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General Assembly Committee Bill No. 1158
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 4161
Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES
Introduced by:
(HS)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEPARTMENT
ON AGING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, 1
"older person" means a person age sixty-two or older. There shall be 2
established a Department on Aging that shall be under the direction and 3
supervision of the Commissioner on Aging, who shall be appointed by 4
the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, 5
inclusive, of the general statutes, as amended by this act, with the 6
powers and duties prescribed in said sections. The commissioner shall 7
be knowledgeable and experienced with respect to the conditions and 8
needs of older persons and shall serve on a full-time basis. 9
(b) The Department on Aging shall constitute a successor department 10
to the Department of Aging and Disability Services in accordance with 11
the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39 of the general statutes 12
with respect to those powers, duties and functions concerning the 13
provision of services to older persons as described in subsections (c) and 14
(d) of this section, but excluding the services described in section 17a-15
780 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 16 T
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(c) The Commissioner on Aging shall administer all laws under the 17
jurisdiction of the Department on Aging and shall employ the most 18
efficient and practical means for the provision of care and protection of 19
older persons. The commissioner shall have the power and duty to do 20
the following: (1) Administer, coordinate and direct the operation of the 21
department; (2) adopt and enforce regulations, in accordance with 22
chapter 54 of the general statutes, as necessary to implement the 23
purposes of the department as established by statute; (3) establish rules 24
for the internal operation and administration of the department; (4) 25
establish and develop programs and administer services to achieve the 26
purposes of the department; (5) contract for facilities, services and 27
programs to implement the purposes of the department; (6) act as 28
advocate for necessary additional comprehensive and coordinated 29
programs for older persons; (7) assist and advise all appropriate state, 30
federal, local and area planning agencies for older persons in the 31
performance of their functions and duties pursuant to federal law and 32
regulation; (8) plan services and programs for older persons; (9) 33
coordinate outreach activities by public and private agencies serving 34
older persons, including area agencies on aging, as described in section 35
17a-850 of the general statutes, as amended by this act; and (10) consult 36
and cooperate with area and private planning agencies. 37
(d) The Department on Aging is designated as the State Unit on 38
Aging to administer, manage, design and advocate for benefits, 39
programs and services for older persons and their families pursuant to 40
the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to time. The 41
department shall study continuously the conditions and needs of older 42
persons in this state in relation to nutrition, transportation, home care, 43
housing, income, employment, health, recreation and other matters. The 44
department shall be responsible, in cooperation with federal, state, local 45
and area agencies on aging, for the overall planning, development and 46
administration of a comprehensive and integrated social service 47
delivery system for older persons. The Department on Aging is 48
designated as the state agency for (1) the administration of nutritional 49
programs for older persons described in section 17a-852 of the general 50 T
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statutes, as amended by this act, (2) the fall prevention program 51
described in section 17a-859 of the general statutes, as amended by this 52
act, (3) the CHOICES program described in section 17a-857 of the 53
general statutes, as amended by this act, (4) the Aging and Disability 54
Resource Center Program described in section 17a-858 of the general 55
statutes, as amended by this act, and (5) the Alzheimer's respite program 56
described in section 17b-860 of the general statutes. 57
(e) The functions, powers, duties and personnel of the Department of 58
Aging and Disability Services dedicated to the provision of services 59
described in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, but excluding the 60
services described in section 17a-780 of the general statutes, as amended 61
by this act, shall be transferred to the Department on Aging pursuant to 62
the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39 of the general statutes. 63
(f) The Governor may, with the approval of the Finance Advisory 64
Committee, transfer funds between the Department of Aging and 65
Disability Services and the Department on Aging pursuant to subsection 66
(b) of section 4-87 of the general statutes during the fiscal year ending 67
June 30, 2027. 68
(g) Any order or regulation of the Department of Aging and 69
Disability Services relating to services described in subsections (c) and 70
(d) of this section that is in force on July 1, 2026, but excluding the 71
services described in section 17a-780 of the general statutes, as amended 72
by this act, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation of 73
the Department on Aging until amended, repealed or superseded 74
pursuant to law. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the 75
Commissioner on Aging may implement policies and procedures 76
consistent with the provisions of this section while in the process of 77
adopting the policies or procedures in regulation form, provided notice 78
of intention to adopt regulations is posted on the Department on Aging's 79
Internet web site and the eRegulations System not later than twenty 80
days after implementation. Any such policies or procedures shall be 81
valid until the time final regulations are effective. 82 T
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Sec. 2. Section 17a-780 of the general statutes is repealed and the 83
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 84
(a) There is created a Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 85
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall be responsible 86
for providing the following: (1) Services to persons who are deaf, 87
deafblind or hard of hearing; (2) services for persons who are blind or 88
visually impaired; and (3) rehabilitation services in accordance with the 89
provisions of the general statutes concerning the Department of [Aging 90
and] Disability Services. [; and (4) services for older persons and their 91
families.] The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 92
constitute a successor authority to the Department of [Rehabilitation 93
Services] Aging and Disability Services in accordance with the 94
provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39 with respect to the powers 95
and duties described in subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this 96
subsection, but excluding the provision of services to older persons as 97
described in section 1 of this act. 98
(b) The department head shall be the Commissioner of [Aging and] 99
Disability Services, who shall be appointed by the Governor in 100
accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, as 101
amended by this act, and shall have the powers and duties described in 102
said sections. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 103
appoint such persons as may be necessary to administer the provisions 104
of public act 11-44 and the Commissioner of Administrative Services 105
shall fix the compensation of such persons in accordance with the 106
provisions of section 4-40. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 107
Services may create such sections within the Department of [Aging and] 108
Disability Services as will facilitate such administration, including a 109
disability determinations section for which one hundred per cent federal 110
funds may be accepted for the operation of such section in conformity 111
with applicable state and federal regulations. The Commissioner of 112
[Aging and] Disability Services may adopt regulations, in accordance 113
with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the purposes of the 114
department as established by statute. 115 T
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(c) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall, 116
annually, in accordance with section 4-60, submit to the Governor a 117
report in electronic format on the activities of the Department of [Aging 118
and] Disability Services relating to services provided by the department 119
to persons who (1) are blind or visually impaired, (2) are deaf, deafblind 120
or hard of hearing, or (3) receive vocational rehabilitation services. [, or 121
(4) are older persons or their families.] The report shall include the data 122
the department provides to the federal government that relates to the 123
evaluation standards and performance indicators for the vocational 124
rehabilitation services program. The commissioner shall submit the 125
report in electronic format, in accordance with the provisions of section 126
11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 127
cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations 128
and the budgets of state agencies. 129
(d) Any order or regulation of the Department of Aging and 130
Disability Services relating to the services described in this section that 131
is in force on July 1, 2026, shall continue in force and effect as an order 132
or regulation of the Department of Disability Services until amended, 133
repealed or superseded pursuant to law. Notwithstanding the 134
provisions of this subsection, the Commissioner of Disability Services 135
may implement policies and procedures consistent with the provisions 136
of this section while in the process of adopting the policies or procedures 137
in regulation form, provided notice of intention to adopt regulations is 138
posted on the Department of Disability Services' Internet web site and 139
the eRegulations System not later than twenty days after 140
implementation. Any such policies or procedures shall be valid until the 141
time final regulations are effective. 142
[(d) The functions, powers, duties and personnel of the former 143
Department on Aging, or any subsequent division or portion of a 144
division with similar functions, powers, duties and personnel, shall be 145
transferred to the Department of Aging and Disability Services pursuant 146
to the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. 147 T
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(e) The Department of Aging and Disability Services shall constitute 148
a successor department to the former Department on Aging, in 149
accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. 150
Wherever the words "Commissioner on Aging" are used in the general 151
statutes, the words "Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services" 152
shall be substituted in lieu thereof. Wherever the words "Department on 153
Aging" are used in the general statutes, the words "Department of Aging 154
and Disability Services" shall be substituted in lieu thereof. Any order 155
or regulation of the former Department on Aging that is in force on June 156
14, 2018, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation of 157
the Department of Aging and Disability Services until amended, 158
repealed or superseded pursuant to law. 159
(f) The Governor may, with the approval of the Finance Advisory 160
Committee, transfer funds between the Department of Social Services 161
and the Department of Aging and Disability Services pursuant to 162
subsection (b) of section 4-87 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. 163
(g) The Department of Aging and Disability Services is designated as 164
the State Unit on Aging to administer, manage, design and advocate for 165
benefits, programs and services for older persons and their families 166
pursuant to the Older Americans Act. The department shall study 167
continuously the conditions and needs of older persons in this state in 168
relation to nutrition, transportation, home care, housing, income, 169
employment, health, recreation and other matters. The department shall 170
be responsible, in cooperation with federal, state, local and area 171
planning agencies on aging, for the overall planning, development and 172
administration of a comprehensive and integrated social service 173
delivery system for older persons. The Department of Aging and 174
Disability Services is designated as the state agency for the 175
administration of nutritional programs for elderly persons described in 176
section 17a-852, the fall prevention program described in section 17a-177
859, the CHOICES program described in section 17a-857, the Aging and 178
Disability Resource Center Program described in section 17a-858 and 179
the Alzheimer's respite program described in section 17b-860.] 180 T
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Sec. 3. Section 17a-782 of the general statutes is repealed and the 181
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 182
(a) Vocational rehabilitation services shall be provided, with or 183
without public cost, directly or through public or private 184
instrumentalities, as part of an individual plan for employment for a 185
person with disabilities determined to be eligible by the Department of 186
[Aging and] Disability Services, in accordance with Title I of the 187
Rehabilitation Act, 29 USC 701 et seq., as amended from time to time. 188
Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean that an individual's 189
ability or inability to share in the cost of vocational rehabilitation 190
services may be taken into account during the determination of 191
eligibility for such services. 192
(b) If vocational rehabilitation services cannot be provided for all 193
eligible persons with disabilities who apply for such services, the 194
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall determine, in 195
accordance with Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 701 et 196
seq., and federal regulations, as amended from time to time, the order 197
to be followed in selecting those to whom such services will be 198
provided. 199
(c) Nothing in section 17a-781 or subsection (a) of this section shall be 200
construed to preclude provision of vocational rehabilitation services, 201
with or without public cost, to a person with a disability under an 202
extended evaluation for a total period not in excess of eighteen months, 203
in accordance with Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 701 204
et seq., as amended from time to time. 205
(d) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt 206
regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish 207
standards and procedures governing the provision of vocational 208
rehabilitation services and, where appropriate, a means test to 209
determine, based upon the financial need of each eligible person with 210
disabilities, the extent to which such services will be provided at public 211
cost. Any funds received by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 212 T
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Services from individuals or third parties for the provision of vocational 213
rehabilitation services shall be used by the department to provide such 214
services. The regulations may also prescribe the procedures to be used 215
when payment is made by individuals required to contribute to the cost 216
of vocational rehabilitation services. Regulations developed to 217
implement a means test shall include, but not be limited to: (1) An 218
exemption for any individual with an income of less than one hundred 219
per cent of the state median income and assets which are less than five 220
thousand dollars; (2) an exemption for services covered in an individual 221
plan for employment in effect at the time of implementation of the 222
means test; (3) an exclusion from an individual's income of the costs of 223
necessary and reasonable disability-related expenses including, but not 224
limited to, personal attendant services and medications for which 225
payment is unavailable to the individual through other benefits or 226
resources; (4) an exclusion from the individual's assets of the value of 227
the individual's primary residence and motor vehicle; (5) a method by 228
which the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may reduce 229
the level of required contributions by an individual in the case of undue 230
hardship; and (6) a requirement that the Department of [Aging and] 231
Disability Services notify an individual of the results of the means test 232
analysis within thirty days of receipt of necessary financial information 233
from the individual. Such means test shall not apply to services covered 234
under a determination of financial need made by an institution of higher 235
education. The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 236
develop the regulations in consultation with representatives of 237
providers of vocational rehabilitation services and recipients of such 238
services or their representatives. 239
Sec. 4. Section 17a-783 of the general statutes is repealed and the 240
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 241
(a) Any applicant for or recipient of vocational rehabilitation services 242
may request an informal review of any decision made by the 243
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to section 17a-244
782, as amended by this act. 245 T
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(b) Regardless of whether a person requests an informal review 246
under subsection (a) of this section, any applicant for or recipient of 247
vocational rehabilitation services who is aggrieved by a decision made 248
by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to 249
section 17a-782, as amended by this act, may request an administrative 250
hearing, by making written request to the Commissioner of [Aging and] 251
Disability Services. 252
(c) An individual who is aggrieved by a final agency decision made 253
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may appeal therefrom in 254
accordance with section 4-183. Such appeals shall be privileged cases to 255
be heard by the court as soon after the return day as shall be practicable. 256
Sec. 5. Section 17a-784 of the general statutes is repealed and the 257
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 258
(a) In carrying out sections 17a-780 to 17a-790, inclusive, as amended 259
by this act, 17a-796, 17a-797, as amended by this act, 17a-799, as 260
amended by this act, and 17a-835, as amended by this act, the 261
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall cooperate with 262
other departments, agencies and institutions, both public and private, 263
in providing for the vocational rehabilitation of persons with 264
disabilities, in studying the problems involved therein and in 265
establishing, developing and providing such programs, facilities and 266
services as it deems necessary or desirable. Notwithstanding any other 267
provision of the general statutes, the Department of [Aging and] 268
Disability Services shall not be required to pay that portion of the cost 269
of a program of postsecondary education or training which is properly 270
designated as expected parental or family contribution in accordance 271
with state and federal law regarding eligibility for student financial aid. 272
(b) Subject to the approval of all real estate acquisitions by the 273
Commissioner of Administrative Services and the State Properties 274
Review Board, in carrying out said sections, the Department of [Aging 275
and] Disability Services may (1) establish, operate, foster and promote 276
the establishment of rehabilitation facilities and make grants to public 277 T
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and other nonprofit and nonsectarian organizations for such purposes; 278
(2) assist persons with significant disabilities to establish and operate 279
small businesses; and (3) make studies, investigations, demonstrations 280
and reports, and provide training and instruction, including the 281
establishment and maintenance of such research fellowships and 282
traineeships with such stipends and allowances as may be deemed 283
necessary, in matters relating to vocational rehabilitation. 284
(c) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 285
develop and maintain a program of public education and information. 286
The program shall include, but need not be limited to, education of the 287
public concerning services available from the Department of [Aging 288
and] Disability Services, its policies and goals, an outreach effort to 289
discover persons with disabilities, including such persons who are 290
minorities as defined in subsection (a) of section 32-9n, who may benefit 291
from the services it offers and the dissemination of printed materials to 292
persons at their initial meeting with staff of the department, including a 293
statement of such person's rights. 294
Sec. 6. Section 17a-785 of the general statutes is repealed and the 295
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 296
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to 297
cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the purposes of 298
any federal statutes pertaining to vocational rehabilitation, to adopt 299
such methods of administration as it finds necessary for the proper and 300
efficient operation of agreements or plans for vocational rehabilitation 301
and to comply with such conditions as may be necessary to secure the 302
full benefits of such federal statutes to this state. 303
Sec. 7. Section 17a-786 of the general statutes is repealed and the 304
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 305
The State Treasurer is designated as the custodian of all funds 306
received from the federal government for the purpose of carrying out 307
any federal statutes pertaining to vocational rehabilitation or any 308 T
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agreements authorized by sections 17a-780 to 17a-790, inclusive, as 309
amended by this act, 17a-796, 17a-797, as amended by this act, 17a-799, 310
as amended by this act, and 17a-835, as amended by this act, and shall 311
make disbursements from such funds and from all state funds available 312
for vocational rehabilitation purposes upon certification by the 313
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services. 314
Sec. 8. Section 17a-787 of the general statutes is repealed and the 315
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 316
The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to 317
accept and use gifts, grants, reimbursements or bequests made by will 318
or otherwise for carrying out the purposes of the donor or of the general 319
statutes concerning the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 320
Gifts, grants, reimbursements or bequests made under such conditions 321
as in the judgment of the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 322
Services are proper and consistent with the provisions of state and 323
federal law may be so accepted and shall be held, invested, reinvested 324
and used in accordance with the conditions of the gift, grant, 325
reimbursement or bequest. 326
Sec. 9. Section 17a-788 of the general statutes is repealed and the 327
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 328
Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the 329
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may, within the limits of 330
appropriations, purchase (1) wheelchairs and placement equipment 331
directly and without the issuance of a purchase order, provided the cost 332
of such purchases shall not be in excess of twenty thousand dollars per 333
unit, and (2) adaptive equipment, including equipment to modify 334
vehicles for persons with disabilities directly and without the issuance 335
of a purchase order, provided the cost of such purchases of adaptive 336
equipment shall not be in excess of one hundred twenty thousand 337
dollars per unit. All such purchases shall be made in the open market, 338
but shall, when possible, be based on at least three competitive bids. 339
Such bids shall be solicited by sending notice to prospective suppliers 340 T
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and by posting notice on the Internet web site of the Department of 341
[Aging and] Disability Services. Each bid shall be opened publicly at the 342
time stated in the notice soliciting such bid. Acceptance of a bid by the 343
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall be based on 344
standard specifications as may be adopted by said department. 345
Sec. 10. Section 17a-791 of the general statutes is repealed and the 346
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 347
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall establish a 348
program to assist public school students with disabilities in preparing 349
for and obtaining competitive employment and to strengthen the 350
linkage between vocational rehabilitation services and public schools. 351
Under the program, the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services 352
shall provide, within the limits of available appropriations, vocational 353
evaluations and other appropriate transitional services and shall 354
provide vocational rehabilitation counselors to school districts 355
throughout the state. The counselors shall, if requested, assist those 356
persons planning in-school skill development programs. The counselors 357
shall, with planning and placement team members, develop transition 358
plans and individual education and work rehabilitation plans for 359
students with disabilities who will no longer be eligible for continued 360
public school services. Students whose termination date for receipt of 361
public school services is most immediate shall be given priority. 362
Sec. 11. Section 17a-791a of the general statutes is repealed and the 363
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 364
The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall employ, 365
within available appropriations, a sufficient number of vocational 366
rehabilitation staff to provide transition services, as defined in section 367
10-74o, for children requiring special education who may be eligible to 368
receive services from the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services 369
as determined through a planning and placement team meeting 370
pursuant to subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d, as 371
amended by this act. 372 T
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Sec. 12. Section 17a-793 of the general statutes is repealed and the 373
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 374
(a) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall establish 375
and maintain a state-wide network of centers for independent living. 376
(b) Not more than five per cent of the amount appropriated in any 377
fiscal year for the purposes of this section may be used by the 378
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services to provide state-wide 379
administration, evaluation and technical assistance relating to the 380
implementation of this section. 381
Sec. 13. Section 17a-794 of the general statutes is repealed and the 382
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 383
(a) The Governor shall appoint a state-wide Independent Living 384
Council, in accordance with Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 385
29 USC 701 et seq., as amended from time to time. 386
(b) The council shall meet regularly with the Commissioner of [Aging 387
and] Disability Services and shall perform the following duties: (1) Issue 388
an annual report by January first, with recommendations regarding 389
independent living services and centers, to the Governor and the 390
chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 391
having cognizance of matters relating to human services, and (2) consult 392
with, advise and make recommendations to the Department [of Aging 393
and Disability Services] on Aging concerning independent living and 394
related policy, management and budgetary issues. 395
(c) Council members who are consumers shall be reimbursed for 396
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as council 397
members. 398
Sec. 14. Section 17a-795 of the general statutes is repealed and the 399
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 400
(a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services is 401 T
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authorized to establish and administer state financing activities as 402
outlined in the federal Assistive Technology Act of 2004, P.L. 108-364, 403
as amended from time to time, to be known as the Assistive Technology 404
Loan Program. The program shall be used by the commissioner to make 405
and guarantee loans to persons with disabilities, older adults or the 406
family members of persons with disabilities or older adults for the 407
purchase of assistive technology and adaptive equipment and services. 408
Each such loan shall be made for a term of not more than ten years. Any 409
loans made under this section shall bear interest at a fixed rate not to 410
exceed six per cent. The commissioner is authorized to expend any 411
funds necessary for the reasonable direct expenses relating to the 412
administration of the program. The commissioner shall adopt 413
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 414
implement the purposes of this section. 415
(b) The State Bond Commission shall have power from time to time 416
to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series in 417
accordance with section 3-20 and in a principal amount necessary to 418
carry out the purposes of this section, but not in excess of an aggregate 419
amount of one million dollars. All of the bonds shall (1) be payable at 420
such place or places as may be determined by the Treasurer pursuant to 421
section 3-19, (2) bear such date or dates, (3) mature at such time or times, 422
not exceeding five years from their respective dates, (4) bear interest at 423
such rate or different or varying rates and payable at such time or times, 424
(5) be in such denominations, (6) be in such form with or without 425
interest coupons attached, (7) carry such registration and transfer 426
privileges, (8) be payable in such medium of payment, and (9) be subject 427
to such terms of redemption with or without premium as, irrespective 428
of the provisions of section 3-20, may be provided by the authorization 429
of the State Bond Commission or fixed in accordance therewith. The 430
proceeds of the sale of such bonds shall be deposited in the Assistive 431
Technology Loan Program created by this section. Such bonds shall be 432
general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 433
of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 434
interest on such bonds as the same become due. Accordingly, and as 435 T
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part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 436
appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 437
principal and interest is hereby made and the Treasurer shall pay such 438
principal and interest as the same become due. Net earnings on 439
investments or reinvestments of proceeds, accrued interest and 440
premiums on the issuance of such bonds, after payment therefrom of 441
expenses incurred by the Treasurer or State Bond Commission in 442
connection with their issuance, shall be deposited in the General Fund 443
of the state. 444
(c) The Connecticut Tech Act Project, within the Department of 445
[Aging and] Disability Services and as authorized by 29 USC 3001, as 446
amended from time to time, may provide assistive technology 447
evaluation and training services upon the request of any person or any 448
public or private entity, to the extent persons who provide assistive 449
technology services are available. The project may charge a fee to any 450
person or entity receiving such assistive technology evaluation and 451
training services to reimburse the department for its costs. The 452
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall establish fees at 453
reasonable rates that will cover the department's direct and indirect 454
costs. 455
Sec. 15. Section 17a-797 of the general statutes is repealed and the 456
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 457
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to 458
provide such medical, diagnostic, physical restoration, training and 459
other rehabilitation services as may be needed to enable persons with 460
disabilities to attain the maximum degree of self care. The powers herein 461
delegated and authorized to the Department of [Aging and] Disability 462
Services shall be in addition to those authorized by any other law and 463
shall become effective upon authorization of federal grant-in-aid funds 464
for participation in the cost of independent living rehabilitation services 465
for persons with disabilities. The Department of [Aging and] Disability 466
Services shall be authorized to cooperate with whatever federal agency 467 T
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is directed to administer the federal aspects of such program and to 468
comply with such requirements and conditions as may be established 469
for the receipt and disbursement of federal grant-in-aid funds which 470
may be made available to the state of Connecticut in carrying out such 471
program. 472
Sec. 16. Section 17a-798 of the general statutes is repealed and the 473
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 474
(a) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may receive 475
state and federal funds to administer, within available appropriations, 476
an employment opportunities program to serve individuals with the 477
most significant disabilities who do not meet the eligibility requirements 478
of supported employment programs administered by the Departments 479
of Developmental Services, Social Services and Mental Health and 480
Addiction Services. For the purposes of this section, "individuals with 481
the most significant disabilities" means those individuals who (1) have 482
serious employment limitations in a total of three or more functional 483
areas including, but not limited to, mobility, communication, self-care, 484
interpersonal skills, work tolerance or work skills, or (2) will require 485
significant ongoing disability-related services on the job in order to 486
maintain employment. 487
(b) The employment opportunities program shall provide extended 488
services, as defined in 34 CFR 361.5(b)(19), that are necessary for 489
individuals with the most significant disabilities to maintain supported 490
employment. Such services shall include coaching and other related 491
services that allow participants to obtain and maintain employment and 492
maximize economic self-sufficiency. 493
(c) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall adopt 494
regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions 495
of this section. 496
Sec. 17. Section 17a-799 of the general statutes is repealed and the 497
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 498 T
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The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall inquire 499
into the criminal history of any applicant, who is not at the time of 500
application employed by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 501
Services, for a position of employment with the department's disability 502
determination services unit. Such inquiry shall be conducted in 503
accordance with the provisions of section 31-51i. The commissioner 504
shall require each such applicant to state whether the applicant has ever 505
been convicted of a crime, whether criminal charges are pending against 506
the applicant at the time of application, and, if so, to identify the charges 507
and court in which such charges are pending. Each such applicant 508
offered a position of employment with the department's disability 509
determination services unit shall be required to submit to fingerprinting 510
and state and national criminal history records checks, as provided in 511
section 29-17a. 512
Sec. 18. Subsection (b) of section 17a-810 of the general statutes is 513
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 514
2026): 515
(b) (1) The Advisory Board for Persons Who are Blind or Visually 516
Impaired shall consist of members appointed as follows: Six appointed 517
by the Governor, one appointed by the president pro tempore of the 518
Senate, one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 519
one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one appointed by 520
the minority leader of the Senate, one appointed by the majority leader 521
of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the minority 522
leader of the House of Representatives and all shall be residents of the 523
state. The Commissioner of Social Services shall be an ex-officio 524
member. One of the members appointed by the Governor shall be the 525
parent of a child who receives services provided by the Department of 526
[Aging and] Disability Services, and not less than two of the members 527
appointed by the Governor shall be persons who are blind. 528
(2) Three members appointed by the Governor shall serve a term of 529
four years. Three members appointed by the Governor shall serve a 530 T
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term of two years. The three members appointed by the president pro 531
tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate and the minority 532
leader of the Senate shall serve a term of four years. The three members 533
appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority 534
leader of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader of the 535
House of Representatives shall serve a term of two years. Thereafter, all 536
members shall be appointed for a term of four years, commencing on 537
January fourth of the year of the appointment. 538
(3) One of the members appointed by the Governor shall be 539
designated by the Governor as the chairperson of the advisory board. 540
The advisory board shall meet annually in the month of September and 541
may meet at any other time upon the call of its chairperson; and the 542
chairperson shall call a meeting at the request of two or more members. 543
Any appointed member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings 544
or fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be 545
deemed to have resigned. A majority of the members in office shall 546
constitute a quorum. The appointing authority may, for reasonable 547
cause, remove any appointed member and appoint another person to 548
fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term. Any vacancy in 549
the advisory board shall be filled by the appointing authority for the 550
unexpired portion of the term. 551
Sec. 19. Section 17a-812 of the general statutes is repealed and the 552
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 553
(a) All residents of this state, regardless of age, who, because of 554
blindness or impaired vision, require specialized vision-related 555
educational programs, goods and services, on the signed 556
recommendation of the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 557
Services, shall be entitled to receive such instruction, programs, goods 558
and services for such length of time as is deemed expedient by said 559
commissioner. Upon the petition of any parent or guardian of a child 560
who is blind or visually impaired, a local board of education may 561
provide such instruction within the town or it may provide for such 562 T
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instruction by agreement with other towns as provided in subsection (d) 563
of section 10-76d. All educational privileges prescribed in part V of 564
chapter 164, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, shall 565
apply to the pupils covered by this subsection. 566
(b) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall expend 567
funds for the services made available pursuant to subsection (a) of this 568
section from the educational aid for children who are blind or visually 569
impaired account in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. 570
The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt, in 571
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, such regulations as the 572
commissioner deems necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of 573
this subsection. 574
(1) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 575
provide, upon written request from any interested school district, the 576
services of teachers who instruct students who are visually impaired, 577
based on the levels established in the individualized education or 578
service plan. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 579
also make available resources, including, but not limited to, the braille 580
and large print library, to all teachers of public and nonpublic school 581
children. The commissioner may also provide vision -related 582
professional development and training to all school districts and cover 583
the actual cost for paraeducators from school districts to participate in 584
agency-sponsored braille training programs. The commissioner shall 585
utilize education consultant positions, funded by moneys appropriated 586
from the General Fund, to supplement new staffing that will be made 587
available through the educational aid for children who are blind or 588
visually impaired account, which shall be governed by formal written 589
policies established by the commissioner. 590
(2) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may use 591
funds appropriated to said account to provide specialized books, 592
materials, equipment, supplies, adaptive technology services and 593
devices, specialist examinations and aids, preschool programs and 594 T
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vision-related independent living services, excluding primary 595
educational placement, for eligible children. 596
(3) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may, within 597
available appropriations, employ certified teachers who instruct 598
students who are visually impaired in sufficient numbers to meet the 599
requests for services received from school districts. In responding to 600
such requests, the commissioner shall utilize a formula for determining 601
the number of teachers needed to serve the school districts, crediting six 602
points for each child learning braille and one point for each other child, 603
with one full-time certified teacher who instructs students who are 604
visually impaired assigned for every twenty-five points credited. The 605
commissioner shall exercise due diligence to employ the needed 606
number of certified teachers who instruct students who are visually 607
impaired, but shall not be liable for lack of resources. Funds 608
appropriated to said account may also be utilized to employ additional 609
staff in numbers sufficient to provide compensatory skills, evaluations 610
and training to children who are blind or visually impaired, special 611
assistants and other support staff necessary to ensure the efficient 612
operation of service delivery. Not later than October first of each year, 613
the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall determine the 614
number of teachers needed based on the formula provided in this 615
subdivision. Based on such determination, the Commissioner of [Aging 616
and] Disability Services shall estimate the funding needed to pay such 617
teachers' salaries and related expenses. 618
(4) In any fiscal year, when funds appropriated to cover the combined 619
costs associated with providing the services set forth in subdivisions (2) 620
and (3) of this subsection are projected to be insufficient, the 621
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may collect revenue 622
from all school districts that have requested such services on a per 623
student pro rata basis, in the sums necessary to cover the projected 624
portion of these services for which there are insufficient appropriations. 625
(c) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may provide 626 T
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for the instruction of adults who are blind in their homes, expending 627
annually for this purpose such sums as the General Assembly may 628
appropriate. 629
(d) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may expend 630
up to ten thousand dollars per fiscal year per person twenty-one years 631
of age or older who is both blind or visually impaired and deaf, in 632
addition to any other expenditures for such person, for the purpose of 633
providing community inclusion services through specialized public and 634
private entities from which such person can benefit. The commissioner 635
may determine the criteria by which a person is eligible to receive 636
specialized services and may adopt regulations necessary to carry out 637
the provisions of this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, 638
"community inclusion services" means the assistance provided to 639
persons with disabilities to enable them to connect with their peers 640
without disabilities and with the community at large. 641
(e) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may, within 642
available appropriations, purchase adaptive equipment for persons 643
receiving services pursuant to this chapter. 644
Sec. 20. Section 17a-813 of the general statutes is repealed and the 645
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 646
The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may, within 647
available appropriations, contract with public or private entities, 648
individuals or private enterprises for the instruction of persons who are 649
blind. 650
Sec. 21. Section 17a-814 of the general statutes is repealed and the 651
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 652
The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to 653
aid in securing employment for persons who are legally blind. Said 654
commissioner may aid persons who are legally blind in such way as said 655
commissioner deems expedient, expending for such purpose such sum 656 T
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as the General Assembly appropriates. 657
Sec. 22. Section 17a-815 of the general statutes is repealed and the 658
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 659
The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may make 660
grants, within available appropriations, to the Connecticut Radio 661
Information Service, Inc., for the purchase of receivers and for costs 662
related to the operation of said service. 663
Sec. 23. Section 17a-816 of the general statutes is repealed and the 664
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 665
(a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 666
prepare and maintain a register of persons who are blind in this state 667
which shall describe their condition, cause of blindness and capacity for 668
education and rehabilitative training. The commissioner may register 669
cases of persons who are liable to become visually impaired or blind, 670
and may take such measures in cooperation with other authorities as the 671
commissioner deems advisable for the prevention of blindness or 672
conservation of eyesight and, in appropriate cases, for the education of 673
children and for the vocational guidance of adults whose eyesight 674
approaches visual impairment or blindness. The commissioner shall 675
establish criteria for low vision care and maintain a list of 676
ophthalmologists and optometrists that are exclusively authorized to 677
receive agency funds through established and existing state fee 678
schedules for the delivery of specifically defined low vision services that 679
increase the capacity of eligible recipients of such services to maximize 680
the use of their remaining vision. 681
(b) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 682
provide the Department of Motor Vehicles with the names of all 683
individuals sixteen years of age or older who, on or after October 1, 2005, 684
have been determined to be blind by a physician, an advanced practice 685
registered nurse or an optometrist, as provided in section 17a-819, as 686
amended by this act. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 687 T
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Services shall provide simultaneous written notification to any 688
individual whose name is being transmitted by the [Commissioner of 689
Aging and Disability Services] commissioner to the Department of 690
Motor Vehicles. The [Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services] 691
commissioner shall update the list of names provided to the Department 692
of Motor Vehicles on a quarterly basis. The list shall also contain the 693
address and date of birth for each individual reported, as shown on the 694
records of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. The 695
Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain such list on a confidential 696
basis, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-46d. The 697
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall enter into a 698
memorandum of understanding with the Commissioner of Motor 699
Vehicles to effectuate the purposes of this subsection. 700
Sec. 24. Section 17a-818 of the general statutes is repealed and the 701
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 702
(a) The authority in charge of any building or property owned, 703
operated or leased by the state or any municipality therein shall grant 704
to the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services a permit to operate 705
in such building or on such property a food service facility, a vending 706
machine or a stand for the vending of newspapers, periodicals, 707
confections, tobacco products, food and such other articles as such 708
authority approves when, in the opinion of such authority, such facility, 709
machine or stand is desirable in such location. Any person operating 710
such a stand in any such location on October 1, 1945, shall be permitted 711
to continue such operation, but upon such person's ceasing such 712
operation such authority shall grant a permit for continued operation to 713
the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. The department may 714
establish a training facility at any such location. 715
(b) Pursuant to the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Stand Act, 49 Stat. 716
1559 (1936), 20 USC 107, as amended from time to time, the Department 717
of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to maintain a 718
nonlapsing account and to accrue interest thereon for federal vending 719 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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machine income which, in accordance with federal regulations, shall be 720
used for the payment of fringe benefits to the vending facility operators 721
by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 722
(c) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may maintain 723
a nonlapsing account and accrue interest thereon for state and local 724
vending machine income which shall be used for the payment of fringe 725
benefits, training and support to vending facilities operators, to provide 726
entrepreneurial and independent-living training and equipment to 727
children who are blind or visually impaired and adults who are blind 728
and for other vocational rehabilitation programs and services for adults 729
who are blind. 730
(d) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may disburse 731
state and local vending machine income to student or client activity 732
funds, as defined in section 4-52. 733
Sec. 25. Section 17a-819 of the general statutes is repealed and the 734
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 735
Each physician, advanced practice registered nurse and optometrist 736
shall report in writing to the Department of [Aging and] Disability 737
Services not later than thirty days after a person who is blind comes 738
under his or her private or institutional care within this state. The report 739
of such person shall include the name, address, Social Security number, 740
date of birth, date of diagnosis of blindness and degree of vision. Such 741
reports shall not be open to public inspection. 742
Sec. 26. Section 17a-820 of the general statutes is repealed and the 743
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 744
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may maintain a 745
vocational rehabilitation program as authorized under the Federal 746
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 791 et seq., for the purpose of 747
providing and coordinating the full scope of necessary services to assist 748
persons who are legally blind and who receive services from the 749 T
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department to prepare for, enter into and maintain employment 750
consistent with the purposes of said act. 751
Sec. 27. Section 17a-821 of the general statutes is repealed and the 752
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 753
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services is empowered to 754
receive any federal funds made available to this state under which 755
vocational rehabilitation is provided for a person whose visual acuity 756
has been impaired and to expend such funds for the purpose or 757
purposes for which they are made available. The State Treasurer shall 758
be the custodian of such funds. 759
Sec. 28. Section 17a-822 of the general statutes is repealed and the 760
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 761
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may cooperate, 762
pursuant to agreements, with the federal government in carrying out 763
the purposes of any federal statutes pertaining to vocational 764
rehabilitation, and is authorized to adopt such methods of 765
administration as are found by the federal government to be necessary 766
for the proper and efficient operation of such agreements or plans for 767
vocational rehabilitation and to comply with such conditions as may be 768
necessary to secure the full benefits of such federal statutes. 769
Sec. 29. Section 17a-823 of the general statutes is repealed and the 770
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 771
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall adopt 772
regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to determine the order to be 773
followed in selecting those eligible persons to whom vocational 774
rehabilitation services will be provided, in accordance with federal 775
regulations. 776
Sec. 30. Section 17a-824 of the general statutes is repealed and the 777
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 778 T
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The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may place in 779
remunerative occupations persons whose capacity to earn a living has 780
been lost or impaired by lessened visual acuity and who, in the opinion 781
of the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, are [susceptible 782
of] appropriate for placement, and may make such regulations as are 783
necessary for the administration of the provisions of this section and 784
sections 17a-820 to 17a-823, inclusive, as amended by this act. 785
Sec. 31. Section 17a-825 of the general statutes is repealed and the 786
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 787
The case records of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services 788
maintained for the purposes of this chapter shall be confidential and the 789
names and addresses of recipients of assistance under this chapter shall 790
not be published or used for purposes not directly connected with the 791
administration of this chapter, except as necessary to carry out the 792
provisions of sections 17a-816, as amended by this act, and 17b-6. 793
Sec. 32. Section 17a-835 of the general statutes is repealed and the 794
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 795
The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may provide 796
necessary services to persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing, 797
including, but not limited to, nonreimbursable interpreter services and 798
message relay services for persons using telecommunication devices for 799
persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing. 800
Sec. 33. Section 17a-835a of the general statutes is repealed and the 801
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 802
(a) There is established a Bureau of Services for Persons Who are 803
Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing which shall be within the 804
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 805
(b) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, in 806
consultation with the Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, 807
Deafblind or Hard of Hearing established pursuant to section 17a-836, 808 T
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as amended by this act, shall, not later than October 1, 2024, hire a 809
director of the bureau. The director shall (1) have professional 810
experience in serving the needs of deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing 811
persons, and (2) be (A) able to communicate in American Sign 812
Language, and (B) familiar with effective interpretation methods to 813
assist deafblind persons. The commissioner shall also hire an 814
administrative assistant for the director. 815
(c) The director shall report to the commissioner. The director's duties 816
shall include, but need not be limited to: 817
(1) Assisting in overseeing department employees who provide 818
counseling, interpreting and other assistance to persons who are deaf, 819
deafblind or hard of hearing, except for federally funded vocational 820
rehabilitation employees; 821
(2) Annually updating and publishing on the department's Internet 822
web site and the Internet web page of the bureau established pursuant 823
to subdivision (6) of this subsection a resource guide for persons who 824
are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing; 825
(3) Assisting in the registration of state-registered interpreters, 826
including maintaining and publishing on the Internet web page of the 827
bureau and the department's Internet web site a list of such interpreters 828
categorized by the settings in which they are qualified to interpret, in 829
accordance with section 17a-838, as amended by this act; 830
(4) Assisting each state agency, as defined in section 1-79, in 831
appointing an employee of each such agency to serve as a point of 832
contact for concerns related to persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard 833
of hearing, pursuant to section 4-61pp, and coordinating efforts to 834
resolve such concerns with such employees serving as a point of contact; 835
(5) Coordinating efforts of the Department of [Aging and] Disability 836
Services to provide information and referral services to deaf, deafblind 837
or hard of hearing persons on resources available to such persons; 838 T
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(6) Establishing a separate Internet web page on the department's 839
Internet web site for the bureau and including on such web page (A) the 840
meeting schedule, agendas, minutes and other resources of the 841
Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of 842
Hearing established pursuant to section 17a-836, as amended by this act, 843
(B) an instructional video with audio and captions on the home page on 844
how persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing can navigate 845
the web page, resources and tools, and (C) other material pursuant to 846
this section; 847
(7) Coordinating responses to consumer concerns, requests for 848
assistance and referrals to resources, including from state agencies; 849
(8) Coordinating education and training initiatives, including, but not 850
limited to, working with (A) local and state public safety and public 851
health officials and first responders on best practices for serving and 852
communicating with deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing persons, and (B) 853
sign language interpreters, oral interpreters and interpreters who are 854
trained to interpret for deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing persons to 855
maintain or enhance the skills of such interpreters in a variety of 856
settings; 857
(9) Collaborating with interpreting services providers and training 858
organizations to increase opportunities for mentorships, internships, 859
apprenticeships and specialized training in interpreting services for 860
deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing persons; 861
(10) Partnering with civic and community organizations serving deaf, 862
deafblind or hard of hearing persons on workshops and information 863
sessions regarding new laws, regulations or developments regarding 864
services, programs or health care needs of such persons; 865
(11) Raising public awareness of programs and services available to 866
deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing persons; 867
(12) Assisting the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in 868 T
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implementing telecommunication relay service programs for deaf, 869
deafblind or hard of hearing persons. In awarding any contract for such 870
relay service programs, the authority shall consult with the 871
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services and the director of the 872
bureau; 873
(13) Working with the Governor and Connecticut television stations 874
on ways to make television broadcasts more accessible to persons who 875
are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing; and 876
(14) In consultation with the Advisory Board for Persons Who are 877
Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing established pursuant to section 17a-878
836, as amended by this act, identifying the needs of deaf, deafblind or 879
hard of hearing persons and addressing policy changes that may be 880
necessary to better serve such persons. 881
Sec. 34. Subdivision (2) of section 17a-836 of the general statutes is 882
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 883
2026): 884
(2) Establish an annual leadership roundtable meeting with the Board 885
of Regents for Higher Education, the Commissioners of [Aging and] 886
Disability Services, Public Health, Social Services, Mental Health and 887
Addiction Services, Education, Developmental Services, Children and 888
Families, Early Childhood, Economic and Community Development, 889
Emergency Services and Public Protection, Correction, Housing and 890
Higher Education and the Labor Commissioner, or their designees, to 891
discuss best practices to serve persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard 892
of hearing, identify gaps in such services and make recommendations 893
to rectify such gaps; 894
Sec. 35. Subsection (a) of section 17a-837 of the general statutes is 895
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 896
2026): 897
(a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may request 898 T
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and shall receive from any department, division, board, bureau, 899
commission or agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof 900
such assistance and data as will enable the Department of [Aging and] 901
Disability Services to properly carry out its activities under sections 17a-902
835, as amended by this act, 17a-838, as amended by this act, and 17a-903
839, as amended by this act, and to effectuate the purposes therein set 904
forth. 905
Sec. 36. Section 17a-838 of the general statutes is repealed and the 906
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 907
(a) For the purposes of this section: 908
(1) "Community setting" means any setting, other than those 909
specifically identified as educational, legal or medical, including, but 910
not limited to, any setting involving everyday life activities such as 911
information sharing, employment, social services, entertainment and 912
civic and community engagements; 913
(2) "Department" means the Department of [Aging and] Disability 914
Services; 915
(3) "Interpreting" means the translating or transliterating of English 916
concepts to a language concept used by a person who is deaf, deafblind 917
or hard of hearing or the translating of a deaf, deafblind or hard of 918
hearing person's language to English concepts through the use of 919
American Sign Language, English-based sign language, cued speech, 920
oral transliterating and information received tactually; 921
(4) "Deafblind" means combined vision and hearing impairments that 922
challenge a person's ability to communicate, interact with others, access 923
information and move about safely; 924
(5) "Educational setting" means any setting where interpretive 925
services are provided concerning education-related matters, including, 926
but not limited to, all schools, school-based programs, services and 927
activities and other educational programs; 928 T
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(6) "Legal setting" means any criminal or civil action involving a court 929
of competent jurisdiction, any investigation or action conducted by a 930
duly authorized law enforcement agency, employment -related 931
hearings, appointments and situations requiring the presence of an 932
attorney; 933
(7) "Medical setting" means gatherings or gathering places where 934
physical health, mental health, or both are addressed, including, but not 935
limited to, hospitals, clinics, assisted living and rehabilitation facilities, 936
mental health treatment sessions, psychological evaluations, substance 937
abuse treatment sessions, crisis intervention and appointments or other 938
treatment requiring the presence of a doctor, nurse, medical staff or 939
other health care professional; and 940
(8) "Transliterating" means converting or rendering English concepts 941
to a language concept used by a person who is deaf, deafblind or hard 942
of hearing or the translating of a deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing 943
person's language concept to English concepts. 944
(b) Except as provided in subsections (g) and (h) of this section, all 945
persons providing interpreting services shall register, annually, with the 946
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. Such registration shall 947
be on a form prescribed or furnished by the Commissioner of [Aging 948
and] Disability Services and shall include the registrant's name, 949
residential or business address, or both, contact information, including, 950
but not limited to, phone number, place of employment as interpreter 951
and interpreter certification or credentials. The department shall (1) 952
issue interpreter identification cards for those who register in 953
accordance with this section, and (2) maintain a current listing on its 954
Internet web site of such registered interpreters, categorized by 955
interpreter settings for which they are qualified. The department may 956
also require documentation of the registrant's training hours. The 957
department shall annually issue interpreter identification cards listing 958
the type of settings in which the registrant is qualified to interpret. The 959
department shall establish an Internet web page containing information 960 T
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about services for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing individuals. The 961
department's Internet web page shall include, but not be limited to, 962
information related to such services provided by the department and 963
the Departments of Social Services, Mental Health and Addiction 964
Services and Children and Families. 965
(c) Except as provided in subsections (g) and (h) of this section, no 966
person shall provide interpreting services in the state, including in a 967
community setting, unless such person is registered with the 968
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services according to the 969
provisions of this section, holds recognized national or state interpreter 970
credentials determined by the department to be acceptable for 971
interpreting purposes where appropriate in Connecticut and has met at 972
least one of the following qualifications: 973
(1) (A) Has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf 974
written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National 975
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge 976
examination, (B) holds a level three certification provided by the 977
National Association of the Deaf, and (C) (i) documents the achievement 978
of two continuing education units per year for a maximum of five years 979
of training approved by the Commissioner of Aging and Disability 980
Services, and (ii) on or before the fifth anniversary of having passed the 981
National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test or 982
the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters 983
for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, has passed the 984
National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance examination 985
or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters 986
for the Deaf national interpreter certification examination; 987
(2) (A) Has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf 988
written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National 989
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge 990
examination, (B) is a graduate of an accredited interpreter training 991
program and documents the achievement of two continuing education 992 T
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units per year for a maximum of five years of training approved by the 993
commissioner, and (C) on or before the fifth anniversary of having 994
passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written 995
generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry 996
of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, has 997
passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance 998
examination or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry 999
of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreter certification 1000
examination; 1001
(3) Holds a level four or higher certification from the National 1002
Association of the Deaf; 1003
(4) Holds certification by the National Registry of Interpreters for the 1004
Deaf; 1005
(5) For situations requiring an oral interpreter only, holds oral 1006
certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; 1007
(6) For situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, holds 1008
certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification 1009
Unit and has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf 1010
written generalist test; 1011
(7) Holds a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter 1012
under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; 1013
(8) Holds a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of 1014
Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreting certificate; or 1015
(9) Holds the credential of Approved Deaf Interpreter, Approved 1016
American Sign Language-English Interpreter, or Approved Sign 1017
Language Transliterator by the Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf 1018
and Hard of Hearing. 1019
(d) No person shall provide interpreting services in a medical setting 1020
unless such person is registered with the Department of [Aging and] 1021 T
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Disability Services according to the provisions of this section and holds 1022
(1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of 1023
Interpreters for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation or a certificate 1024
of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 1025
(3) a level four or higher certification from the National Association of 1026
the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or certification as a deaf 1027
interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (5) 1028
for situations requiring an oral interpreter only, an oral certification 1029
from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for situations 1030
requiring a cued speech transliterator only, a certification from the 1031
National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the 1032
National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, (7) 1033
a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for 1034
the Deaf national interpreting certificate, or (8) the credential of 1035
Approved Deaf Interpreter by the Massachusetts Commission on the 1036
Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 1037
(e) No person shall provide interpreting services in a legal setting 1038
unless such person is registered with the Department of [Aging and] 1039
Disability Services according to the provisions of this section and holds 1040
(1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of 1041
Interpreters for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation and a 1042
certificate of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters 1043
for the Deaf, (3) a level five certification from the National Association 1044
of the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter 1045
under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (5) for 1046
situations requiring an oral interpreter only, an oral certification from 1047
the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for situations 1048
requiring a cued speech transliterator only, certification from the 1049
National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the 1050
National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, (7) 1051
a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for 1052
the Deaf national interpreting certificate, or (8) the credential of 1053
Approved Deaf Interpreter by the Massachusetts Commission on the 1054
Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 1055 T
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(f) No person who is not registered as a qualified interpreter pursuant 1056
to this section shall: 1057
(1) Engage in the practice of or offer to engage in the practice of 1058
interpreting for another person, an agency or an entity; 1059
(2) Use the title "interpreter", "transliterator" or a similar title in 1060
connection with services provided under his or her name; 1061
(3) Present or identify himself or herself as an interpreter qualified to 1062
engage in interpreting in this state; 1063
(4) Use the title "interpreter", "transliterator" or a similar title in 1064
advertisements or communications; or 1065
(5) Perform the function of or convey the impression that he or she is 1066
an interpreter or transliterator. 1067
(g) The requirements of this section shall apply to persons who (1) 1068
receive compensation for the provision of interpreting services, and (2) 1069
provide interpreting services as part of their job duties. The 1070
requirements of this section shall not apply to nonregistered individuals 1071
such as family members and friends who voluntarily provide 1072
interpreting services at the request of a deaf, deafblind or hard of 1073
hearing person. 1074
(h) The following individuals shall be exempt from the registration 1075
requirements of this section: 1076
(1) An individual interpreting at (A) a worship service conducted by 1077
a religious entity, or (B) services for educational purposes conducted by 1078
a religious entity or religiously affiliated school; 1079
(2) An individual engaged in interpreting during an emergency 1080
situation, when obtaining a registered interpreter or registered 1081
transliterator could cause a delay that may lead to injury or loss to the 1082
individual requiring the interpreting services, provided such 1083 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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emergency assistance does not waive any communication access 1084
requirements for any entity pursuant to the federal Americans with 1085
Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as both 1086
may be amended from time to time; 1087
(3) An individual engaged in interpreting as part of a supervised 1088
internship or practicum in an interpreting program at an accredited 1089
college or university or an interpreting mentorship program approved 1090
by the department if (A) such interpreting is not in a legal, medical or 1091
educational setting, or (B) the individual is accompanied by an 1092
interpreter registered pursuant to this section; or 1093
(4) An interpreter who is certified by a recognized national 1094
professional certifying body such as the National Registry of 1095
Interpreters for the Deaf or the National Association of the Deaf or a 1096
recognized state professional certifying body from outside the state and 1097
provides interpreting services in the state for a period of time not 1098
exceeding fourteen days during a calendar year. 1099
(i) Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing persons may exercise their 1100
right to request or use a different registered interpreter than the 1101
interpreter provided to interpret for such persons in any interpreting 1102
setting in accordance with a nationally recognized interpreter code of 1103
professional conduct. 1104
(j) Any person who is not registered in accordance with this section 1105
who represents himself or herself as an interpreter registered with the 1106
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services, or who engages in wilful 1107
or fraudulent misrepresentation of his or her credentials in an attempt 1108
to register with the department, shall be guilty of a class C 1109
misdemeanor. Failure to renew such registration in a timely manner 1110
shall not in and of itself constitute a violation for the purposes of this 1111
subsection. For purposes of this subsection, "timely manner" means 1112
registration renewal not more than thirty days after such registration 1113
has expired. 1114 T
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Sec. 37. Section 17a-839 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1115
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1116
Upon the request of any person or any public or private entity, the 1117
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may provide interpreting 1118
services to assist such person or entity to the extent such persons who 1119
provide interpreting services are available. Any person or entity 1120
receiving interpreting services through the department shall reimburse 1121
the department for such services at a rate set by the Commissioner of 1122
[Aging and] Disability Services. The commissioner may adopt 1123
regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish 1124
the manner of rate setting. 1125
Sec. 38. Section 17a-839a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1126
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1127
For purposes of this section, "state agency" has the same meaning as 1128
provided in section 9-612 and "interpreting" has the same meaning as 1129
provided in section 17a-838, as amended by this act. Any state agency 1130
that is unable to fulfill a request for interpreting services with its own 1131
interpreting staff shall first request such services from the Department 1132
of [Aging and] Disability Services and may seek such services elsewhere 1133
if (1) the department is unable to fulfill the request in two business days, 1134
or (2) the agency shows good cause that it needs such services 1135
immediately. The provisions of this section shall not (A) apply to the 1136
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services if the department needs 1137
interpreting services related to an internal matter and the use of 1138
department interpreters may raise confidentiality concerns, or (B) affect 1139
any preexisting contract for interpreting services. Interpreting services 1140
provided by a state agency shall be in accordance with the provisions of 1141
section 17a-838, as amended by this act. 1142
Sec. 39. Section 17a-850 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1143
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1144
The state shall be divided into five elderly planning and service areas, 1145 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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in accordance with federal law and regulations, each having an area 1146
agency on aging to carry out the mandates of the federal Older 1147
Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to time. The area agencies 1148
shall (1) represent older persons within their geographic areas, (2) 1149
develop an area plan for approval by the Department [of Aging and 1150
Disability Services] on Aging and upon such approval administer the 1151
plan, (3) coordinate and assist local public and nonprofit, private 1152
agencies in the development of programs, (4) receive and distribute 1153
federal and state funds for such purposes, in accordance with applicable 1154
law, (5) distribute nutritional risk assessment surveys to older persons, 1155
collect the surveys and report individual and average nutritional risk 1156
assessment scores for each elderly planning and service area to the 1157
Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, and (6) carry 1158
out any additional duties and functions required by federal law and 1159
regulations. 1160
Sec. 40. Section 17a-851 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1161
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1162
(a) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1163
equitably allocate, in accordance with federal law, federal funds 1164
received under Title IIIB and IIIC of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as 1165
amended from time to time, to the five area agencies on aging 1166
established pursuant to section 17a-850, as amended by this act. The 1167
department, before seeking federal approval to spend any amount 1168
above that allotted for administrative expenses under said act, shall 1169
inform the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 1170
cognizance of matters relating to aging and human services that it is 1171
seeking such approval. 1172
(b) Sixty per cent of the state funds appropriated to the five area 1173
agencies on aging for elderly nutrition and social services shall be 1174
allocated in the same proportion as allocations made pursuant to 1175
subsection (a) of this section. Forty per cent of all state funds 1176
appropriated to the five area agencies on aging for elderly nutrition and 1177 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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social services used for purposes other than the required nonfederal 1178
matching funds shall be allocated at the discretion of the Commissioner 1179
[of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, in consultation with the 1180
five area agencies on aging, based on their need for such funds. Any 1181
state funds appropriated to the five area agencies on aging for 1182
administrative expenses shall be allocated equally. 1183
(c) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, in 1184
consultation with the five area agencies on aging, shall review the 1185
method of allocation set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section 1186
and evaluate the method used to allocate funding for elderly nutrition 1187
services based on factors including, but not limited to, for each of the 1188
five elderly planning and service areas as described in section 17a-850, 1189
as amended by this act, (1) elderly population data from the most recent 1190
United States census, and (2) average and individual nutritional risk 1191
assessment scores on nutritional risk assessment surveys. The 1192
department shall solicit information and recommendations from elderly 1193
nutrition program providers for consideration in the department's 1194
evaluation. Not later than July 1, 2023, the department shall report, in 1195
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 1196
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 1197
relating to aging, appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and 1198
human services on (A) the data collected pursuant to this subsection, (B) 1199
the rates of reimbursement for each meals on wheels provider in the 1200
department's elderly nutrition program compared to the cost to provide 1201
meals on wheels for each such provider, (C) the administrative expenses 1202
of each such meals on wheels provider, (D) the number of such meals 1203
on wheels providers that have reduced or eliminated deliveries based 1204
on inadequate state reimbursement, and (E) any recommended changes 1205
in the method of allocation of funds. Providers of meals in the 1206
department's elderly nutrition program shall annually provide the 1207
department with data on service levels and costs. 1208
(d) An area agency may request a person participating in the elderly 1209
nutrition program to pay a voluntary fee for meals furnished, except 1210 T
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that no eligible person shall be denied a meal due to an inability to pay 1211
such fee. 1212
(e) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1213
disburse additional payments under the elderly nutrition program to 1214
any area agency on aging contracting with the department that has 1215
expended fifty per cent or more of the initial disbursement of funding 1216
under such contract. Within available appropriations, the department 1217
shall disburse additional payments not later than thirty days after the 1218
area agency on aging provides documentation prescribed by the 1219
department of such expenditures. The area agency on aging shall 1220
transfer additional payments not later than thirty days after receipt from 1221
the department to vendors that contract with the agency to participate 1222
in the elderly nutrition program. Not later than July 1, 2025, and 1223
annually thereafter, the Commissioner [of Aging and Disability 1224
Services] on Aging shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions 1225
of section 11-4a, with the joint standing committees of the General 1226
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging and human 1227
services on the feasibility of the department disbursing additional funds 1228
under an elderly nutrition program contract upon evidence that a 1229
contracting area agency on aging has expended twenty-five per cent or 1230
more of the initial disbursement of funding under the contract. 1231
(f) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1232
shall require each area agency on aging, in consultation with the chief 1233
elected officials of the municipalities and municipal agents for elderly 1234
persons appointed pursuant to section 7-127b, as amended by this act, 1235
within the area each agency serves, to develop a continuity of effort plan 1236
to minimize any disruption to benefits provided under the elderly 1237
nutrition program in such area when a provider leaves the program or 1238
there is a significant increase in service levels or demand for the 1239
program. Such plan shall include an area agency on aging applying for 1240
funding to support elderly nutrition program services through any 1241
available grant source. An area agency on aging shall, not later than 1242
January 1, 2025, submit such plan to the commissioner and notify, in 1243 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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writing, chief elected officials, municipal agents for the elderly and state 1244
and federal elected officials of the area such agency serves not later than 1245
ten business days after a significant increase in service levels or demand 1246
for the elderly nutrition program. The commissioner may withhold 1247
funding from an area agency on aging or take other remedial measures 1248
against such agency for violating any provision of this subsection. 1249
Sec. 41. Subsection (a) of section 17a-852 of the general statutes is 1250
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1251
2026): 1252
(a) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1253
be responsible for the administration of programs which provide 1254
nutritionally sound diets to needy older persons and for the expansion 1255
of such programs when possible. Such programs shall be continued in 1256
such a manner as to fully utilize congregate feeding and nutrition 1257
education of older citizens who qualify for such program. 1258
Sec. 42. Section 17a-852a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1259
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1260
(a) The Commissioner of Social Services, upon a request from the 1261
Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, or from an 1262
area agency on aging contracting with the Department [of Aging and 1263
Disability Services] on Aging to provide services under the elderly 1264
nutrition program, shall provide information on whether a person who 1265
is eligible to receive services under the elderly nutrition program is 1266
receiving benefits from the supplemental nutrition assistance program. 1267
(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the 1268
Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, shall 1269
develop a plan to maximize supplemental nutrition assistance program 1270
benefits to support the elderly nutrition program. The plan shall 1271
include, but need not be limited to, (1) outreach to persons who may be 1272
eligible for both the elderly nutrition program and the supplemental 1273
nutrition assistance program, and (2) federally permissible uses of 1274 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to fund meals provided to 1275
persons age sixty and over, persons with disabilities and such persons' 1276
households. 1277
(c) Not later than October 1, 2024, the Commissioner of Social 1278
Services, in consultation with the Commissioner [of Aging and 1279
Disability Services] on Aging, shall file a report on the plan, in 1280
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, with the joint standing 1281
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 1282
relating to aging and human services. 1283
Sec. 43. Section 17a-853 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1284
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1285
The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1286
hold quarterly meetings with nutrition service stakeholders to (1) 1287
develop recommendations to address complexities in the administrative 1288
processes of nutrition services programs, (2) establish quality control 1289
benchmarks in such programs, and (3) help move toward greater 1290
quality, efficiency and transparency in the elderly nutrition program. 1291
Stakeholders shall include, but need not be limited to, (A) one 1292
representative of each of the following: (i) Area agencies on aging, (ii) 1293
access agencies, (iii) the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, 1294
Equity and Opportunity, and (iv) nutrition providers, and (B) one or 1295
more representatives of (i) food security programs, (ii) contractors, (iii) 1296
nutrition host sites, and (iv) consumers. 1297
Sec. 44. Section 17a-854 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1298
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1299
The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1300
adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 1301
carry out the purposes, programs and services authorized pursuant to 1302
the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to time. The 1303
department may operate under any new policy necessary to conform to 1304
a requirement of a federal or joint state and federal program while it is 1305 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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in the process of adopting the policy in regulation form, provided the 1306
department posts such policy on the eRegulations System not later than 1307
twenty days after adopting the policy. Such policy shall be valid until 1308
the time final regulations are effective. 1309
Sec. 45. Section 17a-855 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1310
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1311
The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging may 1312
make a grant to any city, town or borough or public or private agency, 1313
organization or institution for the following purposes: (1) For 1314
community planning and coordination of programs carrying out the 1315
purposes of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to 1316
time; (2) for demonstration programs or activities particularly valuable 1317
in carrying out such purposes; (3) for training of special personnel 1318
needed to carry out such programs and activities; (4) for establishment 1319
of new or expansion of existing programs to carry out such purposes, 1320
including establishment of new or expansion of existing centers of 1321
service for older persons, providing recreational, cultural and other 1322
leisure time activities, and informational, transportation, referral and 1323
preretirement and postretirement counseling services for older persons 1324
and assisting such persons in providing volunteer community or civic 1325
services, except that no costs of construction, other than for minor 1326
alterations and repairs, shall be included in such establishment or 1327
expansion; and (5) for programs to develop or demonstrate approaches, 1328
methods and techniques for achieving or improving coordination of 1329
community services for older or aging persons and such other programs 1330
and services as may be allowed under Title III of the Older Americans 1331
Act of 1965, as amended from time to time, or to evaluate these 1332
approaches, techniques and methods, as well as others which may assist 1333
older or aging persons to enjoy wholesome and meaningful living and 1334
to continue to contribute to the strength and welfare of the state and 1335
nation. 1336
Sec. 46. Section 17a-856 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1337 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1338
The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging may use 1339
moneys appropriated for the purposes of section 17a-855, as amended 1340
by this act, for the expenses of administering the grant program under 1341
said section, provided the total of such moneys so used shall not exceed 1342
five per cent of the moneys so appropriated. 1343
Sec. 47. Section 17a-857 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1344
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1345
(a) As used in this section: 1346
(1) "CHOICES" means Connecticut's programs for health insurance 1347
assistance, outreach, information and referral, counseling and eligibility 1348
screening; and 1349
(2) "CHOICES health insurance assistance program" means the 1350
federally recognized state health insurance assistance program funded 1351
pursuant to P.L. 101-508 and administered by the Department [of Aging 1352
and Disability Services] on Aging, in conjunction with the area agencies 1353
on aging and the Center for Medicare Advocacy, that provides free 1354
information and assistance related to health insurance issues and 1355
concerns of older persons and other Medicare beneficiaries in 1356
Connecticut. 1357
(b) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1358
administer the CHOICES health insurance assistance program, which 1359
shall be a comprehensive Medicare advocacy program that provides 1360
assistance to Connecticut residents who are Medicare beneficiaries. 1361
(c) The program shall provide: (1) Toll-free telephone access for 1362
consumers to obtain advice and information on Medicare benefits, 1363
including prescription drug benefits available through the Medicare 1364
Part D program, the Medicare appeals process, health insurance matters 1365
applicable to Medicare beneficiaries and long-term care options 1366
available in the state at least five days per week during normal business 1367 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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hours; (2) information, advice and representation, where appropriate, 1368
concerning the Medicare appeals process, by a qualified attorney or 1369
paralegal at least five days per week during normal business hours; (3) 1370
information through appropriate means and format, including written 1371
materials, to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, senior citizens and 1372
organizations regarding Medicare benefits, including prescription drug 1373
benefits available through Medicare Part D and other pharmaceutical 1374
drug company programs and long-term care options available in the 1375
state; (4) information concerning Medicare plans and services, private 1376
insurance policies and federal and state-funded programs that are 1377
available to beneficiaries to supplement Medicare coverage; (5) 1378
information permitting Medicare beneficiaries to compare and evaluate 1379
their options for delivery of Medicare and supplemental insurance 1380
services; (6) information concerning the procedure to appeal a denial of 1381
care and the procedure to request an expedited appeal of a denial of 1382
care; and (7) any other information the program or the Commissioner of 1383
[Rehabilitation Services] on Aging deems relevant to Medicare 1384
beneficiaries. 1385
(d) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1386
may include any additional functions necessary to conform to federal 1387
grant requirements. 1388
(e) All hospitals, as defined in section 19a-490, which treat persons 1389
covered by Medicare Part A shall: (1) Notify incoming patients covered 1390
by Medicare of the availability of the services established pursuant to 1391
subsection (c) of this section, (2) post or cause to be posted in a 1392
conspicuous place therein the toll-free number established pursuant to 1393
subsection (c) of this section, and (3) provide each Medicare patient with 1394
the toll-free number and information on how to access the CHOICES 1395
program. 1396
(f) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1397
may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as necessary to 1398
implement the provisions of this section. 1399 T
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Sec. 48. Subsection (a) of section 17a-858 of the general statutes is 1400
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1401
2026): 1402
(a) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1403
shall develop and administer a program to provide a single, coordinated 1404
system of information and access for individuals seeking long-term 1405
support, including in-home, community-based and institutional 1406
services. The program shall be the state Aging and Disability Resource 1407
Center Program in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act 1408
Amendments of 2006, P.L. 109-365 and shall be administered as part of 1409
the Department [of Aging and Disability Services'] on Aging's 1410
CHOICES program in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (a) 1411
of section 17a-857, as amended by this act. Consumers served by the 1412
program shall include, but not be limited to, those sixty years of age or 1413
older and those eighteen years of age or older with disabilities and 1414
caregivers. 1415
Sec. 49. Section 17a-859 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1416
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1417
(a) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1418
establish, within available appropriations, a fall prevention program. 1419
Within such program, the department shall: 1420
(1) Promote and support research to: (A) Improve the identification, 1421
diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of older persons and others who 1422
have a high risk of falling; (B) improve data collection and analysis to 1423
identify risk factors for falls and factors that reduce the likelihood of 1424
falls; (C) design, implement and evaluate the most effective fall 1425
prevention interventions; (D) improve intervention strategies that have 1426
been proven effective in reducing falls by tailoring such strategies to 1427
specific populations of older persons; (E) maximize the dissemination of 1428
proven, effective fall prevention interventions; (F) assess the risk of falls 1429
occurring in various settings; (G) identify barriers to the adoption of 1430
proven interventions with respect to the prevention of falls among older 1431 T
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persons; (H) develop, implement and evaluate the most effective 1432
approaches to reducing falls among high-risk older persons living in 1433
communities and long-term care and assisted living facilities; and (I) 1434
evaluate the effectiveness of community programs designed to prevent 1435
falls among older persons; 1436
(2) Establish, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health, 1437
a professional education program in fall prevention, evaluation and 1438
management for physicians, allied health professionals and other health 1439
care providers who provide services for older persons in this state. The 1440
Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging may contract 1441
for the establishment of such program through (A) a request for 1442
proposal process, (B) a competitive grant program, or (C) cooperative 1443
agreements with qualified organizations, institutions or consortia of 1444
qualified organizations and institutions; 1445
(3) Oversee and support demonstration and research projects to be 1446
carried out by organizations, institutions or consortia of organizations 1447
and institutions deemed qualified by the Commissioner [of Aging and 1448
Disability Services] on Aging. Such demonstration and research projects 1449
may be in the following areas: 1450
(A) Targeted fall risk screening and referral programs; 1451
(B) Programs designed for community-dwelling older persons that 1452
use fall intervention approaches, including physical activity, medication 1453
assessment and reduction of medication when possible, vision 1454
enhancement and home-modification strategies; 1455
(C) Programs that target new fall victims who are at a high risk for 1456
second falls and that are designed to maximize independence and 1457
quality of life for older persons, particularly those older persons with 1458
functional limitations; and 1459
(D) Private sector and public-private partnerships to develop 1460
technologies to prevent falls among older persons and prevent or reduce 1461 T
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injuries when falls occur; and 1462
(4) Award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 1463
with, organizations, institutions or consortia of organizations and 1464
institutions deemed qualified by the Commissioner [of Aging and 1465
Disability Services] on Aging to design, implement and evaluate fall 1466
prevention programs using proven intervention strategies in residential 1467
and institutional settings. 1468
(b) In awarding any grants or entering into any contracts or 1469
agreements pursuant to this section, after October 1, 2017, the 1470
Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1471
determine appropriate data and program outcome measures, including 1472
fall prevention program outcome measures, as applicable, that the 1473
recipient organization, institution or consortia of organizations and 1474
institutions shall collect and report to the commissioner and the 1475
frequency of such reports. 1476
Sec. 50. Subsection (b) of section 17a-860 of the general statutes is 1477
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1478
2026): 1479
(b) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1480
shall operate a program, within available appropriations, to provide 1481
respite care services for caretakers of individuals with Alzheimer's 1482
disease, provided such individuals with Alzheimer's disease meet the 1483
requirements set forth in subsection (c) of this section. Such respite care 1484
services may include, but need not be limited to (1) homemaker services; 1485
(2) adult day care; (3) temporary care in a licensed medical facility; (4) 1486
home-health care; (5) companion services; or (6) personal care assistant 1487
services. Such respite care services may be administered directly by the 1488
Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, or through 1489
contracts for services with providers of such services, or by means of 1490
direct subsidy to caretakers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease to 1491
purchase such services. 1492 T
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Sec. 51. Section 17a-862 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1493
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1494
There shall be within the Department [of Aging and Disability 1495
Services] on Aging a dementia services coordinator. The dementia 1496
services coordinator shall (1) coordinate dementia services across state 1497
agencies, (2) assess and analyze dementia-related data collected by the 1498
state, (3) evaluate state-funded dementia services, (4) identify and 1499
support the development of dementia-specific training programs, and 1500
(5) perform any other relevant duties to support individuals with 1501
dementia in the state, as determined by the Commissioner [of Aging and 1502
Disability Services] on Aging. 1503
Sec. 52. Section 17a-870 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1504
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1505
(a) As used in this chapter: 1506
(1) "State agency" means the Department [of Aging and Disability 1507
Services] on Aging. 1508
(2) "Office" or "Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman" means the 1509
organizational unit which is headed by the State Long-Term Care 1510
Ombudsman established in this section. 1511
(3) "State Ombudsman" means the individual who heads the office 1512
established in this section. 1513
(4) "Program" means the long-term care ombudsman program 1514
established in this section. 1515
(5) "Representative of the office" includes a regional ombudsman, a 1516
residents' advocate or an employee of the Office of the Long-Term Care 1517
Ombudsman who is individually designated by the State Ombudsman. 1518
(6) "Resident" means an individual who resides in a long-term care 1519
facility. 1520 T
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(7) "Long-term care facility" means any skilled nursing facility, as 1521
defined in Section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act, (42 USC 1395i-3(a)) 1522
any nursing facility, as defined in Section 1919(a) of the Social Security 1523
Act, (42 USC 1396r(a)) a board and care facility as defined in Section 1524
102(19) of the federal Older Americans Act, (42 USC 3002(19)) and for 1525
purposes of ombudsman program coverage, an institution regulated by 1526
the state pursuant to Section 1616(e) of the Social Security Act, (42 USC 1527
1382e(e)) and any other adult care home similar to a facility or nursing 1528
facility or board and care home. 1529
(8) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner [of Aging and 1530
Disability Services] on Aging. 1531
(9) "Applicant" means an individual who has applied for admission 1532
to a long-term care facility. 1533
(10) "Resident representative" means (A) an individual chosen by the 1534
resident to act on behalf of the resident in order to support the resident 1535
in decision making, accessing medical, social or other personal 1536
information of the resident, managing financial matters, or receiving 1537
notifications; (B) a person authorized by state or federal law to act on 1538
behalf of the resident in order to support the resident in decision 1539
making, accessing medical, social or other personal information of the 1540
resident, managing financial matters, or receiving notifications; (C) a 1541
legal representative, as used in Section 712 of the Older Americans Act 1542
of 1965, as amended from time to time; or (D) the court-appointed 1543
guardian or conservator of a resident. 1544
(b) There is established an independent Office of the Long-Term Care 1545
Ombudsman within the Department [of Aging and Disability Services] 1546
on Aging. The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on 1547
Aging shall appoint a State Ombudsman, or, if a State Ombudsman has 1548
already been appointed, a successor State Ombudsman when the 1549
position becomes vacant, who shall be selected from among individuals 1550
with expertise and experience in the fields of long-term care and 1551
advocacy to head the office and the State Ombudsman shall appoint 1552 T
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regional ombudsmen. In the event the State Ombudsman or a regional 1553
ombudsman is unable to fulfill the duties of the office, the commissioner 1554
shall appoint an acting State Ombudsman and the State Ombudsman 1555
shall appoint an acting regional ombudsman. 1556
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, 1557
on and after July 1, 1990, the positions of State Ombudsman and regional 1558
ombudsmen shall be classified service positions. The State Ombudsman 1559
and regional ombudsmen holding said positions on said date shall 1560
continue to serve in their positions as if selected through classified 1561
service procedures. As vacancies occur in such positions thereafter, such 1562
vacancies shall be filled in accordance with classified service 1563
procedures. 1564
(d) The activities of the State Ombudsman or representatives of the 1565
office do not constitute lobbying under 45 CFR Part 93. 1566
Sec. 53. Section 17a-872 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1567
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1568
No person may perform any functions as a residents' advocate until 1569
the person has successfully completed a course of training required by 1570
the State Ombudsman. Any residents' advocate who fails to complete 1571
such a course within a reasonable time after appointment may be 1572
removed by the State Ombudsman or the regional ombudsman for the 1573
region in which such residents' advocate serves. The Commissioner [of 1574
Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, after consultation with the 1575
State Ombudsman, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the 1576
provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section. Such 1577
regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the course of training 1578
required by this section. 1579
Sec. 54. Subsection (c) of section 17a-876 of the general statutes is 1580
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1581
2026): 1582 T
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(c) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1583
shall have authority to seek funding for the purposes contained in this 1584
section from public and private sources, including, but not limited to, 1585
any federal or state funded programs. 1586
Sec. 55. Section 17a-879 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1587
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1588
The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, after 1589
consultation with the State Ombudsman, shall adopt regulations in 1590
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions 1591
of sections 17a-412, 17a-413, 17a-870 to 17a-880, inclusive, as amended 1592
by this act, 19a-531 and 19a-532. 1593
Sec. 56. Section 17a-880 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1594
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1595
The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1596
require the State Ombudsman to: 1597
(1) Prepare an annual report: 1598
(A) Describing the activities carried out by the office in the year for 1599
which the report is prepared; 1600
(B) Containing and analyzing the data collected under section 17a-1601
881; 1602
(C) Evaluating the problems experienced by and the complaints 1603
made by or on behalf of residents; 1604
(D) Containing recommendations for (i) improving the quality of the 1605
care and life of the residents, and (ii) protecting the health, safety, 1606
welfare and rights of the residents; 1607
(E) (i) Analyzing the success of the program including success in 1608
providing services to residents of long-term care facilities; and (ii) 1609
identifying barriers that prevent the optimal operation of the program; 1610 T
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and 1611
(F) Providing policy, regulatory and legislative recommendations to 1612
solve identified problems, to resolve the complaints, to improve the 1613
quality of the care and life of residents, to protect the health, safety, 1614
welfare and rights of residents and to remove the barriers that prevent 1615
the optimal operation of the program. 1616
(2) Analyze, comment on and monitor the development and 1617
implementation of federal, state and local laws, regulations and other 1618
government policies and actions that pertain to long-term care facilities 1619
and services, and to the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents in 1620
the state, and recommend any changes in such laws, regulations and 1621
policies as the office determines to be appropriate. 1622
(3) (A) Provide such information as the office determines to be 1623
necessary to public and private agencies, legislators and other persons, 1624
regarding (i) the problems and concerns of older individuals residing in 1625
long-term care facilities; and (ii) recommendations related to the 1626
problems and concerns; and (B) make available to the public and submit 1627
to the federal assistant secretary for aging, the Governor, the General 1628
Assembly, the Department of Public Health and other appropriate 1629
governmental entities, each report prepared under subdivision (1) of 1630
this section. 1631
Sec. 57. Subsection (c) of section 17a-885 of the general statutes is 1632
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1633
2026): 1634
(c) Not later than June 30, 2005, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman 1635
shall submit a report on the pilot program to the Commissioners [of 1636
Aging and Disability Services] on Aging and Public Health, and to the 1637
joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance 1638
of matters relating to aging, human services, public health and 1639
appropriations. [, and to the select committee of the General Assembly 1640
having cognizance of matters relating to aging.] The report shall be 1641 T
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submitted in accordance with section 11-4a. 1642
Sec. 58. Subsection (b) of section 17b-4 of the general statutes is 1643
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1644
2026): 1645
(b) The Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the 1646
Department of Public Health and the Department [of Aging and 1647
Disability Services] on Aging, may adopt regulations in accordance with 1648
the provisions of chapter 54 to establish requirements with respect to 1649
the submission of reports concerning financial solvency and quality of 1650
care by nursing homes for the purpose of determining the financial 1651
viability of such homes, identifying homes that appear to be 1652
experiencing financial distress and examining the underlying reasons 1653
for such distress. Such reports shall be submitted to the Nursing Home 1654
Financial Advisory Committee established under section 17b-339. 1655
Sec. 59. Subsection (c) of section 17b-28 of the general statutes is 1656
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1657
2026): 1658
(c) On and after October 31, 2017, the council shall be composed of 1659
the following members: 1660
(1) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing 1661
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 1662
relating to aging, human services, public health and appropriations and 1663
the budgets of state agencies, or their designees; 1664
(2) Five appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 1665
one of whom shall be a member of the General Assembly, one of whom 1666
shall be a community provider of adult Medicaid health services, one of 1667
whom shall be a recipient of Medicaid benefits for the aged, blind and 1668
disabled or an advocate for such a recipient, one of whom shall be a 1669
representative of the state's federally qualified health clinics and one of 1670
whom shall be a member of the Connecticut Hospital Association; 1671 T
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(3) Five appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of 1672
whom shall be a member of the General Assembly, one of whom shall 1673
be a representative of the home health care industry, one of whom shall 1674
be a primary care medical home provider, one of whom shall be an 1675
advocate for Department of Children and Families foster families and 1676
one of whom shall be a representative of the business community with 1677
experience in cost efficiency management; 1678
(4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of 1679
Representatives, one of whom shall be an advocate for persons with 1680
substance abuse disabilities, one of whom shall be a Medicaid dental 1681
provider and one of whom shall be a representative of the for-profit 1682
nursing home industry; 1683
(5) Three appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom 1684
shall be a representative of school-based health centers, one of whom 1685
shall be a recipient of benefits under the HUSKY Health program and 1686
one of whom shall be a physician who serves Medicaid clients; 1687
(6) Three appointed by the minority leader of the House of 1688
Representatives, one of whom shall be an advocate for persons with 1689
disabilities, one of whom shall be a dually eligible Medicaid-Medicare 1690
beneficiary or an advocate for such a beneficiary and one of whom shall 1691
be a representative of the not-for-profit nursing home industry; 1692
(7) Three appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of 1693
whom shall be a low-income adult recipient of Medicaid benefits or an 1694
advocate for such a recipient, one of whom shall be a representative of 1695
hospitals and one of whom shall be a representative of the business 1696
community with experience in cost efficiency management; 1697
(8) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, 1698
Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director's designee; 1699
(9) A member of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, 1700
Equity and Opportunity, designated by the executive director of said 1701 T
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commission; 1702
(10) A representative of the Long-Term Care Advisory Council; 1703
(11) The Commissioners of Social Services, Children and Families, 1704
Public Health, Developmental Services, [Aging and Disability Services 1705
and] Mental Health and Addiction Services and Aging, or their 1706
designees, who shall be ex-officio nonvoting members; 1707
(12) The Comptroller, or the Comptroller's designee, who shall be an 1708
ex-officio nonvoting member; 1709
(13) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 1710
secretary's designee, who shall be an ex-officio nonvoting member; and 1711
(14) One representative of an administrative services organization 1712
which contracts with the Department of Social Services in the 1713
administration of the Medicaid program, who shall be a nonvoting 1714
member. 1715
Sec. 60. Subsection (b) of section 17b-90 of the general statutes is 1716
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1717
2026): 1718
(b) No person shall, except for purposes directly connected with the 1719
administration of programs of the Department of Social Services and in 1720
accordance with the regulations of the commissioner, solicit, disclose, 1721
receive or make use of, or authorize, knowingly permit, participate in or 1722
acquiesce in the use of, any list of the names of, or any information 1723
concerning, persons applying for or receiving assistance from the 1724
Department of Social Services or persons participating in a program 1725
administered by said department, directly or indirectly derived from 1726
the records, papers, files or communications of the state or its 1727
subdivisions or agencies, or acquired in the course of the performance 1728
of official duties. The Commissioner of Social Services shall disclose (1) 1729
to any authorized representative of the Labor Commissioner such 1730
information directly related to unemployment compensation, 1731 T
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administered pursuant to chapter 567 or information necessary for 1732
implementation of sections 17b-112l, 17b-688b, 17b-688c and 17b-688h 1733
and section 122 of public act 97-2 of the June 18 special session, (2) to 1734
any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Mental Health 1735
and Addiction Services any information necessary for the 1736
implementation and operation of the basic needs supplement program, 1737
(3) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of 1738
Administrative Services or the Commissioner of Emergency Services 1739
and Public Protection such information as the Commissioner of Social 1740
Services determines is directly related to and necessary for the 1741
Department of Administrative Services or the Department of 1742
Emergency Services and Public Protection for purposes of performing 1743
their functions of collecting social services recoveries and overpayments 1744
or amounts due as support in social services cases, investigating social 1745
services fraud or locating absent parents of public assistance recipients, 1746
(4) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Children 1747
and Families necessary information concerning a child or the immediate 1748
family of a child receiving services from the Department of Social 1749
Services, including safety net services, if (A) the Commissioner of 1750
Children and Families or the Commissioner of Social Services has 1751
determined that imminent danger to such child's health, safety or 1752
welfare exists to target the services of the family services programs 1753
administered by the Department of Children and Families, or (B) the 1754
Commissioner of Children and Families requires access to the federal 1755
Parent Locator Service established pursuant to 42 USC 653 in order to 1756
identify a parent or putative parent of a child, (5) to a town official or 1757
other contractor or authorized representative of the Labor 1758
Commissioner such information concerning an applicant for or a 1759
recipient of assistance under state-administered general assistance 1760
deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Social Services and the Labor 1761
Commissioner to carry out their respective responsibilities to serve such 1762
persons under the programs administered by the Labor Department 1763
that are designed to serve applicants for or recipients of state-1764
administered general assistance, (6) to any authorized representative of 1765 T
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the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the 1766
purposes of the behavioral health managed care program established by 1767
section 17a-453, (7) to any authorized representative of the 1768
Commissioner of Early Childhood to carry out his or her respective 1769
responsibilities under the two-generational academic achievement and 1770
workforce readiness initiative established pursuant to section 17b-112l 1771
and programs that regulate child care services or youth camps, (8) to a 1772
health insurance provider, in IV-D support cases, as defined in 1773
subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, information 1774
concerning a child and the custodial parent of such child that is 1775
necessary to enroll such child in a health insurance plan available 1776
through such provider when the noncustodial parent of such child is 1777
under court order to provide health insurance coverage but is unable to 1778
provide such information, provided the Commissioner of Social 1779
Services determines, after providing prior notice of the disclosure to 1780
such custodial parent and an opportunity for such parent to object, that 1781
such disclosure is in the best interests of the child, (9) to any authorized 1782
representative of the Department of Correction, in IV-D support cases, 1783
as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, 1784
information concerning noncustodial parents that is necessary to 1785
identify inmates or parolees with IV-D support cases who may benefit 1786
from Department of Correction educational, training, skill building, 1787
work or rehabilitation programming that will significantly increase an 1788
inmate's or parolee's ability to fulfill such inmate's support obligation, 1789
(10) to any authorized representative of the Judicial Branch, in IV-D 1790
support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 1791
46b-231, information concerning noncustodial parents that is necessary 1792
to: (A) Identify noncustodial parents with IV-D support cases who may 1793
benefit from educational, training, skill building, work or rehabilitation 1794
programming that will significantly increase such parent's ability to 1795
fulfill such parent's support obligation, (B) assist in the administration 1796
of the Title IV-D child support program, or (C) assist in the identification 1797
of cases involving family violence, (11) to any authorized representative 1798
of the State Treasurer, in IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision 1799 T
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(13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, information that is necessary to 1800
identify child support obligors who owe overdue child support prior to 1801
the Treasurer's payment of such obligors' claim for any property 1802
unclaimed or presumed abandoned under part III of chapter 32, (12) to 1803
any authorized representative of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 1804
Management any information necessary for the implementation and 1805
operation of the renters rebate program established by section 12-170d, 1806
or (13) to any authorized representative of the Department [of Aging 1807
and Disability Services] on Aging, or to an area agency on aging 1808
contracting with said department to provide services under the elderly 1809
nutrition program, information on persons enrolled in the supplemental 1810
nutrition assistance program who have requested or been 1811
recommended to receive elderly nutrition program services. No such 1812
representative shall disclose any information obtained pursuant to this 1813
section, except as specified in this section. Any applicant for assistance 1814
provided through the Department of Social Services shall be notified 1815
that, if and when such applicant receives benefits, the department will 1816
be providing law enforcement officials with the address of such 1817
applicant upon the request of any such official pursuant to section 17b-1818
16a. 1819
Sec. 61. Subsection (c) of section 17b-337 of the general statutes is 1820
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1821
2026): 1822
(c) The Long-Term Care Planning Committee shall consist of: (1) The 1823
chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of 1824
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human 1825
services, public health, elderly services and long-term care; (2) the 1826
Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee; (3) 1827
one member of the Office of Policy and Management appointed by the 1828
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; (4) one member from 1829
the Department of Public Health appointed by the Commissioner of 1830
Public Health; (5) one member from the Department of Housing 1831
appointed by the Commissioner of Housing; (6) one member from the 1832 T
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Department of Developmental Services appointed by the Commissioner 1833
of Developmental Services; (7) one member from the Department of 1834
Mental Health and Addiction Services appointed by the Commissioner 1835
of Mental Health and Addiction Services; (8) one member from the 1836
Department of Transportation appointed by the Commissioner of 1837
Transportation; (9) one member from the Department of Children and 1838
Families appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families; (10) 1839
one member from the Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of 1840
Health Strategy appointed by the Commissioner of Health Strategy; and 1841
(11) one member from the Department [of Aging and Disability 1842
Services] on Aging appointed by the Commissioner [of Aging and 1843
Disability Services] on Aging. The committee shall convene no later than 1844
ninety days after June 4, 1998. Any vacancy shall be filled by the 1845
appointing authority. The chairperson shall be elected from among the 1846
members of the committee. The committee shall seek the advice and 1847
participation of any person, organization or state or federal agency it 1848
deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. 1849
Sec. 62. Section 17b-352 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1850
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1851
(a) For the purposes of this section and section 17b-353, "facility" 1852
means a residential facility for persons with intellectual disability 1853
licensed pursuant to section 17a-277 and certified to participate in the 1854
Title XIX Medicaid program as an intermediate care facility for 1855
individuals with intellectual disabilities, a nursing home, rest home or 1856
residential care home, as defined in section 19a-490. "Facility" does not 1857
include a nursing home that does not participate in the Medicaid 1858
program and is associated with a continuing care facility as described in 1859
section 17b-520. 1860
(b) Any facility which intends to (1) transfer all or part of its 1861
ownership or control prior to being initially licensed; (2) introduce any 1862
additional function or service into its program of care or expand an 1863
existing function or service; (3) terminate a service or decrease 1864 T
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substantially its total licensed bed capacity; or (4) relocate all or a portion 1865
of such facility's licensed beds, to a new facility or replacement facility, 1866
shall submit a complete request for permission to implement such 1867
transfer, addition, expansion, increase, termination, decrease or 1868
relocation of facility beds to the Department of Social Services with such 1869
information as the department requires, provided no permission or 1870
request for permission is required (A) to close a facility when a facility 1871
in receivership is closed by order of the Superior Court pursuant to 1872
section 19a-545, or (B) to change a facility's licensure as a rest home with 1873
nursing supervision to licensure as a chronic and convalescent nursing 1874
home. The Commissioner of Social Services shall consider the criteria in 1875
subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (a) of section 17b-354 when 1876
evaluating a certificate of need request to relocate licensed nursing 1877
facility beds from an existing facility to another licensed nursing facility 1878
or to a new facility or replacement facility. The Office of the Long-Term 1879
Care Ombudsman, or, in the case of a residential facility for persons 1880
with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, as 1881
described in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the 1882
Developmental Services Ombudsperson shall be notified by the facility 1883
of any proposed actions pursuant to this subsection at the same time the 1884
request for permission is submitted to the department and when a 1885
facility in receivership is closed by order of the Superior Court pursuant 1886
to section 19a-545. 1887
(c) A facility may submit a petition for closure to the Department of 1888
Social Services. The Department of Social Services may authorize the 1889
closure of a facility if the facility's management demonstrates to the 1890
satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Services in the petition for 1891
closure that the facility (1) is not viable based on actual and projected 1892
operating losses; (2) has an occupancy rate of less than seventy per cent 1893
of the facility's licensed bed capacity; (3) closure is consistent with the 1894
strategic rebalancing plan developed in accordance with section 17b-1895
369, including bed need by geographical region; (4) is in compliance 1896
with the requirements of Sections 1128I(h) and 1819(h)(4) of the Social 1897
Security Act and 42 CFR 483.75; and (5) is not providing special services 1898 T
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that would go unmet if the facility closes. The department shall review 1899
a petition for closure to the extent it deems necessary and the facility 1900
shall submit information the department requests or deems necessary 1901
to substantiate that the facility closure is consistent with the provisions 1902
of this subsection. The facility shall submit information the department 1903
requests or deems necessary to allow the department to provide 1904
oversight during this process. The Office of the Long-Term Care 1905
Ombudsman, or, in the case of a residential facility for persons with 1906
intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, as described 1907
in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the Developmental Services 1908
Ombudsperson shall be notified by the facility at the same time as a 1909
petition for closure is submitted to the department. Any facility acting 1910
pursuant to this subsection shall provide written notice, on the same 1911
date that the facility submits its petition for closure, to all patients, 1912
guardians or conservators, if any, or legally liable relatives or other 1913
responsible parties, if known, and shall post such notice in a 1914
conspicuous location at the facility. The facility's written notice shall be 1915
accompanied by an informational letter issued jointly from the Office of 1916
the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Department [of Aging and 1917
Disability Services] on Aging, or, in the case of a residential facility for 1918
persons with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, 1919
as described in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the 1920
Developmental Services Ombudsperson and the Department [of Aging 1921
and Disability Services] on Aging on patients' rights and services 1922
available as they relate to the petition for closure. The informational 1923
letter shall also state the date and time that the Office of the Long-Term 1924
Care Ombudsman and the Department of Public Health, or, in the case 1925
of a residential facility for persons with intellectual disability licensed 1926
pursuant to section 17a-277, as described in subsection (a) of this section, 1927
the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson and the 1928
Department of Public Health will hold an informational session at the 1929
facility for patients, guardians or conservators, if any, and legally liable 1930
relatives or other responsible parties, if known, about their rights and 1931
the process concerning a petition for closure. The notice shall state: (A) 1932 T
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The date the facility submitted the petition for closure, (B) that only the 1933
Department of Social Services has the authority to either grant or deny 1934
the petition for closure, (C) that the Department of Social Services has 1935
up to thirty days to grant or deny the petition for closure, (D) a brief 1936
description of the reason or reasons for submitting the petition for 1937
closure, (E) that no patient shall be involuntarily transferred or 1938
discharged within or from a facility pursuant to state and federal law 1939
because of the filing of a petition for closure, (F) that all patients have a 1940
right to appeal any proposed transfer or discharge, and (G) the name, 1941
mailing address and telephone number of the Office of the Long-Term 1942
Care Ombudsman and local legal aid office, or, in the case of a 1943
residential facility for persons with intellectual disability licensed 1944
pursuant to section 17a-277, as described in subsection (a) of this section, 1945
the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson and local legal 1946
aid office. The commissioner shall grant or deny a petition for closure 1947
within thirty days of receiving such request. 1948
(d) An applicant, prior to submitting a certificate of need application, 1949
shall request, in writing, application forms and instructions from the 1950
department. The request shall include: (1) The name of the applicant or 1951
applicants; (2) a statement indicating whether the application is for (A) 1952
a new, additional, expanded or replacement facility, service or function 1953
or relocation of facility beds, (B) a termination or reduction in a 1954
presently authorized service or bed capacity, or (C) any new, additional 1955
or terminated beds and their type; (3) the estimated capital cost; (4) the 1956
town where the project is or will be located; and (5) a brief description 1957
of the proposed project. Such request shall be deemed a letter of intent. 1958
No certificate of need application shall be considered submitted to the 1959
department unless a current letter of intent, specific to the proposal and 1960
in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, has been on file 1961
with the department for not less than ten business days. For purposes of 1962
this subsection, "a current letter of intent" means a letter of intent on file 1963
with the department for not more than one hundred eighty days. A 1964
certificate of need application shall be deemed withdrawn by the 1965
department, if a department completeness letter is not responded to 1966 T
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within one hundred eighty days. The Office of the Long-Term Care 1967
Ombudsman, or, in the case of a residential facility for persons with 1968
intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, as described 1969
in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the Developmental Services 1970
Ombudsperson shall be notified by the facility at the same time as the 1971
letter of intent is submitted to the department. 1972
(e) Any facility acting pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of 1973
this section shall provide written notice, at the same time it submits its 1974
letter of intent, to all patients, guardians or conservators, if any, or 1975
legally liable relatives or other responsible parties, if known, and shall 1976
post such notice in a conspicuous location at the facility. The facility's 1977
written notice shall be accompanied by an informational letter issued 1978
jointly from the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the 1979
Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, or, in the case 1980
of a residential facility for persons with intellectual disability licensed 1981
pursuant to section 17a-277, as described in subsection (a) of this section, 1982
the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson and the 1983
Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging on patients' 1984
rights and services available as they relate to the letter of intent. The 1985
notice shall state the following: (1) The projected date the facility will be 1986
submitting its certificate of need application, (2) that only the 1987
Department of Social Services has the authority to either grant, modify 1988
or deny the application, (3) that the Department of Social Services has 1989
up to ninety days to grant, modify or deny the certificate of need 1990
application, (4) a brief description of the reason or reasons for 1991
submitting a request for permission, (5) that no patient shall be 1992
involuntarily transferred or discharged within or from a facility 1993
pursuant to state and federal law because of the filing of the certificate 1994
of need application, (6) that all patients have a right to appeal any 1995
proposed transfer or discharge, and (7) the name, mailing address and 1996
telephone number of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman 1997
and local legal aid office, or, in the case of a residential facility for 1998
persons with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, 1999
as described in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the 2000 T
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Developmental Services Ombudsperson and local legal aid office. 2001
(f) The Department of Social Services shall review a request made 2002
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to the extent it deems 2003
necessary, including, but not limited to, in the case of a proposed 2004
transfer of ownership or control prior to initial licensure, the financial 2005
responsibility and business interests of the transferee and the ability of 2006
the facility to continue to provide needed services, or in the case of the 2007
addition or expansion of a function or service, ascertaining the 2008
availability of the function or service at other facilities within the area to 2009
be served, the need for the service or function within the area and any 2010
other factors the department deems relevant to a determination of 2011
whether the facility is justified in adding or expanding the function or 2012
service. During the review, the department may hold an informal 2013
conference with the facility to discuss the certificate of need application. 2014
The Commissioner of Social Services shall grant, modify or deny the 2015
request within ninety days of receipt thereof, except as otherwise 2016
provided in this section. The commissioner may place conditions, as the 2017
commissioner deems necessary to address specified concerns, on any 2018
decision approving or modifying a request for a certificate of need filed 2019
pursuant to this section. Conditions may include, but are not limited to, 2020
project and Medicaid reimbursement details and applicant 2021
requirements for summary and audit purposes. If the commissioner 2022
modifies the request, the commissioner shall notify the facility of such 2023
modification prior to issuing the decision and provide the applicant 2024
with an opportunity for an informal conference to discuss the 2025
modifications. Upon the request of the applicant, the review period may 2026
be extended for an additional fifteen days if the department has 2027
requested additional information subsequent to the commencement of 2028
the commissioner's review period. The director of the office of certificate 2029
of need and rate setting may extend the review period for a maximum 2030
of thirty days if the applicant has not filed in a timely manner 2031
information deemed necessary by the department. The applicant may 2032
request and shall receive a hearing in accordance with section 4-177 if 2033
aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner. 2034 T
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(g) The Commissioner of Social Services shall not approve any 2035
requests for beds in residential facilities for persons with intellectual 2036
disability which are licensed pursuant to section 17a-227 and are 2037
certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Program as 2038
intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, 2039
except those beds necessary to implement the residential placement 2040
goals of the Department of Developmental Services which are within 2041
available appropriations. 2042
(h) The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in 2043
accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section. 2044
Sec. 63. Section 17b-606 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2045
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2046
The Department of Social Services shall maintain on the department's 2047
Internet web site information on services provided to persons with 2048
disabilities. The department's Internet web site shall include a link to the 2049
Internet web page maintained by the Department of [Aging and] 2050
Disability Services pursuant to section 17a-838, as amended by this act, 2051
containing information about services for deaf, deafblind and hard of 2052
hearing individuals. 2053
Sec. 64. Section 21a-3a of the general statutes is repealed and the 2054
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2055
The Department of Consumer Protection, in collaboration with the 2056
Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, shall conduct 2057
a public awareness campaign, within available funding, to educate 2058
elderly consumers and caregivers on ways to resist aggressive 2059
marketing tactics and scams. 2060
Sec. 65. Section 23-15c of the general statutes is repealed and the 2061
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2062
(a) Not later than December 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, any 2063
person who has a contractual agreement with the Department of [Aging 2064 T
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and] Disability Services for the operation in any state park of any food 2065
service facility, vending machine or stand for the vending of goods shall 2066
report to the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services the amount 2067
of revenue that such person generated during the calendar year as a 2068
result of such contract. Not later than January 1, 2016, and each year 2069
thereafter, the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 2070
compile any reports received pursuant to this subsection and transmit 2071
such reports to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 2072
Protection. 2073
(b) On or before January 30, 2016, and each year thereafter, the 2074
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall compile 2075
the following information: (1) The number of food service facilities, 2076
vending machines and stands for the vending of goods that are located 2077
in the state parks and the location of the respective parks that have such 2078
facilities, machines or stands, (2) the amount of revenues generated from 2079
such food service facilities, vending machines and stands for the 2080
vending of goods, as reported to the commissioner by the Department 2081
of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to subsection (a) of this 2082
section, (3) the contractual agreement or provision of law that provides 2083
for the payment of any portion of such revenues to the state or that 2084
prohibits or limits the payment of such revenues to the state, (4) the 2085
amount of such revenues paid to the state in the subject calendar year, 2086
and (5) the manner in which such revenues were used by the state, if 2087
identifiable by the commissioner. 2088
Sec. 66. Section 26-29 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2089
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2090
No fee shall be charged for any sport fishing license issued under this 2091
chapter to any person who is blind, and such license shall be a lifetime 2092
license not subject to the expiration provisions of section 26-35. Proof of 2093
such blindness shall be furnished, in the case of a veteran, by the United 2094
States Department of Veterans Affairs and, in the case of any other 2095
person, by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. For the 2096 T
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purpose of this section, a person shall be blind only if his or her central 2097
visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting 2098
lenses, or if his or her visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is 2099
accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest 2100
diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty 2101
degrees. 2102
Sec. 67. Subsection (a) of section 31-3i of the general statutes is 2103
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2104
2026): 2105
(a) Pursuant to Section 101 of the federal Workforce Innovation and 2106
Opportunity Act of 2014, P.L. 113-128, the members of the Governor's 2107
Workforce Council shall be: 2108
(1) The Governor; 2109
(2) A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the 2110
speaker of the House of Representatives, and a member of the Senate, 2111
appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 2112
(3) Twenty-four members, appointed by the Governor, who (A) are 2113
owners of a business, chief executives or operating officers of a business, 2114
or other business executives or employers with optimum policy-making 2115
or hiring authority; (B) represent businesses or organizations 2116
representing businesses that provide employment opportunities that, at 2117
a minimum, include high-quality, work-relevant training and 2118
development in in-demand industry sectors or occupation in the state; 2119
or (C) have been nominated by state business organizations or business 2120
trade associations. At a minimum, at least one such member shall 2121
represent small businesses, as defined by the United States Small 2122
Business Administration; 2123
(4) The Labor Commissioner, Commissioner of [Aging and] 2124
Disability Services, Commissioner on Aging, Commissioner of 2125
Education, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development 2126 T
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and the Chief Workforce Officer, or their respective designees; 2127
(5) Four representatives of labor organizations, who have been 2128
nominated by state labor federations and appointed by the Governor; 2129
(6) An individual, appointed by the Governor, who is a member of a 2130
labor organization or a training director from a joint labor-management 2131
apprenticeship program, or, if no such joint program exists in the state, 2132
such a representative of an apprenticeship program in the state; 2133
(7) An individual, appointed by the Governor, who is an expert in 2134
residential construction; 2135
(8) Five members, appointed by the Governor, who represent 2136
community-based organizations that have demonstrated experience 2137
and expertise in addressing employment, training, or education, 2138
including one representative of a community action agency, as defined 2139
in section 17b-885, and one representative of a philanthropic 2140
organization; 2141
(9) A representative from the Connecticut State Colleges and 2142
Universities, a representative from The University of Connecticut and a 2143
representative from a nonprofit institution of higher education in the 2144
state, each appointed by the Governor; 2145
(10) A representative from a regional vocational-technical school and 2146
a representative from a regional agricultural science and technology 2147
school, each appointed by the Governor; 2148
(11) Two superintendents of a local or regional board of education, 2149
appointed by the Governor; 2150
(12) A certified teacher employed by a local or regional board of 2151
education, appointed by the Governor; 2152
(13) Two chief elected officials of municipalities, appointed by the 2153
Governor; and 2154 T
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(14) Two members of the public, who are enrolled in or who have 2155
recently completed a nondegree workforce training program, appointed 2156
by the Governor. 2157
Sec. 68. Subsection (d) of section 31-280 of the general statutes is 2158
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2159
2026): 2160
(d) The chairperson and the Comptroller, as soon as practicable after 2161
August first in each year, shall ascertain the total amount of expenses 2162
incurred by the commission, including, in addition to the direct cost of 2163
personnel services, the cost of maintenance and operation, rentals for 2164
space occupied in state leased offices and all other direct and indirect 2165
costs, incurred by the commission and the expenses incurred by the 2166
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services in providing 2167
rehabilitation services for employees suffering compensable injuries in 2168
accordance with the provisions of section 31-283a, as amended by this 2169
act, during the preceding fiscal year in connection with the 2170
administration of the Workers' Compensation Act and the total 2171
noncontributory payments required to be made to the Treasurer 2172
towards administrative law judges' retirement salaries as provided in 2173
sections 51-49, 51-50, 51-50a and 51-50b. An itemized statement of the 2174
expenses as so ascertained shall be available for public inspection in the 2175
office of the chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission for 2176
thirty days after notice to all insurance carriers, and to all employers 2177
permitted to pay compensation directly affected thereby. 2178
Sec. 69. Section 31-283a of the general statutes is repealed and the 2179
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2180
(a) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall provide 2181
rehabilitation programs for employees with compensable injuries 2182
within the provisions of this chapter, which injuries prevented such 2183
employees from performing their customary or most recent work. The 2184
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall establish 2185
rehabilitation programs which shall best suit the needs of such 2186 T
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employees and shall make the programs available in convenient 2187
locations throughout the state. After consultation with the Labor 2188
Commissioner, the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services 2189
may establish fees for the programs, so as to provide the most effective 2190
rehabilitation programs at a minimum rate. In order to carry out the 2191
provisions of this section, the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 2192
Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of 2193
chapter 54, and, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, provide for the 2194
employment of necessary assistants. 2195
(b) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall be 2196
authorized to (1) enter into agreements with other state or federal 2197
agencies to carry out the purposes of this section and expend money for 2198
that purpose, and (2) on behalf of the state of Connecticut, develop 2199
matching programs or activities to secure federal grants or funds for the 2200
purposes of this section and may pledge or use funds supplied from the 2201
administrative costs fund, as provided in section 31-345, as amended by 2202
this act, to finance the state's share of the programs or activities. 2203
Sec. 70. Subsection (a) of section 31-296 of the general statutes is 2204
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2205
2026): 2206
(a) If an employer and an injured employee, or in case of fatal injury 2207
the employee's legal representative or dependent, at a date not earlier 2208
than the expiration of the waiting period, reach an agreement in regard 2209
to compensation, such agreement shall be submitted in writing to the 2210
administrative law judge by the employer with a statement of the time, 2211
place and nature of the injury upon which it is based; and, if such 2212
administrative law judge finds such agreement to conform to the 2213
provisions of this chapter in every regard, the administrative law judge 2214
shall so approve it. A copy of the agreement, with a statement of the 2215
administrative law judge's approval, shall be delivered to each of the 2216
parties and thereafter it shall be as binding upon both parties as an 2217
award by the administrative law judge. The administrative law judge's 2218 T
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statement of approval shall also inform the employee or the employee's 2219
dependent, as the case may be, of any rights the individual may have to 2220
an annual cost-of-living adjustment or to participate in a rehabilitation 2221
program administered by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 2222
Services under the provisions of this chapter. The administrative law 2223
judge shall retain the original agreement, with the administrative law 2224
judge's approval thereof, in the administrative law judge's office and, if 2225
an application is made to the superior court for an execution, the 2226
administrative law judge shall, upon the request of said court, file in the 2227
court a certified copy of the agreement and statement of approval. 2228
Sec. 71. Section 31-300 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2229
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2230
As soon as may be after the conclusion of any hearing, but no later 2231
than one hundred twenty days after such conclusion, the administrative 2232
law judge shall send to each party a written copy of the administrative 2233
law judge's findings and award. The administrative law judge shall, as 2234
part of the written award, inform the employee or the employee's 2235
dependent, as the case may be, of any rights the individual may have to 2236
an annual cost-of-living adjustment or to participate in a rehabilitation 2237
program administered by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 2238
Services under the provisions of this chapter. The administrative law 2239
judge shall retain the original findings and award in said administrative 2240
law judge's office. If no appeal from the decision is taken by either party 2241
within twenty days thereafter, such award shall be final and may be 2242
enforced in the same manner as a judgment of the Superior Court. The 2243
court may issue execution upon any uncontested or final award of an 2244
administrative law judge in the same manner as in cases of judgments 2245
rendered in the Superior Court; and, upon the filing of an application to 2246
the court for an execution, the administrative law judge in whose office 2247
the award is on file shall, upon the request of the clerk of said court, 2248
send to the clerk a certified copy of such findings and award. In cases 2249
where, through the fault or neglect of the employer or insurer, 2250
adjustments of compensation have been unduly delayed, or where 2251 T
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through such fault or neglect, payments have been unduly delayed, the 2252
administrative law judge may include in the award interest at the rate 2253
prescribed in section 37-3a and a reasonable attorney's fee in the case of 2254
undue delay in adjustments of compensation and may include in the 2255
award in the case of undue delay in payments of compensation, interest 2256
at twelve per cent per annum and a reasonable attorney's fee. Payments 2257
not commenced within thirty-five days after the filing of a written notice 2258
of claim shall be presumed to be unduly delayed unless a notice to 2259
contest the claim is filed in accordance with section 31-297. In cases 2260
where there has been delay in either adjustment or payment, which 2261
delay has not been due to the fault or neglect of the employer or insurer, 2262
whether such delay was caused by appeals or otherwise, the 2263
administrative law judge may allow interest at such rate, not to exceed 2264
the rate prescribed in section 37-3a, as may be fair and reasonable, taking 2265
into account whatever advantage the employer or insurer, as the case 2266
may be, may have had from the use of the money, the burden of 2267
showing that the rate in such case should be less than the rate prescribed 2268
in section 37-3a to be upon the employer or insurer. In cases where the 2269
claimant prevails and the administrative law judge finds that the 2270
employer or insurer has unreasonably contested liability, the 2271
administrative law judge may allow to the claimant a reasonable 2272
attorney's fee. No employer or insurer shall discontinue or reduce 2273
payment on account of total or partial incapacity under any such award, 2274
if it is claimed by or on behalf of the injured person that such person's 2275
incapacity still continues, unless such employer or insurer notifies the 2276
administrative law judge and the employee of such proposed 2277
discontinuance or reduction in the manner prescribed in section 31-296, 2278
as amended by this act, and the administrative law judge specifically 2279
approves such discontinuance or reduction in writing. The 2280
administrative law judge shall render the decision within fourteen days 2281
of receipt of such notice and shall forward to all parties to the claim a 2282
copy of the decision not later than seven days after the decision has been 2283
rendered. If the decision of the administrative law judge finds for the 2284
employer or insurer, the injured person shall return any wrongful 2285 T
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payments received from the day designated by the administrative law 2286
judge as the effective date for the discontinuance or reduction of 2287
benefits. Any employee whose benefits for total incapacity are 2288
discontinued under the provisions of this section and who is entitled to 2289
receive benefits for partial incapacity as a result of an award, shall 2290
receive those benefits commencing the day following the designated 2291
effective date for the discontinuance of benefits for total incapacity. In 2292
any case where the administrative law judge finds that the employer or 2293
insurer has discontinued or reduced any such payment without having 2294
given such notice and without the administrative law judge having 2295
approved such discontinuance or reduction in writing, the 2296
administrative law judge shall allow the claimant a reasonable 2297
attorney's fee together with interest at the rate prescribed in section 37-2298
3a on the discontinued or reduced payments. 2299
Sec. 72. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 31-345 of the 2300
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2301
thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2302
(2) The chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall 2303
annually, on or after July first of each fiscal year, determine an amount 2304
sufficient in the chairperson's judgment to meet the expenses incurred 2305
by the Workers' Compensation Commission and the Department of 2306
[Aging and] Disability Services in providing rehabilitation services for 2307
employees suffering compensable injuries in accordance with section 2308
31-283a, as amended by this act. Such expenses shall include (A) the 2309
costs of the Division of Workers' Rehabilitation and the programs 2310
established by its director, for fiscal years prior to the fiscal year 2311
beginning July 1, 2011, (B) the costs of the Division of Worker Education 2312
and the programs established by its director, and (C) funding for the 2313
occupational health clinic program created pursuant to sections 31-396 2314
to 31-402, inclusive. The Treasurer shall thereupon assess upon and 2315
collect from each employer, other than the state and any municipality 2316
participating for purposes of its liability under this chapter as a member 2317
in an interlocal risk management agency pursuant to chapter 113a, the 2318 T
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proportion of such expenses, based on the immediately preceding fiscal 2319
year, that the total compensation and payment for hospital, medical and 2320
nursing care made by such self-insured employer or private insurance 2321
carrier acting on behalf of any such employer bore to the total 2322
compensation and payments for the immediately preceding fiscal year 2323
for hospital, medical and nursing care made by such insurance carriers 2324
and self-insurers. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2325
2001, such assessments shall not exceed five per cent of such total 2326
compensation and payments made by such insurance carriers and self-2327
insurers. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2002, and June 30, 2003, 2328
such assessments shall not exceed four and one-half per cent of such 2329
total compensation and payments made by such insurance carriers and 2330
self-insurers. For any fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 2004, such 2331
assessment shall not exceed four per cent of such total compensation 2332
and payments made by such insurance carriers and self-insurers. Such 2333
assessments and expenses shall not exceed the budget estimates 2334
submitted in accordance with subsection (c) of section 31-280. For each 2335
fiscal year, such assessment shall be reduced pro rata by the amount of 2336
any surplus from the assessments of prior fiscal years. Said surplus shall 2337
be determined in accordance with subdivision (3) of this subsection. 2338
Such assessments shall be made in one annual assessment upon receipt 2339
of the chairperson's expense determination by the Treasurer. All 2340
assessments shall be paid not later than sixty days following the date of 2341
the assessment by the Treasurer. Any employer who fails to pay such 2342
assessment to the Treasurer within the time prescribed by this 2343
subdivision shall pay interest to the Treasurer on the assessment at the 2344
rate of eight per cent per annum from the date the assessment is due 2345
until the date of payment. All assessments received by the Treasurer 2346
pursuant to this subdivision to meet the expenses of the Workers' 2347
Compensation Commission shall be deposited in the Workers' 2348
Compensation Administration Fund established under section 31-344a. 2349
All assessments received by the Treasurer pursuant to this subdivision 2350
to meet the expenses incurred by the Department of [Aging and] 2351
Disability Services in providing rehabilitation services for employees 2352 T
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suffering compensable injuries in accordance with section 31-283a, as 2353
amended by this act, shall be deposited in the Workers' Compensation 2354
Administration Fund. The Treasurer is hereby authorized to make 2355
credits or rebates for overpayments made under this subsection by any 2356
employer for any fiscal year. 2357
Sec. 73. Subsection (a) of section 31-349b of the general statutes is 2358
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2359
2026): 2360
(a) Any employee who has suffered a compensable injury under the 2361
provisions of this chapter, and who is receiving benefits for such injury 2362
from the Second Injury Fund pursuant to the provisions of section 31-2363
349, may file a written request with the administrative law judge in the 2364
district where the original claim was filed for a hearing to determine 2365
whether the employee's injury constitutes a permanent vocational 2366
disability. The hearing shall be held within sixty days of the date the 2367
request was filed. Upon the request of the administrative law judge and 2368
prior to the conclusion of such hearing, the Commissioner of [Aging 2369
and] Disability Services shall, after receiving such information on the 2370
case which the administrative law judge deems necessary, submit 2371
written recommendations concerning the case to the administrative law 2372
judge for his consideration. The administrative law judge shall issue his 2373
decision, in writing, within ten days after the conclusion of the hearing. 2374
If the administrative law judge determines that the employee's injury is 2375
a permanent vocational disability, the employee shall be issued a 2376
certificate of disability by the administrative law judge. Such certificate 2377
shall be effective for a stated period of time of from one to five years, as 2378
determined by the administrative law judge. The decision of the 2379
administrative law judge may be appealed in accordance with the 2380
provisions of section 31-301. 2381
Sec. 74. Subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of section 32-7t of the general 2382
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2383
(Effective July 1, 2026): 2384 T
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(4) The commissioner may approve an application in whole or in part 2385
by a qualified business that creates new discretionary FTEs or may 2386
approve such an application with amendments if a majority of such new 2387
discretionary FTEs are individuals who (A) because of a disability, are 2388
receiving or have received services from the Department of [Aging and] 2389
Disability Services; (B) are receiving employment services from the 2390
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or participating in 2391
employment opportunities and day services, as defined in section 17a-2392
226, operated or funded by the Department of Developmental Services; 2393
(C) have been unemployed for at least six of the preceding twelve 2394
months; (D) have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony; (E) are 2395
veterans, as defined in section 27-103; (F) have not earned any 2396
postsecondary credential and are not currently enrolled in a 2397
postsecondary institution or program; or (G) are currently enrolled in a 2398
workforce training program fully or substantially paid for by the 2399
employer that results in such individual earning a postsecondary 2400
credential. 2401
Sec. 75. Subsection (a) of section 38a-47 of the general statutes is 2402
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2403
2026): 2404
(a) All domestic insurance companies and other domestic entities 2405
subject to taxation under chapter 207 shall, in accordance with section 2406
38a-48, as amended by this act, annually pay to the Insurance 2407
Commissioner, for deposit in the Insurance Fund established under 2408
section 38a-52a, an amount equal to: 2409
(1) The actual expenditures made by the Insurance Department 2410
during each fiscal year, and the actual expenditures made by the Office 2411
of the Healthcare Advocate, including the cost of fringe benefits for 2412
department and office personnel as estimated by the Comptroller; 2413
(2) The amount appropriated to the Office of Health Strategy from 2414
the Insurance Fund for the fiscal year, including the cost of fringe 2415
benefits for office personnel as estimated by the Comptroller, which 2416 T
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shall be reduced by the amount of federal reimbursement received for 2417
allowable Medicaid administrative expenses; 2418
(3) The expenditures made on behalf of the department and said 2419
offices from the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 2420
4a-9 for such year, but excluding such estimated expenditures made on 2421
behalf of the Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of Health 2422
Strategy; and 2423
(4) The amount appropriated to the Department [of Aging and 2424
Disability Services] on Aging for the fall prevention program 2425
established in section 17a-859, as amended by this act, from the 2426
Insurance Fund for the fiscal year. 2427
Sec. 76. Section 38a-48 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2428
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2429
(a) On or before June thirtieth, annually, the Commissioner of 2430
Revenue Services shall render to the Insurance Commissioner a 2431
statement certifying the total amount of taxes reported to the 2432
Commissioner of Revenue Services on returns filed with said 2433
commissioner by each domestic insurance company or other domestic 2434
entity under chapter 207 on business done in this state during the 2435
calendar year immediately preceding the prior calendar year. For 2436
purposes of preparing the annual statement under this subsection, the 2437
total amount of taxes required to be set forth in such statement shall be 2438
the amount of tax reported by each domestic insurance company or 2439
other domestic entity under chapter 207 to the Commissioner of 2440
Revenue Services prior to the application of any credits allowable or 2441
available under law to each such domestic insurance company or other 2442
domestic entity under chapter 207. 2443
(b) On or before July thirty-first, annually, the Insurance 2444
Commissioner shall render to each domestic insurance company or 2445
other domestic entity liable for payment under section 38a-47, as 2446
amended by this act: 2447 T
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(1) A statement that includes (A) the amount appropriated to the 2448
Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and the 2449
Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund established under 2450
section 38a-52a for the fiscal year beginning July first of the same year, 2451
(B) the cost of fringe benefits for department and office personnel for 2452
such year, as estimated by the Comptroller, (C) the estimated 2453
expenditures on behalf of the department and the offices from the 2454
Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9 for such 2455
year, not including such estimated expenditures made on behalf of the 2456
Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy, and (D) 2457
the amount appropriated to the Department [of Aging and Disability 2458
Services] on Aging for the fall prevention program established in section 2459
17a-859, as amended by this act, from the Insurance Fund for the fiscal 2460
year; 2461
(2) A statement of the total amount of taxes reported in the annual 2462
statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to 2463
subsection (a) of this section; and 2464
(3) The proposed assessment against that company or entity, 2465
calculated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this 2466
section, provided for the purposes of this calculation the amount 2467
appropriated to the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare 2468
Advocate and the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund 2469
plus the cost of fringe benefits for department and office personnel and 2470
the estimated expenditures on behalf of the department and said offices 2471
from the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9, 2472
not including such expenditures made on behalf of the Health Systems 2473
Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy shall be deemed to be the 2474
actual expenditures of the department and said offices, and the amount 2475
appropriated to the Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on 2476
Aging from the Insurance Fund for the fiscal year for the fall prevention 2477
program established in section 17a-859, as amended by this act, shall be 2478
deemed to be the actual expenditures for the program. 2479 T
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(c) (1) The proposed assessments for each domestic insurance 2480
company or other domestic entity shall be calculated by (A) allocating 2481
twenty per cent of the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, as 2482
amended by this act, among the domestic entities organized under 2483
sections 38a-199 to 38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 38a-225, inclusive, 2484
in proportion to their respective shares of the total amount of taxes 2485
reported in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance 2486
Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (B) 2487
allocating eighty per cent of the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, 2488
as amended by this act, among all domestic insurance companies and 2489
domestic entities other than those organized under sections 38a-199 to 2490
38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 38a-225, inclusive, in proportion to 2491
their respective shares of the total amount of taxes reported in the 2492
annual statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to 2493
subsection (a) of this section, provided if there are no domestic entities 2494
organized under sections 38a-199 to 38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 2495
38a-225, inclusive, at the time of assessment, one hundred per cent of 2496
the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, as amended by this act, shall 2497
be allocated among such domestic insurance companies and domestic 2498
entities. 2499
(2) When the amount any such company or entity is assessed 2500
pursuant to this section exceeds twenty-five per cent of the actual 2501
expenditures of the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare 2502
Advocate and the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund, 2503
such excess amount shall not be paid by such company or entity but 2504
rather shall be assessed against and paid by all other such companies 2505
and entities in proportion to their respective shares of the total amount 2506
of taxes reported in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance 2507
Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, except that for 2508
purposes of any assessment made to fund payments to the Department 2509
of Public Health to purchase vaccines, such company or entity shall be 2510
responsible for its share of the costs, notwithstanding whether its 2511
assessment exceeds twenty-five per cent of the actual expenditures of 2512
the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and 2513 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund. The provisions 2514
of this subdivision shall not be applicable to any corporation that has 2515
converted to a domestic mutual insurance company pursuant to section 2516
38a-155 upon the effective date of any public act that amends said 2517
section to modify or remove any restriction on the business such a 2518
company may engage in, for purposes of any assessment due from such 2519
company on and after such effective date. 2520
(d) Each annual payment determined under section 38a-47, as 2521
amended by this act, and each annual assessment determined under this 2522
section shall be calculated based on the total amount of taxes reported 2523
in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner 2524
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 2525
(e) On or before September first, annually, for each fiscal year, the 2526
Insurance Commissioner, after receiving any objections to the proposed 2527
assessments and making such adjustments as in the commissioner's 2528
opinion may be indicated, shall assess each such domestic insurance 2529
company or other domestic entity an amount equal to its proposed 2530
assessment as so adjusted. Each domestic insurance company or other 2531
domestic entity shall pay to the Insurance Commissioner (1) on or before 2532
June thirtieth, annually, an estimated payment against its assessment for 2533
the following year equal to twenty-five per cent of its assessment for the 2534
fiscal year ending such June thirtieth, (2) on or before September 2535
thirtieth, annually, twenty-five per cent of its assessment adjusted to 2536
reflect any credit or amount due from the preceding fiscal year as 2537
determined by the commissioner under subsection (f) of this section, 2538
and (3) on or before the following December thirty-first and March 2539
thirty-first, annually, each domestic insurance company or other 2540
domestic entity shall pay to the Insurance Commissioner the remaining 2541
fifty per cent of its proposed assessment to the department in two equal 2542
installments. 2543
(f) If the actual expenditures for the fall prevention program 2544
established in section 17a-859, as amended by this act, are less than the 2545 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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amount allocated, the Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] 2546
on Aging shall notify the Insurance Commissioner. Immediately 2547
following the close of the fiscal year, the Insurance Commissioner shall 2548
recalculate the proposed assessment for each domestic insurance 2549
company or other domestic entity in accordance with subsection (c) of 2550
this section using the actual expenditures made during the fiscal year by 2551
the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and 2552
the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund, the actual 2553
expenditures made on behalf of the department and said offices from 2554
the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9, not 2555
including such expenditures made on behalf of the Health Systems 2556
Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy, and the actual 2557
expenditures for the fall prevention program. On or before July thirty-2558
first, annually, the Insurance Commissioner shall render to each such 2559
domestic insurance company and other domestic entity a statement 2560
showing the difference between their respective recalculated 2561
assessments and the amount they have previously paid. On or before 2562
August thirty-first, the Insurance Commissioner, after receiving any 2563
objections to such statements, shall make such adjustments that in the 2564
commissioner's opinion may be indicated, and shall render an adjusted 2565
assessment, if any, to the affected companies. Any such domestic 2566
insurance company or other domestic entity may pay to the Insurance 2567
Commissioner the entire assessment required under this subsection in 2568
one payment when the first installment of such assessment is due. 2569
(g) If any assessment is not paid when due, a penalty of twenty-five 2570
dollars shall be added thereto, and interest at the rate of six per cent per 2571
annum shall be paid thereafter on such assessment and penalty. 2572
(h) The Insurance Commissioner shall deposit all payments made 2573
under this section with the State Treasurer. On and after June 6, 1991, 2574
the moneys so deposited shall be credited to the Insurance Fund 2575
established under section 38a-52a and shall be accounted for as expenses 2576
recovered from insurance companies. 2577 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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Sec. 77. Section 38a-475 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2578
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2579
The Insurance Department shall only precertify long-term care 2580
insurance policies that (1) alert the purchaser to the availability of 2581
consumer information and public education provided by the 2582
Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging pursuant to 2583
section 17a-861; (2) offer the option of home and community-based 2584
services in addition to nursing home care; (3) in all home care plans, 2585
include case management services delivered by an access agency 2586
approved by the Office of Policy and Management and the Department 2587
of Social Services as meeting the requirements for such agency as 2588
defined in regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (m) of section 2589
17b-342, which services shall include, but need not be limited to, the 2590
development of a comprehensive individualized assessment and care 2591
plan and, as needed, the coordination of appropriate services and the 2592
monitoring of the delivery of such services; (4) provide inflation 2593
protection; (5) provide for the keeping of records and an explanation of 2594
benefit reports on insurance payments which count toward Medicaid 2595
resource exclusion; and (6) provide the management information and 2596
reports necessary to document the extent of Medicaid resource 2597
protection offered and to evaluate the Connecticut Partnership for 2598
Long-Term Care. No policy shall be precertified if it requires prior 2599
hospitalization or a prior stay in a nursing home as a condition of 2600
providing benefits. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in 2601
accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the precertification provisions 2602
of this section. 2603
Sec. 78. Section 42-339 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2604
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2605
(a) There is established a complex rehabilitation technology and 2606
wheelchair repair advisory council to monitor repairs of wheelchairs, 2607
including complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs, as defined in 2608
section 42-337, and to make recommendations concerning improving 2609 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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repair times. 2610
(b) The advisory council shall consist of the following members: 2611
(1) Two appointed by the House and Senate chairpersons of the joint 2612
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2613
matters relating to human services, one of whom is a consumer who 2614
uses a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair purchased, leased 2615
or repaired under the Medicaid program, and one of whom is a 2616
representative of the state advocacy system for persons with disabilities, 2617
established pursuant to section 46a-10b; 2618
(2) Two appointed by the House and Senate ranking members of the 2619
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2620
matters relating to human services, one of whom is a consumer who 2621
uses a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair purchased, leased 2622
or repaired under a private health insurance policy, and one of whom is 2623
an authorized wheelchair dealer, as defined in section 42-337; 2624
(3) Two appointed by the House and Senate chairpersons of the joint 2625
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2626
matters relating to general law, each of whom is a representative of an 2627
organization that represents persons with physical disabilities; 2628
(4) Two appointed by the House and Senate ranking members of the 2629
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2630
matters relating to general law, each of whom is a consumer who 2631
privately pays for complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs; 2632
(5) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 2633
commissioner's designee; 2634
(6) The Insurance Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; 2635
(7) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 2636
designee; 2637 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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(8) The Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's designee; 2638
and 2639
(9) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's 2640
designee. 2641
(c) Any member of the advisory council appointed under subdivision 2642
(1), (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the 2643
General Assembly. 2644
(d) All initial appointments to the advisory council shall be made not 2645
later than August 1, 2024. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing 2646
authority. The advisory council shall meet at least monthly. 2647
(e) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 2648
commissioner's designee, and a member of the advisory council chosen 2649
by a majority of members of the advisory council, shall serve as 2650
chairpersons. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the 2651
advisory council not later than September 1, 2024. 2652
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 2653
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human 2654
services shall serve as administrative staff of the advisory council. 2655
(g) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 2656
advisory council shall submit a report on its findings and 2657
recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 2658
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, general law, 2659
human services and insurance, in accordance with the provisions of 2660
section 11-4a. 2661
Sec. 79. Subsection (c) of section 3-123aa of the general statutes is 2662
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2663
2026): 2664
(c) There is established an advisory committee to the Connecticut 2665
Homecare Option Program for the Elderly, which shall consist of the 2666 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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State Treasurer, the State Comptroller, the Commissioner of Social 2667
Services, the Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, 2668
the director of the long-term care partnership policy program within the 2669
Office of Policy and Management, and the cochairpersons and ranking 2670
members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 2671
having cognizance of matters relating to aging, human services and 2672
finance, revenue and bonding, or their designees. The Governor shall 2673
appoint one provider of home care services for the elderly and a 2674
physician specializing in geriatric care. The advisory committee shall 2675
meet at least annually. The State Comptroller shall convene the 2676
meetings of the committee. 2677
Sec. 80. Section 4-5 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2678
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2679
As used in sections 4-6, 4-7 and 4-8, the term "department head" 2680
means the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, 2681
Commissioner of Administrative Services, Commissioner of Revenue 2682
Services, Banking Commissioner, Commissioner of Children and 2683
Families, Commissioner of Consumer Protection, Commissioner of 2684
Correction, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 2685
State Board of Education, Commissioner of Emergency Services and 2686
Public Protection, Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 2687
Protection, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Public 2688
Health, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Commissioner 2689
of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Commissioner of Social 2690
Services, Commissioner of Developmental Services, Commissioner of 2691
Motor Vehicles, Commissioner of Transportation, Commissioner of 2692
Veterans Affairs, Commissioner of Housing, Commissioner on Aging, 2693
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, Commissioner of 2694
Early Childhood, Commissioner of Health Strategy, executive director 2695
of the Office of Military Affairs, executive director of the Technical 2696
Education and Career System, Chief Workforce Officer and 2697
Commissioner of Higher Education. As used in sections 4-6 and 4-7, 2698
"department head" also means the Commissioner of Education. 2699 T
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Sec. 81. Section 4-38c of the general statutes is repealed and the 2700
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2701
There shall be within the executive branch of state government the 2702
following departments: Office of Policy and Management, Department 2703
of Administrative Services, Department on Aging, Department of 2704
[Aging and] Disability Services, Department of Revenue Services, 2705
Department of Banking, Department of Agriculture, Department of 2706
Children and Families, Department of Consumer Protection, 2707
Department of Correction, Department of Economic and Community 2708
Development, State Board of Education, Department of Emergency 2709
Services and Public Protection, Department of Energy and 2710
Environmental Protection, Department of Housing, Department of 2711
Public Health, Board of Regents for Higher Education, Insurance 2712
Department, Labor Department, Department of Mental Health and 2713
Addiction Services, Department of Developmental Services, 2714
Department of Social Services, Department of Transportation, 2715
Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Veterans Affairs and the 2716
Technical Education and Career System. 2717
Sec. 82. Subsection (a) of section 4-61aa of the general statutes is 2718
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2719
2026): 2720
(a) For purposes of this section, "state Americans with Disabilities Act 2721
coordinator" means the person appointed by the Governor to coordinate 2722
state compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 2723
1990. There is established a committee to advise the state Americans 2724
with Disabilities Act coordinator. The state Americans with Disabilities 2725
Act coordinator shall appoint the members of the committee, which 2726
shall be chaired by said coordinator, or his designee, and include at least 2727
one representative of each of the following: 2728
(1) The Board of Education and Services to the Blind; 2729
(2) The Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard 2730 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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of Hearing; 2731
(3) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services; 2732
(4) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; 2733
(5) The Department of Developmental Services; 2734
(6) The Labor Department; 2735
(7) The Department of Administrative Services; and 2736
(8) The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. 2737
Sec. 83. Section 4-67cc of the general statutes is repealed and the 2738
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2739
The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in 2740
consultation with the Department on Aging and the Departments of 2741
Administrative Services, Developmental Services, Social Services, 2742
[Aging and] Disability Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services, 2743
Education, Correction and Children and Families and the Office of Early 2744
Childhood, shall create a plan to develop a secure online portal to 2745
facilitate sharing of basic critical information across agencies in order to 2746
ensure efficient and safe delivery of services. The portal shall include a 2747
means for each agency to note when it has performed a site visit or has 2748
scheduled a site visit and shall give the individual performing the site 2749
visit the opportunity to record notes that can be shared across agencies. 2750
Such plan shall: (1) Review the feasibility of using current online portals 2751
already utilized by state agencies as well as a new online portal; (2) 2752
detail data sharing and privacy requirements for sharing such 2753
information across state agencies in accordance with federal and state 2754
law concerning data sharing and privacy; and (3) be submitted, in 2755
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 2756
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 2757
relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and human 2758
services not later than July 1, 2024. For purposes of this section, "site 2759 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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visit" means any meeting with a client or an inspection that occurs 2760
outside the physical offices of the state agency providing the service or 2761
conducting the inspection. 2762
Sec. 84. Subsection (g) of section 4-89 of the general statutes is 2763
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2764
2026): 2765
(g) The provisions of this section shall not apply to appropriations to 2766
the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services in an amount not 2767
greater than the amount of reimbursements of prior year expenditures 2768
for the services of interpreters received by the department during the 2769
fiscal year pursuant to section 17a-839, as amended by this act, and such 2770
appropriations shall not lapse until the end of the fiscal year succeeding 2771
the fiscal year of the appropriation. 2772
Sec. 85. Section 4-124xx of the general statutes is repealed and the 2773
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2774
(a) The Chief Workforce Officer, appointed pursuant to section 4-2775
124w, in consultation with the Labor Commissioner, the Commissioner 2776
on Aging, the Commissioners of Social Services, Developmental 2777
Disabilities, Public Health, Higher Education and [Aging and] Disability 2778
Services, the Governor's Workforce Council, the Council on 2779
Developmental Disabilities, the Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory 2780
Council and regional workforce development boards, shall, within 2781
available appropriations, establish a Human Services Career Pipeline 2782
program to ensure a sufficient number of trained providers are available 2783
to serve the needs of persons in the state [with] who are elderly and 2784
persons who have (1) an intellectual disability, (2) other developmental 2785
disabilities, (3) physical disabilities, (4) cognitive impairment, or (5) 2786
mental illness. [and elderly persons.] Such pipeline shall include 2787
training and certification for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, 2788
medication administration, job placement and incentives for retention 2789
in the human services labor sector upon successful completion of the 2790
program. 2791 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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(b) The Chief Workforce Officer shall consult with the Labor 2792
Commissioner, the Commissioner on Aging, [and] the Commissioners 2793
of [Aging and] Disability Services, Developmental Services, Mental 2794
Health and Addiction Services and Social Services, the Council on 2795
Developmental Disabilities and the Autism Spectrum Disorder 2796
Advisory Council to determine: (1) The greatest needs for human 2797
services providers, and (2) barriers to hiring and retaining qualified 2798
providers. The Chief Workforce Officer shall assist local and regional 2799
boards of education in enhancing existing partnerships or establishing 2800
new partnerships with providers of human services and higher 2801
education institutions to provide a pathway to a diploma, credential, 2802
certificate or license and a job providing human services. 2803
(c) The Chief Workforce Officer, in consultation with the Labor 2804
Commissioner, shall develop a plan for the Human Services Career 2805
Pipeline program that includes, but shall not be limited to: (1) A strategy 2806
to increase the number of state residents pursuing careers in human 2807
services, (2) recommended salary and working conditions necessary to 2808
retain an adequate number of human services providers to serve state 2809
residents, and (3) estimated funding needed to support the Human 2810
Services Career Pipeline program. Not later than July 1, 2024, the Chief 2811
Workforce Officer shall submit a report on the plan, in accordance with 2812
the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 2813
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 2814
appropriations, aging, higher education and employment advancement, 2815
human services, labor and public health. The report shall include the 2816
Chief Workforce Officer's recommendations for establishing the career 2817
pipeline and estimates of funding needed to implement the pipeline. 2818
(d) The Chief Workforce Officer shall, within available 2819
appropriations, establish such career pipeline and, if such pipeline is 2820
established, submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 2821
section 11-4a, not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, 2822
regarding the development and implementation of the pipeline to the 2823
joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance 2824 T
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of matters relating to appropriations, aging, higher education and 2825
employment advancement, human services, labor and public health. For 2826
purposes of this section, "human services labor sector" means persons 2827
trained to provide services to elderly persons and persons with an 2828
intellectual disability; other developmental disabilities, including, but 2829
not limited to, autism spectrum disorder; physical disabilities; cognitive 2830
impairment or mental illness. [; and elderly persons.] 2831
Sec. 86. Section 4a-82 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2832
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2833
(a) For the purposes of this section: 2834
(1) "Person with a disability" means any individual with a disability, 2835
excluding blindness, as such term is applied by the Department of 2836
Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of 2837
Developmental Services, the Department of [Aging and] Disability 2838
Services or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and who 2839
is certified by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services as 2840
qualified to participate in a qualified partnership, as described in 2841
subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section; 2842
(2) "Vocational rehabilitation service" means any goods and services 2843
necessary to render a person with a disability employable, in accordance 2844
with Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 701 et seq., as 2845
amended from time to time; 2846
(3) "Community rehabilitation program" means any entity or 2847
individual that provides directly for or facilitates the provision of 2848
vocational rehabilitation services to, or provides services in connection 2849
with, the recruiting, hiring or managing of the employment of persons 2850
with disabilities based on an individualized plan and budget for each 2851
worker with a disability; 2852
(4) "Commercial contractor" means any for-profit proprietorship, 2853
partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, trust, 2854 T
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association or other privately owned entity that employs persons to 2855
perform janitorial work or contractual services, and that enters into 2856
contracts to provide janitorial services or contractual services; 2857
(5) "Janitorial work" means work performed in connection with the 2858
care or maintenance of buildings, including, but not limited to, work 2859
customarily performed by cleaners, porters, janitors and handypersons; 2860
(6) "Janitorial contract" means a contract or subcontract to perform 2861
janitorial work for a department or agency of the state; 2862
(7) "Person with a disadvantage" means any individual who is 2863
determined by the Labor Department, or its designee, to be eligible for 2864
employment services in accordance with the Workforce Innovation and 2865
Opportunity Act or whose verified individual gross annual income 2866
during the previous calendar year was not greater than two hundred 2867
per cent of the federal poverty level for a family of four; 2868
(8) "Awarding authority" means the Commissioner of Administrative 2869
Services, Chief Court Administrator of the Judicial Branch and 2870
chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, as 2871
applicable; and 2872
(9) "Contractual services" includes, but is not limited to, any and all 2873
laundry and cleaning services, mail supply room staffing, data entry, 2874
telephone call center staffing and other services specified by the 2875
Commissioner of Administrative Services under subsection (b) of this 2876
section. 2877
(b) (1) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall establish a 2878
program to create and expand janitorial work job opportunities for 2879
persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage. The program 2880
shall create full-time jobs or full-time equivalents at standard wage rates 2881
for persons with disabilities and persons with disadvantages. The 2882
Judicial Branch and Board of Regents for Higher Education may 2883
participate in such program. 2884 T
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(2) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may expand such 2885
program to include contractual services that the commissioner deems 2886
appropriate and shall post a list of such services on the department's 2887
Internet web site. 2888
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, 2889
under such program, the awarding authority may award janitorial 2890
contracts or contracts for contractual services pursuant to the following 2891
procedures: (1) Upon receipt of a request for janitorial services or a 2892
contractual service that the Commissioner of Administrative Services 2893
has deemed appropriate for inclusion in the program by an agency or 2894
department of the state, the awarding authority shall notify each 2895
qualified partnership, as described in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of 2896
this section, of such request and invite each qualified partnership in 2897
good standing to submit a bid proposal for such janitorial contract or 2898
service contract to the awarding authority in a manner and form as 2899
prescribed by the awarding authority; (2) in the event that only one such 2900
qualified partnership submits a bid or proposal for such janitorial or 2901
service contract, the awarding authority shall award such contract to 2902
such qualified partnership, provided such bid or proposal does not 2903
exceed the fair market value for such contract, as determined by the 2904
awarding authority; (3) if more than one qualified partnership submits 2905
a bid or proposal, the awarding authority shall award the contract to the 2906
lowest responsible qualified bidder or most advantageous proposer, as 2907
described in section 4a-59; and (4) in the event that a qualified 2908
partnership does not submit a bid or proposal or is not awarded such 2909
contract, the awarding authority shall award such contract in 2910
accordance with the provisions of sections 4a-52a, 4a-59, 10a-151b and 2911
17a-796, or title 51, as applicable. No awarding authority shall award a 2912
contract under the provisions of this subsection at a site where 2913
employees are employed pursuant to an existing collective bargaining 2914
agreement or where a contract has been awarded pursuant to section 2915
17a-796 unless a contract has been previously awarded to a qualified 2916
partnership pursuant to this section at such site. 2917 T
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the 2918
responsibilities of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, Chief 2919
Court Administrator or chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and 2920
Universities as established in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, may 2921
not be delegated to an outside vendor. 2922
(e) The Connecticut Community Providers Association shall 2923
designate a commercial contractor and a community rehabilitation 2924
program as a "qualified partnership" whenever the following criteria 2925
have been established: (1) Such commercial contractor has entered into 2926
a binding agreement with such community rehabilitation program in 2927
which such contractor agrees to fill not less than one-third of the jobs 2928
from a successful bid for a janitorial or service contract under the 2929
program established in subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section 2930
with persons with disabilities and not less than one-third of such jobs 2931
with persons with a disadvantage; (2) such contractor employs not less 2932
than two hundred persons who perform janitorial work or contractual 2933
services in the state; and (3) such contractor certifies, in writing, that it 2934
will pay the standard wage to employees, including persons with 2935
disabilities, under such janitorial or service contract. Any partnership 2936
between a commercial contractor and a community rehabilitation 2937
program that has been denied designation as a qualified partnership 2938
may appeal such denial, in writing, to the Commissioner of 2939
Administrative Services and said commissioner may, after review of 2940
such appeal, designate such program as a qualified partnership. 2941
(f) The requirement established in subsection (e) of this section to fill 2942
not less than one-third of the jobs from a successful bid for a janitorial 2943
or service contract with persons with disabilities and one-third with 2944
persons with a disadvantage shall be met whenever such contractor 2945
employs the requisite number of persons with disabilities and persons 2946
with a disadvantage throughout the entirety of its operations in the state 2947
provided any persons with disabilities employed by such contractor 2948
prior to the commencement date of any such contract shall not be 2949
counted for the purpose of determining the number of persons with 2950 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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disabilities employed by such contractor. 2951
(g) The number of persons with disabilities and the number of 2952
persons with a disadvantage that such contractor is required to employ 2953
pursuant to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section shall be 2954
employed not later than six months after the commencement of 2955
janitorial work or the contractual service under the terms of any contract 2956
awarded pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, 2957
of this section, provided such contractor shall fill any vacancy for 2958
janitorial work or contractual service that arises during the first six 2959
months of any such contract with persons with disabilities and persons 2960
with disadvantages. 2961
(h) The Connecticut Community Providers Association shall develop 2962
an application process and submit a list of employees who have applied 2963
to participate in a partnership to the Department of [Aging and] 2964
Disability Services for certification. Such association shall maintain a list 2965
of certified employees who are persons with disabilities and community 2966
rehabilitation programs. 2967
(i) Any qualified partnership awarded a janitorial or service contract 2968
pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this 2969
section shall provide to the Connecticut Community Providers 2970
Association, not later than six months after the commencement date of 2971
such contract and annually thereafter, a list of the persons with 2972
disabilities and persons with a disadvantage employed by such 2973
contractor that includes the date of hire and employment location for 2974
each such person. Such association shall certify annually to the 2975
Department of Administrative Services, the Judicial Branch or the Board 2976
of Regents for Higher Education, as applicable, in such manner and 2977
form as prescribed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, 2978
Chief Court Administrator or the president of the Board of Regents for 2979
Higher Education, that the requisite number of persons with disabilities 2980
for such contract continue to be employed by such contractor in 2981
positions equivalent to those created under such contract and have been 2982 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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integrated into the general workforce of such contractor. 2983
(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the 2984
responsibilities of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services, as 2985
established in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section, may not be 2986
delegated to an outside vendor. 2987
(k) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt 2988
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 2989
undertake the certification requirements established pursuant to 2990
subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section. 2991
(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, 2992
the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall authorize certified 2993
small and minority businesses to participate in such program. 2994
(m) The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 2995
cognizance of matters relating to government administration shall study 2996
the effectiveness of such program, including, but not limited to, the 2997
effectiveness of such program to create integrated work settings for 2998
persons with disabilities. Additionally, said committee shall study ways 2999
to provide incentives for municipalities and businesses to utilize such 3000
program if such program is determined by the committee to be effective. 3001
(n) Each exclusive contract awarded prior to October 1, 2013, 3002
pursuant to section 17a-796 shall remain in effect until such time as 3003
either party terminates the contract in such party's own best interest, 3004
with not less than sixty days written notice. Each such contract may be 3005
amended to include updated terms and conditions, but shall not allow 3006
for any price increases except statutory or mandated increases to the 3007
minimum wage and standard wage. If either party exercises his or her 3008
right to terminate any such contract, the next contract solicitation may 3009
be awarded pursuant to this section or sections 4a-59 and 17a-796. 3010
Additionally, any new janitorial contract awarded pursuant to section 3011
17a-796 shall be limited to not more than four full-time employees per 3012
contract. 3013 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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(o) Any person employed under a janitorial contract let: (1) On or 3014
before October 1, 2006, or thereafter if such contract constitutes a 3015
successor contract to such janitorial contract let on or before October 1, 3016
2006, and (2) pursuant to section 4a-57 or 10a-151b or by the judicial or 3017
legislative departments or pursuant to subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, 3018
of this section shall have the same rights conferred upon an employee 3019
by section 31-57g for the duration of the program described in 3020
subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section. The provisions of this 3021
subsection shall not apply to any new janitorial contract with not more 3022
than four full-time employees per contract, as described in subsection 3023
(n) of this section. 3024
(p) If a position is not available at a job site for a janitorial or service 3025
contract awarded pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and a person 3026
with a disability or a person with a disadvantage is placed at an alternate 3027
job site in the operations of the contractor pursuant to subsection (f) of 3028
this section, such person with a disability or person with a disadvantage 3029
shall be paid the wage applicable at such alternate site, provided when 3030
a position at the job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded 3031
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section becomes available, such person 3032
with a disability or person with a disadvantage shall be transferred to 3033
the job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded pursuant to 3034
subsection (c) of this section and shall be paid the applicable standard 3035
wage for such site. 3036
(q) If a person with a disability or a person with a disadvantage is 3037
transferred pursuant to subsection (p) of this section and such person 3038
subsequently leaves such position, the position shall be filled with 3039
another person with a disability or person with a disadvantage. 3040
Sec. 87. Subsection (a) of section 5-175a of the general statutes is 3041
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3042
2026): 3043
(a) Vending stand operators, operating stands under permits held by 3044
the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to section 3045 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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17a-818, as amended by this act, shall be members of the state employees 3046
retirement system, part A, exclusive of the Social Security option and 3047
benefits in the state employees' retirement system dependent thereon. 3048
Each such person shall annually, on or before June thirtieth, pay five per 3049
cent of his adjusted gross income, arising out of the operation of such 3050
stand, as determined under the Internal Revenue Code, during the 3051
calendar year preceding to the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3052
Services which shall, as the state administering agency for such persons, 3053
certify such payment and pay it over to the State Retirement 3054
Commission, provided membership of such persons in said system shall 3055
be exclusive of disability retirement upon the grounds of defects of 3056
vision. 3057
Sec. 88. Section 5-198 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3058
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3059
The offices and positions filled by the following-described 3060
incumbents shall be exempt from the classified service: 3061
(1) All officers and employees of the Judicial Department; 3062
(2) All officers and employees of the Legislative Department; 3063
(3) All officers elected by popular vote; 3064
(4) All agency heads, members of boards and commissions and other 3065
officers appointed by the Governor; 3066
(5) All persons designated by name in any special act to hold any state 3067
office; 3068
(6) All officers, noncommissioned officers and enlisted men in the 3069
military or naval service of the state and under military or naval 3070
discipline and control; 3071
(7) (A) All correctional wardens, as provided in section 18-82, and (B) 3072
all superintendents of state institutions, the State Librarian, the 3073 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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president of The University of Connecticut and any other commissioner 3074
or administrative head of a state department or institution who is 3075
appointed by a board or commission responsible by statute for the 3076
administration of such department or institution; 3077
(8) The State Historian appointed by the State Library Board; 3078
(9) Deputies to the administrative head of each department or 3079
institution designated by statute to act for and perform all of the duties 3080
of such administrative head during such administrative head's absence 3081
or incapacity; 3082
(10) Executive assistants to each state elective officer and each 3083
department head, as defined in section 4-5, as amended by this act, 3084
provided (A) each position of executive assistant shall have been created 3085
in accordance with section 5-214, and (B) in no event shall the 3086
Commissioner of Administrative Services or the Secretary of the Office 3087
of Policy and Management approve more than four executive assistants 3088
for a department head and, for any department with two or more 3089
deputies, more than two executive assistants for each such deputy; 3090
(11) One personal secretary to the administrative head and to each 3091
undersecretary or deputy to such head of each department or 3092
institution; 3093
(12) All members of the professional and technical staffs of the 3094
constituent units of the state system of higher education, as defined in 3095
section 10a-1, of all other state institutions of learning, of the Board of 3096
Regents for Higher Education, and of the agricultural experiment 3097
station at New Haven, professional and managerial employees of the 3098
Department of Education and the Office of Early Childhood, teachers 3099
and administrators employed by the Technical Education and Career 3100
System and teachers certified by the State Board of Education and 3101
employed in teaching positions at state institutions; 3102
(13) Physicians, dentists, student nurses in institutions and other 3103 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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professional specialists who are employed on a part-time basis; 3104
(14) Persons employed to make or conduct a special inquiry, 3105
investigation, examination or installation; 3106
(15) Students in educational institutions who are employed on a part-3107
time basis; 3108
(16) Forest fire wardens provided for by section 23-36; 3109
(17) Patients or inmates of state institutions who receive 3110
compensation for services rendered therein; 3111
(18) Employees of the Governor including employees working at the 3112
executive office, official executive residence at 990 Prospect Avenue, 3113
Hartford and the Washington D.C. office; 3114
(19) Persons filling positions expressly exempted by statute from the 3115
classified service; 3116
(20) Librarians employed by the State Board of Education or any 3117
constituent unit of the state system of higher education; 3118
(21) All officers and employees of the Division of Criminal Justice; 3119
(22) Professional employees in the education professions bargaining 3120
unit of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services; 3121
(23) Lieutenant colonels in the Division of State Police within the 3122
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; 3123
(24) The Deputy State Fire Marshal within the Department of 3124
Administrative Services; 3125
(25) The chief administrative officer of the Workers' Compensation 3126
Commission; 3127
(26) Employees in the education professions bargaining unit; 3128 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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(27) Disability policy specialists employed by the Council on 3129
Developmental Disabilities; 3130
(28) The director for digital media and motion picture activities in the 3131
Department of Economic and Community Development; and 3132
(29) Any Director of Communications 1, Director of Communications 3133
1 (Rc), Director of Communications 2, Director of Communications 2 3134
(Rc), Legislative Program Manager, Communications and Legislative 3135
Program Manager, Director of Legislation, Regulation and 3136
Communication, Legislative and Administrative Advisor 1, or 3137
Legislative and Administrative Advisor 2 as such positions are 3138
classified within the Executive Department. 3139
Sec. 89. Subsection (e) of section 5-259 of the general statutes is 3140
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3141
2026): 3142
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 3143
vending stand operators eligible for membership in the state employees 3144
retirement system pursuant to section 5-175a, as amended by this act, 3145
shall be eligible for coverage under the group hospitalization and 3146
medical and surgical insurance plans procured under this section, 3147
provided the cost for such operators' insurance coverage shall be paid 3148
by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services from vending 3149
machine income pursuant to section 17a-818, as amended by this act. 3150
Sec. 90. Section 7-127b of the general statutes is repealed and the 3151
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3152
(a) The chief elected official or the chief executive officer if by 3153
ordinance of each municipality shall appoint a municipal agent for 3154
elderly persons. Such agent shall be a staff member of a senior center, a 3155
member of an agency that serves elderly persons in the municipality or 3156
a responsible resident of the municipality who has demonstrated an 3157
interest in assisting elderly persons or has been involved in programs in 3158 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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the field of aging. 3159
(b) The duties of the municipal agent shall include, but need not be 3160
limited to: (1) Disseminating information to elderly persons, assisting 3161
such persons in learning about the community resources available to 3162
them and publicizing such resources and benefits; (2) assisting elderly 3163
persons in applying for federal and state benefits, and accessing 3164
community resources, available to such persons; and (3) reporting to the 3165
chief elected official or chief executive officer of the municipality and 3166
the Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging any needs 3167
and problems of the elderly and any recommendations for action to 3168
improve services to the elderly. For the purposes of this subsection, 3169
"community resources" means resources that assist elderly persons in 3170
gaining access to housing opportunities, including, but not limited to, 3171
information regarding access to waitlists for housing designated for 3172
elderly persons, applications and consumer reports. 3173
(c) Each municipal agent shall serve for a term of two or four years, 3174
at the discretion of the appointing authority of each municipality, and 3175
may be reappointed. If more than one agent is necessary to carry out the 3176
purposes of this section, the appointing authority, in its discretion, may 3177
appoint one or more assistant agents. The town clerk in each 3178
municipality shall notify the Department [of Aging and Disability 3179
Services] on Aging immediately of the appointment of a new municipal 3180
agent. Each municipality may provide to its municipal agent resources 3181
sufficient for such agent to perform the duties of the office. 3182
(d) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 3183
adopt and disseminate to municipalities guidelines as to the role and 3184
duties of municipal agents and such informational and technical 3185
materials as may assist such agents in performance of their duties. The 3186
department, in cooperation with the area agencies on aging, may 3187
provide training for municipal agents within the available resources of 3188
the department and of the area agencies on aging. 3189
(e) On or before January 1, 2025, the Commissioner [of Aging and 3190 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 103 of 130
Disability Services] on Aging shall create a directory of municipal agents 3191
appointed pursuant to the provisions of this section, which shall 3192
include, but need not be limited to, the name, title, telephone number, 3193
electronic mail address and mailing address of each municipal agent. 3194
The commissioner shall post a link to the directory on the Department 3195
[of Aging and Disability Services'] on Aging's Internet web site. 3196
Sec. 91. Section 8-119f of the general statutes is repealed and the 3197
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3198
The Commissioner of Housing shall design, implement, operate and 3199
monitor a program of congregate housing. For the purpose of this 3200
program, the Commissioner of Housing shall consult with the 3201
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services for the provision of 3202
services for persons with physical disabilities in order to comply with 3203
the requirements of section 29-271. 3204
Sec. 92. Subsection (c) of section 9-20 of the general statutes is 3205
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3206
2026): 3207
(c) The application for admission as an elector shall include a 3208
statement that (1) specifies each eligibility requirement, (2) contains an 3209
attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement, and (3) 3210
requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. Each 3211
registrar of voters and town clerk shall maintain a copy of such 3212
statement in braille, large print and audio form. The Department of 3213
[Aging and] Disability Services shall, in consultation with the Secretary 3214
of the State, produce an accessible version of such statement in voice 3215
and sign language and provide the accessible version to the Secretary of 3216
the State who shall make it available to the registrars of voters of any 3217
municipality. If a person applies for admission as an elector in person to 3218
an admitting official, such admitting official shall, upon the request of 3219
the applicant, administer the elector's oath. 3220
Sec. 93. Section 10-74m of the general statutes is repealed and the 3221 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3222
(a) The Department of Education shall enter into memoranda of 3223
understanding with the Office of Early Childhood and the Departments 3224
of Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children 3225
and Families, Social Services and Correction regarding the provision of 3226
special education and related services to children, including, but not 3227
limited to, education, health care, transition resources, transition 3228
services and transition programs, as those terms are defined in section 3229
10-74o. Such memoranda of understanding shall account for current 3230
programs and services, utilize best practices and be updated or renewed 3231
at least every five years. 3232
(b) The Office of Early Childhood and the Departments of 3233
Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children and 3234
Families, Social Services and Correction shall, as necessary, enter into 3235
memoranda of understanding regarding the provision of special 3236
education and related services to children as such services relate to one 3237
another. Such memoranda of understanding shall account for current 3238
programs and services, utilize best practices and be updated or renewed 3239
at least every five years. 3240
(c) The Office of Early Childhood and the Departments of 3241
Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children and 3242
Families, the Labor Department, Mental Health and Addiction Services, 3243
Public Health, Social Services and Correction shall each appoint an 3244
employee to act as a liaison to the Department of Education's State-wide 3245
Transition Services Coordinator, established pursuant to section 10-74o. 3246
Each liaison shall provide information and advice to such coordinator 3247
concerning the transition resources, transition services and transition 3248
programs provided by the agency such liaison represents. 3249
Sec. 94. Subsection (a) of section 10-74n of the general statutes is 3250
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3251
2026): 3252 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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(a) The Department of Education's State-wide Transition Services 3253
Coordinator, established pursuant to section 10-74o, in collaboration 3254
with the liaisons appointed by other state agencies pursuant to section 3255
10-74m, as amended by this act, shall: (1) Develop and maintain an 3256
easily accessible and navigable online listing of the transition resources, 3257
transition services and transition programs, as those terms are defined 3258
in section 10-74o, provided by each such state agency, including, but not 3259
limited to, for each resource, service and program (A) a plain language 3260
description, (B) eligibility requirements, and (C) application deadlines 3261
and instructions, and (2) annually collect information related to 3262
transition resources, programs and services provided by other state 3263
agencies. The Departments of [Aging and] Disability Services, 3264
Developmental Services, Social Services, Children and Families, Mental 3265
Health and Addiction Services, Public Health and Correction, the Labor 3266
Department and the Office of Early Childhood shall each post a link to 3267
such online listing on an easily accessible location of said departments' 3268
Internet web sites. 3269
Sec. 95. Subsection (a) of section 10-74q of the general statutes is 3270
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3271
2026): 3272
(a) Not later than July 1, 2024, the Department of Education, in 3273
consultation with the Departments of Developmental Services and 3274
[Aging and] Disability Services and the regional educational service 3275
centers, shall develop a training program for transition coordinators, 3276
educators and paraeducators. Such training program shall comply with 3277
the minimum standards established by the State-wide Transition 3278
Services Coordinator pursuant to section 10-74o. 3279
Sec. 96. Section 10-74t of the general statutes is repealed and the 3280
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3281
Not later than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Department 3282
of Education shall report to each state agency that provides services and 3283
programs for adults with disabilities, including, but not limited to, the 3284 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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Departments of Developmental Services, Social Services and [Aging 3285
and] Disability Services, and, in accordance with section 11-4a, the joint 3286
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 3287
matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, 3288
education, human services and public health, the aggregate number of 3289
students from all school districts who had planning and placement team 3290
meetings during the prior school year in which information concerning 3291
such services and programs was provided pursuant to the provisions of 3292
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 3293
10-76d, as amended by this act. Such aggregate number may be reduced, 3294
to the extent possible, to the number of students who may qualify for 3295
the services or programs provided by such agencies. 3296
Sec. 97. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of 3297
section 10-76d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 3298
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3299
(9) (A) The planning and placement team shall, in accordance with 3300
the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 3301
USC 1400, et seq., as amended from time to time, develop and include a 3302
statement of transition service needs in the individualized education 3303
program for each child requiring special education, beginning not later 3304
than the first individualized education program to be in effect when 3305
such child becomes fourteen years of age, or younger if the planning 3306
and placement team determines it is appropriate. Such individualized 3307
education program shall include (i) appropriate measurable 3308
postsecondary goals based upon age -appropriate transition 3309
assessments related to training, education, employment and, where 3310
appropriate, independent living skills; and (ii) the transition services, 3311
including courses of study, needed to assist such child in reaching those 3312
goals. Such individualized education program shall be updated 3313
annually thereafter in accordance with the provisions of this 3314
subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as requiring 3315
the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services to lower the age of 3316
transitional services for a child with disabilities from sixteen to fourteen 3317 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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years of age. 3318
Sec. 98. Subsection (a) of section 10-76i of the general statutes is 3319
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3320
2026): 3321
(a) There shall be an Advisory Council for Special Education which 3322
shall advise the General Assembly, State Board of Education and the 3323
Commissioner of Education, and which shall engage in such other 3324
activities as described in this section. On and after July 1, 2012, the 3325
advisory council shall consist of the following members: (1) Nine 3326
appointed by the Commissioner of Education, (A) six of whom shall be 3327
(i) the parents of children with disabilities, provided such children are 3328
under the age of twenty-seven, or (ii) individuals with disabilities, (B) 3329
one of whom shall be an official of the Department of Education, (C) one 3330
of whom shall be a state or local official responsible for carrying out 3331
activities under Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 3332
Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time, and 3333
(D) one of whom shall be a representative of an institution of higher 3334
education in the state that prepares teacher and related services 3335
personnel; (2) one appointed by the Commissioner of Developmental 3336
Services who shall be an official of the department; (3) one appointed by 3337
the Commissioner of Children and Families who shall be an official of 3338
the department; (4) one appointed by the Commissioner of Correction 3339
who shall be an official of the department; (5) one appointed by the 3340
director of the Parent Leadership Training Institute within the 3341
Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity 3342
who shall be (A) the parent of a child with a disability, provided such 3343
child is under the age of twenty-seven, or (B) an individual with a 3344
disability; (6) a representative from the parent training and information 3345
center for Connecticut established pursuant to the Individuals With 3346
Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time 3347
to time; (7) the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 3348
commissioner's designee; (8) five who are members of the General 3349
Assembly who shall serve as nonvoting members of the advisory 3350 T
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council, one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 3351
one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, 3352
one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, 3353
one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and one 3354
appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (9) one appointed by the 3355
president pro tempore of the Senate who shall be a member of the 3356
Connecticut Speech-Language-Hearing Association; (10) one appointed 3357
by the majority leader of the Senate who shall be a public school teacher; 3358
(11) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who shall be a 3359
representative of a vocational, community or business organization 3360
concerned with the provision of transitional services to children with 3361
disabilities; (12) one appointed by the speaker of the House of 3362
Representatives who shall be a member of the Connecticut Council of 3363
Special Education Administrators and who is a local education official; 3364
(13) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of 3365
Representatives who shall be a representative of charter schools; (14) 3366
one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives 3367
who shall be a member of the Connecticut Association of Private Special 3368
Education Facilities; (15) one appointed by the Chief Court 3369
Administrator of the Judicial Department who shall be an official of 3370
such department responsible for the provision of services to adjudicated 3371
children and youth; (16) seven appointed by the Governor, all of whom 3372
shall be (A) the parents of children with disabilities, provided such 3373
children are under the age of twenty-seven, or (B) individuals with 3374
disabilities; (17) the executive director of the nonprofit entity designated 3375
by the Governor in accordance with section 46a-10b to serve as the 3376
Connecticut protection and advocacy system, or the executive director's 3377
designee; and (18) such other members as required by the Individuals 3378
with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from 3379
time to time, appointed by the Commissioner of Education . 3380
Appointments made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be 3381
representative of the ethnic and racial diversity of, and the types of 3382
disabilities found in, the state population. The terms of the members of 3383
the council serving on June 8, 2010, shall expire on June 30, 2010. 3384 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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Appointments shall be made to the council by July 1, 2010. Members 3385
shall serve two-year terms, except that members appointed pursuant to 3386
subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this subsection whose terms 3387
commenced July 1, 2010, shall serve three-year terms and the successors 3388
to such members appointed pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (3), 3389
inclusive, of this subsection shall serve two-year terms. 3390
Sec. 99. Subsection (a) of section 10-76y of the general statutes is 3391
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3392
2026): 3393
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, school 3394
districts, regional educational service centers, the Department of [Aging 3395
and] Disability Services, and all other state and local governmental 3396
agencies concerned with education may loan, lease or transfer an 3397
assistive device for the use and benefit of a student with a disability to 3398
such student or the parent or guardian of such student or to any other 3399
public or private nonprofit agency providing services to or on behalf of 3400
individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, an agency 3401
providing educational, health or rehabilitative services. Such device 3402
may be sold or transferred pursuant to this section regardless of whether 3403
the device was declared surplus. The sale or transfer shall be recorded 3404
in an agreement between the parties and based upon the depreciated 3405
value of the device. For the purposes of this section, "assistive device" 3406
means any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether 3407
acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified or customized, that is 3408
used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of 3409
individuals with disabilities. 3410
Sec. 100. Subsection (d) of section 11-1a of the general statutes is 3411
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3412
2026): 3413
(d) The State Library Board shall create and maintain a library service 3414
for the blind and other persons with disabilities, as provided for in 2 3415
USC Sections 135a, 135a-1 and 135b. The State Library Board shall 3416 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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consult with the advisory committee relating to the library for blind and 3417
physically disabled persons and the Commissioner of [Aging and] 3418
Disability Services, or the commissioner's designee, before taking any 3419
action that may diminish or substantively change the library services 3420
described in this subsection. 3421
Sec. 101. Subsection (a) of section 12-217oo of the general statutes is 3422
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3423
2026): 3424
(a) As used in this section: 3425
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 3426
Community Development; 3427
(2) "Employer" means a person engaged in business who has 3428
employees and who is subject to tax under this chapter or chapter 207 3429
or 229; 3430
(3) "Income year" means the income year or taxable year, as 3431
determined under this chapter or chapter 207 or 229, as the case may be; 3432
(4) "New qualifying employee" means a person who (A) is receiving 3433
vocational rehabilitation services from the Department of [Aging and] 3434
Disability Services, and (B) is hired by the employer to fill a new job after 3435
May 6, 2010, during the employer's income years commencing on or 3436
after January 1, 2010, and prior to January 1, 2012. A new qualifying 3437
employee does not include a person receiving vocational rehabilitation 3438
services pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and who was 3439
employed in this state by a related person with respect to the employer 3440
during the prior twelve months; 3441
(5) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 3442
company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the employer, 3443
(B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3444
association or trust that is in control of the employer, (C) a corporation, 3445
limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by 3446 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3447
association or trust that is in control of the employer, or (D) a member 3448
of the same controlled group as the employer; and 3449
(6) "Control", with respect to a corporation, means ownership, 3450
directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per cent or more of the 3451
total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of such 3452
corporation entitled to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means 3453
ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the 3454
beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust. The 3455
ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a 3456
partnership, limited liability company or association or of a beneficial 3457
interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for 3458
constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the 3459
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 3460
internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to 3461
time, other than paragraph (3) of said Section 267(c). 3462
Sec. 102. Section 12-217pp of the general statutes is repealed and the 3463
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3464
(a) As used in this section: 3465
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 3466
Community Development; 3467
(2) "Control", with respect to a corporation, means ownership, 3468
directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per cent or more of the 3469
total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of such 3470
corporation entitled to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means 3471
ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the 3472
beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust. The 3473
ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a 3474
partnership, limited liability company or association or of a beneficial 3475
interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for 3476
constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the 3477 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 3478
internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 3479
amended, other than paragraph (3) of said Section 267(c); 3480
(3) "Full-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to 3481
work at least thirty-five hours per week for not less than forty-eight 3482
weeks in a calendar year. "Full-time job" does not include a temporary 3483
or seasonal job; 3484
(4) "Income year" means, with respect to entities subject to the 3485
insurance premiums tax under chapter 207, the corporation business tax 3486
under this chapter, the utility companies tax under chapter 212 or the 3487
income tax under chapter 229, the income year as determined under 3488
each of said chapters, as the case may be; 3489
(5) "New employee" means a person who resides in this state and is 3490
hired by a taxpayer on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 3491
2014, to fill a new job. "New employee" does not include a person who 3492
was employed in this state by a related person with respect to a taxpayer 3493
during the prior twelve months; 3494
(6) "New job" means a job that did not exist in this state prior to a 3495
taxpayer's application to the commissioner for certification under this 3496
section for a job expansion tax credit, is filled by a new, qualifying or 3497
veteran employee, and (A) is a full-time job, or (B) in the case of a 3498
qualifying employee under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (7) of this 3499
subsection, is a job in which an employee is required to work at least 3500
twenty hours per week for not less than forty-eight weeks in a calendar 3501
year; 3502
(7) "Qualifying employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 3503
hiring by the taxpayer: 3504
(A) (i) Is receiving unemployment compensation, or (ii) has 3505
exhausted unemployment compensation benefits and has not had an 3506
intervening full-time job; or 3507 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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(B) Is (i) receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the 3508
Department of [Aging and] Disability Services, (ii) receiving 3509
employment services from the Department of Mental Health and 3510
Addiction Services, or (iii) participating in employment opportunities 3511
and day services, as defined in section 17a-226, operated or funded by 3512
the Department of Developmental Services; 3513
(8) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 3514
company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the taxpayer, 3515
(B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3516
association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, (C) a corporation, 3517
limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by 3518
an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3519
association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, or (D) a member of 3520
the same controlled group as the taxpayer; 3521
(9) "Taxpayer" means a person that (A) has been in business for at 3522
least twelve consecutive months prior to the date of the taxpayer's 3523
application to the commissioner for certification under this section for a 3524
job expansion tax credit, and (B) is subject to tax under this chapter or 3525
chapter 207, 212 or 229; and 3526
(10) "Veteran employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 3527
hiring by the taxpayer, is (A) a member of the armed forces, as defined 3528
in section 27-103, or (B) a veteran, as defined in section 27-103. 3529
(b) (1) There is established a job expansion tax credit program 3530
whereby a taxpayer may be allowed a credit against the tax imposed 3531
under this chapter or chapter 207, 212 or 229, other than the liability 3532
imposed by section 12-707, for each new, qualifying or veteran 3533
employee hired on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 2014. 3534
For taxpayers that employ not more than fifty employees in full-time 3535
jobs in this state on the date of application to the commissioner for 3536
certification under this section, the creation of at least one new job in this 3537
state shall be required for said tax credit. For taxpayers that employ 3538
more than fifty, but not more than one hundred employees in full-time 3539 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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jobs in this state on the date of application to the commissioner for 3540
certification under this section, the creation of at least five new jobs in 3541
this state shall be required for said tax credit. For taxpayers that employ 3542
more than one hundred employees in full-time jobs in this state on the 3543
date of application to the commissioner for certification under this 3544
section, the creation of at least ten new jobs in this state shall be required 3545
for said tax credit. 3546
(2) For the purposes of determining the number of new jobs a 3547
taxpayer is required to create in order to claim a credit under this 3548
section, the number of employees working in full-time jobs the taxpayer 3549
employs in this state on the date of its application to the commissioner 3550
for certification under this section shall apply to such taxpayer for the 3551
duration of such certification. 3552
(c) The amount of the credit shall be: 3553
(1) Five hundred dollars per month for each new employee; or 3554
(2) Nine hundred dollars per month for each qualifying or veteran 3555
employee. 3556
(d) (1) The taxpayer shall claim the credit in the income year in which 3557
it is earned and, if eligible, in the two immediately succeeding income 3558
years. Any credit not claimed by the taxpayer in an income year shall 3559
expire and shall not be refundable. 3560
(2) If the taxpayer is an S corporation or an entity treated as a 3561
partnership for federal income tax purposes, the shareholders or 3562
partners of such taxpayer may claim the credit. If the taxpayer is a single 3563
member limited liability company that is disregarded as an entity 3564
separate from its owner, the limited liability company's owner may 3565
claim the credit. 3566
(3) No taxpayer shall claim a credit for any new, qualifying or veteran 3567
employee who is an owner, member or partner in the business or who 3568
is not employed by the taxpayer at the close of the taxpayer's income 3569 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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year. 3570
(4) No taxpayer claiming the credit under this section with respect to 3571
a new, qualifying or veteran employee shall claim any credit against any 3572
tax under any other provision of the general statutes with respect to the 3573
same new, qualifying or veteran employee. 3574
(e) (1) To be eligible to claim the credit, a taxpayer shall apply to the 3575
commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section. The 3576
application shall be on a form provided by the commissioner and shall 3577
contain sufficient information as required by the commissioner, 3578
including, but not limited to, the activities that the taxpayer primarily 3579
engages in, the North American Industrial Classification System code of 3580
the taxpayer, the current number of employees employed by the 3581
taxpayer as of the application date, and if applicable, the name and 3582
position or job title of the new, qualifying or veteran employee. The 3583
commissioner shall consult with the Labor Commissioner, the 3584
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, the Commissioner of 3585
Veterans Affairs, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction 3586
Services or the Commissioner of Developmental Services, as applicable, 3587
for any verification the commissioner deems necessary of 3588
unemployment compensation or vocational rehabilitation services 3589
received by a qualifying employee, or of service in the armed forces of 3590
the United States by a veteran employee. The commissioner may impose 3591
a fee for such application as the commissioner deems appropriate. 3592
(2) (A) Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner shall render 3593
a decision, in writing, on each completed application not later than 3594
thirty days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. If the 3595
commissioner approves such application, the commissioner shall issue 3596
a certification letter to the taxpayer indicating that the credit will be 3597
available to be claimed by the taxpayer if the taxpayer and the new, 3598
qualifying or veteran employee otherwise meet the requirements of this 3599
section. 3600
(B) On and after January 1, 2014, the commissioner shall render a 3601 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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decision upon such completed applications and, if approved, issue such 3602
certification letters, as provided in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, 3603
that pertain to qualifying or veteran employees who meet the 3604
requirements of this section, and with respect to whom credits pursuant 3605
to this section have previously been granted. The commissioner may, in 3606
his or her discretion, render a decision upon applications that pertain to 3607
new employees, with respect to whom credits pursuant to this section 3608
have previously been granted, when such applications are consistent 3609
with the economic development priorities of the state. 3610
(f) (1) The total amount of credits granted under this section and 3611
sections 12-217ii, 12-217nn and 12-217oo, as amended by this act, shall 3612
not exceed twenty million dollars in any one fiscal year or forty million 3613
dollars over the duration of the job expansion tax credit program, 3614
including the two immediately succeeding income years after such 3615
credits are granted. 3616
(2) If a taxpayer was issued an eligibility certificate by the 3617
commissioner prior to January 1, 2012, to receive a jobs creation tax 3618
credit pursuant to section 12-217ii, the provisions of the tax credit 3619
program pursuant to said section 12-217ii shall apply to such taxpayer 3620
for the duration of the eligibility certificate. 3621
(3) If a taxpayer is issued a certification letter by the commissioner 3622
prior to January 1, 2013, to receive a qualified small business job creation 3623
tax credit pursuant to section 12-217nn, the provisions of the tax credit 3624
program pursuant to said section 12-217nn shall apply to such taxpayer 3625
for the duration of such certification. 3626
(4) If a taxpayer was issued a certification letter by the commissioner 3627
prior to January 1, 2012, to receive a vocational rehabilitation job 3628
creation tax credit pursuant to section 12-217oo, as amended by this act, 3629
the provisions of the tax credit program pursuant to said section 12-3630
217oo, as amended by this act, shall apply to such taxpayer for the 3631
duration of such certification. 3632 T
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(g) No credit allowed under this section shall exceed the amount of 3633
tax imposed on a taxpayer under this chapter or chapter 207, 212 or 229. 3634
The commissioner shall annually provide to the Commissioner of 3635
Revenue Services a list detailing all credits that have been approved and 3636
all taxpayers that have been issued a certification letter under this 3637
section. 3638
(h) No credit shall be allowed under this section for any new jobs 3639
created on or after January 1, 2014. 3640
Sec. 103. Section 14-11b of the general statutes is repealed and the 3641
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3642
(a) There shall be within the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3643
Services a unit for the purpose of evaluating and training persons with 3644
disabilities in the operation of motor vehicles. There shall be assigned to 3645
the driver training unit for persons with disabilities such staff as is 3646
necessary for the orderly administration of the driver training program 3647
for persons with disabilities. The personnel assigned to the driver 3648
training unit for persons with disabilities shall, while engaged in the 3649
evaluation or instruction of a person with disabilities, have the authority 3650
and immunities with respect to such activities as are granted under the 3651
general statutes to motor vehicle inspectors. The Commissioner of 3652
Motor Vehicles may permit a person whose license has been withdrawn 3653
as a result of a condition that makes such person eligible for evaluation 3654
and training under this section to operate a motor vehicle while 3655
accompanied by personnel assigned to the driver training unit for 3656
persons with disabilities. When a person with disabilities has 3657
successfully completed the driver training program for persons with 3658
disabilities, the Department [of Aging and] Disability Services shall 3659
certify such completion in writing to the Commissioner of Motor 3660
Vehicles and shall recommend any license restrictions or limitations to 3661
be placed on the license of such person. The Commissioner of Motor 3662
Vehicles may accept such certification in lieu of the driving skills portion 3663
of the examination prescribed under subsection (e) of section 14-36. If 3664 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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such person with disabilities has met all other requirements for 3665
obtaining a license, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall issue a 3666
license with such restrictions recommended by the Department of 3667
[Aging and] Disability Services. 3668
(b) Any resident of this state who has a serious physical or mental 3669
disability which does not render the resident incapable of operating a 3670
motor vehicle and who must utilize special equipment in order to 3671
operate a motor vehicle and who cannot obtain instruction in the 3672
operation of a motor vehicle through any alternate program, including, 3673
but not limited to, other state, federal or privately operated drivers' 3674
schools shall be eligible for instruction under the Department of [Aging 3675
and] Disability Services driver training program for persons with 3676
disabilities. 3677
Sec. 104. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 14-44 of the 3678
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 3679
thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3680
(2) The Department of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the 3681
Departments of [Aging and] Disability Services, Developmental 3682
Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Social Services, 3683
shall develop, and thereafter revise as needed, a video presentation 3684
providing instruction and best practices concerning ways to 3685
appropriately interact with disabled persons who may be receiving 3686
services from the departments. In developing such video presentation, 3687
the departments may use materials and one or more video presentations 3688
developed by a governmental entity, independent contractor or any 3689
other party. The departments shall post such video presentation and 3690
any other training resources concerning ways to appropriately interact 3691
with persons with an intellectual disability or other developmental 3692
disabilities in a conspicuous location on their respective Internet web 3693
sites. On and after January 1, 2024, prior to issuing or renewing an 3694
operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement, the 3695
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall require the applicant for such 3696 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
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license to watch such video presentation. 3697
Sec. 105. Subsection (b) of section 14-253a of the general statutes is 3698
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3699
2026): 3700
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept applications 3701
and renewal applications for removable windshield placards from (1) 3702
any person who is blind, as defined in section 1-1f; (2) any person with 3703
disabilities; (3) any parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any 3704
person with disabilities, if such person is under eighteen years of age at 3705
the time of application; (4) any parent or guardian of any person who is 3706
blind or any person with disabilities, if such person is unable to request 3707
or complete an application; and (5) any organization which meets 3708
criteria established by the commissioner and which certifies to the 3709
commissioner's satisfaction that the vehicle for which a placard is 3710
requested is primarily used to transport persons who are blind or 3711
persons with disabilities. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this 3712
section, on and after October 1, 2011, the commissioner shall not accept 3713
applications for special license plates, but shall accept renewal 3714
applications for such plates that were issued prior to October 1, 2011. 3715
No person shall be issued a placard in accordance with this section 3716
unless such person is the holder of a valid motor vehicle operator's 3717
license, or identification card issued in accordance with the provisions 3718
of section 1-1h. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance 3719
with the provisions of chapter 54, for the issuance of placards to persons 3720
who, by reason of hardship, do not hold or cannot obtain an operator's 3721
license or identification card. The commissioner shall maintain a record 3722
of each placard issued to any such person. Such applications and 3723
renewal applications shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner. 3724
The application and renewal application shall include: (A) Certification 3725
by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, an advanced 3726
practice registered nurse licensed in accordance with the provisions of 3727
chapter 378, or a member of the driver training unit for persons with 3728
disabilities established pursuant to section 14-11b, as amended by this 3729 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 120 of 130
act, that the applicant meets the definition of a person with a disability 3730
which limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR 1235.2, 3731
as amended from time to time; or (B) certification by a psychiatrist who 3732
is employed by, or under contract with, the United States Department 3733
of Veterans Affairs that the applicant (i) is a veteran, as defined in 3734
subsection (a) of section 27-103, who has post-traumatic stress disorder 3735
certified as service-connected by the United States Department of 3736
Veterans Affairs, and (ii) meets the definition of a person with a 3737
disability which limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 3738
CFR 1235.2, as amended from time to time. In the case of persons who 3739
are blind, the application or renewal application shall include 3740
certification of legal blindness made by the Department of [Aging and] 3741
Disability Services, an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Any 3742
certification issued by a health care professional pursuant to this section 3743
shall be based upon such person's professional opinion after having 3744
completed a medically reasonable assessment of the applicant's medical 3745
history and current medical condition made in the course of a bona fide 3746
health care professional-patient relationship. Any person who makes a 3747
certification required by this subsection shall sign the application or 3748
renewal application under penalty of false statement pursuant to section 3749
53a-157b. The commissioner, in said commissioner's discretion, may 3750
accept the discharge papers of a disabled veteran, as defined in section 3751
14-254, in lieu of such certification. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 3752
may require additional certification at the time of the original 3753
application or at any time thereafter. If a person who has been requested 3754
to submit additional certification fails to do so within thirty days of the 3755
request, or if such additional certification is deemed by the 3756
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to be unfavorable to the applicant, the 3757
commissioner may refuse to issue or, if already issued, suspend or 3758
revoke such special license plate or placard. The commissioner shall not 3759
issue more than one placard per applicant, except the commissioner 3760
shall issue one placard to each applicant who is a parent or guardian of 3761
any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, provided no 3762
more than two such placards shall be issued on behalf of such person. 3763 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 121 of 130
The fee for the issuance of a temporary removable windshield placard 3764
shall be five dollars. Any person whose application has been denied or 3765
whose special license plate or placard has been suspended or revoked 3766
shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the 3767
provisions of chapter 54. 3768
Sec. 106. Subsection (b) of section 14-253c of the general statutes is 3769
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3770
2026): 3771
(b) The advisory council shall consist of (1) the Commissioner of 3772
Motor Vehicles or the commissioner's designee, (2) the Commissioner of 3773
[Aging and] Disability Services or the commissioner's designee, (3) two 3774
members appointed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, who are 3775
licensed physicians, physician assistants or advanced practice registered 3776
nurses who certify applications for removable windshield placards 3777
while in the course of employment, (4) one member appointed by the 3778
Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services who represents an 3779
organization that advocates on behalf of persons with physical 3780
disabilities, (5) one appointed by the House chairperson of the joint 3781
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 3782
matters relating to transportation, (6) one appointed by the Senate 3783
chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 3784
having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, who uses 3785
accessible parking or advocates on behalf of such users, (7) one 3786
appointed by the House ranking member of the joint standing 3787
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 3788
relating to transportation, who uses accessible parking or advocates on 3789
behalf of such users, (8) one appointed by the Senate ranking member 3790
of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 3791
cognizance of matters relating to transportation, who is a sworn 3792
member of a municipal police department, and (9) and such other 3793
members as the advisory council may prescribe. All initial 3794
appointments to the advisory council shall be made not later than 3795
September 1, 2023. Each member appointed pursuant to subdivisions (3) 3796 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 122 of 130
to (9), inclusive, of this subsection shall serve for a term of two years and 3797
may serve until such member's successor is appointed. Any vacancy 3798
shall be filled by the appointing authority. The Commissioner of Motor 3799
Vehicles, or the commissioner's designee, shall serve as chairperson of 3800
the advisory council. The advisory council shall meet at such times as it 3801
deems necessary and may establish rules governing its internal 3802
procedures. 3803
Sec. 107. Subsection (d) of section 17a-3 of the general statutes is 3804
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3805
2026): 3806
(d) The Department of Children and Families shall maintain on the 3807
department's Internet web site information on services provided to 3808
persons with disabilities. The department's Internet web site shall 3809
include a link to the Internet web page maintained by the Department 3810
of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to section 46a-33a, 3811
containing information about services for deaf, deafblind and hard of 3812
hearing individuals. 3813
Sec. 108. Subsection (a) of section 17a-215j of the general statutes is 3814
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3815
2026): 3816
(a) There shall be an Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council 3817
which shall consist of the following members: (1) The Commissioner of 3818
Social Services, or the commissioner's designee; (2) the Commissioner of 3819
Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee; (3) the 3820
Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; (4) the 3821
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the 3822
commissioner's designee; (5) the Commissioner of Public Health, or the 3823
commissioner's designee; (6) the Commissioner of [Aging and] 3824
Disability Services, or the commissioner's designee; (7) the 3825
Commissioner of Developmental Services, or the commissioner's 3826
designee; (8) the Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the 3827
commissioner's designee; (9) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 3828 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 123 of 130
Management, or the secretary's designee; (10) two persons with autism 3829
spectrum disorder, one each appointed by the Governor and the speaker 3830
of the House of Representatives; (11) two persons who are parents or 3831
guardians of a child with autism spectrum disorder, one each appointed 3832
by the Governor and the minority leader of the Senate; (12) two persons 3833
who are parents or guardians of an adult with autism spectrum 3834
disorder, one each appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate 3835
and the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (13) two 3836
persons who are advocates for persons with autism spectrum disorder, 3837
one each appointed by the Governor and the speaker of the House of 3838
Representatives; (14) two persons who are licensed professionals 3839
working in the field of autism spectrum disorder, one each appointed 3840
by the Governor and the majority leader of the Senate; (15) two persons 3841
who provide services for persons with autism spectrum disorder, one 3842
each appointed by the Governor and the minority leader of the House 3843
of Representatives; (16) two persons who shall be representatives of an 3844
institution of higher education in the state with experience in the field 3845
of autism spectrum disorder, one each appointed by the Governor and 3846
the president pro tempore of the Senate; (17) the executive director of 3847
the nonprofit entity designated by the Governor in accordance with 3848
section 46a-10b to serve as the Connecticut protection and advocacy 3849
system for persons with disabilities, or the executive director's designee; 3850
and (18) one person who is a physician who treats or diagnoses persons 3851
with autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the Governor. 3852
Sec. 109. Section 17a-248 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3853
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3854
As used in this section, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248g, inclusive, 17a-3855
248m, 38a-490a and 38a-516a, unless the context otherwise requires: 3856
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Early Childhood. 3857
(2) "Council" means the State Interagency Birth -to-Three 3858
Coordinating Council established pursuant to section 17a-248b. 3859 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 124 of 130
(3) "Early intervention services" means early intervention services, as 3860
defined in 34 CFR Part 303.13, as from time to time amended. 3861
(4) "Eligible children" means children (A) (i) from birth to thirty-six 3862
months of age, who are not eligible for special education and related 3863
services pursuant to sections 10-76a to 10-76h, inclusive, and (ii) thirty-3864
six months of age or older, who are receiving early intervention services 3865
and are eligible or being evaluated for participation in preschool 3866
services pursuant to Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities 3867
Education Act, 20 USC 1411 et seq., until such children are enrolled in 3868
such preschool services, and (B) who need early intervention services 3869
because such children are: 3870
(i) Experiencing a significant developmental delay as measured by 3871
standardized diagnostic instruments and procedures, including 3872
informed clinical opinion, in one or more of the following areas: 3873
Cognitive development; physical development, including vision or 3874
hearing; communication development; social or emotional 3875
development; or adaptive skills; or 3876
(ii) Diagnosed as having a physical or mental condition that has a 3877
high probability of resulting in developmental delay. 3878
(5) "Evaluation" means a multidisciplinary professional, objective 3879
assessment conducted by appropriately qualified personnel in order to 3880
determine a child's eligibility for early intervention services. 3881
(6) "Individualized family service plan" means a written plan for 3882
providing early intervention services to an eligible child and the child's 3883
family. 3884
(7) "Lead agency" means the Office of Early Childhood, the public 3885
agency responsible for the administration of the birth-to-three system in 3886
collaboration with the participating agencies. 3887
(8) "Parent" means (A) a biological, adoptive or foster parent of a 3888
child; (B) a guardian, except for the Commissioner of Children and 3889 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 125 of 130
Families; (C) an individual acting in the place of a biological or adoptive 3890
parent, including, but not limited to, a grandparent, stepparent, or other 3891
relative with whom the child lives; (D) an individual who is legally 3892
responsible for the child's welfare; or (E) an individual appointed to be 3893
a surrogate parent. 3894
(9) "Participating agencies" includes, but is not limited to, the 3895
Departments of Education, Social Services, Public Health, Children and 3896
Families and Developmental Services, the Office of Early Childhood, the 3897
Insurance Department and the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3898
Services. 3899
(10) "Qualified personnel" means persons who meet the standards 3900
specified in 34 CFR Part 303.31, as from time to time amended, and who 3901
are licensed physicians or psychologists or persons holding a state-3902
approved or recognized license, certificate or registration in one or more 3903
of the following fields: (A) Special education, including teaching of the 3904
blind and the deaf; (B) speech and language pathology and audiology; 3905
(C) occupational therapy; (D) physical therapy; (E) social work; (F) 3906
nursing; (G) dietary or nutritional counseling; and (H) other fields 3907
designated by the commissioner that meet requirements that apply to 3908
the area in which the person is providing early intervention services, 3909
provided there is no conflict with existing professional licensing, 3910
certification and registration requirements. 3911
(11) "Service coordinator" means a person carrying out service 3912
coordination services, as defined in 34 CFR Part 303.34, as from time to 3913
time amended. 3914
(12) "Primary care provider" means physicians and advanced practice 3915
registered nurses, licensed by the Department of Public Health, who are 3916
responsible for performing or directly supervising the primary care 3917
services for children enrolled in the birth-to-three program. 3918
Sec. 110. Subsection (e) of section 17a-451 of the general statutes is 3919
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3920 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 126 of 130
2026): 3921
(e) The commissioner shall collaborate and cooperate with other state 3922
agencies providing services for children with mental disorders and 3923
adults with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use 3924
disorders, or both, and shall coordinate the activities of the Department 3925
of Mental Health and Addiction Services with the activities of said 3926
agencies. The commissioner shall maintain on the department's Internet 3927
web site information on services provided to persons with disabilities. 3928
The department's Internet web site shall include a link to the Internet 3929
web page maintained by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3930
Services pursuant to section 46a-33a containing information about 3931
services for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing individuals. 3932
Sec. 111. Subsection (b) of section 17a-667 of the general statutes is 3933
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3934
2026): 3935
(b) The council shall consist of the following members: (1) The 3936
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's 3937
designee; (2) the Commissioners of Children and Families, Consumer 3938
Protection, Correction, Education, Mental Health and Addiction 3939
Services, Public Health, Emergency Services and Public Protection, 3940
[Aging and] Disability Services and Social Services, the Commissioner 3941
on Aging and the Insurance Commissioner, or their designees; (3) the 3942
Chief Court Administrator, or the Chief Court Administrator's 3943
designee; (4) the chairperson of the Board of Regents for Higher 3944
Education, or the chairperson's designee; (5) the president of The 3945
University of Connecticut, or the president's designee; (6) the Chief 3946
State's Attorney, or the Chief State's Attorney's designee; (7) the Chief 3947
Public Defender, or the Chief Public Defender's designee; (8) the Child 3948
Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee; and (9) the cochairpersons 3949
and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General 3950
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, 3951
criminal justice and appropriations, or their designees. The 3952 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 127 of 130
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the 3953
Commissioner of Children and Families shall be cochairpersons of the 3954
council and may jointly appoint up to seven individuals to the council 3955
as follows: (A) Two individuals in recovery from a substance use 3956
disorder or representing an advocacy group for individuals with a 3957
substance use disorder; (B) a provider of community-based substance 3958
abuse services for adults; (C) a provider of community-based substance 3959
abuse services for adolescents; (D) an addiction medicine physician; (E) 3960
a family member of an individual in recovery from a substance use 3961
disorder; and (F) an emergency medicine physician currently practicing 3962
in a Connecticut hospital. The cochairpersons of the council may 3963
establish subcommittees and working groups and may appoint 3964
individuals other than members of the council to serve as members of 3965
the subcommittees or working groups. Such individuals may include, 3966
but need not be limited to: (i) Licensed alcohol and drug counselors; (ii) 3967
pharmacists; (iii) municipal police chiefs; (iv) emergency medical 3968
services personnel; and (v) representatives of organizations that provide 3969
education, prevention, intervention, referrals, rehabilitation or support 3970
services to individuals with substance use disorder or chemical 3971
dependency. 3972
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 17a-780
Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 17a-782
Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 17a-783
Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 17a-784
Sec. 6 July 1, 2026 17a-785
Sec. 7 July 1, 2026 17a-786
Sec. 8 July 1, 2026 17a-787
Sec. 9 July 1, 2026 17a-788
Sec. 10 July 1, 2026 17a-791
Sec. 11 July 1, 2026 17a-791a
Sec. 12 July 1, 2026 17a-793
Sec. 13 July 1, 2026 17a-794 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 128 of 130
Sec. 14 July 1, 2026 17a-795
Sec. 15 July 1, 2026 17a-797
Sec. 16 July 1, 2026 17a-798
Sec. 17 July 1, 2026 17a-799
Sec. 18 July 1, 2026 17a-810(b)
Sec. 19 July 1, 2026 17a-812
Sec. 20 July 1, 2026 17a-813
Sec. 21 July 1, 2026 17a-814
Sec. 22 July 1, 2026 17a-815
Sec. 23 July 1, 2026 17a-816
Sec. 24 July 1, 2026 17a-818
Sec. 25 July 1, 2026 17a-819
Sec. 26 July 1, 2026 17a-820
Sec. 27 July 1, 2026 17a-821
Sec. 28 July 1, 2026 17a-822
Sec. 29 July 1, 2026 17a-823
Sec. 30 July 1, 2026 17a-824
Sec. 31 July 1, 2026 17a-825
Sec. 32 July 1, 2026 17a-835
Sec. 33 July 1, 2026 17a-835a
Sec. 34 July 1, 2026 17a-836(2)
Sec. 35 July 1, 2026 17a-837(a)
Sec. 36 July 1, 2026 17a-838
Sec. 37 July 1, 2026 17a-839
Sec. 38 July 1, 2026 17a-839a
Sec. 39 July 1, 2026 17a-850
Sec. 40 July 1, 2026 17a-851
Sec. 41 July 1, 2026 17a-852(a)
Sec. 42 July 1, 2026 17a-852a
Sec. 43 July 1, 2026 17a-853
Sec. 44 July 1, 2026 17a-854
Sec. 45 July 1, 2026 17a-855
Sec. 46 July 1, 2026 17a-856
Sec. 47 July 1, 2026 17a-857
Sec. 48 July 1, 2026 17a-858(a)
Sec. 49 July 1, 2026 17a-859
Sec. 50 July 1, 2026 17a-860(b)
Sec. 51 July 1, 2026 17a-862
Sec. 52 July 1, 2026 17a-870
Sec. 53 July 1, 2026 17a-872 T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 129 of 130
Sec. 54 July 1, 2026 17a-876(c)
Sec. 55 July 1, 2026 17a-879
Sec. 56 July 1, 2026 17a-880
Sec. 57 July 1, 2026 17a-885(c)
Sec. 58 July 1, 2026 17b-4(b)
Sec. 59 July 1, 2026 17b-28(c)
Sec. 60 July 1, 2026 17b-90(b)
Sec. 61 July 1, 2026 17b-337(c)
Sec. 62 July 1, 2026 17b-352
Sec. 63 July 1, 2026 17b-606
Sec. 64 July 1, 2026 21a-3a
Sec. 65 July 1, 2026 23-15c
Sec. 66 July 1, 2026 26-29
Sec. 67 July 1, 2026 31-3i(a)
Sec. 68 July 1, 2026 31-280(d)
Sec. 69 July 1, 2026 31-283a
Sec. 70 July 1, 2026 31-296(a)
Sec. 71 July 1, 2026 31-300
Sec. 72 July 1, 2026 31-345(b)(2)
Sec. 73 July 1, 2026 31-349b(a)
Sec. 74 July 1, 2026 32-7t(c)(4)
Sec. 75 July 1, 2026 38a-47(a)
Sec. 76 July 1, 2026 38a-48
Sec. 77 July 1, 2026 38a-475
Sec. 78 July 1, 2026 42-339
Sec. 79 July 1, 2026 3-123aa(c)
Sec. 80 July 1, 2026 4-5
Sec. 81 July 1, 2026 4-38c
Sec. 82 July 1, 2026 4-61aa(a)
Sec. 83 July 1, 2026 4-67cc
Sec. 84 July 1, 2026 4-89(g)
Sec. 85 July 1, 2026 4-124xx
Sec. 86 July 1, 2026 4a-82
Sec. 87 July 1, 2026 5-175a(a)
Sec. 88 July 1, 2026 5-198
Sec. 89 July 1, 2026 5-259(e)
Sec. 90 July 1, 2026 7-127b
Sec. 91 July 1, 2026 8-119f
Sec. 92 July 1, 2026 9-20(c)
Sec. 93 July 1, 2026 10-74m T
Committee Bill No. 1158
LCO No. 4161 130 of 130
Sec. 94 July 1, 2026 10-74n(a)
Sec. 95 July 1, 2026 10-74q(a)
Sec. 96 July 1, 2026 10-74t
Sec. 97 July 1, 2026 10-76d(a)(9)(A)
Sec. 98 July 1, 2026 10-76i(a)
Sec. 99 July 1, 2026 10-76y(a)
Sec. 100 July 1, 2026 11-1a(d)
Sec. 101 July 1, 2026 12-217oo(a)
Sec. 102 July 1, 2026 12-217pp
Sec. 103 July 1, 2026 14-11b
Sec. 104 July 1, 2026 14-44(b)(2)
Sec. 105 July 1, 2026 14-253a(b)
Sec. 106 July 1, 2026 14-253c(b)
Sec. 107 July 1, 2026 17a-3(d)
Sec. 108 July 1, 2026 17a-215j(a)
Sec. 109 July 1, 2026 17a-248
Sec. 110 July 1, 2026 17a-451(e)
Sec. 111 July 1, 2026 17a-667(b)
Statement of Purpose:
To align state agency functions and improve efficiency and service
delivery for seniors and persons with disabilities.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]
Co-Sponsors: SEN. LESSER, 9th Dist.
S.B. 1158