Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00817 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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	7	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 817
	8	+	January Session, 2021
	9	+	LCO No. 1708
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	11	+
	12	+	Referred to Committee on AGING
	13	+
	14	+
	15	+	Introduced by:
	16	+	(AGE)
1	17
2	18
3	19
4		-	Senate Bill No. 817
5		-
6		-	Public Act No. 21-7
7		-
8		-
9		-	AN ACT CONCERNING SE NIOR CENTERS AND SEN IOR CRIME
10		-	PREVENTION EDUCATION .
	20	+	AN ACT CONCERNING SE NIOR CENTERS.
11	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
12	22		Assembly convened:
13	23
14		-	Section 1. Section 7-127b of the general statutes is repealed and the
15		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021):
16		-	(a) The chief elected official or the chief executive officer if by
17		-	ordinance of each municipality shall appoint a municipal agent for
18		-	elderly persons. Such agent shall be a staff member of a senior center, a
19		-	member of an agency that serves elderly persons in the municipality or
20		-	a responsible resident of the municipality who has demonstrated an
21		-	interest in the elderly or has been involved in programs in the field of
22		-	aging.
23		-	(b) The duties of the municipal agent may include, but shall not be
24		-	limited to: [,] (1) [disseminating] Disseminating information to elderly
25		-	persons, assisting such persons in learning about the community
26		-	resources available to them and publicizing such resources and benefits;
27		-	(2) assisting elderly persons to apply for federal and other benefits
28		-	available to such persons; and (3) reporting to the chief elected official
29		-	or chief executive officer of the municipality and the Department of
30		-	Aging and Disability Services any needs and problems of the elderly Senate Bill No. 817
	24	+	Section 1. Section 7-127b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
	25	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 2
	26	+	(a) The chief elected official or the chief executive officer if by 3
	27	+	ordinance of each municipality shall appoint a municipal agent for 4
	28	+	elderly persons. Such agent shall be a staff member of a senior center, a 5
	29	+	member of an agency that serves elderly persons in the municipality or 6
	30	+	a responsible resident of the municipality who has demonstrated an 7
	31	+	interest in the elderly or has been involved in programs in the field of 8
	32	+	aging. 9
	33	+	(b) The duties of the municipal agent may include, but shall not be 10
	34	+	limited to: [,] (1) [disseminating] Disseminating information to elderly 11
	35	+	persons, assisting such persons in learning about the community 12
	36	+	resources available to them and publicizing such resources and benefits; 13
	37	+	(2) assisting elderly persons to apply for federal and other benefits 14
	38	+	available to such persons; and (3) reporting to the chief elected official 15 Raised Bill No. 817
31	39
32		-	Public Act No. 21-7 2 of 8
33	40
34		-	and any recommendations for action to improve services to the elderly.
35		-	(c) Each municipal agent shall serve for a term of two or four years,
36		-	at the discretion of the appointing authority of each municipality, and
37		-	may be reappointed. If more than one agent is necessary to carry out the
38		-	purposes of this section, the appointing authority, in its discretion, may
39		-	appoint one or more assistant agents. The town clerk in each
40		-	municipality shall notify the Department of Aging and Disability
41		-	Services immediately of the appointment of a new municipal agent.
42		-	Each municipality may provide to its municipal agent resources
43		-	sufficient for such agent to perform the duties of the office.
44		-	(d) The Department of Aging and Disability Services shall adopt and
45		-	disseminate to municipalities guidelines as to the role and duties of
46		-	municipal agents and such informational and technical materials as may
47		-	assist such agents in performance of their duties. The department, in
48		-	cooperation with the area agencies on aging, may provide training for
49		-	municipal agents within the available resources of the department and
50		-	of the area agencies on aging.
51		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) Any one or more
52		-	municipalities, or any one or more private organizations that serve older
53		-	persons and are designated to act as agents of one or more
54		-	municipalities, may establish a multipurpose senior center, as defined
55		-	in Title I of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to
56		-	time.
57		-	(b) A multipurpose senior center established pursuant to subsection
58		-	(a) of this section may, but need not be limited to, providing: (1)
59		-	Nutrition services; (2) health programs, including, but not limited to,
60		-	mental health, behavioral health and wellness programs; (3)
61		-	employment assistance; (4) intergenerational initiatives; (5) community
62		-	service and civic engagement opportunities; (6) public benefits
63		-	counseling; (7) socialization and educational opportunities; (8) Senate Bill No. 817
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65		-	Public Act No. 21-7 3 of 8
	45	+	or chief executive officer of the municipality and the Department of 16
	46	+	Aging and Disability Services any needs and problems of the elderly 17
	47	+	and any recommendations for action to improve services to the elderly. 18
	48	+	(c) Each municipal agent shall serve for a term of two or four years, 19
	49	+	at the discretion of the appointing authority of each municipality, and 20
	50	+	may be reappointed. If more than one agent is necessary to carry out the 21
	51	+	purposes of this section, the appointing authority, in its discretion, may 22
	52	+	appoint one or more assistant agents. The town clerk in each 23
	53	+	municipality shall notify the Department of Aging and Disability 24
	54	+	Services immediately of the appointment of a new municipal agent. 25
	55	+	Each municipality may provide to its municipal agent resources 26
	56	+	sufficient for such agent to perform the duties of the office. 27
	57	+	(d) The Department of Aging and Disability Services shall adopt and 28
	58	+	disseminate to municipalities guidelines as to the role and duties of 29
	59	+	municipal agents and such informational and technical materials as may 30
	60	+	assist such agents in performance of their duties. The department, in 31
	61	+	cooperation with the area agencies on aging, may provide training for 32
	62	+	municipal agents within the available resources of the department and 33
	63	+	of the area agencies on aging. 34
	64	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) Any one or more 35
	65	+	municipalities, or any one or more private organizations that serve older 36
	66	+	persons and are designated to act as agents of one or more 37
	67	+	municipalities, may establish a multipurpose senior center, as defined 38
	68	+	in Title I of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to 39
	69	+	time. 40
	70	+	(b) A multipurpose senior center established pursuant to subsection 41
	71	+	(a) of this section may, but need not be limited to, providing: (1) 42
	72	+	Nutrition services; (2) health programs, including, but not limited to, 43
	73	+	mental health, behavioral health and wellness programs; (3) 44
	74	+	employment assistance; (4) intergenerational initiatives; (5) community 45
	75	+	service and civic engagement opportunities; (6) public benefits 46
	76	+	counseling; (7) socialization and educational opportunities; (8) 47 Raised Bill No. 817
66	77
67		-	transportation; (9) peer counseling; (10) financial and retirement
68		-	counseling; (11) arts and recreation programs; and (12) case
69		-	management services.
70		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) Within available
71		-	appropriations, the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity
72		-	and Opportunity shall provide assistance to senior centers, which may
73		-	include, but need not be limited to: (1) Establishment and maintenance
74		-	of a list of senior centers and municipal services for older persons; (2)
75		-	establishment and maintenance of a list of resources for staff of senior
76		-	centers and municipal services for older persons; (3) development of
77		-	technical assistance for staff of senior centers and municipal services for
78		-	older persons through direct assistance or referral to expert resources;
79		-	(4) regular communication with staff of senior centers and municipal
80		-	services for older persons; (5) dissemination of information about local,
81		-	state and federal support and services of interest to senior centers and
82		-	municipal services for older persons; and (6) establishment and
83		-	facilitation of a state-wide senior center work group as described in
84		-	section 4 of this act. The executive director of the Commission on
85		-	Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity shall assign or
86		-	appoint necessary personnel to perform such duties.
87		-	Sec. 4. (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) There is established a state-wide
88		-	senior center working group to develop a coordinated plan of
89		-	development for senior centers and municipal services for older
90		-	persons.
91		-	(b) The working group shall: (1) Develop an annual plan for the
92		-	support and development of senior centers and municipal services for
93		-	older persons, including, but not limited to, training needs and the
94		-	coordination of existing resources; (2) evaluate the feasibility of
95		-	implementing standards for the delivery of core services and make
96		-	recommendations for such standards, including, but not limited to,
97		-	standards that allow for parity of core services across municipalities Senate Bill No. 817
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100	82
101		-	while maintaining flexibility for delivery of those core services; (3)
102		-	consult with the five area agencies on aging and other agencies; (4)
103		-	facilitate coordination and communication between senior centers and
104		-	municipal services for older persons with executive branch
105		-	departments, including, but not limited to, the Departments of Aging
106		-	and Disability Services, Housing, Mental Health and Addiction
107		-	Services, Public Health, Social Services, Transportation and agencies
108		-	and initiatives that impact older persons in the community; (5) develop
109		-	and provide access to best practices and procedures for senior centers
110		-	and municipal services for older persons; and (6) make
111		-	recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General
112		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, human
113		-	services, housing, planning and development, public health and
114		-	transportation for any necessary appropriations or legislative changes.
115		-	(c) The working group shall consist of the following members:
116		-	(1) Five representatives of senior centers, one from each of the five
117		-	planning and services areas, as described in section 17a-304 of the
118		-	general statutes, two appointed by the speaker of the House of
119		-	Representatives, two appointed by the president pro tempore of the
120		-	Senate, and one appointed by the majority leader of the House of
121		-	Representatives;
122		-	(2) Two representatives of the Connecticut Association of Senior
123		-	Center Personnel appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
124		-	(3) One representative of the Connecticut Local Administrators of
125		-	Social Services appointed by the minority leader of the House of
126		-	Representatives;
127		-	(4) One representative from a senior center that is accredited by the
128		-	National Institute of Senior Centers appointed by the minority leader of
129		-	the Senate; Senate Bill No. 817
	83	+	transportation; (9) peer counseling; (10) financial and retirement 48
	84	+	counseling; (11) arts and recreation programs; and (12) case 49
	85	+	management services. 50
	86	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) Within available 51
	87	+	appropriations, the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity 52
	88	+	and Opportunity shall provide assistance to senior centers, which may 53
	89	+	include, but need not be limited to: (1) Establishment and maintenance 54
	90	+	of a list of senior centers and municipal services for older persons; (2) 55
	91	+	establishment and maintenance of a list of resources for staff of senior 56
	92	+	centers and municipal services for older persons; (3) development of 57
	93	+	technical assistance for staff of senior centers and municipal services for 58
	94	+	older persons through direct assistance or referral to expert resources; 59
	95	+	(4) regular communication with staff of senior centers and municipal 60
	96	+	services for older persons; (5) dissemination of information about local, 61
	97	+	state and federal support and services of interest to senior centers and 62
	98	+	municipal services for older persons; and (6) establishment and 63
	99	+	facilitation of a state-wide senior center work group as described in 64
	100	+	section 4 of this act. The executive director of the Commission on 65
	101	+	Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity shall assign or 66
	102	+	appoint necessary personnel to perform such duties. 67
	103	+	Sec. 4. (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) There is established a state-wide 68
	104	+	senior center working group to develop a coordinated plan of 69
	105	+	development for senior centers and municipal services for older 70
	106	+	persons. 71
	107	+	(b) The working group shall: (1) Develop an annual plan for the 72
	108	+	support and development of senior centers and municipal services for 73
	109	+	older persons, including, but not limited to, training needs and the 74
	110	+	coordination of existing resources; (2) evaluate the feasibility of 75
	111	+	implementing standards for the delivery of core services and make 76
	112	+	recommendations for such standards, including, but not limited to, 77
	113	+	standards that allow for parity of core services across municipalities 78
	114	+	while maintaining flexibility for delivery of those core services; (3) 79
	115	+	consult with the five area agencies on aging and other agencies; (4) 80 Raised Bill No. 817
130	116
131		-	Public Act No. 21-7 5 of 8
132	117
133		-	(5) One representative of the Connecticut Association of Municipal
134		-	Agents for the Elderly and one representative of a nonprofit senior
135		-	center, appointed by the Governor;
136		-	(6) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children,
137		-	Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, who shall serve as chairperson of the
138		-	working group;
139		-	(7) The Commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability
140		-	Services, or the commissioner's designee; and
141		-	(8) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's
142		-	designee.
143		-	(d) Any member of the working group appointed under subdivision
144		-	(1), (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (c) of this section may be a member of the
145		-	General Assembly.
146		-	(e) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not
147		-	later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy
148		-	shall be filled by the appointing authority.
149		-	(f) The chairperson of the working group shall schedule the first
150		-	meeting, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective
151		-	date of this section.
152		-	(g) The administrative staff of the Commission on Women, Children,
153		-	Seniors, Equity and Opportunity shall serve as administrative staff of
154		-	the working group.
155		-	(h) Not later than January 1, 2023, the working group shall submit a
156		-	report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing
157		-	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
158		-	relating to aging, human services, housing, planning and development,
159		-	public health and transportation, in accordance with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 817
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160	121
161		-	Public Act No. 21-7 6 of 8
	122	+	facilitate coordination and communication between senior centers and 81
	123	+	municipal services for older persons with ex ecutive branch 82
	124	+	departments, including, but not limited to, the Departments of Aging 83
	125	+	and Disability Services, Housing, Mental Health and Addiction 84
	126	+	Services, Public Health, Social Services, Transportation and agencies 85
	127	+	and initiatives that impact older persons in the community; (5) develop 86
	128	+	and provide access to best practices and procedures for senior centers 87
	129	+	and municipal services for older persons; and (6) make 88
	130	+	recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 89
	131	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, human 90
	132	+	services, housing, planning and development, public health and 91
	133	+	transportation for any necessary appropriations or legislative changes. 92
	134	+	(c) The working group shall consist of the following members: 93
	135	+	(1) Five representatives of senior centers, one from each of the five 94
	136	+	planning and services areas, as described in section 17a-304 of the 95
	137	+	general statutes, two appointed by the speaker of the House of 96
	138	+	Representatives, two appointed by the president pro tempore of the 97
	139	+	Senate, and one appointed by the majority leader of the House of 98
	140	+	Representatives; 99
	141	+	(2) Two representatives of the Connecticut Association of Senior 100
	142	+	Center Personnel appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; 101
	143	+	(3) One representative of the Connecticut Local Administrators of 102
	144	+	Social Services appointed by the minority leader of the House of 103
	145	+	Representatives; 104
	146	+	(4) One representative from a senior center that is accredited by the 105
	147	+	National Institute of Senior Centers appointed by the minority leader of 106
	148	+	the Senate; 107
	149	+	(5) One representative of the Connecticut Association of Municipal 108
	150	+	Agents for the Elderly and one representative of a nonprofit senior 109
	151	+	center, appointed by the Governor; 110 Raised Bill No. 817
162	152
163		-	section 11-4a of the general statutes. The working group shall terminate
164		-	on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2023, whichever is
165		-	later.
166		-	Sec. 5. Section 54-261 of the general statutes is repealed and the
167		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
168		-	(a) The Court Support Services Division, in conjunction with state-
169		-	wide experts in law enforcement, the treatment of sexual offenders and
170		-	sexual assault victim services, shall, within available appropriations,
171		-	develop a community response education program to be offered to
172		-	neighborhoods and municipalities that have been notified pursuant to
173		-	section 54-258 that a person who has registered under said section is or
174		-	will be residing in that community.
175		-	(b) The purpose of such program shall be to assist neighborhoods,
176		-	senior centers and other facilities serving or housing senior citizens in
177		-	such neighborhoods, parents and children to learn how to better protect
178		-	themselves from sexual abuse and sexual assault. The program shall
179		-	develop educational materials and community information resources
180		-	on prevention and risk reduction concerning sexual abuse and sexual
181		-	assault and the enforcement of requirements concerning the registration
182		-	and supervision of sexual offenders and the notification of communities
183		-	where such offenders reside.
184		-	(c) The program may include the following:
185		-	(1) An initial community meeting following a community
186		-	notification, sponsored by the Court Support Services Division and held
187		-	in conjunction with the chief of police, chief elected officials, the
188		-	superintendent of schools and other municipal officials of the
189		-	community, to discuss the implementation of the statutory
190		-	requirements concerning the registration of a sexual offender and the
191		-	notification of the community where such offender resides, to provide Senate Bill No. 817
192	153
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194	157
195		-	information on the crime or crimes involved and to provide information
196		-	on how the offender will be monitored by the Court Support Services
197		-	Division and the specific conditions of probation applicable to the
198		-	offender;
199		-	(2) Information on how and where concerned residents may report
200		-	observed violations by an offender of the conditions of such offender's
201		-	probation;
202		-	(3) Resources to educate families, [and] children and senior citizens
203		-	in the prevention and avoidance of sexual abuse and sexual assault and
204		-	for parents seeking supportive methods for discussing relevant issues
205		-	with their children;
206		-	(4) Resources on when and how a community may wish to establish
207		-	a network of "Safe Houses" for neighborhood children to use when they
208		-	seek safe shelter or the creation of a neighborhood block watch or crime
209		-	watch;
210		-	(5) Resources for police departments and boards of education to use
211		-	in consulting with parents on appropriate school-based classroom
212		-	programs stressing safety, prevention and risk reduction and to use in
213		-	developing educational programs for parents to discuss relevant issues
214		-	with their children; [and]
215		-	(6) Resources for police departments and municipal officials to
216		-	provide programs stressing safety, prevention and risk reduction for
217		-	senior citizens living in the community or receiving services at a senior
218		-	center or other facility located in the community; and
219		-	[(6)] (7) Compilation and distribution of a list of child protective
220		-	agencies, child guidance clinics and rape crisis centers for families
221		-	seeking more in-depth counseling after a community notification has
222		-	occurred. Senate Bill No. 817
	158	+	(6) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, 111
	159	+	Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, who shall serve as chairperson of the 112
	160	+	working group; 113
	161	+	(7) The Commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability 114
	162	+	Services, or the commissioner's designee; and 115
	163	+	(8) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 116
	164	+	designee. 117
	165	+	(d) Any member of the working group appointed under subdivision 118
	166	+	(1), (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (c) of this section may be a member of the 119
	167	+	General Assembly. 120
	168	+	(e) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not 121
	169	+	later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy 122
	170	+	shall be filled by the appointing authority. 123
	171	+	(f) The chairperson of the working group shall schedule the first 124
	172	+	meeting, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective 125
	173	+	date of this section. 126
	174	+	(g) The administrative staff of the Commission on Women, Children, 127
	175	+	Seniors, Equity and Opportunity shall serve as administrative staff of 128
	176	+	the working group. 129
	177	+	(h) Not later than January 1, 2023, the working group shall submit a 130
	178	+	report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 131
	179	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 132
	180	+	relating to aging, human services, housing, planning and development, 133
	181	+	public health and transportation, in accordance with the provisions of 134
	182	+	section 11-4a of the general statutes. The working group shall terminate 135
	183	+	on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2023, whichever is 136
	184	+	later. 137 Raised Bill No. 817
223	185
224		-	Public Act No. 21-7 8 of 8
225	186
226		-	(d) The Court Support Services Division may apply for and receive
227		-	grants from the federal government or any agency thereof or from any
228		-	foundation, corporation, association or individual for purposes of the
229		-	development of the community response education program under this
230		-	section.
231		-	Approved May 13, 2021
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	190	+
	191	+	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
	192	+	sections:
	193	+
	194	+	Section 1 October 1, 2021 7-127b
	195	+	Sec. 2 October 1, 2021 New section
	196	+	Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 New section
	197	+	Sec. 4 October 1, 2021 New section
	198	+
	199	+	AGE Joint Favorable
	200	+