Connecticut 2024 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05511 Compare Versions

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	5	+	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5511
	6	+	February Session, 2024
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4		-	Substitute House Bill No. 5511
5		-
6		-	Public Act No. 24-150
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8	11
9	12		AN ACT CONCERNING THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT ADVISORY
10		-	COMMITTEE.
	13	+	COMMITTEE AND THE TRANSFORMING CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL
	14	+	HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.
11	15		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
12	16		Assembly convened:
13	17
14		-	Section 1. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 17a-674d of the 2024
15		-	supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is
16		-	substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
17		-	(a) There is established an Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee to
18		-	ensure (1) that proceeds received by the state pursuant to section 17a-
19		-	674c are allocated and spent on substance use disorder abatement
20		-	infrastructure, programs, services, supports and resources for
21		-	prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction, and (2) robust
22		-	public involvement, accountability and transparency in allocating and
23		-	accounting for the moneys in the fund.
24		-	(b) The committee shall consist of the following members:
25		-	(1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the
26		-	secretary's designee;
27		-	(2) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;
28		-	(3) The Commissioners of Children and Families, Mental Health and Substitute ~~House~~ Bill No. 5511
	18	+	Section 1. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 17a-674d of the 2024 1
	19	+	supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 2
	20	+	substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 3
	21	+	(a) There is established an Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee to 4
	22	+	ensure (1) that proceeds received by the state pursuant to section 17a-5
	23	+	674c are allocated and spent on substance use disorder abatement 6
	24	+	infrastructure, programs, services, supports and resources for 7
	25	+	prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction, and (2) robust 8
	26	+	public involvement, accountability and transparency in allocating and 9
	27	+	accounting for the moneys in the fund. 10
	28	+	(b) The committee shall consist of the following members: 11
	29	+	(1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 12
	30	+	secretary's designee; 13
	31	+	(2) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee; 14
	32	+	(3) The Commissioners of Children and Families, Mental Health and 15 Substitute Bill No. 5511
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30		-	Public Act No. 24-150 2 of 2
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32		-	Addiction Services and Public Health, or said commissioners' designees,
33		-	who shall serve as ex-officio members;
34		-	(4) The president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House
35		-	of Representatives, the majority leaders of the Senate and House of
36		-	Representatives, the minority leaders of the Senate and House of
37		-	Representatives, the Senate and House chairpersons and ranking
38		-	members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly
39		-	having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets
40		-	of state agencies and public health, or their designees, provided such
41		-	persons have experience living with a substance use disorder or are the
42		-	family member of a person who has experience living with a substance
43		-	use disorder;
44		-	(5) [Twenty-one] Twenty-three individuals representing
45		-	municipalities, who shall be appointed by the Governor;
46		-	(6) The executive director of the Commission on Racial Equity in
47		-	Public Health, or a representative of the commission designated by the
48		-	executive director; and
49		-	(7) Eight individuals appointed by the commissioner as follows: (A)
50		-	A provider of community-based substance use treatment services for
51		-	adults, who shall be a nonvoting member; (B) a provider of community-
52		-	based substance use treatment services for adolescents, who shall be a
53		-	nonvoting member; (C) an addiction medicine licensed health care
54		-	professional with prescribing ability, who shall be a nonvoting member;
55		-	(D) three individuals with experience living with a substance use
56		-	disorder or family members of an individual with experience living
57		-	with a substance use disorder; and (E) two individuals with experience
58		-	supporting infants and children affected by the opioid crisis.
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	37	+	Addiction Services and Public Health, or said commissioners' designees, 16
	38	+	who shall serve as ex-officio members; 17
	39	+	(4) The president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House 18
	40	+	of Representatives, the majority leaders of the Senate and House of 19
	41	+	Representatives, the minority leaders of the Senate and House of 20
	42	+	Representatives, the Senate and House chairpersons and ranking 21
	43	+	members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 22
	44	+	having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets 23
	45	+	of state agencies and public health, or their designees, provided such 24
	46	+	persons have experience living with a substance use disorder or are the 25
	47	+	family member of a person who has experience living with a substance 26
	48	+	use disorder; 27
	49	+	(5) (A) A provider of medical treatment for detoxification, who shall 28
	50	+	be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (B) a 29
	51	+	representative of a recovery community center, who shall be appointed 30
	52	+	by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (C) a provider 31
	53	+	of substance use treatment services for youth, who shall be appointed 32
	54	+	by the president pro tempore of the Senate; (D) a psychologist who 33
	55	+	specializes in substance use and recovery, who shall be appointed by 34
	56	+	the majority leader of the Senate; (E) a provider of substance use 35
	57	+	treatment services, who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 36
	58	+	Senate; (F) a representative of a hospital association in the state, who 37
	59	+	shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of 38
	60	+	Representatives; and (G) two representatives, one from each of the two 39
	61	+	federally recognized Indian tribes in the state, who shall be jointly 40
	62	+	appointed by the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the 41
	63	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 42
	64	+	appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. 43
	65	+	[(5)] (6) Twenty-one individuals representing municipalities and one 44
	66	+	individual who is a substance use recovery coach, who shall be 45
	67	+	appointed by the Governor; 46
	68	+	[(6)] (7) The executive director of the Commission on Racial Equity in 47 Substitute Bill No. 5511
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	73	+	Public Health, or a representative of the commission designated by the 48
	74	+	executive director; and 49
	75	+	[(7)] (8) Eight individuals appointed by the commissioner as follows: 50
	76	+	(A) A provider of community-based substance use treatment services 51
	77	+	for adults, who shall be a nonvoting member; (B) a provider of 52
	78	+	community-based substance use treatment services for adolescents, 53
	79	+	who shall be a nonvoting member; (C) an addiction medicine licensed 54
	80	+	health care professional with prescribing ability, who shall be a 55
	81	+	nonvoting member; (D) three individuals with experience living with a 56
	82	+	substance use disorder or family members of an individual with 57
	83	+	experience living with a substance use disorder; and (E) two individuals 58
	84	+	with experience supporting infants and children affected by the opioid 59
	85	+	crisis. 60
	86	+	Sec. 2. Section 2-137 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is 61
	87	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 62
	88	+	passage): 63
	89	+	(a) There is established a Transforming Children's Behavioral Health 64
	90	+	Policy and Planning Committee. The committee shall evaluate the 65
	91	+	availability and efficacy of prevention, early intervention, and 66
	92	+	behavioral health treatment services and options for children from birth 67
	93	+	to age eighteen and make recommendations to the General Assembly 68
	94	+	and executive agencies regarding the governance and administration of 69
	95	+	the behavioral health care system for children. The committee shall be 70
	96	+	within the Legislative Department. For purposes of this section, 71
	97	+	"behavioral health" means mental health and substance use disorders, 72
	98	+	as well as overall psychological well-being. 73
	99	+	(b) The committee shall consist of the following members: 74
	100	+	(1) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing 75
	101	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 76
	102	+	relating to public health, human services, children and appropriations 77
	103	+	and the budgets of state agencies, or their designees; 78 Substitute Bill No. 5511
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	108	+	(2) Three appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 79
	109	+	one of whom shall be a member of the General Assembly and two of 80
	110	+	whom shall be providers of behavioral health services for children in the 81
	111	+	state; 82
	112	+	(3) Three appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one 83
	113	+	of whom shall be a member of the General Assembly and two of whom 84
	114	+	shall be representatives of private advocacy groups that provide 85
	115	+	services for children and families in the state; 86
	116	+	(4) (A) Two appointed by the chairperson of the committee selected 87
	117	+	by the speaker of the House of Representatives pursuant to subsection 88
	118	+	(e) of this section, one of whom shall be a child or youth advocate; and 89
	119	+	(B) two appointed by the chairperson of the committee selected by the 90
	120	+	president pro tempore of the Senate pursuant to subsection (e) of this 91
	121	+	section, one of whom shall be a child or youth advocate; 92
	122	+	(5) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of 93
	123	+	Representatives, who shall be representatives of children's hospitals; 94
	124	+	(6) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be 95
	125	+	a representative of public school superintendents in the state; 96
	126	+	(7) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of 97
	127	+	Representatives, who shall be representatives of families with children 98
	128	+	who have been diagnosed with behavioral health disorders; 99
	129	+	(8) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be 100
	130	+	providers of behavioral health services; 101
	131	+	(9) Two jointly appointed by the chairpersons of the joint standing 102
	132	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 103
	133	+	relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, each of 104
	134	+	whom shall be a representative of one of the two federally recognized 105
	135	+	Indian tribes in the state; 106
	136	+	[(9)] (10) The Commissioners of Children and Families, Correction, 107
	137	+	Developmental Services, Early Childhood, Education, Insurance, 108 Substitute Bill No. 5511
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	142	+	Mental Health and Addiction Services, Public Health and Social 109
	143	+	Services, or their designees; 110
	144	+	[(10)] (11) The executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, or 111
	145	+	the executive director's designee; 112
	146	+	[(11)] (12) The Child Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee; 113
	147	+	[(12)] (13) The Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's 114
	148	+	designee; 115
	149	+	[(13)] (14) The executive director of the Court Support Services 116
	150	+	Division of the Judicial Branch, or the executive director's designee; 117
	151	+	[(14)] (15) The executive director of the Commission on Women, 118
	152	+	Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director's 119
	153	+	designee; 120
	154	+	[(15)] (16) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or 121
	155	+	the secretary's designee; and 122
	156	+	[(16)] (17) One representative from each administrative services 123
	157	+	organization under contract with the Department of Social Services to 124
	158	+	provide such services for recipients of assistance under the HUSKY 125
	159	+	Health program, who shall be ex-officio, nonvoting members. 126
	160	+	(c) Any member of the committee appointed under subdivisions (1) 127
	161	+	to (8), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the 128
	162	+	General Assembly. 129
	163	+	(d) Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. 130
	164	+	(e) The chairpersons of the committee shall be (1) the Secretary of the 131
	165	+	Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, and (2) 132
	166	+	two members of the General Assembly, one each selected by the speaker 133
	167	+	of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the 134
	168	+	Senate from among the members serving pursuant to subdivision (1), 135
	169	+	(2) or (3) of subsection (b) of this section. The three chairpersons shall 136 Substitute Bill No. 5511
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	174	+	schedule the first meeting of the committee, which shall be held not later 137
	175	+	than September 1, 2023. 138
	176	+	(f) Members of the committee shall serve without compensation, 139
	177	+	except for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their 140
	178	+	duties. 141
	179	+	(g) Not later than December 1, [2023] 2025, the committee shall report, 142
	180	+	in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 143
	181	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 144
	182	+	appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, public health, human 145
	183	+	services and children, and the Office of Policy and Management, 146
	184	+	regarding the following: 147
	185	+	(1) Any statutory and budgetary changes needed concerning the 148
	186	+	behavioral health system of prevention, development and treatment 149
	187	+	that the committee recommends to (A) improve developmental and 150
	188	+	behavioral health outcomes for children; (B) improve transparency and 151
	189	+	accountability with respect to state-funded services for children and 152
	190	+	youth with an emphasis on goals identified by the committee for 153
	191	+	community-based programs and facility-based interventions; and (C) 154
	192	+	promote the efficient sharing of information by state and state-funded 155
	193	+	agencies to ensure the regular collection and reporting of data regarding 156
	194	+	children and families' access to, utilization of and benefit from services 157
	195	+	necessary to promote public health and behavioral health outcomes for 158
	196	+	children and youth and their families; 159
	197	+	(2) The gaps in services identified by the committee with respect to 160
	198	+	children and families involved in the behavioral health system, and 161
	199	+	recommendations to address such gaps in services; 162
	200	+	(3) Strengths and barriers identified by the committee that support or 163
	201	+	impede the behavioral health needs of children and youth with specific 164
	202	+	recommendations for reforms; 165
	203	+	(4) An examination of the way state agencies can work collaboratively 166
	204	+	through school-based efforts and other processes to improve 167 Substitute Bill No. 5511
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	209	+	developmental and behavioral health outcomes for children; 168
	210	+	(5) An examination of disproportionate access and outcomes across 169
	211	+	the behavioral health care system for children of color; 170
	212	+	(6) An examination of disproportionate access and outcomes across 171
	213	+	the behavioral health care system for children with developmental 172
	214	+	disabilities; 173
	215	+	(7) A plan to ensure a quality assurance framework for facilities and 174
	216	+	programs that are part of the behavioral health care system and are 175
	217	+	operated privately or by the state that includes data regarding efficacy 176
	218	+	and outcomes; and 177
	219	+	(8) A governance structure for the children's behavioral health system 178
	220	+	that will best facilitate the public policy and healthcare goals of the state 179
	221	+	to ensure that all children and families, in urban, rural and all other 180
	222	+	areas of the state, can access high-quality behavioral health care. 181
	223	+	(h) The committee may complete its duties under this section after 182
	224	+	requesting consultation with one or more organizations that focus on 183
	225	+	children's behavioral health. The committee may accept administrative 184
	226	+	support and technical and research assistance from any organization. 185
	227	+	(i) The committee shall be given access to data collected by the state 186
	228	+	on matters related to children's behavioral health from the relevant state 187
	229	+	agencies or directly from contracted administrative service 188
	230	+	organizations, as applicable. 189
	231	+	(j) The committee may include two or more subcommittees chaired 190
	232	+	by a member of the committee to inform its recommendations. The 191
	233	+	subcommittees may focus on: Workforce-related issues, school-based 192
	234	+	health, prevention, and intermediate or acute care. Any subcommittees 193
	235	+	may examine gaps, reimbursement rates, parity in the outcomes of 194
	236	+	services or the efficacy of services. 195
	237	+	(k) The committee shall, annually, establish a work plan for 196
	238	+	reviewing and making follow-up reports on the status or progress of the 197 Substitute Bill No. 5511
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	243	+	committee's recommendations and activities. The work plan shall 198
	244	+	include specific recommendations to improve outcomes related to 199
	245	+	children's behavioral health and a timeline indicating dates by which 200
	246	+	specific tasks or outcomes should be achieved. 201
	247	+	(l) The committee shall develop a strategic plan that integrates the 202
	248	+	recommendations identified pursuant to subsection (g) of this section. 203
	249	+	In developing the plan, the committee may collaborate with any state 204
	250	+	agency with responsibilities relating to the behavioral health system. 205
	251	+	(m) Not later than December 1, [2024] 2026, the committee shall 206
	252	+	report, in accordance with section 11-4a, such plan, together with an 207
	253	+	account of progress made toward the full implementation of such plan, 208
	254	+	and any recommendations concerning the implementation of identified 209
	255	+	goals in the plan to the joint standing committees of the General 210
	256	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and 211
	257	+	the budgets of state agencies, public health, human services and 212
	258	+	children, and the Office of Policy and Management. 213
	259	+	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
	260	+	sections:
	261	+
	262	+	Section 1 from passage 17a-674d(a) and (b)
	263	+	Sec. 2 from passage 2-137
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	265	+	APP Joint Favorable Subst.
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