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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6834
January Session, 2025
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING
VARIOUS REVISIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
SERVICES STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subparagraph (D) of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of 1
section 54-56q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 2
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 3
(D) If the court finds that a person is indigent and unable to pay for 4
the substance use treatment component of the program, the court may 5
waive all or any portion of the program fee for that component and the 6
costs of such treatment, provided that such person participates in such 7
treatment at a substance use treatment provider licensed by and located 8
in this state. If such person has health insurance coverage through 9
private health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, any eligible costs 10
waived under this subparagraph shall be paid by such insurance for any 11
covered benefit. Any costs waived under this subparagraph that are not 12
covered by such person's private health insurance, Medicare or 13
Medicaid, including, but not limited to, any copay, coinsurance, 14
deductible or other out-of-pocket expense attributable to such person's 15
private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, shall be paid by the 16 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. 17
Sec. 2. Subparagraph (D) of subdivision (3) of subsection (f) of section 18
54-56r of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted 19
in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 20
(D) If the court finds that a person is indigent and unable to pay for 21
the substance use treatment component of the program, the court may 22
waive all or any portion of the program fee for that component and the 23
costs of such treatment, provided that such person participates in such 24
treatment at a substance use treatment provider licensed by and located 25
in this state. If such person has health insurance coverage through 26
private health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, any eligible costs 27
waived under this subparagraph shall be paid by such insurance for any 28
covered benefit. Any costs waived under this subparagraph that are not 29
covered by such person's private health insurance, Medicare or 30
Medicaid, including, but not limited to, any copay, coinsurance, 31
deductible or other out-of-pocket expense attributable to such person's 32
private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, shall be paid by the 33
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. 34
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 17a-450 of the general statutes is 35
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 36
1, 2025): 37
(b) For the purposes of chapter 48, the Department of Mental Health 38
and Addiction Services shall be organized to promote comprehensive, 39
client-based services in the areas of mental health treatment and 40
substance [abuse] use treatment and to ensure the programmatic 41
integrity and clinical identity of services in each area. The department 42
shall perform the functions of: Centralized administration, planning 43
and program development; prevention and treatment programs and 44
facilities, both inpatient and outpatient, for persons with psychiatric 45
disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, or both; community 46
mental health centers and community or regional programs and 47
facilities providing services for persons with psychiatric disabilities or 48 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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persons with substance use disorders, or both; training and education; 49
and research and evaluation of programs and facilities providing 50
services for persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with 51
substance use disorders, or both. The department shall include, but not 52
be limited to, the following divisions and facilities or their successor 53
facilities: The office of the Commissioner of Mental Health and 54
Addiction Services; Capitol Region Mental Health Center; Connecticut 55
Valley Hospital, including the Addictions Division and the General 56
Psychiatric Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital; the Whiting 57
Forensic Hospital; the Connecticut Mental Health Center; Ribicoff 58
Research Center; the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System, 59
including the Franklin S. DuBois Center and the Greater Bridgeport 60
Community Mental Health Center; the Southeastern Mental Health 61
Authority; River Valley Services; the Western Connecticut Mental 62
Health Network; and any other state-operated facility for the treatment 63
of persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use 64
disorders, or both, but shall not include those portions of such facilities 65
transferred to the Department of Children and Families for the purpose 66
of consolidation of children's services. All department divisions and 67
facilities shall provide their patient records to the electronic health 68
record system established pursuant to subdivision (7) of subsection (c) 69
of this section. Disclosures of patient information from the electronic 70
health record system outside of the department shall be in accordance 71
with applicable federal and state law. 72
Sec. 4. Subsection (d) of section 17a-450 of the general statutes is 73
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 74
1, 2025): 75
(d) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is 76
designated as the lead state agency for substance [abuse] use prevention 77
and treatment in this state, and as such is designated as the state 78
methadone authority. As the designated state methadone authority, the 79
department is authorized by the federal Center for Substance Abuse 80
Treatment of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 81
Administration within the United States Department of Health and 82 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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Human Services to exercise responsibility and authority for the 83
treatment of opiate addiction with an opioid medication, and 84
specifically for: (1) Approval of exceptions to federal opioid treatment 85
protocols in accordance with the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 86
(2) monitoring all opioid treatment programs in the state, and (3) 87
approval of Center for Substance Abuse Treatment certification of all 88
opioid treatment programs in the state. The Commissioner of Mental 89
Health and Addiction Services may adopt regulations in accordance 90
with chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of this subsection. 91
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 17a-451 of the general statutes is 92
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 93
1, 2025): 94
(a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall 95
be a qualified person with a master's degree or higher in a health-related 96
field and at least ten years' experience in hospital, health, mental health 97
or substance [abuse] use administration. 98
Sec. 6. Section 17a-464 of the general statutes is repealed and the 99
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 100
The Ribicoff Research Center is established and shall be operated by 101
the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as a facility 102
with state-wide responsibility for research in mental health or substance 103
[abuse] use, or both, to include, but not be limited to, the following 104
areas: Neurochemistry, neurophysiology, clinical behavior and clinical 105
evaluation. 106
Sec. 7. Section 17a-484c of the general statutes is repealed and the 107
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 108
Any licensed residential treatment facility that provides adult mental 109
health or substance [abuse] use treatment services, or both, and receives 110
state funds for the provision of such services shall prepare a discharge 111
plan, including housing referrals, for each client receiving such services 112
prior to such client's release from such residential treatment facility. The 113 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services may adopt 114
regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the provisions 115
of this section. 116
Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 17a-484f of the general statutes is 117
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 118
1, 2025): 119
(b) The duties of each regional behavioral health action organization, 120
within its mental health region, shall include, but need not be limited to: 121
(1) Assessing the behavioral health needs of children, adolescents and 122
adults across the region and engaging with stakeholders to identify 123
needs, problems, barriers and gaps in the behavioral health service 124
continuum, (2) enhancing the capacity of local communities to 125
understand and address problem gambling, (3) raising awareness and 126
advocating for the general public for mental health promotion and 127
substance [abuse] use prevention, treatment and recovery, (4) receiving 128
and expanding federal, state and local funds and leveraging funds to 129
support behavioral health promotion, prevention, treatment and 130
recovery activities, (5) serving on local, regional and state advisory and 131
planning bodies, (6) within available appropriations, providing training 132
in the administration of an opioid antagonist, as defined in section 17a-133
714a, and distributing supplies of opioid antagonists to communities, 134
(7) reporting community needs, program review findings and 135
conclusions annually to the relevant local, regional and state 136
stakeholders with recommendations for the establishment, modification 137
or expansion of behavioral health services within the mental health 138
region, and (8) serving as the regional partner responsible for 139
coordinating and aligning federal, state, regional and local behavioral 140
health initiatives. 141
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 17a-485i of the general statutes is 142
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 143
1, 2025): 144
(a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall, 145 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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within available appropriations, operate a behavioral health recovery 146
program to provide clinical substance [abuse] use treatment, psychiatric 147
treatment and nonclinical recovery support services, which are not 148
covered under the Medicaid program, for individuals with substance 149
use disorders or psychiatric disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid 150
pursuant to Sections 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) and 1902(k)(2) of the Social 151
Security Act. Services provided under the program may include, but 152
shall not be limited to, residential substance [abuse] use treatment, 153
recovery support services, peer supports, housing assistance, 154
transportation, food, clothing and personal care items. The Department 155
of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall be responsible for all 156
services and payments related to the provision of the behavioral health 157
recovery support services for eligible recipients. 158
Sec. 10. Section 17a-667 of the general statutes is repealed and the 159
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 160
(a) There is established a Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy 161
Council which shall be within the Department of Mental Health and 162
Addiction Services. 163
(b) The council shall consist of the following members: (1) The 164
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's 165
designee; (2) the Commissioners of Children and Families, Consumer 166
Protection, Correction, Education, Mental Health and Addiction 167
Services, Public Health, Emergency Services and Public Protection, 168
Aging and Disability Services and Social Services, and the Insurance 169
Commissioner, or their designees; (3) the Chief Court Administrator, or 170
the Chief Court Administrator's designee; (4) the chairperson of the 171
Board of Regents for Higher Education, or the chairperson's designee; 172
(5) the president of The University of Connecticut, or the president's 173
designee; (6) the Chief State's Attorney, or the Chief State's Attorney's 174
designee; (7) the Chief Public Defender, or the Chief Public Defender's 175
designee; (8) the Child Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee; and 176
(9) the cochairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing 177
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 178 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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relating to public health, criminal justice and appropriations, or their 179
designees. The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services 180
and the Commissioner of Children and Families shall be cochairpersons 181
of the council and may jointly appoint up to seven individuals to the 182
council as follows: (A) Two individuals in recovery from a substance use 183
disorder or representing an advocacy group for individuals with a 184
substance use disorder; (B) a provider of community-based substance 185
[abuse] use services for adults; (C) a provider of community-based 186
substance [abuse] use services for adolescents; (D) an addiction 187
medicine physician; (E) a family member of an individual in recovery 188
from a substance use disorder; and (F) an emergency medicine 189
physician currently practicing in a Connecticut hospital. The 190
cochairpersons of the council may establish subcommittees and 191
working groups and may appoint individuals other than members of 192
the council to serve as members of the subcommittees or working 193
groups. Such individuals may include, but need not be limited to: (i) 194
Licensed alcohol and drug counselors; (ii) pharmacists; (iii) municipal 195
police chiefs; (iv) emergency medical services personnel; and (v) 196
representatives of organizations that provide education, prevention, 197
intervention, referrals, rehabilitation or support services to individuals 198
with substance use disorder or chemical dependency. 199
(c) The council shall review policies and practices of state agencies 200
and the Judicial Department concerning substance [abuse] use 201
treatment programs, substance [abuse] use prevention services, the 202
referral of persons to such programs and services, and criminal justice 203
sanctions and programs and shall develop and coordinate a state-wide, 204
interagency, integrated plan for such programs and services and 205
criminal sanctions. 206
(d) Such plan shall be amended not later than January 1, 2017, to 207
contain measurable goals, including, but not limited to, a goal for a 208
reduction in the number of opioid-induced deaths in the state. 209
Sec. 11. Subsection (e) of section 17a-667a of the general statutes is 210
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 211 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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1, 2025): 212
(e) The Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council shall convene 213
a working group to study substance [abuse] use treatment referral 214
programs that have been established by municipal police departments 215
to refer persons with an opioid use disorder or seeking recovery from 216
drug addiction to substance [abuse] use treatment facilities. The 217
working group shall (1) examine such referral programs, (2) identify any 218
barriers faced by such referral programs, and (3) determine the 219
feasibility of implementing such programs on a state-wide basis. Not 220
later than February 1, 2018, the council shall report, in accordance with 221
the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 222
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public 223
health and public safety and security regarding the findings of the 224
working group. 225
Sec. 12. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 17a-674d of the general 226
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 227
(Effective from passage): 228
(a) There is established an Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee to 229
ensure (1) that proceeds received by the state pursuant to section 17a-230
674c are allocated and spent on substance use disorder abatement 231
infrastructure, programs, services, supports and resources for 232
prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction, and (2) robust 233
public involvement, accountability and transparency in allocating and 234
accounting for the moneys in the fund. 235
(b) The committee shall consist of the following members: 236
(1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 237
secretary's designee; 238
(2) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee; 239
(3) The Commissioners of Children and Families, Mental Health and 240
Addiction Services and Public Health, or said commissioners' designees, 241 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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who shall serve as ex-officio members; 242
(4) The president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House 243
of Representatives, the majority leaders of the Senate and House of 244
Representatives, the minority leaders of the Senate and House of 245
Representatives, the Senate and House chairpersons and ranking 246
members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 247
having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets 248
of state agencies and public health, or their designees, provided such 249
persons have experience living with a substance use disorder or are the 250
family member of a person who has experience living with a substance 251
use disorder; 252
(5) [Twenty-three] Twenty-five individuals representing 253
municipalities, who shall be appointed by the Governor; 254
(6) The executive director of the Commission on Racial Equity in 255
Public Health, or a representative of the commission designated by the 256
executive director; and 257
(7) Eight individuals appointed by the commissioner as follows: (A) 258
A provider of community-based substance use treatment services for 259
adults, who shall be a nonvoting member; (B) a provider of community-260
based substance use treatment services for adolescents, who shall be a 261
nonvoting member; (C) an addiction medicine licensed health care 262
professional with prescribing ability, who shall be a nonvoting member; 263
(D) three individuals with experience living with a substance use 264
disorder or family members of an individual with experience living 265
with a substance use disorder; and (E) two individuals with experience 266
supporting infants and children affected by the opioid crisis. 267
Sec. 13. Subsection (c) of section 19a-906 of the general statutes is 268
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 269
passage): 270
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or title 20, no 271
telehealth provider shall prescribe any schedule I, II or III controlled 272 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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substance through the use of telehealth, except a schedule II or III 273
controlled substance [other than an opioid drug, as defined in section 274
20-14o,] used (1) as part of medication-assisted treatment, or (2) for the 275
treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities or substance use 276
disorders, as defined in section 17a-458, provided such prescription is 277
provided in a manner fully consistent with the Ryan Haight Online 278
Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, 21 USC 829(e), as amended from 279
time to time. [, for the treatment of a person with a psychiatric disability 280
or substance use disorder, as defined in section 17a-458, including, but 281
not limited to, medication-assisted treatment.] A telehealth provider 282
using telehealth to prescribe a schedule II or III controlled substance 283
pursuant to this subsection shall electronically submit the prescription 284
pursuant to section 21a-249. 285
Sec. 14. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 17a-674h of the 286
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 287
thereof (Effective from passage): 288
(4) "Opioid drug" has the same meaning as provided in [42 CFR 8.2, 289
as amended from time to time] section 20-14o, as amended by this act; 290
Sec. 15. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 20-14o of the 291
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 292
thereof (Effective from passage): 293
(1) "Opioid drug" [has the same meaning as provided in 42 CFR 8.2] 294
means "opioid", as defined in 21 USC 802, as amended from time to time; 295
Sec. 16. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 20-14r of the 296
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 297
thereof (Effective from passage): 298
(1) "Opioid drug" has the same meaning as provided in [42 CFR 8.2, 299
as amended from time to time] section 20-14o, as amended by this act; 300
Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 20-633d of the general statutes is 301
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 302 Substitute Bill No. 6834
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passage): 303
(a) A prescribing practitioner, as defined in section 20-14c, who is 304
authorized to prescribe an opioid antagonist, as defined in section 17a-305
714a, and a pharmacy may enter into an agreement for a medical 306
protocol standing order at such pharmacy allowing a pharmacist 307
licensed under part II of this chapter to dispense an opioid antagonist 308
that is (1) administered by an intranasal application delivery system or 309
an auto-injection delivery system, (2) approved by the federal Food and 310
Drug Administration, and (3) dispensed to any person at risk of 311
experiencing an overdose of an opioid drug, as defined in [42 CFR 8.2] 312
section 20-14o, as amended by this act, or to a family member, friend or 313
other person in a position to assist a person at risk of experiencing an 314
overdose of an opioid drug. 315
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 54-56q(e)(2)(D)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 54-56r(f)(3)(D)
Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 17a-450(b)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 17a-450(d)
Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 17a-451(a)
Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 17a-464
Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 17a-484c
Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 17a-484f(b)
Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 17a-485i(a)
Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 17a-667
Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 17a-667a(e)
Sec. 12 from passage 17a-674d(a) and (b)
Sec. 13 from passage 19a-906(c)
Sec. 14 from passage 17a-674h(a)(4)
Sec. 15 from passage 20-14o(a)(1)
Sec. 16 from passage 20-14r(a)(1)
Sec. 17 from passage 20-633d(a)
PH Joint Favorable Subst.