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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5343 (as amended by House "A" and "B")*
AN ACT CONCERNING THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER AND QUEER HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND
OPPORTUNITY NETWORK.
SUMMARY
This bill modifies the name of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender and Queer Health and Human Services Network to the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Health, Human
Services and Opportunity Network and expands its charge. Specifically,
it requires the network to make recommendations about promoting
equitable access to opportunities for, and educational awareness about,
LGBTQ people in the state. Under existing law, the network must
already make recommendations on the delivery of health and human
services to these people.
The bill also updates network membership, such as requiring the
Human Services Committee chairpersons to each appoint several
members, which they must do by September 1, 2022 (they must also fill
these vacancies). Ex-officio vacancies are filled by a majority vote of the
network’s members. Under current law, the House speaker fills any
vacancies, in consultation with the Senate president pro tempore.
The bill removes provisions under current law (1) providing that
members serve at the will of the House speaker and Senate president
pro tempore and (2) allowing them to set member term limits.
The bill allows the network to use (1) available funds from federal,
state, or other sources, and (2) voluntary and uncompensated services
of private individuals, state or federal agencies, and organizations as
may be offered and needed. It also allows the network to enter into
contracts to carry out its purposes, as long as no member participates in
decisions, whether by affirmative vote or otherwise, to disburse funds
or other benefits to themselves or an organization with which they are 2022HB-05343-R01-BA.DOCX
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affiliated.
*House Amendment “A” (1) caps the network’s membership and
specifies that members, or their designees, are required to be part of the
network to the extent they are available and willing to serve; (2)
eliminates the requirement that the executive director of the
Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity
administer the network funds through a fiscal agent; and (3) prohibits
members from participating in decisions to disburse funds or benefits
to themselves or an affiliated organization.
*House Amendment “B” makes the same changes as Amendment
“A”, plus two clarifying changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2022
NETWORK MEMBERSHIP
The bill modifies the LGBTQ Health, Human Services and
Opportunity Network’s membership, as shown in Table 1. Under
current law, the required membership is a minimum. The bill instead
caps the network’s membership at the updated list and specifies that
these members, or their designees, are required to be part of the network
to the extent they are available and willing to serve.
Table 1: Network Membership
Current Law Under the Bill
Legislative or Gubernatorial Appointments
(or their designees)
Appointments by Human Services
Committee Senate Chairperson*
House speaker-appointed licensed physician
who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or
queer
LGBTQ licensed physician affiliated with and
nominated by a health care organization that
advocates for or promotes services to LGBTQ
health care consumers
Senate president pro tempore-appointed
LGBT veteran care coordinator assigned to a
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health
care facility in the state
LGBTQ licensed mental health provider
(physician or physician assistant) affiliated
with and nominated by a health care
organization that advocates for or promotes
services to LGBTQ health care consumers
Governor-appointed member of the LGBT
Aging Advocacy coalition
Representative of the Latino, Latina, Latinx,
or Puerto Rican LGBTQ community 2022HB-05343-R01-BA.DOCX
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Current Law Under the Bill
Representative of the African American/
Black LGBTQ community
Representative of the LGBTQ+ women
community
A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or
queer person with disabilities
Representative of the transgender, nonbinary,
or intersex community
Appointments by Human Services
Committee House Chairperson*
Representative of the LGBTQ+ youth
services sector
Up to three rotating representatives from
each of the (1) Pride Network, (2) College
LGBTQ+ services and support community,
and (3) HIV/AIDS service sector
LGBT veteran care coordinator assigned to a
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health
care facility in the state
Member of the LGBT Aging Advocacy
coalition
Ex-Officio Members
(or their designees)
Ex-Officio Members
(or their designees)*
Executive Directors of the following
organizations:
Executive Directors of the following
organizations:
AIDS Connecticut Advancing CT Together
Commission on Women, Children, Seniors,
Equity and Opportunity
Commission on Women, Children, Seniors,
Equity and Opportunity
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education
Network (GLSEN) - CT
---
Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition
Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective
New Haven Pride Center New Haven Pride Center
Queer Unity Empowerment Support Team Q+
Rainbow Center at the University of
Connecticut
Kamora’s Cultural Corner
Safe Harbor Project ---
Triangle Community Center in Norwalk Triangle Community Center
True Colors, Inc. --- 2022HB-05343-R01-BA.DOCX
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Current Law Under the Bill
Presidents of the following organizations: Presidents of the following organizations:
Connecticut Latinas/os Achieving Rights and
Opportunities (CLARO)
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education
Network (GLSEN) - CT
OutCT in New London OutCT
Connecticut Community Care Connecticut Community Care
* provided these members are willing and
able to serve
COMMITTEE ACTION
Human Services Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 20 Nay 0 (03/24/2022)