Researcher: JP Page 1 4/15/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 1055
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES.
SUMMARY
This bill makes various changes and updates to the statutes
governing the Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS).
More specifically, it:
1. consolidates redundant gift acceptance and use provisions that
allow ADS to accept gifts and bequests;
2. replaces the current Assistive Technology Revolving Fund, which
makes direct loans, with a program to make and guarantee loans
for the same purposes;
3. updates the format of a required informational resource about the
voter application process;
4. eliminates required appointments for the eight ex-officio members
of the Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of
Hearing; and
5. deletes an obsolete reference to the Department of Social
Services taking over programs of the former Department on
Aging, as they were instead merged into ADS (CGS § 17a-301b).
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
§§ 1, 2, 6 & 7 — GIFT ACCEPTANCE AUTH ORIZATION
The bill consolidates under one provision, the ADS commissioner’s
existing authority to accept and use gifts under three separate
provisions in statute. It specifies that she may accept and use gifts, 2021SB-01055-R000492-BA.DOCX
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grants, reimbursements, or bequests made by will or otherwise for
carrying out the donor’s purposes or the laws governing ADS,
provided they are made under conditions that she judges are proper
and consistent with state and federal law. If she accepts them, they
must be held, invested, reinvested, and used according to the
conditions of the gift, grant, reimbursement, or bequest.
The bill eliminates two similar provisions authorizing the ADS
(formerly the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS))
commissioner to accept and use gifts, grants, bequests, personal
property, and reimbursements for the donor’s specified purposes, if
any, or to support its programs. It also eliminates an authorization for
ADS (formerly DRS) to expend its appropriation to engage
consultants.
§ 3 — ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LOANS
Current law authorizes the ADS commissioner to establish and
administer the Assistive Technology Revolving Fund, which makes
direct loans to persons with disabilities, senior citizens, or their family
members to purchase necessary assistive technology and adaptive
equipment and services.
The bill instead authorizes her to establish and administer state
financing activities as outlined in the federal Assistive Technology Act.
This is to be known as the Assistive Technology Loan Program, which
must make and guarantee loans to persons with disabilities, older
adults, or their family members, for the same purposes as the current
fund.
§ 4 — VOTER INFORMATIONAL RESOURCE
Current election law requires ADS to produce a videotape
presenting the oath statement on voter application forms in voice and
sign language and provide it to the secretary of the state. The secretary
must then provide a copy to municipal registrars of voters upon
request. This statement specifies each voter eligibility requirement,
contains an attestation that the applicant meets each requirement, and
requires his or her signature under penalty of perjury. The bill instead 2021SB-01055-R000492-BA.DOCX
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requires ADS to produce an accessible version (e.g., an online video) of
the oath statement, in consultation with the secretary, and provide it to
her. In turn, the secretary must make it available to registrars of voters.
§ 5 — ADVISORY BOARD APPOI NTMENTS
Current law requires the governor to appoint the 16 members of the
Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, eight of
whom are members by virtue of holding another office. The bill
eliminates the requirement that he appoint these ex-officio members,
thus enabling their immediate board participation upon assuming
their outside positions.
BACKGROUND
Related Bill
sHB 6637, favorably reported by the Human Services Committee,
changes the name of the Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf or
Hard of Hearing to the Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, Hard
of Hearing or Deafblind.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Human Services Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/31/2021)