to 489
598+identify risk factors for youth suicide, procedures to intervene with such 490
599+youths, referral services and training for teachers and other school 491
600+professionals and students who provide assistance in the program. 492
601+[(f) Not later than September 1, 1998, each] (g) (1) Each local and 493
602+regional board of education shall develop, adopt and implement written 494
603+policies and procedures to encourage parent-teacher communication. 495
604+These policies and procedures may include monthly newsletters, 496
605+required regular contact with all parents, flexible parent-teacher 497
606+conferences, drop-in hours for parents, home visits and the use of 498
607+technology such as homework hot lines to allow parents to check on 499
608+their children's assignments and students to [get] receive assistance if 500
609+needed. [For the school year commencing July 1, 2010, and each school 501
610+year thereafter, such] Such policies and procedures shall require the 502
611+district to conduct two flexible parent-teacher conferences for each 503
612+school year. 504
613+(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year 505
614+thereafter, the policies and procedures described in subdivision (1) of 506
615+this subsection shall require the district to (A) offer parents the option 507
616+of attending any parent-teacher conference by telephonic, video or other 508
617+conferencing platform, (B) conduct one parent-teacher conference, in 509
618+addition to those required pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, 510
619+during periods when such district provides virtual learning for more 511 Substitute Bill No. 2
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779-classes, (ii) virtual meetings, (iii) activities on time-logged electronic
780-systems, and (iv) the completion and submission of assignments.
781-Sec. 17. Section 10-16 of the general statutes is repealed and the
782-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
783-Each school district shall provide in each school year no less than one
784-hundred and eighty days of actual school sessions for grades
785-kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, nine hundred hours of actual school
786-work for full-day kindergarten and grades one to twelve, inclusive, and
787-four hundred and fifty hours of half-day kindergarten, provided school
788-districts shall not count more than seven hours of actual school work in
789-any school day towards the total required for the school year. Virtual
790-learning shall be considered an actual school session for purposes of this
791-section, provided such virtual learning is conducted in compliance with
792-the standards developed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16 of this
793-act. If weather conditions result in an early dismissal or a delayed
794-opening of school, a school district which maintains separate morning
795-and afternoon half-day kindergarten sessions may provide either a
796-morning or afternoon half-day kindergarten session on such day. As
797-used in this section, "virtual learning" means instruction by means of
798-one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of an in-person
799-or remote learning model.
800-Sec. 18. Section 10-198b of the general statutes is repealed and the
801-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
802-[On or before July 1, 2012, the] The State Board of Education shall
803-define "excused absence", [and] "unexcused absence" [, and on or before
804-January 1, 2016, the State Board of Education shall define] and
805-"disciplinary absence" for use by local and regional boards of education
806-for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of section 10-198a,
807-reporting truancy, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-220, and
808-calculating the district chronic absenteeism rate and the school chronic Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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812-absenteeism rate pursuant to section 10-198c. On or before July 1, 2021,
813-the State Board of Education shall amend the definitions of "excused
814-absence" and "unexcused absence" to exclude a student's engagement in
815-(1) virtual classes, (2) virtual meetings, (3) activities on time-logged
816-electronic systems, and (4) the completion and submission of
817-assignments, if such engagement accounts for not less than one-half of
818-the school day during virtual learning authorized pursuant to section 16
819-of this act. As used in this section, "virtual learning" means instruction
820-by means of one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of an
821-in-person or remote learning model.
822-Sec. 19. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section and
823-section 10-198b of the general statutes, as amended by this act, "mental
824-health wellness day" describes a school day during which a student
825-attends to such student's emotional and psychological well-being in lieu
826-of attending school.
827-(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year
828-thereafter, a local or regional board of education shall permit any
829-student enrolled in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, to take two
830-mental health wellness days during the school year, during which day
831-such student shall not be required to attend school. No student shall
832-take mental health wellness days during consecutive school days.
833-Sec. 20. Section 10-215 of the general statutes is repealed and the
834-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
835-(a) Any local or regional board of education may establish and
836-operate a school lunch program for public school children, may operate
837-lunch services for its employees, may establish and operate a school
838-breakfast program, as provided under federal laws governing said
839-programs, or may establish and operate such other child feeding
840-programs as it deems necessary. Charges for such lunches, breakfasts or
841-other such feeding may be fixed by such boards and shall not exceed the Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
626+than three consecutive weeks, and one additional parent-teacher 512
627+conference every six months thereafter for the duration of such period 513
628+of virtual learning, and (C) request from each student's parent the name 514
629+and contact information of an emergency contact person who may be 515
630+contacted if the student's parent cannot be reached to schedule a parent-516
631+teacher conference required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this 517
632+subdivision. 518
633+(3) On and after January 1, 2022, such policies and procedures shall 519
634+require (A) a teacher conducting a parent-teacher conference required 520
635+pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection to 521
636+provide a copy of the document developed pursuant to section 15 of this 522
637+act to the parent prior to the parent-teacher conference, and (B) if a 523
638+teacher is unable to make contact with a student's parent in order to 524
639+schedule a parent-teacher conference required pursuant to 525
640+subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection after making three 526
641+attempts, such teacher shall report such inability to the school principal, 527
642+school counselor or other school administrator designated by the local 528
643+or regional board of education. Such principal, counselor or 529
644+administrator shall contact any emergency contact person designated by 530
645+the student's parent pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of 531
646+this subsection to ascertain such student's and family's health and 532
647+safety. 533
648+Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than December 1, 534
649+2021, the Department of Education shall develop, and annually update, 535
650+a document for use by local and regional boards of education that 536
651+provides information concerning educational, safety, mental health and 537
652+food insecurity resources and programs available for students and their 538
653+families. Such document shall contain, but need not be limited to, (1) 539
654+providers of such resources and programs, including, but not limited to, 540
655+the Departments of Education, Children and Families and Mental 541
656+Health and Addiction Services, the United Way of Connecticut and local 542
657+food banks, (2) descriptions of the relevant resources and programs 543
658+offered by each provider, including, but not limited to, (A) the "Talk it 544 Substitute Bill No. 2
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845-cost of food, wages and other expenses directly incurred in providing
846-such services. When such services are offered, a board shall provide free
847-lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding to children whose economic
848-needs require such action under the standards promulgated by said
849-federal laws. Such board is authorized to purchase equipment and
850-supplies that are necessary, to employ the necessary personnel, to utilize
851-the services of volunteers and to receive and expend any funds and
852-receive and use any equipment and supplies which may become
853-available to carry out the provisions of this section. Any town board of
854-education may vote to designate any volunteer organization within the
855-town to provide a school lunch program, school breakfast program or
856-other child feeding program in accordance with the provisions of this
857-section.
858-(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year
859-thereafter, a local or regional board of education shall include in any
860-policy or procedure for the collection of unpaid charges for school
861-lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding applicable to employees and
862-third-party vendors of such school lunches, breakfasts or such feeding
863-(1) a prohibition on publicly identifying or shaming a child for any such
864-unpaid charges, including, but not limited to, delaying or refusing to
865-serve a meal to such child, designating a specific meal option for such
866-child or otherwise taking any disciplinary action against such child, (2)
867-a declaration of the right for any child to purchase a meal, which meal
868-may exclude any a la carte items or be limited to one meal for any school
869-lunch, breakfast or other such feeding, and (3) a procedure for
870-communicating with the parent or legal guardian of a child for the
871-purpose of collecting such unpaid charges. Such communication shall
872-include, but not be limited to, (A) information regarding local food
873-pantries, (B) applications for the school district's program for free or
874-reduced priced meals and for the supplemental nutrition assistance
875-program administered by the Department of Social Services, and (C) a
876-link to the Internet web site maintained by the town for such school Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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665+Out" program administered by the Department of Children and 545
666+Families, and (B) any program that provides laptop computers, public 546
667+Internet access or home Internet service to students, (3) contact 547
668+information for each provider, resource and program, and (4) relevant 548
669+Internet web sites. The Department of Education shall annually 549
670+distribute such document electronically to each local and regional board 550
671+of education. 551
672+Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, 552
673+"virtual learning" means instruction by means of one or more Internet-553
674+based software platforms as part of a remote learning model. 554
675+(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Education 555
676+shall develop, and update as necessary, standards for virtual learning. 556
677+The standards shall not be deemed to be regulations, as defined in 557
678+section 4-166 of the general statutes. 558
679+(c) For the school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year 559
680+thereafter, a local or regional board of education may authorize virtual 560
681+learning for students in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, provided such 561
682+board (1) provides such instruction in compliance with the standards 562
683+developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (2) adopts a 563
684+policy regarding the requirements for student attendance during virtual 564
685+learning, which shall (A) be in compliance with the Department of 565
686+Education's guidance on student attendance during virtual learning, 566
687+and (B) count the attendance of any student who spends not less than 567
688+one-half of the school day during such instruction engaged in (i) virtual 568
689+classes, (ii) virtual meetings, (iii) activities on time-logged electronic 569
690+systems, and (iv) the completion and submission of assignments. 570
691+Sec. 17. Section 10-16 of the general statutes is repealed and the 571
692+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 572
693+Each school district shall provide in each school year no less than one 573
694+hundred and eighty days of actual school sessions for grades 574
695+kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, nine hundred hours of actual school 575 Substitute Bill No. 2
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880-district listing any community services available to the residents of such
881-town. In the event the unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or
882-other such feeding due from any parent or legal guardian are equal to
883-or more than the cost of thirty meals, the local or regional board of
884-education shall refer such parent or legal guardian to the local homeless
885-education liaison designated by such board, pursuant to Subtitle B of
886-Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431
887-et seq., as amended from time to time.
888-(c) A local or regional board of education may accept gifts, donations
889-or grants from any public or private sources for the purpose of paying
890-off any unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such
891-feeding.
892-Sec. 21. Section 17a-10a of the general statutes is repealed and the
893-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
894-(a) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall ensure that a
895-child placed in the care and custody of the commissioner pursuant to an
896-order of temporary custody or an order of commitment is provided
897-visitation with such child's parents and siblings, unless otherwise
898-ordered by the court.
899-(b) The commissioner shall ensure that such child's visits with his or
900-her parents, or opportunities to communicate with such child's parents
901-and siblings by telephonic, video or other conferencing platform in
902-accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, shall
903-occur as frequently as reasonably possible, based upon consideration of
904-the best interests of the child, including the age and developmental level
905-of the child, and shall be sufficient in number and duration to ensure
906-continuation of the relationship.
907-(c) If such child has an existing relationship with a sibling and is
908-separated from such sibling as a result of intervention by the Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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912-commissioner including, but not limited to, placement in a foster home
913-or in the home of a relative, the commissioner shall, based upon
914-consideration of the best interests of the child, ensure that such child has
915-access to and visitation rights with such sibling throughout the duration
916-of such placement. In determining the number, frequency and duration
917-of sibling visits, the commissioner shall consider the best interests of
918-each sibling, given each child's age and developmental level and the
919-continuation of the sibling relationship. If the child and his or her sibling
920-both reside within the state and within fifty miles of each other, the
921-commissioner shall, within available appropriations, ensure that such
922-child's visits with his or her sibling occur, on average, not less than once
923-per week, unless the commissioner finds that the frequency of such
924-visitation is not in the best interests of each sibling.
925-(d) In the event of a pandemic or outbreak of a communicable disease
926-resulting in a declaration of a public health emergency by the Governor
927-pursuant to section 19a-131a, or a declaration of a national emergency
928-by the President of the United States, such child shall be provided
929-opportunities to communicate with such child's parents and siblings by
930-telephonic, video or other conferencing platform in lieu of in-person
931-visitation, for the duration of any such declaration. Not later than
932-January 1, 2022, the commissioner shall develop a policy that requires
933-the temporary cessation of in-person visitation provided pursuant to
934-this section, on a case-by-case basis, in the event that a child or such
935-child's parent or sibling is seriously ill due to a communicable disease,
936-and visitation could result in the contraction of such disease by one or
937-more participants in the visitation. Such policy shall require that such
938-child be provided an opportunity to communicate with such child's
939-parents and siblings by telephonic, video or other conferencing platform
940-in lieu of such visitation. The commissioner shall define "seriously ill"
941-and "communicable disease" for the purposes of carrying out this
942-subsection. Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
702+work for full-day kindergarten and grades one to twelve, inclusive, and 576
703+four hundred and fifty hours of half-day kindergarten, provided school 577
704+districts shall not count more than seven hours of actual school work in 578
705+any school day towards the total required for the school year. Virtual 579
706+learning shall be considered an actual school session for purposes of this 580
707+section, provided, that, on and after January 1, 2022, such virtual 581
708+learning is conducted in compliance with the standards developed 582
709+pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16 of this act. If weather conditions 583
710+result in an early dismissal or a delayed opening of school, a school 584
711+district which maintains separate morning and afternoon half-day 585
712+kindergarten sessions may provide either a morning or afternoon half-586
713+day kindergarten session on such day. As used in this section, "virtual 587
714+learning" means instruction by means of one or more Internet-based 588
715+software platforms as part of a remote learning model. 589
716+Sec. 18. Section 10-198b of the general statutes is repealed and the 590
717+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 591
718+[On or before July 1, 2012, the] The State Board of Education shall 592
719+define "excused absence", [and] "unexcused absence" [, and on or before 593
720+January 1, 2016, the State Board of Education shall define] and 594
721+"disciplinary absence" for use by local and regional boards of education 595
722+for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of section 10-198a, 596
723+reporting truancy, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-220, and 597
724+calculating the district chronic absenteeism rate and the school chronic 598
725+absenteeism rate pursuant to section 10-198c. On or before July 1, 2021, 599
726+the State Board of Education shall amend the definitions of "excused 600
727+absence" and "unexcused absence" to exclude a student's (1) (A) 601
728+engagement in virtual classes, (B) virtual meetings, (C) activities on 602
729+time-logged electronic systems, and (D) completion and submission of 603
730+assignments, if such engagement accounts for not less than one-half of 604
731+the school day during virtual learning authorized pursuant to section 16 605
732+of this act, and (2) absence resulting from such student taking a mental 606
733+health wellness day permitted pursuant to section 19 of this act. As used 607
734+in this section, "virtual learning" means instruction by means of one or 608 Substitute Bill No. 2
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946-[(d)] (e) The commissioner shall include in each child's case record
947-information relating to the factors considered in making visitation
948-determinations pursuant to this section. If the commissioner determines
949-that such visits are not in the best interests of the child, that the
950-occurrence of, on average, not less than one visit per week with his or
951-her sibling is not in the best interests of each sibling, or that the number,
952-frequency or duration of the visits requested by the child's attorney or
953-guardian ad litem is not in the best interests of the child, the
954-commissioner shall include the reasons for such determination in the
955-child's case record.
956-[(e)] (f) On or before October first of each year, the commissioner shall
957-report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint
958-standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
959-matters relating to children, data sufficient to demonstrate compliance
960-with subsections (a), (c) and [(d)] (e) of this section. Such data shall
961-include the total annual number of children in out-of-home placements
962-who have siblings, the total number of child cases with documented
963-sibling visitation and the number of individual siblings involved in each
964-case.
965-Sec. 22. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) Not later than February 1, 2022,
966-the Commissioner of Children and Families shall develop and maintain
967-a software application for use on computers and mobile devices to
968-facilitate (1) the reporting of nonemergent incidents to the Department
969-of Children and Families by mandated repor ters, and (2)
970-communication between children in the care and custody of the
971-commissioner and social workers assigned to such children.
972-Sec. 23. Section 17a-103d of the general statutes is repealed and the
973-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
974-(a) Upon receiving a complaint of abuse or neglect of a child, the
975-Department of Children and Families shall, at the time of any initial Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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741+more Internet-based software platforms as part of a remote learning 609
742+model. 610
743+Sec. 19. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section and 611
744+section 10-198b of the general statutes, as amended by this act, "mental 612
745+health wellness day" describes a school day during which a student 613
746+attends to such student's emotional and psychological well-being in lieu 614
747+of attending school. 615
748+(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year 616
749+thereafter, a local or regional board of education shall permit any 617
750+student enrolled in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, to take up 618
751+to four mental health wellness days during the school year, during 619
752+which day such student shall not be required to attend school. A student 620
753+shall not be required to present documentation or parental or guardian 621
754+consent to take a mental health wellness day, but, for purposes of the 622
755+school year limitation on such days pursuant to this subsection, shall 623
756+identify his or her absence as a mental health wellness day. 624
757+Sec. 20. Section 10-215 of the general statutes is repealed and the 625
758+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 626
759+(a) Any local or regional board of education may establish and 627
760+operate a school lunch program for public school children, may operate 628
761+lunch services for its employees, may establish and operate a school 629
762+breakfast program, as provided under federal laws governing said 630
763+programs, or may establish and operate such other child feeding 631
764+programs as it deems necessary. Charges for such lunches, breakfasts or 632
765+other such feeding may be fixed by such boards and shall not exceed the 633
766+cost of food, wages and other expenses directly incurred in providing 634
767+such services. When such services are offered, a board shall provide free 635
768+lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding to children whose economic 636
769+needs require such action under the standards promulgated by said 637
770+federal laws. Such board is authorized to purchase equipment and 638
771+supplies that are necessary, to employ the necessary personnel, to utilize 639
772+the services of volunteers and to receive and expend any funds and 640 Substitute Bill No. 2
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979-face-to-face contact with the child's parent or guardian on or after
980-October 1, [2011] 2021, provide the parent or guardian with (1) written
981-notice, in plain language, that: [(1)] (A) The parent or guardian is not
982-required to permit the representative of the department to enter the
983-residence of the parent or guardian; [(2)] (B) the parent or guardian is
984-not required to speak with the representative of the department at that
985-time; [(3)] (C) the parent or guardian is entitled to seek the
986-representation of an attorney and to have an attorney present when the
987-parent or guardian is questioned by a representative of the department,
988-including at any meeting conducted to determine whether the parent or
989-guardian's child should be removed from the home; [(4)] (D) any
990-statement made by the parent, guardian or other family member may
991-be used against the parent or guardian in an administrative or court
992-proceeding; [(5)] (E) the representative of the department is not an
993-attorney and cannot provide legal advice to the parent or guardian; [(6)]
994-(F) the parent or guardian is not required to sign any document
995-presented by the representative of the department, including, but not
996-limited to, a release of claims or a service agreement, and is entitled to
997-have an attorney review such document before agreeing to sign the
998-document; and [(7)] (G) a failure of the parent or guardian to
999-communicate with a representative of the department may have serious
1000-consequences, which may include the department's filing of a petition
1001-for the removal of the child from the home of the parent or guardian,
1002-and therefore it is in the parent's or guardian's best interest to either
1003-speak with the representative of the department or immediately seek
1004-the advice of a qualified attorney; and (2) a list of providers of free and
1005-low-cost legal services through which the parent or guardian may
1006-obtain legal advice.
1007-(b) The department shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the
1008-notice and list provided to a parent or guardian pursuant to this section
1009-[is] are written in a manner that will be understood by the parent or
1010-guardian, which reasonable efforts shall include, but not be limited to, Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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1014-ensuring that the notice [is] and list are written in a language
1015-understood by the parent or guardian.
1016-(c) The representative of the department shall request the parent or
1017-guardian to sign and date the notice described in subsection (a) of this
1018-section as evidence of having received the notice and list. If the parent
1019-or guardian refuses to sign and date the notice upon such request, the
1020-representative of the department shall specifically indicate on the notice
1021-that the parent or guardian was requested to sign and date the notice
1022-and refused to do so and the representative of the department shall sign
1023-the notice as witness to the parent's or guardian's refusal to sign the
1024-notice. The department shall provide the parent or guardian with a copy
1025-of the signed notice at the time of the department's initial face-to-face
1026-contact with the parent or guardian.
1027-Sec. 24. Section 17a-248g of the general statutes is repealed and the
1028-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
1029-(a) Subject to the provisions of this section, funds appropriated to the
1030-lead agency for purposes of section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-
1031-248f, inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a shall not
1032-be used to satisfy a financial commitment for services that would have
1033-been paid from another public or private source but for the enactment
1034-of said sections, except for federal funds available pursuant to Part C of
1035-the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1431 et seq.,
1036-except that whenever considered necessary to prevent the delay in the
1037-receipt of appropriate early intervention services by the eligible child or
1038-family in a timely fashion, funds provided under said sections may be
1039-used to pay the service provider pending reimbursement from the
1040-public or private source that has ultimate responsibility for the payment.
1041-(b) Nothing in section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f,
1042-inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a shall be
1043-construed to permit the Department of Social Services or any other state Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
779+receive and use any equipment and supplies which may become 641
780+available to carry out the provisions of this section. Any town board of 642
781+education may vote to designate any volunteer organization within the 643
782+town to provide a school lunch program, school breakfast program or 644
783+other child feeding program in accordance with the provisions of this 645
784+section. 646
785+(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year 647
786+thereafter, a local or regional board of education shall include in any 648
787+policy or procedure for the collection of unpaid charges for school 649
788+lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding (1) a prohibition on publicly 650
789+identifying or shaming a child for any such unpaid charges, including, 651
790+but not limited to, delaying or refusing to serve a meal to such child, 652
791+designating a specific meal option for such child or otherwise taking any 653
792+disciplinary action against such child, (2) a declaration of the right for 654
793+any child to purchase a meal, which meal may exclude any a la carte 655
794+items or be limited to one meal for any school lunch, breakfast or other 656
795+such feeding, and (3) a procedure for communicating with the parent or 657
796+legal guardian of a child for the purpose of collecting such unpaid 658
797+charges. Such communication shall include, but not be limited to, (A) 659
798+information regarding local food pantries, (B) applications for the school 660
799+district's program for free or reduced priced meals and for the 661
800+supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the 662
801+Department of Social Services, and (C) a link to the Internet web site 663
802+maintained by the town for such school district listing any community 664
803+services available to the residents of such town. 665
804+(c) A local or regional board of education may accept gifts, donations 666
805+or grants from any public or private sources for the purpose of paying 667
806+off any unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such 668
807+feeding. 669
808+Sec. 21. Section 17a-10a of the general statutes is repealed and the 670
809+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 671
810+(a) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall ensure that a 672 Substitute Bill No. 2
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1047-agency to reduce medical assistance pursuant to this chapter or other
1048-assistance or services available to eligible children. Notwithstanding
1049-any provision of the general statutes, costs incurred for early
1050-intervention services that otherwise qualify as medical assistance that
1051-are furnished to an eligible child who is also eligible for benefits
1052-pursuant to this chapter shall be considered medical assistance for
1053-purposes of payments to providers and state reimbursement to the
1054-extent that federal financial participation is available for such services.
1055-(c) Providers of early intervention services shall, in the first instance
1056-and where applicable, seek payment from all third-party payers prior to
1057-claiming payment from the birth-to-three system for services rendered
1058-to eligible children, provided, for the purpose of seeking payment from
1059-the Medicaid program or from other third-party payers as agreed upon
1060-by the provider, the obligation to seek payment shall not apply to a
1061-payment from a third-party payer who is not prohibited from applying
1062-such payment, and who will apply such payment, to an annual or
1063-lifetime limit specified in the third-party payer's policy or contract.
1064-(d) The commissioner, in consultation with the Office of Policy and
1065-Management and the Insurance Commissioner, shall adopt regulations,
1066-pursuant to chapter 54, providing public reimbursement for deductibles
1067-and copayments imposed under an insurance policy or health benefit
1068-plan to the extent that such deductibles and copayments are applicable
1069-to early intervention services.
1070-(e) [The commissioner shall establish and periodically revise, in
1071-accordance with this section, a schedule of fees based on a sliding scale
1072-for early intervention services. The schedule of fees shall consider the
1073-cost of such services relative to the financial resources of the state and
1074-the parents or legal guardians of eligible children, provided that on and
1075-after October 6, 2009, the commissioner shall (1) charge fees to such
1076-parents or legal guardians that are sixty per cent greater than the
1077-amount of the fees charged on the date prior to October 6, 2009; and (2) Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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817+child placed in the care and custody of the commissioner pursuant to an 673
818+order of temporary custody or an order of commitment is provided 674
819+visitation with such child's parents and siblings, unless otherwise 675
820+ordered by the court. In the event of a pandemic or outbreak of a 676
821+communicable disease resulting in a declaration of a public health 677
822+emergency by the Governor pursuant to section 19a-131a, or a 678
823+declaration of a national emergency by the President of the United 679
824+States, such child shall be provided opportunities to communicate with 680
825+such child's parents and siblings by telephonic, video or other 681
826+conferencing platform in lieu of in-person visitation, for the duration of 682
827+any such declaration. 683
828+(b) The commissioner shall ensure that such child's visits with his or 684
829+her parents, or opportunities to communicate with such child's parents 685
830+and siblings by telephonic, video or other conferencing platform in 686
831+accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, shall 687
832+occur as frequently as reasonably possible, based upon consideration of 688
833+the best interests of the child, including the age and developmental level 689
834+of the child, and shall be sufficient in number and duration to ensure 690
835+continuation of the relationship. 691
836+(c) If such child has an existing relationship with a sibling and is 692
837+separated from such sibling as a result of intervention by the 693
838+commissioner including, but not limited to, placement in a foster home 694
839+or in the home of a relative, the commissioner shall, based upon 695
840+consideration of the best interests of the child, ensure that such child has 696
841+access to and visitation rights with such sibling throughout the duration 697
842+of such placement. In determining the number, frequency and duration 698
843+of sibling visits, the commissioner shall consider the best interests of 699
844+each sibling, given each child's age and developmental level and the 700
845+continuation of the sibling relationship. If the child and his or her sibling 701
846+both reside within the state and within fifty miles of each other, the 702
847+commissioner shall, within available appropriations, ensure that such 703
848+child's visits with his or her sibling occur, on average, not less than once 704
849+per week, unless the commissioner finds that the frequency of such 705 Substitute Bill No. 2
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1081-charge fees for all services provided, including those services provided
1082-in the first two months following the enrollment of a child in the
1083-program. Fees may be charged to any such parent or guardian,
1084-regardless of income, and shall be charged to any such parent or
1085-guardian with a gross annual family income of forty-five thousand
1086-dollars or more, except that no fee may be charged to the parent or
1087-guardian of a child who is eligible for Medicaid. Notwithstanding the
1088-provisions of subdivision (8) of section 17a-248, as used in this
1089-subsection, "parent" means the biological or adoptive parent or legal
1090-guardian of any child receiving early intervention services. The lead
1091-agency may assign its right to collect fees to a designee or provider
1092-participating in the early intervention program and providing services
1093-to a recipient in order to assist the provider in obtaining payment for
1094-such services. The commissioner may implement procedures for the
1095-collection of the schedule of fees while in the process of adopting or
1096-amending such criteria in regulation, provided the commissioner posts
1097-notice of intention to adopt or amend the regulations on the
1098-eRegulations System, established pursuant to section 4-173b, within
1099-twenty days of implementing the policy. Such collection procedures and
1100-schedule of fees shall be valid until the time the final regulations or
1101-amendments are effective] The commissioner shall not charge a fee for
1102-early intervention services to the parents or legal guardians of eligible
1103-children.
1104-(f) [The] With respect to early intervention services rendered prior to
1105-the effective date of this section, the commissioner shall develop and
1106-implement procedures to hold a recipient harmless for the impact of
1107-pursuit of payment for [early intervention] such services against lifetime
1108-insurance limits.
1109-(g) Notwithstanding any provision of title 38a relating to the
1110-permissible exclusion of payments for services under governmental
1111-programs, no such exclusion shall apply with respect to payments made Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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1115-pursuant to section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f, inclusive, this
1116-section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a. Except as provided in this
1117-subsection, nothing in this section shall increase or enhance coverages
1118-provided for within an insurance contract subject to the provisions of
1119-section 10-94f, subsection (a) of section 10-94g, subsection (a) of section
1120-17a-219b, subsection (a) of section 17a-219c, sections 17a-248, 17a-248b
1121-to 17a-248f, inclusive, this section, and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a.
1122-Sec. 25. Subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d of the
1123-general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
1124-thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
1125-(10) (A) Each local and regional board of education responsible for
1126-providing special education and related services to a child or pupil shall
1127-notify the parent or guardian of a child who requires or who may
1128-require special education, a pupil if such pupil is an emancipated minor
1129-or eighteen years of age or older who requires or who may require
1130-special education or a surrogate parent appointed pursuant to section
1131-10-94g, in writing, at least five school days before such board proposes
1132-to, or refuses to, initiate or change the child's or pupil's identification,
1133-evaluation or educational placement or the provision of a free
1134-appropriate public education to the child or pupil.
1135-(B) Upon request by a parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent,
1136-the responsible local or regional board of education shall provide such
1137-parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent an opportunity to meet with
1138-a member of the planning and placement team designated by such
1139-board prior to the referral planning and placement team meeting at
1140-which the assessments and evaluations of the child or pupil who
1141-requires or may require special education is presented to such parent,
1142-guardian, pupil or surrogate parent for the first time. Such meeting shall
1143-be for the sole purpose of discussing the planning and placement team
1144-process and any concerns such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate
1145-parent has regarding the child or pupil who requires or may require Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
856+visitation is not in the best interests of each sibling. 706
857+(d) Not later than January 1, 2022, the commissioner shall develop a 707
858+policy that requires the temporary cessation of in-person visitation 708
859+provided pursuant to this section, on a case-by-case basis, in the event 709
860+that a child or such child's parent or sibling is seriously ill due to a 710
861+communicable disease, and visitation could result in the contraction of 711
862+such disease by one or more participants in the visitation. Such policy 712
863+shall require that such child be provided an opportunity to 713
864+communicate with such child's parents and siblings by telephonic, video 714
865+or other conferencing platform in lieu of such visitation. The 715
866+commissioner shall define "seriously ill" and "communicable disease" 716
867+for the purposes of carrying out this subsection. 717
868+[(d)] (e) The commissioner shall include in each child's case record 718
869+information relating to the factors considered in making visitation 719
870+determinations pursuant to this section. If the commissioner determines 720
871+that such visits are not in the best interests of the child, that the 721
872+occurrence of, on average, not less than one visit per week with his or 722
873+her sibling is not in the best interests of each sibling, or that the number, 723
874+frequency or duration of the visits requested by the child's attorney or 724
875+guardian ad litem is not in the best interests of the child, the 725
876+commissioner shall include the reasons for such determination in the 726
877+child's case record. 727
878+[(e)] (f) On or before October first of each year, the commissioner shall 728
879+report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint 729
880+standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 730
881+matters relating to children, data sufficient to demonstrate compliance 731
882+with subsections (a), (c) and [(d)] (e) of this section. Such data shall 732
883+include the total annual number of children in out-of-home placements 733
884+who have siblings, the total number of child cases with documented 734
885+sibling visitation and the number of individual siblings involved in each 735
886+case. 736
887+Sec. 22. Section 17a-103a of the general statutes is repealed and the 737 Substitute Bill No. 2
1146888
1147-Public Act No. 21-46 35 of 43
1148889
1149-special education.
1150-(C) Such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent shall (i) be given
1151-at least five school days' prior notice of any planning and placement
1152-team meeting conducted for such child or pupil, (ii) have the right to be
1153-present at and participate in all portions of such meeting at which an
1154-educational program for such child or pupil is developed, reviewed or
1155-revised, [and] (iii) have the right to have (I) advisors of such person's
1156-own choosing and at such person's own expense, [and to have] (II) the
1157-school paraprofessional assigned to such child or pupil, if any, [to be
1158-present at and to] and (III) such child or pupil's birth-to-three service
1159-coordinator, if any, attend and participate in all portions of such meeting
1160-at which an educational program for such child or pupil is developed,
1161-reviewed or revised, and (iv) have the right to have each
1162-recommendation made in such child or pupil's birth -to-three
1163-individualized transition plan, as required by section 17a-248e, as
1164-amended by this act, if any, addressed by the planning and placement
1165-team during such meeting at which an educational program for such
1166-child or pupil is developed.
1167-(D) Immediately upon the formal identification of any child as a child
1168-requiring special education and at each planning and placement team
1169-meeting for such child, the responsible local or regional board of
1170-education shall inform the parent or guardian of such child or surrogate
1171-parent or, in the case of a pupil who is an emancipated minor or eighteen
1172-years of age or older, the pupil of (i) the laws relating to special
1173-education, (ii) the rights of such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or
1174-pupil under such laws and the regulations adopted by the State Board
1175-of Education relating to special education, including the right of a
1176-parent, guardian or surrogate parent to (I) withhold from enrolling such
1177-child in kindergarten, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-
1178-184, and (II) have advisors and the school paraprofessional assigned to
1179-such child or pupil [to be present at, and to] attend and participate in [,] Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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1180893
1181-Public Act No. 21-46 36 of 43
894+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 738
895+(a) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall establish and 739
896+operate the telephone Careline for child abuse and neglect that shall be 740
897+dedicated to receive reports of child abuse or neglect and to provide 741
898+information concerning child abuse or neglect. The Careline shall accept 742
899+all reports of child abuse or neglect regardless of the relationship of the 743
900+alleged perpetrator to the child who is the alleged victim and regardless 744
901+of the alleged perpetrator's affiliation with any organization or other 745
902+entity in any capacity. The commissioner shall classify and evaluate all 746
903+reports pursuant to the provisions of section 17a-101g. 747
904+(b) Not later than July 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Children and 748
905+Families shall expand the operation of the telephone Careline to 749
906+accommodate the receipt and provision of information concerning child 750
907+abuse or neglect by text message or mobile telephone application. Such 751
908+expanded operation shall be monitored twenty-four hours per day and 752
909+seven days per week by the Department of Children and Families. 753
910+Sec. 23. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) If the Commissioner of Children 754
911+and Families, or the commissioner's designee, has authorized the 755
912+immediate removal of a child from such child's home pursuant to 756
913+subsection (e) of section 17a-101g of the general statutes, or is 757
914+considering removing a child from such child's home, the commissioner 758
915+shall provide written notice to the parent or guardian of such child. Such 759
916+notice shall be in the parent or guardian's primary language, and 760
917+contain (1) the date, time and location of any removal meeting the 761
918+commissioner has scheduled, (2) a plain language explanation of the 762
919+removal process, steps the commissioner intends to take and legal rights 763
920+of the parent or guardian, (3) a list of local organizations that provide 764
921+free or reduced-cost legal services and how to access such services, and 765
922+(4) a check box for such parent or guardian to request the services of an 766
923+interpreter at any such meeting. Such notice shall be provided as soon 767
924+as is practicable prior to the date of any removal meeting, or, if 768
925+immediate removal was authorized, not later than twenty-four hours 769
926+after such removal. The commissioner shall obtain the signature of such 770 Substitute Bill No. 2
1182927
1183-all portions of such meeting at which an educational program for such
1184-child or pupil is developed, reviewed or revised, in accordance with the
1185-provisions of subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, and (iii) any relevant
1186-information and resources relating to individualized education
1187-programs created by the Department of Education, including, but not
1188-limited to, information relating to transition resources and services for
1189-high school students. If such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil
1190-does not attend a planning and placement team meeting, the responsible
1191-local or regional board of education shall mail such information to such
1192-person.
1193-(E) Each local and regional board of education shall have in effect at
1194-the beginning of each school year an educational program for each child
1195-or pupil who has been identified as eligible for special education.
1196-(F) At each initial planning and placement team meeting for a child
1197-or pupil, the responsible local or regional board of education shall
1198-inform the parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil of (i) the laws
1199-relating to physical restraint and seclusion pursuant to section 10-236b
1200-and the rights of such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil under
1201-such laws and the regulations adopted by the State Board of Education
1202-relating to physical restraint and seclusion, and (ii) the right of such
1203-parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil, during such meeting at
1204-which an educational program for such child or pupil is developed, to
1205-have (I) such child or pupil's birth-to-three service coordinator attend
1206-and participate in all portions of such meeting, and (II) each
1207-recommendation made in the transition plan, as required by section 17a-
1208-248e, as amended by this act, by such child or pupil's birth-to-three
1209-service coordinator addressed by the planning and placement team.
1210-(G) Upon request by a parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent,
1211-the responsible local or regional board of education shall provide the
1212-results of the assessments and evaluations used in the determination of
1213-eligibility for special education for a child or pupil to such parent, Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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1215-Public Act No. 21-46 37 of 43
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1216932
1217-guardian, surrogate parent or pupil at least three school days before the
1218-referral planning and placement team meeting at which such results of
1219-the assessments and evaluations will be discussed for the first time.
1220-(H) Each local or regional board of education shall monitor the
1221-development of each child who, pursuant to subsection (a) of section
1222-17a-248e, as amended by this act, has been (i) referred for a registration
1223-on a mobile application designated by the Commissioner of Early
1224-Childhood, in partnership with such child's parent, guardian or
1225-surrogate parent, or (ii) provided a form for such child's parent,
1226-guardian or surrogate parent to complete and submit to such local or
1227-regional board of education that screens for developmental and social-
1228-emotional delays using a validated screening tool, such as the Ages and
1229-Stages Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages Social-Emotional
1230-Questionnaire, or its equivalent. If such monitoring results in suspecting
1231-a child of having a developmental delay, the board shall schedule a
1232-planning and placement team meeting with such child's parent,
1233-guardian or surrogate parent for the purposes of identifying services for
1234-which such child may be eligible, including, but not limited to, a
1235-preschool program under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act,
1236-20 USC 1471 et seq. If a parent, guardian or surrogate parent of any child
1237-referred for a registration on the mobile application or provided a form
1238-to complete and submit pursuant to subsection (a) of section 17a-248e,
1239-as amended by this act, fails to complete such registration or complete
1240-and submit such form after a period of six months from the date of such
1241-referral or provision of such form, the board shall send a reminder, in
1242-the form and manner determined by the board, to such parent, guardian
1243-or surrogate parent to complete such registration or complete and
1244-submit such form. The board shall send another reminder after a period
1245-of one year from such referral or provision of such form if such
1246-registration remains incomplete or such form is not submitted.
1247-Sec. 26. Subsection (i) of section 10-76d of the general statutes is Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
933+parent or guardian acknowledging receipt of such notice and provide 771
934+the services of an interpreter at any such meeting for which an 772
935+interpreter has been requested by such parent or guardian. 773
936+Sec. 24. Section 17a-248g of the general statutes is repealed and the 774
937+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 775
938+(a) Subject to the provisions of this section, funds appropriated to the 776
939+lead agency for purposes of section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-777
940+248f, inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a shall not 778
941+be used to satisfy a financial commitment for services that would have 779
942+been paid from another public or private source but for the enactment 780
943+of said sections, except for federal funds available pursuant to Part C of 781
944+the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1431 et seq., 782
945+except that whenever considered necessary to prevent the delay in the 783
946+receipt of appropriate early intervention services by the eligible child or 784
947+family in a timely fashion, funds provided under said sections may be 785
948+used to pay the service provider pending reimbursement from the 786
949+public or private source that has ultimate responsibility for the payment. 787
950+(b) Nothing in section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f, 788
951+inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a shall be 789
952+construed to permit the Department of Social Services or any other state 790
953+agency to reduce medical assistance pursuant to this chapter or other 791
954+assistance or services available to eligible children. Notwithstanding 792
955+any provision of the general statutes, costs incurred for early 793
956+intervention services that otherwise qualify as medical assistance that 794
957+are furnished to an eligible child who is also eligible for benefits 795
958+pursuant to this chapter shall be considered medical assistance for 796
959+purposes of payments to providers and state reimbursement to the 797
960+extent that federal financial participation is available for such services. 798
961+(c) Providers of early intervention services shall, in the first instance 799
962+and where applicable, seek payment from all third-party payers prior to 800
963+claiming payment from the birth-to-three system for services rendered 801
964+to eligible children, provided, for the purpose of seeking payment from 802 Substitute Bill No. 2
1248965
1249-Public Act No. 21-46 38 of 43
1250966
1251-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
1252-2021):
1253-(i) (1) No local or regional board of education shall discipline,
1254-suspend, terminate or otherwise punish any member of a planning and
1255-placement team employed by such board who discusses or makes
1256-recommendations concerning the provision of special education and
1257-related services for a child during a planning and placement team
1258-meeting for such child.
1259-(2) No birth-to-three service coordinator or qualified personnel, as
1260-those terms are defined in section 17a-248, who discusses or makes
1261-recommendations concerning the provision of special education and
1262-related services for a child during a planning and placement team
1263-meeting for such child or in a transition plan, as required by section 17a-
1264-248e, as amended by this act, shall be subject to discipline, suspension,
1265-termination or other punishment on the basis of such recommendations.
1266-Sec. 27. Subsection (a) of section 17a-248e of the general statutes is
1267-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
1268-2021):
1269-(a) Each eligible child and his or her family shall receive (1) a
1270-multidisciplinary assessment of the child's unique needs and the
1271-identification of services appropriate to meet such needs, (2) a written
1272-individualized family service plan developed by a multidisciplinary
1273-team, including the parent, within forty-five days after the referral,
1274-[and] (3) review of the individualized family service plan with the
1275-family at least every six months, with evaluation of the individualized
1276-family service plan at least annually, and (4) not later than two months
1277-after the date on which any child is determined to be ineligible for
1278-participation in preschool programs under Part B of the Individuals
1279-with Disabilities Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq., a referral to register for a
1280-mobile application designated by the Commissioner of Early Childhood Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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1282-Public Act No. 21-46 39 of 43
971+the Medicaid program or from other third-party payers as agreed upon 803
972+by the provider, the obligation to seek payment shall not apply to a 804
973+payment from a third-party payer who is not prohibited from applying 805
974+such payment, and who will apply such payment, to an annual or 806
975+lifetime limit specified in the third-party payer's policy or contract. 807
976+(d) The commissioner, in consultation with the Office of Policy and 808
977+Management and the Insurance Commissioner, shall adopt regulations, 809
978+pursuant to chapter 54, providing public reimbursement for deductibles 810
979+and copayments imposed under an insurance policy or health benefit 811
980+plan to the extent that such deductibles and copayments are applicable 812
981+to early intervention services. 813
982+(e) [The commissioner shall establish and periodically revise, in 814
983+accordance with this section, a schedule of fees based on a sliding scale 815
984+for early intervention services. The schedule of fees shall consider the 816
985+cost of such services relative to the financial resources of the state and 817
986+the parents or legal guardians of eligible children, provided that on and 818
987+after October 6, 2009, the commissioner shall (1) charge fees to such 819
988+parents or legal guardians that are sixty per cent greater than the 820
989+amount of the fees charged on the date prior to October 6, 2009; and (2) 821
990+charge fees for all services provided, including those services provided 822
991+in the first two months following the enrollment of a child in the 823
992+program. Fees may be charged to any such parent or guardian, 824
993+regardless of income, and shall be charged to any such parent or 825
994+guardian with a gross annual family income of forty-five thousand 826
995+dollars or more, except that no fee may be charged to the parent or 827
996+guardian of a child who is eligible for Medicaid. Notwithstanding the 828
997+provisions of subdivision (8) of section 17a-248, as used in this 829
998+subsection, "parent" means the biological or adoptive parent or legal 830
999+guardian of any child receiving early intervention services. The lead 831
1000+agency may assign its right to collect fees to a designee or provider 832
1001+participating in the early intervention program and providing services 833
1002+to a recipient in order to assist the provider in obtaining payment for 834
1003+such services. The commissioner may implement procedures for the 835 Substitute Bill No. 2
12831004
1284-for the purpose of continued screening for developmental and social-
1285-emotional delays in partnership with the local or regional board of
1286-education for the school district in which such child resides pursuant to
1287-subparagraph (H) of subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10a-
1288-76d, as amended by this act, provided a form used for screening for
1289-developmental and social-emotional delays using a validated screening
1290-tool, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages
1291-Social-Emotional Questionnaire, or its equivalent, is provided to any
1292-family upon the request of such family for the purpose of completing
1293-and submitting such form to the local or regional board of education for
1294-the school district in which such child resides.
1295-Sec. 28. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than July 1, 2022, the
1296-Commissioner of Early Childhood shall develop and implement a plan
1297-to expand the birth-to-three program, established pursuant to section
1298-17a-248b of the general statutes, as amended by this act, to provide early
1299-intervention services to any child who is (1) enrolled in the program, (2)
1300-turns three years of age on or after May first and not later than the first
1301-day of the next school year commencing July first, and (3) is eligible for
1302-participation in preschool programs under Part B of the Individuals
1303-with Disabilities Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq., provided such services shall
1304-terminate upon such child's participation in such a preschool program.
1305-The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54
1306-of the general statutes to implement the provisions of this section.
1307-Sec. 29. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) For the school year commencing
1308-July 1, 2022, and each school year thereafter, in any school district that
1309-serves a town that has not convened or established a local or regional
1310-school readiness council pursuant to section 10-16r of the general
1311-statutes, the local or regional board of education for such school district
1312-shall designate a school readiness liaison. Such liaison shall (1) be an
1313-existing employee of such school district, and (2) serve as an
1314-informational resource for parents of children transitioning from the Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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1316-Public Act No. 21-46 40 of 43
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13171009
1318-birth-to-three program established pursuant to section 17a-248 of the
1319-general statutes, to enrollment in a public elementary school in such
1320-school district.
1321-Sec. 30. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to
1322-study the comprehensive needs of children in the state and the extent to
1323-which such needs are being met by educators, community members and
1324-local and state agencies. The task force shall (1) identify the needs of
1325-children using the following tenets of the whole child initiative
1326-developed by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum
1327-Development: (A) Each student enters school healthy and learns about
1328-and practices a healthy lifestyle, (B) each student learns in an
1329-environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and
1330-adults, (C) each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected
1331-to the school and broader community, (D) each student has access to
1332-personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults, and
1333-(E) each student is challenged academically and prepared for success in
1334-college or further study and for employment and participation in a
1335-global environment; (2) recommend new programs or changes to
1336-existing programs operated by educators or local or state agencies to
1337-better address the needs of children in the state; (3) recognize any
1338-exceptional efforts to meet the comprehensive needs of children by
1339-educators, community members or local or state agencies; (4) identify
1340-and advocate for resources, including, but not limited to, funds,
1341-required to meet the needs of children in the state; (5) identify
1342-redundancies in existing services or programs for children and advocate
1343-for the elimination of such redundancies; and (6) assess all publicly
1344-available data concerning the comprehensive needs of children
1345-identified pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and collect, or
1346-make recommendations for the state to collect, any data that is not being
1347-collected by educators, community members or local or state agencies.
1348-As used in this section, "community member" means any individual or
1349-private organization that provides services or programs for children. Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
1010+collection of the schedule of fees while in the process of adopting or 836
1011+amending such criteria in regulation, provided the commissioner posts 837
1012+notice of intention to adopt or amend the regulations on the 838
1013+eRegulations System, established pursuant to section 4-173b, within 839
1014+twenty days of implementing the policy. Such collection procedures and 840
1015+schedule of fees shall be valid until the time the final regulations or 841
1016+amendments are effective] The commissioner shall not charge a fee for 842
1017+early intervention services to the parents or legal guardians of eligible 843
1018+children. 844
1019+(f) [The] With respect to early intervention services rendered prior to 845
1020+July 1, 2022, the commissioner shall develop and implement procedures 846
1021+to hold a recipient harmless for the impact of pursuit of payment for 847
1022+[early intervention] such services against lifetime insurance limits. 848
1023+(g) Notwithstanding any provision of title 38a relating to the 849
1024+permissible exclusion of payments for services under governmental 850
1025+programs, no such exclusion shall apply with respect to payments made 851
1026+pursuant to section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f, inclusive, this 852
1027+section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a. Except as provided in this 853
1028+subsection, nothing in this section shall increase or enhance coverages 854
1029+provided for within an insurance contract subject to the provisions of 855
1030+section 10-94f, subsection (a) of section 10-94g, subsection (a) of section 856
1031+17a-219b, subsection (a) of section 17a-219c, sections 17a-248, 17a-248b 857
1032+to 17a-248f, inclusive, this section, and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a. 858
1033+Sec. 25. Subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d of the 859
1034+general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 860
1035+thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 861
1036+(10) (A) Each local and regional board of education responsible for 862
1037+providing special education and related services to a child or pupil shall 863
1038+notify the parent or guardian of a child who requires or who may 864
1039+require special education, a pupil if such pupil is an emancipated minor 865
1040+or eighteen years of age or older who requires or who may require 866
1041+special education or a surrogate parent appointed pursuant to section 867 Substitute Bill No. 2
13501042
1351-Public Act No. 21-46 41 of 43
13521043
1353-(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
1354-(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives,
1355-one of whom is an educator employed by a local or regional board of
1356-education and one of whom is a social worker licensed pursuant to
1357-chapter 383b of the general statutes who works with children;
1358-(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of
1359-whom is a representative of the board of directors of the Association for
1360-Supervision and Curriculum Development affiliate in the state, and one
1361-of whom is representative of an institution of higher education in the
1362-state;
1363-(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of
1364-Representatives, who is a school administrator employed by a local or
1365-regional board of education;
1366-(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who is a
1367-chairperson of a local or regional board of education;
1368-(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of
1369-Representatives, who is a director or employee of a private nonprofit
1370-organization in the state that provides services or programs for children;
1371-(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who is a
1372-director or employee of a private nonprofit organization in the state that
1373-provides health-related services or programs for children;
1374-(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;
1375-(8) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's
1376-designee;
1377-(9) The Healthcare Advocate, or the advocate's designee;
1378-(10) The Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
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1380-Public Act No. 21-46 42 of 43
1048+10-94g, in writing, at least five school days before such board proposes 868
1049+to, or refuses to, initiate or change the child's or pupil's identification, 869
1050+evaluation or educational placement or the provision of a free 870
1051+appropriate public education to the child or pupil. 871
1052+(B) Upon request by a parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent, 872
1053+the responsible local or regional board of education shall provide such 873
1054+parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent an opportunity to meet with 874
1055+a member of the planning and placement team designated by such 875
1056+board prior to the referral planning and placement team meeting at 876
1057+which the assessments and evaluations of the child or pupil who 877
1058+requires or may require special education is presented to such parent, 878
1059+guardian, pupil or surrogate parent for the first time. Such meeting shall 879
1060+be for the sole purpose of discussing the planning and placement team 880
1061+process and any concerns such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate 881
1062+parent has regarding the child or pupil who requires or may require 882
1063+special education. 883
1064+(C) Such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent shall (i) be given 884
1065+at least five school days' prior notice of any planning and placement 885
1066+team meeting conducted for such child or pupil, (ii) have the right to be 886
1067+present at and participate in all portions of such meeting at which an 887
1068+educational program for such child or pupil is developed, reviewed or 888
1069+revised, [and] (iii) have the right to have (I) advisors of such person's 889
1070+own choosing and at such person's own expense, [and to have] (II) the 890
1071+school paraprofessional assigned to such child or pupil, if any, [to be 891
1072+present at and to] and (III) such child or pupil's birth-to-three service 892
1073+coordinator, if any, attend and participate in all portions of such meeting 893
1074+at which an educational program for such child or pupil is developed, 894
1075+reviewed or revised, and (iv) have the right to have each 895
1076+recommendation made in such child or pupil's birth -to-three 896
1077+individualized transition plan, as required by section 17a-248e, as 897
1078+amended by this act, if any, addressed by the planning and placement 898
1079+team during such meeting at which an educational program for such 899
1080+child or pupil is developed. 900 Substitute Bill No. 2
13811081
1382-(11) The executive director of the Commission on Human Rights and
1383-Opportunities, or the executive director's designee;
1384-(12) The Commissioner of Agriculture, or the commissioner's
1385-designee;
1386-(13) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development,
1387-or the commissioner's designee;
1388-(14) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee;
1389-(15) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's
1390-designee;
1391-(16) The Commissioner of Developmental Service s, or the
1392-commissioner's designee;
1393-(17) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or
1394-the commissioner's designee;
1395-(18) The Commissioner of Transportation, or the commissioner's
1396-designee;
1397-(19) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's
1398-designee;
1399-(20) The superintendent of the Technical Education and Career
1400-System, or the superintendent's designee;
1401-(21) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the
1402-commissioner's designee;
1403-(22) The Chief Court Administrator, or the Chief Co urt
1404-Administrator's designee; and
1405-(23) The director of Special Education Equity for Kids of Connecticut,
1406-or the director's designee. Substitute Senate Bill No. 2
14071082
1408-Public Act No. 21-46 43 of 43
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1085+29 of 38
14091086
1410-(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivisions (1) to
1411-(6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the
1412-General Assembly.
1413-(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later
1414-than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall
1415-be filled by the appointing authority not later than thirty days after the
1416-vacancy occurs. If a vacancy is not filled by the appointing authority, the
1417-chairpersons of the task force may fill such vacancy.
1418-(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro
1419-tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from
1420-among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule
1421-the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty
1422-days after the effective date of this section.
1423-(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
1424-General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children
1425-shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
1426-(g) Not later than January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit a report
1427-on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of
1428-the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children,
1429-in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
1430-The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or
1431-January 1, 2022, whichever is later.
1087+(D) Immediately upon the formal identification of any child as a child 901
1088+requiring special education and at each planning and placement team 902
1089+meeting for such child, the responsible local or regional board of 903
1090+education shall inform the parent or guardian of such child or surrogate 904
1091+parent or, in the case of a pupil who is an emancipated minor or eighteen 905
1092+years of age or older, the pupil of (i) the laws relating to special 906
1093+education, (ii) the rights of such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or 907
1094+pupil under such laws and the regulations adopted by the State Board 908
1095+of Education relating to special education, including the right of a 909
1096+parent, guardian or surrogate parent to (I) withhold from enrolling such 910
1097+child in kindergarten, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-911
1098+184, and (II) have advisors and the school paraprofessional assigned to 912
1099+such child or pupil [to be present at, and to] attend and participate in [,] 913
1100+all portions of such meeting at which an educational program for such 914
1101+child or pupil is developed, reviewed or revised, in accordance with the 915
1102+provisions of subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, and (iii) any relevant 916
1103+information and resources relating to individualized education 917
1104+programs created by the Department of Education, including, but not 918
1105+limited to, information relating to transition resources and services for 919
1106+high school students. If such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil 920
1107+does not attend a planning and placement team meeting, the responsible 921
1108+local or regional board of education shall mail such information to such 922
1109+person. 923
1110+(E) Each local and regional board of education shall have in effect at 924
1111+the beginning of each school year an educational program for each child 925
1112+or pupil who has been identified as eligible for special education. 926
1113+(F) At each initial planning and placement team meeting for a child 927
1114+or pupil, the responsible local or regional board of education shall 928
1115+inform the parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil of (i) the laws 929
1116+relating to physical restraint and seclusion pursuant to section 10-236b 930
1117+and the rights of such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil under 931
1118+such laws and the regulations adopted by the State Board of Education 932
1119+relating to physical restraint and seclusion, and (ii) the right of such 933 Substitute Bill No. 2
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1125+
1126+parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil, during such meeting at 934
1127+which an educational program for such child or pupil is developed, to 935
1128+have (I) such child or pupil's birth-to-three service coordinator attend 936
1129+and participate in all portions of such meeting, and (II) each 937
1130+recommendation made in the transition plan, as required by section 17a-938
1131+248e, as amended by this act, by such child or pupil's birth-to-three 939
1132+service coordinator addressed by the planning and placement team. 940
1133+(G) Upon request by a parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent, 941
1134+the responsible local or regional board of education shall provide the 942
1135+results of the assessments and evaluations used in the determination of 943
1136+eligibility for special education for a child or pupil to such parent, 944
1137+guardian, surrogate parent or pupil at least three school days before the 945
1138+referral planning and placement team meeting at which such results of 946
1139+the assessments and evaluations will be discussed for the first time. 947
1140+Sec. 26. Subsection (i) of section 10-76d of the general statutes is 948
1141+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 949
1142+2021): 950
1143+(i) (1) No local or regional board of education shall discipline, 951
1144+suspend, terminate or otherwise punish any member of a planning and 952
1145+placement team employed by such board who discusses or makes 953
1146+recommendations concerning the provision of special education and 954
1147+related services for a child during a planning and placement team 955
1148+meeting for such child. 956
1149+(2) No birth-to-three service coordinator or qualified personnel, as 957
1150+those terms are defined in section 17a-248, who discusses or makes 958
1151+recommendations concerning the provision of special education and 959
1152+related services for a child during a planning and placement team 960
1153+meeting for such child or in a transition plan, as required by section 17a-961
1154+248e, as amended by this act, shall be subject to discipline, suspension, 962
1155+termination or other punishment on the basis of such recommendations. 963
1156+Sec. 27. Section 17a-248e of the general statutes is repealed and the 964 Substitute Bill No. 2
1157+
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1162+
1163+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 965
1164+(a) Each eligible child and his or her family shall receive (1) a 966
1165+multidisciplinary assessment of the child's unique needs and the 967
1166+identification of services appropriate to meet such needs, (2) a written 968
1167+individualized family service plan developed by a multidisciplinary 969
1168+team, including the parent, within forty-five days after the referral, 970
1169+[and] (3) review of the individualized family service plan with the 971
1170+family at least every six months, with evaluation of the individualized 972
1171+family service plan at least annually, and (4) if the child is ineligible for 973
1172+participation in preschool programs under Part B of the Individuals 974
1173+with Disabilities Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq., a screening for developmental 975
1174+and social-emotional delays using validated assessment tools, such as 976
1175+the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages Social-977
1176+Emotional Questionnaire, or their equivalents. 978
1177+(b) The individualized family service plan shall be in writing and 979
1178+contain: (1) A statement of the child's present level of physical 980
1179+development, cognitive development, language and speech 981
1180+development and self-help skills, based on acceptable objective criteria; 982
1181+(2) a statement of the family's priority, resources and concerns relating 983
1182+to enhancing the development of the eligible child; (3) a statement of the 984
1183+major outcomes expected to be achieved for the child and the family and 985
1184+the criteria, procedures and timelines used to determine the degree to 986
1185+which progress toward achieving the outcomes are being made, and 987
1186+whether modifications or revisions of the outcomes are necessary; (4) a 988
1187+statement of specific early intervention services necessary to meet the 989
1188+unique needs of the eligible child and the family, including the 990
1189+frequency, intensity and the method of delivering services; (5) a 991
1190+statement of the natural environments in which the services shall be 992
1191+provided; (6) the projected dates for initiation of services and the 993
1192+anticipated duration of such services; (7) the name of the approved 994
1193+comprehensive service provider that will provide or procure the 995
1194+services specified in the individualized family service plan; (8) the name 996
1195+of the individual service coordinator from the profession most 997 Substitute Bill No. 2
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1201+
1202+immediately relevant to the eligible child's or the family's needs who 998
1203+will be responsible for the implementation of the plan and coordination 999
1204+with the other agencies and providers or an otherwise qualified 1000
1205+provider selected by a parent; and (9) the steps to be taken to support 1001
1206+the transition of the child who is eligible for participation in preschool 1002
1207+programs under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 20 USC 1003
1208+1471 et seq., as appropriate. 1004
1209+(c) The individualized family service plan shall be signed by the 1005
1210+child's pediatrician or a primary care provider or qualified personnel, as 1006
1211+those terms are defined in section 17a-248. 1007
1212+(d) The lead agency may provide early intervention services, arrange 1008
1213+for the delivery of early intervention services by participating agencies 1009
1214+or contract with providers to deliver early intervention services to 1010
1215+eligible children and the families of such children. The lead agency in 1011
1216+providing, arranging or contracting for early intervention services shall 1012
1217+monitor all birth-to-three service providers for quality and 1013
1218+accountability in accordance with Section 616 of the Individuals with 1014
1219+Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1416 and establish state-wide rates 1015
1220+for such services. 1016
1221+Sec. 28. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) Not later than July 1, 2022, the 1017
1222+Commissioner of Early Childhood shall develop and implement a plan 1018
1223+to expand the birth-to-three program, established pursuant to section 1019
1224+17a-248b of the general statutes, as amended by this act, to provide early 1020
1225+intervention services to any child who is (1) enrolled in the program, (2) 1021
1226+turns three years of age on or after May 1 and not later than the first day 1022
1227+of the next school year commencing July 1, and (3) is eligible for 1023
1228+participation in preschool programs under Part B of the Individuals 1024
1229+with Disabilities Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq., provided such services shall 1025
1230+terminate upon such child's participation in such a preschool program. 1026
1231+The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 1027
1232+of the general statutes to implement the provisions of this section. 1028
1233+Sec. 29. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) For the school year commencing 1029 Substitute Bill No. 2
1234+
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1239+
1240+July 1, 2022, and each school year thereafter, in any school district that 1030
1241+serves a town that has not convened or established a local or regional 1031
1242+school readiness council pursuant to section 10-16r of the general 1032
1243+statutes, the local or regional board of education for such school district 1033
1244+shall designate a school readiness liaison. Such liaison shall (1) be an 1034
1245+existing employee of such school district, and (2) serve as an 1035
1246+informational resource for parents of children transitioning from the 1036
1247+birth-to-three program established pursuant to section 17a-248b of the 1037
1248+general statutes, to enrollment in a public elementary school in such 1038
1249+school district. 1039
1250+Sec. 30. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, (1) "adverse 1040
1251+childhood experience" means a potentially traumatic event occurring in 1041
1252+childhood, including, but not limited to, (A) experiencing or witnessing 1042
1253+violence, abuse, neglect, a substance abuse disorder, a suicide attempt 1043
1254+or death by suicide, or (B) experiencing instability due to parental 1044
1255+separation or incarceration, and (2)"participating municipalities" means 1045
1256+the municipalities of Bridgeport, Cheshire, East Hartford, Killingworth, 1046
1257+Orange and South Windsor. 1047
1258+(b) The Department of Education shall establish an adverse 1048
1259+childhood experience survey pilot program to be administered in 1049
1260+participating municipalities. Such pilot program shall be for the purpose 1050
1261+of collecting data concerning adverse childhood experiences suffered by 1051
1262+students in grades four to twelve, inclusive, enrolled in public schools 1052
1263+in participating municipalities. 1053
1264+(c) Not later than October 1, 2021, the Department of Education shall 1054
1265+develop a survey that requires the student taking the survey to indicate 1055
1266+whether the student has witnessed or experienced one or more 1056
1267+potentially traumatic events, including, but not limited to, (1) violence, 1057
1268+abuse, neglect, a substance abuse disorder, a suicide attempt or death 1058
1269+by suicide, or (2) instability due to parental separation or incarceration. 1059
1270+The survey shall (A) be tailored to the developmental stages of the 1060
1271+students administered the survey, and (B) not include any personally 1061
1272+identifying information. 1062 Substitute Bill No. 2
1273+
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1277+34 of 38
1278+
1279+(d) Not later than August 1, 2022, the Department of Education shall 1063
1280+require each public school enrolling students in grades four to twelve, 1064
1281+inclusive, in participating municipalities to administer the survey 1065
1282+developed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and report the 1066
1283+results of the survey to the department in a form and manner prescribed 1067
1284+by the department. Such report shall (1) include, but not be limited to, 1068
1285+the number of students in each grade who have suffered each type of 1069
1286+potentially traumatic event, and (2) not include any data concerning the 1070
1287+number or types of potentially traumatic events suffered by any one 1071
1288+student. 1072
1289+(e) Not later than December 1, 2022, the Department of Education 1073
1290+shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 1074
1291+of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 1075
1292+Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children. Such report 1076
1293+shall include a summary of the number of students in each grade in each 1077
1294+participating municipality who have suffered each type of potentially 1078
1295+traumatic event. 1079
1296+Sec. 31. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to 1080
1297+study the comprehensive needs of children in the state and the extent to 1081
1298+which such needs are being met by educators, community members and 1082
1299+local and state agencies. The task force shall (1) assess the needs of 1083
1300+children using the following tenets of the whole child initiative 1084
1301+developed by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum 1085
1302+Development: (A) Each student enters school healthy and learns about 1086
1303+and practices a healthy lifestyle, (B) each student learns in an 1087
1304+environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and 1088
1305+adults, (C) each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected 1089
1306+to the school and broader community, (D) each student has access to 1090
1307+personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults, and 1091
1308+(E) each student is challenged academically and prepared for success in 1092
1309+college or further study and for employment and participation in a 1093
1310+global environment, (2) recommend new programs or changes to 1094
1311+existing programs operated by educators or local or state agencies to 1095 Substitute Bill No. 2
1312+
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1316+35 of 38
1317+
1318+better address the needs of children in the state, and (3) recognize any 1096
1319+exceptional efforts to meet the comprehensive needs of children by 1097
1320+educators, community members or local or state agencies. As used in 1098
1321+this section, "community member" means any individual or private 1099
1322+organization that provides services or programs for children. 1100
1323+(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 1101
1324+(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 1102
1325+one of whom is an educator employed by a local or regional board of 1103
1326+education and one of whom is a social worker licensed pursuant to 1104
1327+chapter 383b of the general statutes who works with children; 1105
1328+(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of 1106
1329+whom is a representative of the board of directors of the Association for 1107
1330+Supervision and Curriculum Development affiliate in the state, and one 1108
1331+of whom is representative of an institution of higher education in the 1109
1332+state; 1110
1333+(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 1111
1334+Representatives, who is a school administrator employed by a local or 1112
1335+regional board of education; 1113
1336+(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who is a 1114
1337+chairperson of a local or regional board of education; 1115
1338+(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 1116
1339+Representatives, who is a director or employee of a private nonprofit 1117
1340+organization in the state that provides services or programs for children; 1118
1341+(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who is a 1119
1342+director or employee of a private nonprofit organization in the state that 1120
1343+provides health-related services or programs for children; 1121
1344+(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; 1122
1345+(8) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's 1123 Substitute Bill No. 2
1346+
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1350+36 of 38
1351+
1352+designee; 1124
1353+(9) The Healthcare Advocate, or the advocate's designee; 1125
1354+(10) The Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; 1126
1355+(11) The executive director of the Commission on Human Rights and 1127
1356+Opportunities, or the executive director's designee; 1128
1357+(12) The Commissioner of Agriculture, or the commissioner's 1129
1358+designee; 1130
1359+(13) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 1131
1360+or the commissioner's designee; 1132
1361+(14) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee; 1133
1362+(15) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's 1134
1363+designee; 1135
1364+(16) The Commissioner of Developmental Service s, or the 1136
1365+commissioner's designee; 1137
1366+(17) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or 1138
1367+the commissioner's designee; 1139
1368+(18) The Commissioner of Transportation, or the commissioner's 1140
1369+designee; 1141
1370+(19) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 1142
1371+designee; 1143
1372+(20) The superintendent of the Technical Education and Career 1144
1373+System, or the superintendent's designee; 1145
1374+(21) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the 1146
1375+commissioner's designee; and 1147
1376+(22) The Chief Court Administrator, or the Chie f Court 1148 Substitute Bill No. 2
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1381+37 of 38
1382+
1383+Administrator's designee. 1149
1384+(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivisions (1) to 1150
1385+(6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the 1151
1386+General Assembly. 1152
1387+(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 1153
1388+than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 1154
1389+be filled by the appointing authority not later than thirty days after the 1155
1390+vacancy occurs. If a vacancy is not filled by the appointing authority, the 1156
1391+chairpersons of the task force may fill such vacancy. 1157
1392+(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro 1158
1393+tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from 1159
1394+among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule 1160
1395+the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty 1161
1396+days after the effective date of this section. 1162
1397+(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 1163
1398+General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children 1164
1399+shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 1165
1400+(g) Not later than January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit a report 1166
1401+on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 1167
1402+the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, 1168
1403+in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 1169
1404+The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or 1170
1405+January 1, 2022, whichever is later. 1171
1406+This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
1407+sections:
1408+
1409+Section 1 July 1, 2021 New section
1410+Sec. 2 July 1, 2021 20-12b(a)
1411+Sec. 3 July 1, 2021 20-73b(a)
1412+Sec. 4 July 1, 2021 20-74h
1413+Sec. 5 July 1, 2021 New section
1414+Sec. 6 July 1, 2021 20-102ee(a) Substitute Bill No. 2
1415+
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1419+38 of 38
1420+
1421+Sec. 7 July 1, 2021 20-185k(b)
1422+Sec. 8 July 1, 2021 20-195ttt(f)
1423+Sec. 9 July 1, 2021 20-206mm(d) and (e)
1424+Sec. 10 July 1, 2021 19a-14c
1425+Sec. 11 July 1, 2021 10-148a(a)
1426+Sec. 12 July 1, 2021 10-220a(b)
1427+Sec. 13 July 1, 2021 10-220(b)
1428+Sec. 14 July 1, 2021 10-221
1429+Sec. 15 from passage New section
1430+Sec. 16 from passage New section
1431+Sec. 17 July 1, 2021 10-16
1432+Sec. 18 from passage 10-198b
1433+Sec. 19 July 1, 2021 New section
1434+Sec. 20 July 1, 2021 10-215
1435+Sec. 21 July 1, 2021 17a-10a
1436+Sec. 22 July 1, 2021 17a-103a
1437+Sec. 23 July 1, 2021 New section
1438+Sec. 24 July 1, 2022 17a-248g
1439+Sec. 25 July 1, 2021 10-76d(a)(10)
1440+Sec. 26 July 1, 2021 10-76d(i)
1441+Sec. 27 July 1, 2021 17a-248e
1442+Sec. 28 July 1, 2021 New section
1443+Sec. 29 July 1, 2021 New section
1444+Sec. 30 from passage New section
1445+Sec. 31 from passage New section
1446+
1447+
1448+KID Joint Favorable Subst.
1449+APP Joint Favorable
14321450