Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07109 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 12
	3	+	LCO No. 5571 1 of 6
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7109
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7109
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 5571
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(HS)
8	15
9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR APPLIED
13		-	BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS SERVICES, IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN
	20	+	BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS SERVICES AND IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN
14	21		RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRANSFORMING CHILDREN'S
15		-	BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE AND
16		-	ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING BEHAVIORAL ANALYSTS.
	22	+	BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.
17	23		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
18	24		Assembly convened:
19	25
20		-	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, 1
21		-	"applied behavior analysis" has the same meaning as provided in 2
22		-	section 38a-488b of the general statutes, as amended by this act. The 3
23		-	Commissioner of Social Services shall expand access to applied behavior 4
24		-	analysis services by, within available appropriations (1) increasing 5
25		-	Medicaid rates of payment for supervision, assessment and direct 6
26		-	services provided by a board-certified behavior analyst, (2) providing 7
27		-	coverage under the HUSKY B health program, as defined in section 17b-8
28		-	290 of the general statutes, for applied behavior analysis services, 9
29		-	including, but not limited to, for children with autism spectrum 10
30		-	disorder, and (3) providing Medicaid coverage for caregiver training 11
31		-	utilizing applied behavior analysis. The commissioner shall standardize 12
32		-	codes used to describe applied behavior analysis services for Medicaid 13
33		-	payment by utilizing codes used by commercial insurers and Medicaid 14
34		-	programs in other states. 15
35		-	(b) Not later than December 1, 2025, the commissioner shall submit a 16 Substitute Bill No. 7109
	26	+	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section and 1
	27	+	section 2 of this act, "applied behavior analysis" has the same meaning 2
	28	+	as provided in section 38a-488b of the general statutes, as amended by 3
	29	+	this act. The Commissioner of Social Services shall expand access to 4
	30	+	applied behavior analysis services by (1) within available 5
	31	+	appropriations, increasing Medicaid rates of payment for supervision, 6
	32	+	assessment and direct services by board-certified behavior analysts, (2) 7
	33	+	providing coverage under the HUSKY B health program, as defined in 8
	34	+	section 17b-290 of the general statutes, for applied behavior analysis 9
	35	+	services, including, but not limited to, for children with autism 10
	36	+	spectrum disorder, (3) providing Medicaid coverage for caregiver 11
	37	+	training utilizing applied behavior analysis, and (4) standardizing codes 12
	38	+	used to describe applied behavior analysis services for the purpose of 13
	39	+	Medicaid payment by utilizing codes used by commercial insurers and 14
	40	+	Raised Bill No. 7109
36	41
37	42
38		-	LCO 2 of 12
39	43
	44	+	LCO No. 5571 2 of 6
	45	+
	46	+	Medicaid programs in other states. 15
	47	+	(b) Not later than December 1, 2025, the commissioner shall submit a 16
40	48		report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 17
41	49		statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 18
42	50		having cognizance of matters relating to human services. The 19
43		-	commissioner's report shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) 20
44		-	progress made in expanding access to applied behavior analysis 21
45		-	services pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (2) 22
46		-	recommendations concerning any additional state appropriations 23
47		-	needed to support access to applied behavior analysis services. 24
48		-	Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, "Certified 25
49		-	Community Behavioral Health Clinics Planning Grant" means a grant 26
50		-	program funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health 27
51		-	Services Administration to support state-certified behavioral health 28
52		-	clinics. 29
53		-	(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the 30
54		-	Commissioners of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Children 31
55		-	and Families, shall use moneys from the Certified Community 32
56		-	Behavioral Health Clinics Planning Grant to support development of: 33
57		-	(1) Reimbursement for acuity-based care coordination service to 34
58		-	improve behavioral outcomes for children, (2) a value-based payment 35
59		-	model that provides financial incentives to providers when outcomes 36
60		-	improve for children in their care and holds such providers accountable 37
61		-	for poor outcomes, and (3) a system to help providers and clients better 38
62		-	navigate behavioral health care resources and requirements. 39
63		-	(c) Not later than November 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Social 40
64		-	Services shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 41
65		-	11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committees of the 42
66		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, 43
67		-	human services and public health on the expenditure of planning grant 44
68		-	funds and any improvement to behavioral outcomes attributable to the 45
69		-	expenditure of grant funds pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 46
70		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, 47
71		-	"Intensive In-Home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services", or 48 Substitute Bill No. 7109
	51	+	commissioner's report shall include, but not be limited to, (1) progress 20
	52	+	made in expanding access to applied behavior analysis services 21
	53	+	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (2) recommendations 22
	54	+	concerning any additional state appropriations needed to support 23
	55	+	access to applied behavior analysis. 24
	56	+	Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) Not later than September 1, 2025, the 25
	57	+	Office of Early Childhood and the Department of Social Services, in 26
	58	+	consultation with the Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council 27
	59	+	established pursuant to section 17a-215j of the general statutes, shall 28
	60	+	make recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 29
	61	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and 30
	62	+	public health concerning a statutory, regulatory and Medicaid 31
	63	+	reimbursement framework for the delivery of applied behavior analysis 32
	64	+	services and related services to children by community-based service 33
	65	+	organizations. Recommendations shall address, but need not be limited 34
	66	+	to: (1) Any current legislative and regulatory framework that may be 35
	67	+	applicable to such services, (2) the need for comprehensive background 36
	68	+	checks for individuals in community-based service organizations who 37
	69	+	deliver such services to children, (3) the need for an oversight structure 38
	70	+	that can assure the safety and quality of services to a highly vulnerable 39
	71	+	population, and (4) a rate-setting structure to ensure adequate Medicaid 40
	72	+	reimbursement rates to ensure reasonably prompt access to such 41
	73	+	services for children and families. 42
	74	+	Sec. 3. (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, "Certified 43
	75	+	Community Behavioral Health Clinics Planning Grant" means a grant 44
	76	+	program funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health 45
	77	+	Services Administration to support state-certified behavioral health 46
	78	+	Raised Bill No. 7109
72	79
73	80
74		-	LCO 3 of 12
75	81
76		-	"IICAPS", means in-home psychiatric treatment administered by the 49
77		-	Yale Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine for families with 50
78		-	children or adolescents who have serious emotional disturbances, and 51
79		-	are at risk for hospitalization. 52
80		-	(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall consult with the Yale 53
81		-	Child Study Center to review IICAPS and other evidence-based 54
82		-	alternatives that focus on delivering positive outcomes for children with 55
83		-	behavioral health issues in a sustainable manner while considering the 56
84		-	needs and time demands on children and families enrolled in the 57
85		-	center's IICAPS program. Not later than October 1, 2025, the 58
86		-	commissioner shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 59
87		-	11-4a of the general statutes, the results of the review to the 60
88		-	Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning 61
89		-	Committee established pursuant to section 2-137 of the general statutes. 62
90		-	The report shall include recommendations concerning IICAPS models 63
91		-	that may be used to deliver Medicaid-funded behavioral health care in 64
92		-	the state. 65
93		-	(c) The Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and 66
94		-	Planning Committee established pursuant to section 2-137 of the general 67
95		-	statutes, within available appropriations, may contract with the Yale 68
96		-	Child Study Center to determine what additional federal funding and 69
97		-	reimbursements may be available for IICAPS model development and 70
98		-	to conduct a randomized trial of the Yale Child Study Center model to 71
99		-	determine whether it may qualify federally as an evidence-based 72
100		-	treatment program. 73
101		-	Sec. 4. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 38a-514b of the 74
102		-	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 75
103		-	thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 76
104		-	(4) "Behavioral therapy" means any interactive behavioral therapies 77
105		-	derived from evidence-based research and consistent with the services 78
106		-	and interventions designated by the Commissioner of Social Services 79
107		-	pursuant to subsection (e) of section 17a-215c, including, but not limited 80 Substitute Bill No. 7109
	82	+	LCO No. 5571 3 of 6
	83	+
	84	+	clinics. 47
	85	+	(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the 48
	86	+	Commissioners of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Children 49
	87	+	and Families, shall include in the Certified Community Behavioral 50
	88	+	Health Clinics Planning Grant support for development of: (1) 51
	89	+	Reimbursement for acuity-based care coordination service to improve 52
	90	+	behavioral outcomes for children, (2) a value-based payment model that 53
	91	+	provides financial incentives to providers when outcomes improve for 54
	92	+	children in their care and holds them accountable for poor outcomes, 55
	93	+	and (3) a system to help providers and clients better navigate behavioral 56
	94	+	health care resources and requirements. 57
	95	+	(c) Not later than September 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Social 58
	96	+	Services shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 59
	97	+	11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committees of the 60
	98	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, 61
	99	+	human services and public health on the status of the planning grant 62
	100	+	and any benefits of changes made to the grant pursuant to subsection 63
	101	+	(b) of this section. 64
	102	+	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, 65
	103	+	"Intensive In Home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services", or 66
	104	+	"IICAPS", means in-home psychiatric treatment administered by the 67
	105	+	Yale Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine for families with 68
	106	+	children or adolescents who have serious emotional disturbances, and 69
	107	+	are at risk for hospitalization. 70
	108	+	(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall consult with the Yale 71
	109	+	Child Study Center to review IICAPS and other evidence-based 72
	110	+	alternatives that focus on delivering positive outcomes for children with 73
	111	+	behavioral health issues in a sustainable manner while considering the 74
	112	+	needs and time demands on children and families enrolled in the 75
	113	+	center's IICAPS program. Not later than October 1, 2025, the 76
	114	+	commissioner shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 77
	115	+	Raised Bill No. 7109
108	116
109	117
110		-	LCO 4 of 12
111	118
112		-	to, applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, or other 81
113		-	therapies supported by empirical evidence of the effective treatment of 82
114		-	individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, that are: (A) 83
115		-	Provided to [children less than twenty-one] individuals under twenty-84
116		-	six years of age; and (B) provided or supervised by (i) a licensed 85
117		-	behavior analyst, (ii) a licensed physician, or (iii) a licensed 86
118		-	psychologist. For the purposes of this subdivision, behavioral therapy is 87
119		-	"supervised by" such licensed behavior analyst, licensed physician or 88
120		-	licensed psychologist when such supervision entails at least one hour of 89
121		-	face-to-face supervision of the autism spectrum disorder services 90
122		-	provider by such licensed behavior analyst, licensed physician or 91
123		-	licensed psychologist for each ten hours of behavioral therapy provided 92
124		-	by the supervised provider. 93
125		-	Sec. 5. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 38a-488b of the 94
126		-	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 95
127		-	thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 96
128		-	(4) "Behavioral therapy" means any interactive behavioral therapies 97
129		-	derived from evidence-based research and consistent with the services 98
130		-	and interventions designated by the Commissioner of Social Services 99
131		-	pursuant to subsection (e) of section 17a-215c, including, but not limited 100
132		-	to, applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, or other 101
133		-	therapies supported by empirical evidence of the effective treatment of 102
134		-	individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, that are: (A) 103
135		-	Provided to [children less than twenty-one] individuals under twenty-104
136		-	six years of age; and (B) provided or supervised by (i) a licensed 105
137		-	behavior analyst, (ii) a licensed physician, or (iii) a licensed 106
138		-	psychologist. For the purposes of this subdivision, behavioral therapy is 107
139		-	"supervised by" such licensed behavior analyst, licensed physician or 108
140		-	licensed psychologist when such supervision entails at least one hour of 109
141		-	face-to-face supervision of the autism spectrum disorder services 110
142		-	provider by such licensed behavior analyst, licensed physician or 111
143		-	licensed psychologist for each ten hours of behavioral therapy provided 112
144		-	by the supervised provider. 113 Substitute Bill No. 7109
	119	+	LCO No. 5571 4 of 6
	120	+
	121	+	11-4a of the general statutes, the results of the review to the 78
	122	+	Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning 79
	123	+	Committee established pursuant to section 2-137 of the general statutes. 80
	124	+	The report shall include recommendations concerning IICAPS models 81
	125	+	that may be used to deliver Medicaid-funded behavioral health care in 82
	126	+	the state. 83
	127	+	(c) The Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and 84
	128	+	Planning Committee, within available appropriations, may contract 85
	129	+	with the Yale Child Study Center to determine what additional federal 86
	130	+	funding and reimbursements may be available for IICAPS model 87
	131	+	development and to conduct a randomized trial of the Yale Child Study 88
	132	+	Center model to determine whether it may qualify federally as an 89
	133	+	evidence-based treatment program. 90
	134	+	Sec. 5. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 38a-514b of the 91
	135	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 92
	136	+	thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 93
	137	+	(4) "Behavioral therapy" means any interactive behavioral therapies 94
	138	+	derived from evidence-based research and consistent with the services 95
	139	+	and interventions designated by the Commissioner of Social Services 96
	140	+	pursuant to subsection (e) of section 17a-215c, including, but not limited 97
	141	+	to, applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, or other 98
	142	+	therapies supported by empirical evidence of the effective treatment of 99
	143	+	individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, that are: (A) 100
	144	+	Provided to children [less than twenty-one] under twenty-six years of 101
	145	+	age; and (B) provided or supervised by (i) a licensed behavior analyst, 102
	146	+	(ii) a licensed physician, or (iii) a licensed psychologist. For the purposes 103
	147	+	of this subdivision, behavioral therapy is "supervised by" such licensed 104
	148	+	behavior analyst, licensed physician or licensed psychologist when such 105
	149	+	supervision entails at least one hour of face-to-face supervision of the 106
	150	+	autism spectrum disorder services provider by such licensed behavior 107
	151	+	analyst, licensed physician or licensed psychologist for each ten hours 108
	152	+	of behavioral therapy provided by the supervised provider. 109
	153	+	Raised Bill No. 7109
145	154
146	155
147		-	LCO 5 of 12
148	156
149		-	Sec. 6. (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, "urgent crisis 114
150		-	center" has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-179f of the 115
151		-	general statutes. The Commissioner of Health Strategy, in consultation 116
152		-	with the Insurance Commissioner and the Commissioner of Children 117
153		-	and Families, shall review private health insurance coverage for 118
154		-	treatment of children at urgent crisis centers. 119
155		-	(b) Not later than October 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Health 120
156		-	Strategy shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 121
157		-	11-4a of the general statutes, with the Transforming Children's 122
158		-	Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee established pursuant 123
159		-	to section 2-137 of the general statutes. The report shall include the 124
160		-	commissioner's analysis of claims data concerning private health 125
161		-	insurance coverage of urgent crisis center services and 126
162		-	recommendations to improve affordable access to such services. 127
163		-	Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 17a-101 of the general statutes is 128
164		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 129
165		-	1, 2025): 130
166		-	(b) The following persons shall be mandated reporters: (1) Any 131
167		-	physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 370, (2) 132
168		-	any resident physician or intern in any hospital in this state, whether or 133
169		-	not so licensed, (3) any registered nurse, (4) any licensed practical nurse, 134
170		-	(5) any medical examiner, (6) any dentist, (7) any dental hygienist, (8) 135
171		-	any psychologist, (9) any school employee, as defined in section 53a-65, 136
172		-	(10) any social worker, (11) any person who holds or is issued a coaching 137
173		-	permit by the State Board of Education, is a coach of intramural or 138
174		-	interscholastic athletics and is eighteen years of age or older, (12) any 139
175		-	individual who is employed as a coach or director of youth athletics and 140
176		-	is eighteen years of age or older, (13) any individual who is employed 141
177		-	as a coach or director of a private youth sports organization, league or 142
178		-	team and is eighteen years of age or older, (14) any paid administrator, 143
179		-	faculty, staff, athletic director, athletic coach or athletic trainer employed 144
180		-	by a public or private institution of higher education who is eighteen 145
181		-	years of age or older, excluding student employees, (15) any police 146 Substitute Bill No. 7109
	157	+	LCO No. 5571 5 of 6
	158	+
	159	+	Sec. 6. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 38a-488b of the 110
	160	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 111
	161	+	thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 112
	162	+	(4) "Behavioral therapy" means any interactive behavioral therapies 113
	163	+	derived from evidence-based research and consistent with the services 114
	164	+	and interventions designated by the Commissioner of Social Services 115
	165	+	pursuant to subsection (e) of section 17a-215c, including, but not limited 116
	166	+	to, applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, or other 117
	167	+	therapies supported by empirical evidence of the effective treatment of 118
	168	+	individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, that are: (A) 119
	169	+	Provided to children [less than twenty-one] under twenty-six years of 120
	170	+	age; and (B) provided or supervised by (i) a licensed behavior analyst, 121
	171	+	(ii) a licensed physician, or (iii) a licensed psychologist. For the purposes 122
	172	+	of this subdivision, behavioral therapy is "supervised by" such licensed 123
	173	+	behavior analyst, licensed physician or licensed psychologist when such 124
	174	+	supervision entails at least one hour of face-to-face supervision of the 125
	175	+	autism spectrum disorder services provider by such licensed behavior 126
	176	+	analyst, licensed physician or licensed psychologist for each ten hours 127
	177	+	of behavioral therapy provided by the supervised provider. 128
	178	+	Sec. 7. (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, "urgent crisis 129
	179	+	center" has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-179f of the 130
	180	+	general statutes. The Commissioner of Health Strategy, in consultation 131
	181	+	with the Insurance Commissioner and the Commissioner of Children 132
	182	+	and Families, shall review private health insurance coverage for 133
	183	+	treatment of children at urgent crisis centers. 134
	184	+	(b) Not later than October 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Health 135
	185	+	Strategy shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 136
	186	+	11-4a of the general statutes, with the Transforming Children's 137
	187	+	Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee established pursuant 138
	188	+	to section 2-137 of the general statutes. The report shall include the 139
	189	+	commissioner's analysis of claims data concerning private health 140
	190	+	insurance coverage of urgent crisis center services and 141
	191	+	Raised Bill No. 7109
182	192
183	193
184		-	LCO 6 of 12
185	194
186		-	officer, (16) any juvenile or adult probation officer, (17) any juvenile or 147
187		-	adult parole officer, (18) any member of the clergy, (19) any pharmacist, 148
188		-	(20) any physical therapist, (21) any optometrist, (22) any chiropractor, 149
189		-	(23) any podiatrist, (24) any mental health professional, (25) any 150
190		-	physician assistant, (26) any person who is a licensed or certified 151
191		-	emergency medical services provider, (27) any person who is a licensed 152
192		-	or certified alcohol and drug counselor, (28) any person who is a 153
193		-	licensed marital and family therapist, (29) any person who is a sexual 154
194		-	assault counselor or a domestic violence counselor, as defined in section 155
195		-	52-146k, (30) any person who is a licensed professional counselor, (31) 156
196		-	any person who is a licensed foster parent, (32) any person paid to care 157
197		-	for a child in any public or private facility, child care center, group child 158
198		-	care home or family child care home licensed by the state, (33) any 159
199		-	employee of the Department of Children and Families or any person 160
200		-	who, in the performance of such person's duties, has regular contact 161
201		-	with and provides services to or on behalf of children pursuant to a 162
202		-	contract with or credential issued by the Department of Children and 163
203		-	Families, (34) any employee of the Office of Early Childhood who is 164
204		-	responsible for the licensing of child care centers, group child care 165
205		-	homes, family child care homes or youth camps, (35) any paid youth 166
206		-	camp director, assistant director and staff member who is twenty-one 167
207		-	years of age or older, (36) the Child Advocate and any employee of the 168
208		-	Office of the Child Advocate, (37) any person who is (A) a licensed 169
209		-	behavior analyst, or (B) a person working in a professional capacity with 170
210		-	children under the clinical supervision of a licensed behavior analyst, 171
211		-	(38) any family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or 172
212		-	family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Department, (39) 173
213		-	any victim services advocate employed by the Office of Victim Services 174
214		-	within the Judicial Department, (40) any employee of a juvenile justice 175
215		-	program operated by or pursuant to a contract with the Court Support 176
216		-	Services Division of the Judicial Department, and (41) any person 177
217		-	employed, including any person employed under contract and any 178
218		-	independent ombudsperson, to work at a juvenile detention facility or 179
219		-	any other facility where children under eighteen years of age are 180
220		-	detained and who has direct contact with children as part of such 181 Substitute Bill No. 7109
	195	+	LCO No. 5571 6 of 6
221	196
222		-
223		-	LCO 7 of 12
224		-
225		-	employment. 182
226		-	Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) Notwithstanding any 183
227		-	provision of the general statutes, not later than five business days after 184
228		-	the Commissioner of Children and Families concludes an investigation, 185
229		-	conducted pursuant to section 17a-101g of the general statutes, of a 186
230		-	report of child abuse or neglect in which (1) the alleged perpetrator of 187
231		-	such abuse or neglect is a behavior analyst licensed pursuant to chapter 188
232		-	382a of the general statutes who works with children, or (2) the child is 189
233		-	an alleged victim of a crime described in section 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-71, 190
234		-	53a-72a, 53a-72b or 53a-73a of the general statutes, and the alleged 191
235		-	perpetrator of such crime is a behavior analyst licensed pursuant to 192
236		-	chapter 382a of the general statutes who works with children, the 193
237		-	Commissioner of Children and Families shall notify the Department of 194
238		-	Public Health of the results of such investigation and provide any 195
239		-	records relating to such investigation to the Department of Public 196
240		-	Health, regardless of whether such records were created by the 197
241		-	Department of Children and Families. The Commissioner of Children 198
242		-	and Families shall provide such notification and records regardless of 199
243		-	whether the child was a patient of a behavior analyst. Upon receiving 200
244		-	such notification and any such records, the Department of Public Health 201
245		-	shall treat such notification as a complaint, conduct an investigation of 202
246		-	the behavior analyst and take any disciplinary action, in accordance 203
247		-	with sections 19a-17 and 20-185m of the general statutes, that the 204
248		-	Commissioner of Public Health deems appropriate. If, after such 205
249		-	proceedings, the Commissioner of Public Health takes disciplinary 206
250		-	action against the behavior analyst, or if the disciplinary action is 207
251		-	resolved through voluntary surrender by a behavior analyst of a license 208
252		-	or an agreement not to renew or reinstate a license, the Commissioner 209
253		-	of Public Health shall notify the employer of the behavior analyst, if 210
254		-	known, if such behavior analyst was employed as a behavior analyst at 211
255		-	the time of the complaint. 212
256		-	(b) If a behavior analyst licensed pursuant to chapter 382a of the 213
257		-	general statutes is convicted of (1) a crime involving an act of child abuse 214
258		-	or neglect, as described in section 46b-120, 53-21, 53a-71 or 53a-73a of 215 Substitute Bill No. 7109
259		-
260		-
261		-	LCO 8 of 12
262		-
263		-	the general statutes against any person, or (2) a crime, as described in 216
264		-	section 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-72a or 53a-72b of the general statutes, 217
265		-	against a victim, as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of 218
266		-	section 17a-101a of the general statutes, the state's attorney of the 219
267		-	judicial district where such conviction occurred shall notify the 220
268		-	Commissioner of Public Health, in writing, of such conviction. Not later 221
269		-	than seventy-two hours after the receipt of such notification, the 222
270		-	Commissioner of Public Health shall suspend the behavior analyst's 223
271		-	license pending completion of proceedings and, if such behavior analyst 224
272		-	is currently employed as a behavior analyst at the time of the complaint, 225
273		-	notify the behavior analyst's employer, if known, of such suspension 226
274		-	and proceedings. 227
275		-	Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) Each employer of a behavior 228
276		-	analyst, licensed pursuant to chapter 382a of the general statutes, shall 229
277		-	provide to each patient of a behavior analyst, or, if the patient is under 230
278		-	eighteen years of age, such patient's parents or legal guardians, (1) the 231
279		-	behavior analyst's license number, and (2) instructions regarding the 232
280		-	manner in which to report complaints regarding the conduct of the 233
281		-	behavior analyst to the Department of Public Health. 234
282		-	Sec. 10. (Effective from passage) (a) There shall be an advisory 235
283		-	committee to advise the Council on Medical Assistance Program 236
284		-	Oversight, established pursuant to section 17b-28 of the general statutes, 237
285		-	on a statutory and regulatory framework for the delivery of applied 238
286		-	behavior analysis services to children by all providers, including, but 239
287		-	not limited to, providers enrolled in Medicaid. 240
288		-	(b) The advisory committee's review shall include, but need not be 241
289		-	limited to: (1) Current legislative and regulatory oversight of such 242
290		-	services, (2) potential statutory and regulatory frameworks for oversight 243
291		-	of such services, including, but not limited to, the need for any 244
292		-	regulatory structure to include expertise in the provision of child care 245
293		-	and applied behavior analysis services to children with autism spectrum 246
294		-	disorder, (3) whether employees of any entity delivering child care or 247
295		-	applied behavior analysis services to children should be mandated 248 Substitute Bill No. 7109
296		-
297		-
298		-	LCO 9 of 12
299		-
300		-	reporters of suspected abuse or neglect of such children, (4) whether 249
301		-	employees of applied behavior analysis services providers should 250
302		-	submit to comprehensive background checks, and (5) a rate-setting 251
303		-	structure to ensure adequate Medicaid reimbursement rates to ensure 252
304		-	reasonably prompt access to such services for children and families. 253
305		-	(c) The advisory committee shall consist of the following members: 254
306		-	(1) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing 255
307		-	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 256
308		-	relating to public health, human services and children, or their 257
309		-	designees; 258
310		-	(2) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's 259
311		-	designee; 260
312		-	(3) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's 261
313		-	designee; 262
314		-	(4) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 263
315		-	designee; 264
316		-	(5) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the 265
317		-	commissioner's designee; 266
318		-	(6) The Commissioner of Developmental Services, or the 267
319		-	commissioner's designee; 268
320		-	(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; 269
321		-	(8) The Child Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee; 270
322		-	(9) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 271
323		-	secretary's designee; 272
324		-	(10) A representative of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory 273
325		-	Council, selected by the cochairpersons of the council; 274
326		-	(11) One appointed by the House chairperson of the joint standing 275 Substitute Bill No. 7109
327		-
328		-
329		-	LCO 10 of 12
330		-
331		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 276
332		-	relating to public health, who shall be a representative of an entity that 277
333		-	provides applied behavior analysis services to children; 278
334		-	(12) One appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing 279
335		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 280
336		-	relating to public health, who shall be a parent of a child with autism 281
337		-	spectrum disorder; 282
338		-	(13) One appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing 283
339		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 284
340		-	relating to human services, who shall be a representative of an 285
341		-	organization dedicated to advocacy for children with autism spectrum 286
342		-	disorder; 287
343		-	(14) One appointed by the House chairperson of the joint standing 288
344		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 289
345		-	relating to human services, who shall be a parent of a child with autism 290
346		-	spectrum disorder; 291
347		-	(15) One appointed by the House chairperson of the joint standing 292
348		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 293
349		-	relating to children, who shall be a board-certified behavior analyst who 294
350		-	provides services to children; and 295
351		-	(16) One appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing 296
352		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 297
353		-	relating to children, who shall be a psychiatrist with expertise in the 298
354		-	delivery of services to children with autism spectrum disorder. 299
355		-	(d) Any member of the advisory committee appointed under 300
356		-	subdivision (11), (12), (13), (14), (15) or (16) of subsection (c) of this 301
357		-	section may be a member of the General Assembly. 302
358		-	(e) All initial appointments to the advisory committee shall be made 303
359		-	not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any 304
360		-	vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. 305 Substitute Bill No. 7109
361		-
362		-
363		-	LCO 11 of 12
364		-
365		-	(f) The advisory committee shall hold its first meeting within sixty 306
366		-	days of the effective date of this section and choose a chairperson from 307
367		-	among its members. The Joint Committee on Legislative Management 308
368		-	shall provide administrative support to such chairperson and advisory 309
369		-	committee. 310
370		-	(g) Not later than November 1, 2025, the advisory committee shall 311
371		-	submit a report on its review and recommendations, in accordance with 312
372		-	the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Council on 313
373		-	Medical Assistance Program Oversight, the Governor and the joint 314
374		-	standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 315
375		-	matters relating to children, human services and public health. The 316
376		-	advisory committee shall terminate on the date that it submits such 317
377		-	report or November 1, 2025, whichever is later. 318
	197	+	recommendations to improve affordable access to such services. 142
378	198		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
379	199		sections:
380	200
381	201		Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
382		-	Sec. 2 ~~July 1, 2025~~ New section
	202	+	Sec. 2 from passage New section
383	203		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
384		-	Sec. 4 January 1, 2026 38a-514b(a)(4)
385		-	Sec. 5 January 1, 2026 38a-488b(a)(4)
386		-	Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 New section
387		-	Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 17a-101(b)
388		-	Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 New section
389		-	Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 New section
390		-	Sec. 10 from passage New section
	204	+	Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 New section
	205	+	Sec. 5 January 1, 2026 38a-514b(a)(4)
	206	+	Sec. 6 January 1, 2026 38a-488b(a)(4)
	207	+	Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 New section
391	208
392		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
393		-	In Section 1(b), "need" was inserted before "not be limited" for clarity; in
394		-	Section 1(b)(2), "services" was inserted after "analysis" for consistency;
395		-	in Section 2(c), provisions relating to topics covered in the report were
396		-	redrafted for clarity; in Section 3(c) "established pursuant to section 2-
397		-	137 of the general statutes" was added after "Committee" for
398		-	consistency; in Section 8(b)(1), "46-120" was changed to "46b-120" for
399		-	accuracy; in Section 10, "analyses" was changed throughout to "analysis"
400		-	for consistency; and in Section 10(c)(1), "or their designees" was inserted
401		-	for accuracy. Substitute Bill No. 7109
	209	+	Statement of Purpose:
	210	+	To expand coverage under the state medical assistance program for
	211	+	applied behavior analysis services and implement certain
	212	+	recommendations of the Transforming Children's Behavioral Health
	213	+	Policy and Planning Committee.
402	214
403		-
404		-	LCO 12 of 12
405		-
406		-
407		-	HS Joint Favorable Subst.
	215	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	216	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	217	+	underlined.]
408	218