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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 1055 (File 492, as amended by Senate "A")*
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. changes the name of the Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf
or Hard of Hearing and eliminates required appointments for its
eight ex-officio members; 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.
*Senate Amendment “A” 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 and makes several
minor and conforming changes to allo w deafblind board
representation. 2021SB-01055-R01-BA.DOCX
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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,
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 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 people 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 people 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 2021SB-01055-R01-BA.DOCX
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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
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
The bill 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. It makes several minor and
conforming changes in the statutes governing the advisory board to
allow board representation by service providers who work with
individuals who are deafblind.
Current law requires the governor to appoint the board’s 16
members, 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.
Related Bill
sHB 6637 (File 712), favorably reported by the Human Services
Committee, makes the similar changes to the Advisory Board for
Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Human Services Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/31/2021)