Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01151 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 3514 1 of 8
	3	+	LCO No. 3514 1 of 8
4	4
5	5		General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1151
6	6		January Session, 2025
7	7		LCO No. 3514
8	8
9	9
10	10		Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AND MILITARY
11	11		AFFAIRS
12	12
13	13
14	14		Introduced by:
15	15		(VA)
16	16
17	17
18	18
	19	+
19	20		AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN FEDERAL VETERANS' BENEFITS
20	21		AND INCOME ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC
21	22		ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
22	23		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
23	24		Assembly convened:
24	25
25	26		Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 17b-28i of the general statutes is 1
26	27		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
27	28		2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 3
28	29		(a) To the extent permissible by federal law, the Commissioner of 4
29	30		Social Services shall disregard [federal] all United States Department of 5
30	31		Veterans Affairs-administered non-service-connected pension benefits, 6
31		-	Aid and Attendance pension benefits and Housebound pension benefits 7
32		-	that are granted to a veteran or the surviving spouse of such veteran 8
33		-	when determining income eligibility for the state's Medicare savings, 9
34		-	medical assistance and energy assistance programs administered under 10
35		-	section 17b-2. As used in this subsection, "veteran" has the same 11
36		-	meaning as provided in section 27-103. 12
37		-	Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 17b-104 of the general statutes is 13 Raised Bill No. 1151
	32	+	Aid and Attendance pension benefits and Housebound pension 7
	33	+	benefits, that are granted to a veteran or the surviving spouse of such 8
	34	+	veteran when determining income eligibility for the state's Medicare 9
	35	+	savings, medical assistance and energy assistance programs 10
	36	+	administered under section 17b-2. As used in this subsection, "veteran" 11
	37	+	has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103. 12
	38	+	Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 17b-104 of the general statutes is 13
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 1151
38	40
39	41
40		-	LCO 3514 2 of 8
	42	+
	43	+	LCO No. 3514 2 of 8
41	44
42	45		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 14
43	46		2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 15
44	47		(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer the program 16
45	48		of state supplementation to the Supplemental Security Income Program 17
46	49		provided for by the Social Security Act and state law. The commissioner 18
47	50		may delegate any powers and authority to any deputy, assistant, 19
48	51		investigator or supervisor, who shall have, within the scope of the 20
49	52		power and authority so delegated, all of the power and authority of the 21
50	53		Commissioner of Social Services. The standard of need for the 22
51	54		temporary family assistance program shall be fifty-five per cent of the 23
52	55		federal poverty level. The commissioner shall make a reinvestigation, at 24
53	56		least every twelve months, of all cases receiving aid from the state, 25
54	57		except that such reinvestigation may be conducted every twenty-four 26
55	58		months for recipients of assistance to the elderly or disabled with stable 27
56	59		circumstances, and shall maintain all case records of the several 28
57	60		programs administered by the Department of Social Services so that 29
58	61		such records show, at all times, full information with respect to 30
59	62		eligibility of the applicant or recipient. In the determination of need 31
60	63		under any public assistance program, such income or earnings shall be 32
61	64		disregarded as federal law requires, and such income or earnings may 33
62	65		be disregarded as federal law permits. In determining eligibility, the 34
63	66		commissioner shall disregard from income (1) all United States 35
64	67		Department of Veterans Affairs-administered non-service-connected 36
65	68		pension benefits, Aid and Attendance pension benefits and 37
66		-	Housebound pension benefits that are granted to a veteran, as defined 38
	69	+	Housebound pension benefits, that are granted to a veteran, as defined 38
67	70		[under] in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran, and 39
68	71		(2) any tax refund or advance payment with respect to a refundable 40
69	72		credit to the same extent such refund or advance payment would be 41
70	73		disregarded under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or state or local 42
71	74		program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. The 43
72	75		commissioner shall encourage and promulgate such incentive earning 44
73	76		programs as are permitted by federal law and regulations. 45
74	77		Sec. 3. Subsection (c) of section 17b-191 of the general statutes is 46
75		-	~~repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 47~~ Raised Bill No. 1151
	78	+	Raised Bill No. 1151
76	79
77	80
78		-	LCO 3514 3 of 8
79	81
	82	+	LCO No. 3514 3 of 8
	83	+
	84	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 47
80	85		2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 48
81	86		(c) To be eligible for cash assistance under the program, a person shall 49
82	87		(1) be (A) eighteen years of age or older; (B) a minor found by a court to 50
83	88		be emancipated pursuant to section 46b-150; or (C) under eighteen years 51
84	89		of age and the commissioner determines good cause for such person's 52
85	90		eligibility, and (2) not have assets exceeding five hundred dollars or, if 53
86	91		such person is married, such person and his or her spouse shall not have 54
87	92		assets exceeding one thousand dollars. In determining eligibility, the 55
88	93		commissioner shall [not consider as] disregard from income (A) all 56
89	94		United States Department of Veterans Affairs-administered non-57
90	95		service-connected pension benefits, Aid and Attendance pension 58
91		-	benefits and Housebound pension benefits that are granted to a veteran, 59
92		-	as defined in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran; 60
93		-	and (B) any tax refund or advance payment with respect to a refundable 61
94		-	credit to the same extent such refund or advance payment would be 62
95		-	disregarded under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or state or local 63
96		-	program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. No person who 64
97		-	is a substance abuser and refuses or fails to enter available, appropriate 65
98		-	treatment shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program until 66
99		-	such person enters treatment. No person whose benefits from the 67
100		-	temporary family assistance program have terminated as a result of 68
101		-	time-limited benefits or for failure to comply with a program 69
102		-	requirement shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program. 70
103		-	Sec. 4. Section 17b-256f of the general statutes is repealed and the 71
104		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and 72
105		-	applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 73
106		-	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall increase income 74
107		-	disregards used to determine eligibility by the Department of Social 75
108		-	Services for the federal Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, the Specified 76
109		-	Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary and the Qualifying Individual 77
110		-	programs, administered in accordance with the provisions of 42 USC 78
111		-	1396d(p), by such amounts that shall result in persons with income that 79
112		-	is (1) less than two hundred eleven per cent of the federal poverty level 80 Raised Bill No. 1151
	96	+	benefits and Housebound pension benefits, that are granted to a 59
	97	+	veteran, as defined in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such 60
	98	+	veteran; and (B) any tax refund or advance payment with respect to a 61
	99	+	refundable credit to the same extent such refund or advance payment 62
	100	+	would be disregarded under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or 63
	101	+	state or local program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. 64
	102	+	No person who is a substance abuser and refuses or fails to enter 65
	103	+	available, appropriate treatment shall be eligible for cash assistance 66
	104	+	under the program until such person enters treatment. No person whose 67
	105	+	benefits from the temporary family assistance program have terminated 68
	106	+	as a result of time-limited benefits or for failure to comply with a 69
	107	+	program requirement shall be eligible for cash assistance under the 70
	108	+	program. 71
	109	+	Sec. 4. Section 17b-256f of the general statutes is repealed and the 72
	110	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and 73
	111	+	applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 74
	112	+	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall increase income 75
	113	+	disregards used to determine eligibility by the Department of Social 76
	114	+	Services for the federal Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, the Specified 77
	115	+	Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary and the Qualifying Individual 78
	116	+	Raised Bill No. 1151
113	117
114	118
115		-	LCO 3514 4 of 8
116	119
117		-	qualifying for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, (2) at or 81
118		-	above two hundred eleven per cent of the federal poverty level but less 82
119		-	than two hundred thirty-one per cent of the federal poverty level 83
120		-	qualifying for the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program, 84
121		-	and (3) at or above two hundred thirty-one per cent of the federal 85
122		-	poverty level but less than two hundred forty-six per cent of the federal 86
123		-	poverty level qualifying for the Qualifying Individual program. 87
124		-	(b) The commissioner shall not apply an asset test for eligibility under 88
125		-	the Medicare Savings Program. The commissioner shall [not consider 89
126		-	as] disregard from income all United States Department of Veterans 90
127		-	Affairs-administered non-service-connected pension benefits, Aid and 91
128		-	Attendance pension benefits and Housebound pension benefits that are 92
129		-	granted to a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, or the surviving 93
130		-	spouse of such veteran. The Commissioner of Social Services, pursuant 94
131		-	to section 17b-10, may implement policies and procedures to administer 95
132		-	the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such 96
133		-	policies and procedures in regulation form, provided the commissioner 97
134		-	prints notice of the intent to adopt the regulations on the department's 98
135		-	Internet web site and the eRegulations System not later than twenty 99
136		-	days after the date of implementation. Such policies and procedures 100
137		-	shall be valid until the time final regulations are adopted. 101
138		-	Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 17b-261 of the general statutes is 102
139		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 103
140		-	2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 104
141		-	(a) (1) Medical assistance shall be provided for any otherwise eligible 105
142		-	person [(1)] (A) whose income, including any available support from 106
143		-	legally liable relatives and the income of the person's spouse or 107
144		-	dependent child, is not more than one hundred fifty-nine per cent, 108
145		-	pending approval of a federal waiver applied for pursuant to subsection 109
146		-	(e) of this section, of the benefit amount paid to a person with no income 110
147		-	under the temporary family assistance program, and [(2)] (B) if such 111
148		-	person is an institutionalized individual as defined in Section 1917 of 112
149		-	the Social Security Act, 42 USC 1396p(h)(3), and has not made an 113 Raised Bill No. 1151
	120	+	LCO No. 3514 4 of 8
	121	+
	122	+	programs, administered in accordance with the provisions of 42 USC 79
	123	+	1396d(p), by such amounts that shall result in persons with income that 80
	124	+	is (1) less than two hundred eleven per cent of the federal poverty level 81
	125	+	qualifying for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, (2) at or 82
	126	+	above two hundred eleven per cent of the federal poverty level but less 83
	127	+	than two hundred thirty-one per cent of the federal poverty level 84
	128	+	qualifying for the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program, 85
	129	+	and (3) at or above two hundred thirty-one per cent of the federal 86
	130	+	poverty level but less than two hundred forty-six per cent of the federal 87
	131	+	poverty level qualifying for the Qualifying Individual program. 88
	132	+	(b) The commissioner shall not apply an asset test for eligibility under 89
	133	+	the Medicare Savings Program. The commissioner shall [not consider 90
	134	+	as] disregard from income all United States Department of Veterans 91
	135	+	Affairs-administered non-service-connected pension benefits, Aid and 92
	136	+	Attendance pension benefits and Housebound pension benefits, that are 93
	137	+	granted to a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, or the surviving 94
	138	+	spouse of such veteran. The Commissioner of Social Services, pursuant 95
	139	+	to section 17b-10, may implement policies and procedures to administer 96
	140	+	the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such 97
	141	+	policies and procedures in regulation form, provided the commissioner 98
	142	+	prints notice of the intent to adopt the regulations on the department's 99
	143	+	Internet web site and the eRegulations System not later than twenty 100
	144	+	days after the date of implementation. Such policies and procedures 101
	145	+	shall be valid until the time final regulations are adopted. 102
	146	+	Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 17b-261 of the general statutes is 103
	147	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 104
	148	+	2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 105
	149	+	(a) (1) Medical assistance shall be provided for any otherwise eligible 106
	150	+	person [(1)] (A) whose income, including any available support from 107
	151	+	legally liable relatives and the income of the person's spouse or 108
	152	+	dependent child, is not more than one hundred fifty-nine per cent, 109
	153	+	pending approval of a federal waiver applied for pursuant to subsection 110
	154	+	Raised Bill No. 1151
150	155
151	156
152		-	LCO 3514 5 of 8
153	157
154		-	assignment or transfer or other disposition of property for less than fair 114
155		-	market value for the purpose of establishing eligibility for benefits or 115
156		-	assistance under this section. Any such disposition shall be treated in 116
157		-	accordance with Section 1917(c) of the Social Security Act, 42 USC 117
158		-	1396p(c). Any disposition of property made on behalf of an applicant or 118
159		-	recipient or the spouse of an applicant or recipient by a guardian, 119
160		-	conservator, person authorized to make such disposition pursuant to a 120
161		-	power of attorney or other person so authorized by law shall be 121
162		-	attributed to such applicant, recipient or spouse. A disposition of 122
163		-	property ordered by a court shall be evaluated in accordance with the 123
164		-	standards applied to any other such disposition for the purpose of 124
165		-	determining eligibility. 125
166		-	(2) The commissioner shall establish the standards for eligibility for 126
167		-	medical assistance at one hundred fifty-nine per cent of the benefit 127
168		-	amount paid to a household of equal size with no income under the 128
169		-	temporary family assistance program. In determining eligibility, the 129
170		-	commissioner shall [not consider as] disregard from income all United 130
171		-	States Department of Veterans Affairs-administered non-service-131
172		-	connected pension benefits, Aid and Attendance pension benefits and 132
173		-	Housebound pension benefits that are granted to a veteran, as defined 133
174		-	in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran. Except as 134
175		-	provided in section 17b-277 and section 17b-292, the medical assistance 135
176		-	program shall provide coverage to persons under the age of nineteen 136
177		-	with household income up to one hundred ninety-six per cent of the 137
178		-	federal poverty level without an asset limit and to persons under the age 138
179		-	of nineteen, who qualify for coverage under Section 1931 of the Social 139
180		-	Security Act, with household income not exceeding one hundred 140
181		-	ninety-six per cent of the federal poverty level without an asset limit, 141
182		-	and their parents and needy caretaker relatives, who qualify for 142
183		-	coverage under Section 1931 of the Social Security Act, with household 143
184		-	income not exceeding one hundred thirty-three per cent of the federal 144
185		-	poverty level without an asset limit. Such levels shall be based on the 145
186		-	regional differences in such benefit amount, if applicable, unless such 146
187		-	levels based on regional differences are not in conformance with federal 147 Raised Bill No. 1151
	158	+	LCO No. 3514 5 of 8
	159	+
	160	+	(e) of this section, of the benefit amount paid to a person with no income 111
	161	+	under the temporary family assistance program, and [(2)] (B) if such 112
	162	+	person is an institutionalized individual as defined in Section 1917 of 113
	163	+	the Social Security Act, 42 USC 1396p(h)(3), and has not made an 114
	164	+	assignment or transfer or other disposition of property for less than fair 115
	165	+	market value for the purpose of establishing eligibility for benefits or 116
	166	+	assistance under this section. Any such disposition shall be treated in 117
	167	+	accordance with Section 1917(c) of the Social Security Act, 42 USC 118
	168	+	1396p(c). Any disposition of property made on behalf of an applicant or 119
	169	+	recipient or the spouse of an applicant or recipient by a guardian, 120
	170	+	conservator, person authorized to make such disposition pursuant to a 121
	171	+	power of attorney or other person so authorized by law shall be 122
	172	+	attributed to such applicant, recipient or spouse. A disposition of 123
	173	+	property ordered by a court shall be evaluated in accordance with the 124
	174	+	standards applied to any other such disposition for the purpose of 125
	175	+	determining eligibility. 126
	176	+	(2) The commissioner shall establish the standards for eligibility for 127
	177	+	medical assistance at one hundred fifty-nine per cent of the benefit 128
	178	+	amount paid to a household of equal size with no income under the 129
	179	+	temporary family assistance program. In determining eligibility, the 130
	180	+	commissioner shall [not consider as] disregard from income all United 131
	181	+	States Department of Veterans Affairs-administered non-service-132
	182	+	connected pension benefits, Aid and Attendance pension benefits and 133
	183	+	Housebound pension benefits, that are granted to a veteran, as defined 134
	184	+	in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran. Except as 135
	185	+	provided in section 17b-277 and section 17b-292, the medical assistance 136
	186	+	program shall provide coverage to persons under the age of nineteen 137
	187	+	with household income up to one hundred ninety-six per cent of the 138
	188	+	federal poverty level without an asset limit and to persons under the age 139
	189	+	of nineteen, who qualify for coverage under Section 1931 of the Social 140
	190	+	Security Act, with household income not exceeding one hundred 141
	191	+	ninety-six per cent of the federal poverty level without an asset limit, 142
	192	+	and their parents and needy caretaker relatives, who qualify for 143
	193	+	Raised Bill No. 1151
188	194
189	195
190		-	LCO 3514 6 of 8
191	196
192		-	law. Any income in excess of the applicable amounts shall be applied as 148
193		-	may be required by said federal law, and assistance shall be granted for 149
194		-	the balance of the cost of authorized medical assistance. 150
195		-	(3) The Commissioner of Social Services shall provide applicants for 151
196		-	assistance under this section, at the time of application, with a written 152
197		-	statement advising them of (A) the effect of an assignment or transfer or 153
198		-	other disposition of property on eligibility for benefits or assistance, (B) 154
199		-	the effect that having income that exceeds the limits prescribed in this 155
200		-	subsection will have with respect to program eligibility, and (C) the 156
201		-	availability of, and eligibility for, services provided by the Connecticut 157
202		-	Home Visiting System, established pursuant to section 17b-751b. For 158
203		-	coverage dates on or after January 1, 2014, the department shall use the 159
204		-	modified adjusted gross income financial eligibility rules set forth in 160
205		-	Section 1902(e)(14) of the Social Security Act and the implementing 161
206		-	regulations to determine eligibility for HUSKY A, HUSKY B and 162
207		-	HUSKY D applicants, as defined in section 17b-290. Persons who are 163
208		-	determined ineligible for assistance pursuant to this section shall be 164
209		-	provided a written statement notifying such persons of their ineligibility 165
210		-	and advising such persons of their potential eligibility for one of the 166
211		-	other insurance affordability programs as defined in 42 CFR 435.4. 167
212		-	Sec. 6. Subsection (l) of section 17b-342 of the general statutes is 168
213		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 169
214		-	2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 170
215		-	(l) In determining eligibility for the program described in this section, 171
216		-	the commissioner shall [not consider as] disregard from income (1) all 172
217		-	United States Department of Veterans Affairs-administered non-173
218		-	service-connected pension benefits, Aid and Attendance pension 174
219		-	benefits and Housebound pension benefits that are granted to a veteran, 175
220		-	as defined in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran, 176
221		-	and (2) any tax refund or advance payment with respect to a refundable 177
222		-	credit to the same extent such refund or advance payment would be 178
223		-	disregarded under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or state or local 179
224		-	program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. 180 Raised Bill No. 1151
	197	+	LCO No. 3514 6 of 8
	198	+
	199	+	coverage under Section 1931 of the Social Security Act, with household 144
	200	+	income not exceeding one hundred thirty-three per cent of the federal 145
	201	+	poverty level without an asset limit. Such levels shall be based on the 146
	202	+	regional differences in such benefit amount, if applicable, unless such 147
	203	+	levels based on regional differences are not in conformance with federal 148
	204	+	law. Any income in excess of the applicable amounts shall be applied as 149
	205	+	may be required by said federal law, and assistance shall be granted for 150
	206	+	the balance of the cost of authorized medical assistance. 151
	207	+	(3) The Commissioner of Social Services shall provide applicants for 152
	208	+	assistance under this section, at the time of application, with a written 153
	209	+	statement advising them of (A) the effect of an assignment or transfer or 154
	210	+	other disposition of property on eligibility for benefits or assistance, (B) 155
	211	+	the effect that having income that exceeds the limits prescribed in this 156
	212	+	subsection will have with respect to program eligibility, and (C) the 157
	213	+	availability of, and eligibility for, services provided by the Connecticut 158
	214	+	Home Visiting System, established pursuant to section 17b-751b. For 159
	215	+	coverage dates on or after January 1, 2014, the department shall use the 160
	216	+	modified adjusted gross income financial eligibility rules set forth in 161
	217	+	Section 1902(e)(14) of the Social Security Act and the implementing 162
	218	+	regulations to determine eligibility for HUSKY A, HUSKY B and 163
	219	+	HUSKY D applicants, as defined in section 17b-290. Persons who are 164
	220	+	determined ineligible for assistance pursuant to this section shall be 165
	221	+	provided a written statement notifying such persons of their ineligibility 166
	222	+	and advising such persons of their potential eligibility for one of the 167
	223	+	other insurance affordability programs as defined in 42 CFR 435.4. 168
	224	+	Sec. 6. Subsection (l) of section 17b-342 of the general statutes is 169
	225	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 170
	226	+	2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 171
	227	+	(l) In determining eligibility for the program described in this section, 172
	228	+	the commissioner shall [not consider as] disregard from income (1) all 173
	229	+	United States Department of Veterans Affairs-administered non-174
	230	+	service-connected pension benefits, Aid and Attendance pension 175
	231	+	Raised Bill No. 1151
225	232
226	233
227		-	LCO 3514 7 of 8
228	234
229		-	Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 17b-801 of the general statutes is 181
230		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 182
231		-	2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 183
232		-	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer a state-184
233		-	appropriated fuel assistance program to provide, within available 185
234		-	appropriations, fuel assistance to elderly and disabled persons whose 186
235		-	household gross income is above the income eligibility guidelines for 187
236		-	the Connecticut energy assistance program but does not exceed two 188
237		-	hundred per cent of federal poverty guidelines. The income eligibility 189
238		-	guidelines for the state-appropriated fuel assistance program shall be 190
239		-	determined, annually, by the Commissioner of Social Services, in 191
240		-	conjunction with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. 192
241		-	In determining eligibility, the commissioner shall [not consider as] 193
242		-	disregard from income all United States Department of Veterans 194
243		-	Affairs-administered non-service-connected pension benefits, Aid and 195
244		-	Attendance pension benefits and Housebound pension benefits that are 196
245		-	granted to a veteran, as defined under section 27-103, or the surviving 197
246		-	spouse of such veteran. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in 198
247		-	accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the 199
248		-	provisions of this subsection. 200
	235	+	LCO No. 3514 7 of 8
	236	+
	237	+	benefits and Housebound pension benefits, that are granted to a 176
	238	+	veteran, as defined in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such 177
	239	+	veteran, and (2) any tax refund or advance payment with respect to a 178
	240	+	refundable credit to the same extent such refund or advance payment 179
	241	+	would be disregarded under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or 180
	242	+	state or local program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. 181
	243	+	Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 17b-801 of the general statutes is 182
	244	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 183
	245	+	2025, and applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025): 184
	246	+	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer a state-185
	247	+	appropriated fuel assistance program to provide, within available 186
	248	+	appropriations, fuel assistance to elderly and disabled persons whose 187
	249	+	household gross income is above the income eligibility guidelines for 188
	250	+	the Connecticut energy assistance program but does not exceed two 189
	251	+	hundred per cent of federal poverty guidelines. The income eligibility 190
	252	+	guidelines for the state-appropriated fuel assistance program shall be 191
	253	+	determined, annually, by the Commissioner of Social Services, in 192
	254	+	conjunction with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. 193
	255	+	In determining eligibility, the commissioner shall [not consider as] 194
	256	+	disregard from income all United States Department of Veterans 195
	257	+	Affairs-administered non-service-connected pension benefits, Aid and 196
	258	+	Attendance pension benefits and Housebound pension benefits, that are 197
	259	+	granted to a veteran, as defined under section 27-103, or the surviving 198
	260	+	spouse of such veteran. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in 199
	261	+	accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the 200
	262	+	provisions of this subsection. 201
249	263		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
250	264		sections:
251	265
252	266		Section 1 July 1, 2025, and
253	267		applicable to applications
254	268		filed on or after July 1,
255	269		2025
256	270		17b-28i(a)
	271	+	Raised Bill No. 1151
	272	+
	273	+
	274	+
	275	+	LCO No. 3514 8 of 8
	276	+
257	277		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025, and
258	278		applicable to applications
259	279		filed on or after July 1,
260	280		2025
261	281		17b-104(a)
262	282		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025, and
263	283		applicable to applications
264	284		filed on or after July 1,
265	285		2025
266		-	17b-191(c) Raised Bill No. 1151
267		-
268		-
269		-	LCO 3514 8 of 8
270		-
	286	+	17b-191(c)
271	287		Sec. 4 July 1, 2025, and
272	288		applicable to applications
273	289		filed on or after July 1,
274	290		2025
275	291		17b-256f
276	292		Sec. 5 July 1, 2025, and
277	293		applicable to applications
278	294		filed on or after July 1,
279	295		2025
280	296		17b-261(a)
281	297		Sec. 6 July 1, 2025, and
282	298		applicable to applications
283	299		filed on or after July 1,
284	300		2025
285	301		17b-342(l)
286	302		Sec. 7 July 1, 2025, and
287	303		applicable to applications
288	304		filed on or after July 1,
289	305		2025
290	306		17b-801(a)
291	307
292		-	VA Joint Favorable
	308	+	Statement of Purpose:
	309	+	To disregard from income certain federal veterans' benefits when
	310	+	determining eligibility for certain public assistance programs.
	311	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	312	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	313	+	underlined.]
293	314