| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | ||
| 2 | - | ||
| 3 | - | LCO 1 of | |
| 4 | - | | |
| 5 | - | General Assembly | |
| 1 | + | T | |
| 2 | + | ||
| 3 | + | LCO No. 4161 1 of 130 | |
| 4 | + | ||
| 5 | + | General Assembly Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 6 | 6 | January Session, 2025 | |
| 7 | + | LCO No. 4161 | |
| 8 | + | ||
| 9 | + | ||
| 10 | + | Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES | |
| 11 | + | ||
| 12 | + | ||
| 13 | + | Introduced by: | |
| 14 | + | (HS) | |
| 7 | 15 | ||
| 8 | 16 | ||
| 9 | 17 | ||
| 10 | 18 | AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEPARTMENT | |
| 11 | 19 | ON AGING. | |
| 12 | 20 | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General | |
| 13 | 21 | Assembly convened: | |
| 14 | 22 | ||
| 15 | 23 | Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, 1 | |
| 16 | 24 | "older person" means a person age sixty-two or older. There shall be 2 | |
| 17 | 25 | established a Department on Aging that shall be under the direction and 3 | |
| 18 | 26 | supervision of the Commissioner on Aging, who shall be appointed by 4 | |
| 19 | 27 | the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, 5 | |
| 20 | 28 | inclusive, of the general statutes, as amended by this act, with the 6 | |
| 21 | 29 | powers and duties prescribed in said sections. The commissioner shall 7 | |
| 22 | 30 | be knowledgeable and experienced with respect to the conditions and 8 | |
| 23 | 31 | needs of older persons and shall serve on a full-time basis. 9 | |
| 24 | 32 | (b) The Department on Aging shall constitute a successor department 10 | |
| 25 | 33 | to the Department of Aging and Disability Services in accordance with 11 | |
| 26 | 34 | the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39 of the general statutes 12 | |
| 27 | 35 | with respect to those powers, duties and functions concerning the 13 | |
| 28 | 36 | provision of services to older persons as described in subsections (c) and 14 | |
| 29 | 37 | (d) of this section, but excluding the services described in section 17a-15 | |
| 30 | - | 780 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 16 | |
| 38 | + | 780 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 16 T | |
| 39 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 40 | + | ||
| 41 | + | ||
| 42 | + | LCO No. 4161 2 of 130 | |
| 43 | + | ||
| 31 | 44 | (c) The Commissioner on Aging shall administer all laws under the 17 | |
| 32 | 45 | jurisdiction of the Department on Aging and shall employ the most 18 | |
| 33 | - | efficient and practical means for the provision of care and protection of 19 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 34 | - | ||
| 35 | - | ||
| 36 | - | LCO 2 of 128 | |
| 37 | - | ||
| 46 | + | efficient and practical means for the provision of care and protection of 19 | |
| 38 | 47 | older persons. The commissioner shall have the power and duty to do 20 | |
| 39 | 48 | the following: (1) Administer, coordinate and direct the operation of the 21 | |
| 40 | 49 | department; (2) adopt and enforce regulations, in accordance with 22 | |
| 41 | 50 | chapter 54 of the general statutes, as necessary to implement the 23 | |
| 42 | 51 | purposes of the department as established by statute; (3) establish rules 24 | |
| 43 | 52 | for the internal operation and administration of the department; (4) 25 | |
| 44 | 53 | establish and develop programs and administer services to achieve the 26 | |
| 45 | 54 | purposes of the department; (5) contract for facilities, services and 27 | |
| 46 | 55 | programs to implement the purposes of the department; (6) act as 28 | |
| 47 | 56 | advocate for necessary additional comprehensive and coordinated 29 | |
| 48 | 57 | programs for older persons; (7) assist and advise all appropriate state, 30 | |
| 49 | 58 | federal, local and area planning agencies for older persons in the 31 | |
| 50 | 59 | performance of their functions and duties pursuant to federal law and 32 | |
| 51 | 60 | regulation; (8) plan services and programs for older persons; (9) 33 | |
| 52 | 61 | coordinate outreach activities by public and private agencies serving 34 | |
| 53 | 62 | older persons, including area agencies on aging, as described in section 35 | |
| 54 | 63 | 17a-850 of the general statutes, as amended by this act; and (10) consult 36 | |
| 55 | 64 | and cooperate with area and private planning agencies. 37 | |
| 56 | 65 | (d) The Department on Aging is designated as the State Unit on 38 | |
| 57 | 66 | Aging to administer, manage, design and advocate for benefits, 39 | |
| 58 | 67 | programs and services for older persons and their families pursuant to 40 | |
| 59 | 68 | the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to time. The 41 | |
| 60 | 69 | department shall study continuously the conditions and needs of older 42 | |
| 61 | 70 | persons in this state in relation to nutrition, transportation, home care, 43 | |
| 62 | 71 | housing, income, employment, health, recreation and other matters. The 44 | |
| 63 | 72 | department shall be responsible, in cooperation with federal, state, local 45 | |
| 64 | 73 | and area agencies on aging, for the overall planning, development and 46 | |
| 65 | 74 | administration of a comprehensive and integrated social service 47 | |
| 66 | 75 | delivery system for older persons. The Department on Aging is 48 | |
| 67 | 76 | designated as the state agency for (1) the administration of nutritional 49 | |
| 68 | - | programs for older persons described in section 17a-852 of the general 50 | |
| 77 | + | programs for older persons described in section 17a-852 of the general 50 T | |
| 78 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 79 | + | ||
| 80 | + | ||
| 81 | + | LCO No. 4161 3 of 130 | |
| 82 | + | ||
| 69 | 83 | statutes, as amended by this act, (2) the fall prevention program 51 | |
| 70 | 84 | described in section 17a-859 of the general statutes, as amended by this 52 | |
| 71 | - | act, (3) the CHOICES program described in section 17a-857 of the 53 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 72 | - | ||
| 73 | - | ||
| 74 | - | LCO 3 of 128 | |
| 75 | - | ||
| 85 | + | act, (3) the CHOICES program described in section 17a-857 of the 53 | |
| 76 | 86 | general statutes, as amended by this act, (4) the Aging and Disability 54 | |
| 77 | 87 | Resource Center Program described in section 17a-858 of the general 55 | |
| 78 | 88 | statutes, as amended by this act, and (5) the Alzheimer's respite program 56 | |
| 79 | 89 | described in section 17b-860 of the general statutes. 57 | |
| 80 | 90 | (e) The functions, powers, duties and personnel of the Department of 58 | |
| 81 | 91 | Aging and Disability Services dedicated to the provision of services 59 | |
| 82 | 92 | described in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, but excluding the 60 | |
| 83 | 93 | services described in section 17a-780 of the general statutes, as amended 61 | |
| 84 | 94 | by this act, shall be transferred to the Department on Aging pursuant to 62 | |
| 85 | 95 | the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39 of the general statutes. 63 | |
| 86 | 96 | (f) The Governor may, with the approval of the Finance Advisory 64 | |
| 87 | 97 | Committee, transfer funds between the Department of Aging and 65 | |
| 88 | 98 | Disability Services and the Department on Aging pursuant to subsection 66 | |
| 89 | 99 | (b) of section 4-87 of the general statutes during the fiscal year ending 67 | |
| 90 | 100 | June 30, 2027. 68 | |
| 91 | 101 | (g) Any order or regulation of the Department of Aging and 69 | |
| 92 | 102 | Disability Services relating to services described in subsections (c) and 70 | |
| 93 | 103 | (d) of this section that is in force on July 1, 2026, but excluding the 71 | |
| 94 | 104 | services described in section 17a-780 of the general statutes, as amended 72 | |
| 95 | 105 | by this act, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation of 73 | |
| 96 | 106 | the Department on Aging until amended, repealed or superseded 74 | |
| 97 | 107 | pursuant to law. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the 75 | |
| 98 | 108 | Commissioner on Aging may implement policies and procedures 76 | |
| 99 | 109 | consistent with the provisions of this section while in the process of 77 | |
| 100 | 110 | adopting the policies or procedures in regulation form, provided notice 78 | |
| 101 | 111 | of intention to adopt regulations is posted on the Department on Aging's 79 | |
| 102 | 112 | Internet web site and the eRegulations System not later than twenty 80 | |
| 103 | 113 | days after implementation. Any such policies or procedures shall be 81 | |
| 104 | - | valid until the time final regulations are effective. 82 | |
| 114 | + | valid until the time final regulations are effective. 82 T | |
| 115 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 116 | + | ||
| 117 | + | ||
| 118 | + | LCO No. 4161 4 of 130 | |
| 119 | + | ||
| 105 | 120 | Sec. 2. Section 17a-780 of the general statutes is repealed and the 83 | |
| 106 | 121 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 84 | |
| 107 | - | (a) There is created a Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 85 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 108 | - | ||
| 109 | - | ||
| 110 | - | LCO 4 of 128 | |
| 111 | - | ||
| 122 | + | (a) There is created a Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 85 | |
| 112 | 123 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall be responsible 86 | |
| 113 | 124 | for providing the following: (1) Services to persons who are deaf, 87 | |
| 114 | 125 | deafblind or hard of hearing; (2) services for persons who are blind or 88 | |
| 115 | 126 | visually impaired; and (3) rehabilitation services in accordance with the 89 | |
| 116 | 127 | provisions of the general statutes concerning the Department of [Aging 90 | |
| 117 | 128 | and] Disability Services. [; and (4) services for older persons and their 91 | |
| 118 | 129 | families.] The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 92 | |
| 119 | 130 | constitute a successor authority to the Department of [Rehabilitation 93 | |
| 120 | 131 | Services] Aging and Disability Services in accordance with the 94 | |
| 121 | 132 | provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39 with respect to the powers 95 | |
| 122 | 133 | and duties described in subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this 96 | |
| 123 | 134 | subsection, but excluding the provision of services to older persons as 97 | |
| 124 | 135 | described in section 1 of this act. 98 | |
| 125 | 136 | (b) The department head shall be the Commissioner of [Aging and] 99 | |
| 126 | 137 | Disability Services, who shall be appointed by the Governor in 100 | |
| 127 | 138 | accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, as 101 | |
| 128 | 139 | amended by this act, and shall have the powers and duties described in 102 | |
| 129 | 140 | said sections. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 103 | |
| 130 | 141 | appoint such persons as may be necessary to administer the provisions 104 | |
| 131 | 142 | of public act 11-44 and the Commissioner of Administrative Services 105 | |
| 132 | 143 | shall fix the compensation of such persons in accordance with the 106 | |
| 133 | 144 | provisions of section 4-40. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 107 | |
| 134 | 145 | Services may create such sections within the Department of [Aging and] 108 | |
| 135 | 146 | Disability Services as will facilitate such administration, including a 109 | |
| 136 | 147 | disability determinations section for which one hundred per cent federal 110 | |
| 137 | 148 | funds may be accepted for the operation of such section in conformity 111 | |
| 138 | 149 | with applicable state and federal regulations. The Commissioner of 112 | |
| 139 | 150 | [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt regulations, in accordance 113 | |
| 140 | 151 | with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the purposes of the 114 | |
| 141 | - | department as established by statute. 115 | |
| 152 | + | department as established by statute. 115 T | |
| 153 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 154 | + | ||
| 155 | + | ||
| 156 | + | LCO No. 4161 5 of 130 | |
| 157 | + | ||
| 142 | 158 | (c) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall, 116 | |
| 143 | 159 | annually, in accordance with section 4-60, submit to the Governor a 117 | |
| 144 | 160 | report in electronic format on the activities of the Department of [Aging 118 | |
| 145 | - | and] Disability Services relating to services provided by the department 119 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 146 | - | ||
| 147 | - | ||
| 148 | - | LCO 5 of 128 | |
| 149 | - | ||
| 161 | + | and] Disability Services relating to services provided by the department 119 | |
| 150 | 162 | to persons who (1) are blind or visually impaired, (2) are deaf, deafblind 120 | |
| 151 | 163 | or hard of hearing, or (3) receive vocational rehabilitation services. [, or 121 | |
| 152 | 164 | (4) are older persons or their families.] The report shall include the data 122 | |
| 153 | 165 | the department provides to the federal government that relates to the 123 | |
| 154 | 166 | evaluation standards and performance indicators for the vocational 124 | |
| 155 | 167 | rehabilitation services program. The commissioner shall submit the 125 | |
| 156 | 168 | report in electronic format, in accordance with the provisions of section 126 | |
| 157 | 169 | 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 127 | |
| 158 | 170 | cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations 128 | |
| 159 | 171 | and the budgets of state agencies. 129 | |
| 160 | 172 | (d) Any order or regulation of the Department of Aging and 130 | |
| 161 | 173 | Disability Services relating to the services described in this section that 131 | |
| 162 | 174 | is in force on July 1, 2026, shall continue in force and effect as an order 132 | |
| 163 | 175 | or regulation of the Department of Disability Services until amended, 133 | |
| 164 | 176 | repealed or superseded pursuant to law. Notwithstanding the 134 | |
| 165 | 177 | provisions of this subsection, the Commissioner of Disability Services 135 | |
| 166 | 178 | may implement policies and procedures consistent with the provisions 136 | |
| 167 | 179 | of this section while in the process of adopting the policies or procedures 137 | |
| 168 | 180 | in regulation form, provided notice of intention to adopt regulations is 138 | |
| 169 | 181 | posted on the Department of Disability Services' Internet web site and 139 | |
| 170 | 182 | the eRegulations System not later than twenty days after 140 | |
| 171 | 183 | implementation. Any such policies or procedures shall be valid until the 141 | |
| 172 | 184 | time final regulations are effective. 142 | |
| 173 | 185 | [(d) The functions, powers, duties and personnel of the former 143 | |
| 174 | 186 | Department on Aging, or any subsequent division or portion of a 144 | |
| 175 | 187 | division with similar functions, powers, duties and personnel, shall be 145 | |
| 176 | 188 | transferred to the Department of Aging and Disability Services pursuant 146 | |
| 177 | - | to the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. 147 | |
| 189 | + | to the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. 147 T | |
| 190 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 191 | + | ||
| 192 | + | ||
| 193 | + | LCO No. 4161 6 of 130 | |
| 194 | + | ||
| 178 | 195 | (e) The Department of Aging and Disability Services shall constitute 148 | |
| 179 | 196 | a successor department to the former Department on Aging, in 149 | |
| 180 | 197 | accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. 150 | |
| 181 | 198 | Wherever the words "Commissioner on Aging" are used in the general 151 | |
| 182 | - | statutes, the words "Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services" 152 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 183 | - | ||
| 184 | - | ||
| 185 | - | LCO 6 of 128 | |
| 186 | - | ||
| 199 | + | statutes, the words "Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services" 152 | |
| 187 | 200 | shall be substituted in lieu thereof. Wherever the words "Department on 153 | |
| 188 | 201 | Aging" are used in the general statutes, the words "Department of Aging 154 | |
| 189 | 202 | and Disability Services" shall be substituted in lieu thereof. Any order 155 | |
| 190 | 203 | or regulation of the former Department on Aging that is in force on June 156 | |
| 191 | 204 | 14, 2018, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation of 157 | |
| 192 | 205 | the Department of Aging and Disability Services until amended, 158 | |
| 193 | 206 | repealed or superseded pursuant to law. 159 | |
| 194 | 207 | (f) The Governor may, with the approval of the Finance Advisory 160 | |
| 195 | 208 | Committee, transfer funds between the Department of Social Services 161 | |
| 196 | 209 | and the Department of Aging and Disability Services pursuant to 162 | |
| 197 | 210 | subsection (b) of section 4-87 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. 163 | |
| 198 | 211 | (g) The Department of Aging and Disability Services is designated as 164 | |
| 199 | 212 | the State Unit on Aging to administer, manage, design and advocate for 165 | |
| 200 | 213 | benefits, programs and services for older persons and their families 166 | |
| 201 | 214 | pursuant to the Older Americans Act. The department shall study 167 | |
| 202 | 215 | continuously the conditions and needs of older persons in this state in 168 | |
| 203 | 216 | relation to nutrition, transportation, home care, housing, income, 169 | |
| 204 | 217 | employment, health, recreation and other matters. The department shall 170 | |
| 205 | 218 | be responsible, in cooperation with federal, state, local and area 171 | |
| 206 | 219 | planning agencies on aging, for the overall planning, development and 172 | |
| 207 | 220 | administration of a comprehensive and integrated social service 173 | |
| 208 | 221 | delivery system for older persons. The Department of Aging and 174 | |
| 209 | 222 | Disability Services is designated as the state agency for the 175 | |
| 210 | 223 | administration of nutritional programs for elderly persons described in 176 | |
| 211 | 224 | section 17a-852, the fall prevention program described in section 17a-177 | |
| 212 | 225 | 859, the CHOICES program described in section 17a-857, the Aging and 178 | |
| 213 | 226 | Disability Resource Center Program described in section 17a-858 and 179 | |
| 214 | - | the Alzheimer's respite program described in section 17b-860.] 180 | |
| 227 | + | the Alzheimer's respite program described in section 17b-860.] 180 T | |
| 228 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 229 | + | ||
| 230 | + | ||
| 231 | + | LCO No. 4161 7 of 130 | |
| 232 | + | ||
| 215 | 233 | Sec. 3. Section 17a-782 of the general statutes is repealed and the 181 | |
| 216 | 234 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 182 | |
| 217 | 235 | (a) Vocational rehabilitation services shall be provided, with or 183 | |
| 218 | - | without public cost, directly or through public or private 184 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 219 | - | ||
| 220 | - | ||
| 221 | - | LCO 7 of 128 | |
| 222 | - | ||
| 236 | + | without public cost, directly or through public or private 184 | |
| 223 | 237 | instrumentalities, as part of an individual plan for employment for a 185 | |
| 224 | 238 | person with disabilities determined to be eligible by the Department of 186 | |
| 225 | 239 | [Aging and] Disability Services, in accordance with Title I of the 187 | |
| 226 | 240 | Rehabilitation Act, 29 USC 701 et seq., as amended from time to time. 188 | |
| 227 | 241 | Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean that an individual's 189 | |
| 228 | 242 | ability or inability to share in the cost of vocational rehabilitation 190 | |
| 229 | 243 | services may be taken into account during the determination of 191 | |
| 230 | 244 | eligibility for such services. 192 | |
| 231 | 245 | (b) If vocational rehabilitation services cannot be provided for all 193 | |
| 232 | 246 | eligible persons with disabilities who apply for such services, the 194 | |
| 233 | 247 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall determine, in 195 | |
| 234 | 248 | accordance with Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 701 et 196 | |
| 235 | 249 | seq., and federal regulations, as amended from time to time, the order 197 | |
| 236 | 250 | to be followed in selecting those to whom such services will be 198 | |
| 237 | 251 | provided. 199 | |
| 238 | 252 | (c) Nothing in section 17a-781 or subsection (a) of this section shall be 200 | |
| 239 | 253 | construed to preclude provision of vocational rehabilitation services, 201 | |
| 240 | 254 | with or without public cost, to a person with a disability under an 202 | |
| 241 | 255 | extended evaluation for a total period not in excess of eighteen months, 203 | |
| 242 | 256 | in accordance with Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 701 204 | |
| 243 | 257 | et seq., as amended from time to time. 205 | |
| 244 | 258 | (d) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt 206 | |
| 245 | 259 | regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish 207 | |
| 246 | 260 | standards and procedures governing the provision of vocational 208 | |
| 247 | 261 | rehabilitation services and, where appropriate, a means test to 209 | |
| 248 | 262 | determine, based upon the financial need of each eligible person with 210 | |
| 249 | 263 | disabilities, the extent to which such services will be provided at public 211 | |
| 250 | - | cost. Any funds received by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 212 | |
| 264 | + | cost. Any funds received by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 212 T | |
| 265 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 266 | + | ||
| 267 | + | ||
| 268 | + | LCO No. 4161 8 of 130 | |
| 269 | + | ||
| 251 | 270 | Services from individuals or third parties for the provision of vocational 213 | |
| 252 | 271 | rehabilitation services shall be used by the department to provide such 214 | |
| 253 | 272 | services. The regulations may also prescribe the procedures to be used 215 | |
| 254 | 273 | when payment is made by individuals required to contribute to the cost 216 | |
| 255 | - | of vocational rehabilitation services. Regulations developed to 217 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 256 | - | ||
| 257 | - | ||
| 258 | - | LCO 8 of 128 | |
| 259 | - | ||
| 274 | + | of vocational rehabilitation services. Regulations developed to 217 | |
| 260 | 275 | implement a means test shall include, but not be limited to: (1) An 218 | |
| 261 | 276 | exemption for any individual with an income of less than one hundred 219 | |
| 262 | 277 | per cent of the state median income and assets which are less than five 220 | |
| 263 | 278 | thousand dollars; (2) an exemption for services covered in an individual 221 | |
| 264 | 279 | plan for employment in effect at the time of implementation of the 222 | |
| 265 | 280 | means test; (3) an exclusion from an individual's income of the costs of 223 | |
| 266 | 281 | necessary and reasonable disability-related expenses including, but not 224 | |
| 267 | 282 | limited to, personal attendant services and medications for which 225 | |
| 268 | 283 | payment is unavailable to the individual through other benefits or 226 | |
| 269 | 284 | resources; (4) an exclusion from the individual's assets of the value of 227 | |
| 270 | 285 | the individual's primary residence and motor vehicle; (5) a method by 228 | |
| 271 | 286 | which the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may reduce 229 | |
| 272 | 287 | the level of required contributions by an individual in the case of undue 230 | |
| 273 | 288 | hardship; and (6) a requirement that the Department of [Aging and] 231 | |
| 274 | 289 | Disability Services notify an individual of the results of the means test 232 | |
| 275 | 290 | analysis within thirty days of receipt of necessary financial information 233 | |
| 276 | 291 | from the individual. Such means test shall not apply to services covered 234 | |
| 277 | 292 | under a determination of financial need made by an institution of higher 235 | |
| 278 | 293 | education. The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 236 | |
| 279 | 294 | develop the regulations in consultation with representatives of 237 | |
| 280 | 295 | providers of vocational rehabilitation services and recipients of such 238 | |
| 281 | 296 | services or their representatives. 239 | |
| 282 | 297 | Sec. 4. Section 17a-783 of the general statutes is repealed and the 240 | |
| 283 | 298 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 241 | |
| 284 | 299 | (a) Any applicant for or recipient of vocational rehabilitation services 242 | |
| 285 | 300 | may request an informal review of any decision made by the 243 | |
| 286 | 301 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to section 17a-244 | |
| 287 | - | 782, as amended by this act. 245 | |
| 302 | + | 782, as amended by this act. 245 T | |
| 303 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 304 | + | ||
| 305 | + | ||
| 306 | + | LCO No. 4161 9 of 130 | |
| 307 | + | ||
| 288 | 308 | (b) Regardless of whether a person requests an informal review 246 | |
| 289 | 309 | under subsection (a) of this section, any applicant for or recipient of 247 | |
| 290 | 310 | vocational rehabilitation services who is aggrieved by a decision made 248 | |
| 291 | 311 | by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to 249 | |
| 292 | - | section 17a-782, as amended by this act, may request an administrative 250 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 293 | - | ||
| 294 | - | ||
| 295 | - | LCO 9 of 128 | |
| 296 | - | ||
| 312 | + | section 17a-782, as amended by this act, may request an administrative 250 | |
| 297 | 313 | hearing, by making written request to the Commissioner of [Aging and] 251 | |
| 298 | 314 | Disability Services. 252 | |
| 299 | 315 | (c) An individual who is aggrieved by a final agency decision made 253 | |
| 300 | 316 | pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may appeal therefrom in 254 | |
| 301 | 317 | accordance with section 4-183. Such appeals shall be privileged cases to 255 | |
| 302 | 318 | be heard by the court as soon after the return day as shall be practicable. 256 | |
| 303 | 319 | Sec. 5. Section 17a-784 of the general statutes is repealed and the 257 | |
| 304 | 320 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 258 | |
| 305 | 321 | (a) In carrying out sections 17a-780 to 17a-790, inclusive, as amended 259 | |
| 306 | 322 | by this act, 17a-796, 17a-797, as amended by this act, 17a-799, as 260 | |
| 307 | 323 | amended by this act, and 17a-835, as amended by this act, the 261 | |
| 308 | 324 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall cooperate with 262 | |
| 309 | 325 | other departments, agencies and institutions, both public and private, 263 | |
| 310 | 326 | in providing for the vocational rehabilitation of persons with 264 | |
| 311 | 327 | disabilities, in studying the problems involved therein and in 265 | |
| 312 | 328 | establishing, developing and providing such programs, facilities and 266 | |
| 313 | 329 | services as it deems necessary or desirable. Notwithstanding any other 267 | |
| 314 | 330 | provision of the general statutes, the Department of [Aging and] 268 | |
| 315 | 331 | Disability Services shall not be required to pay that portion of the cost 269 | |
| 316 | 332 | of a program of postsecondary education or training which is properly 270 | |
| 317 | 333 | designated as expected parental or family contribution in accordance 271 | |
| 318 | 334 | with state and federal law regarding eligibility for student financial aid. 272 | |
| 319 | 335 | (b) Subject to the approval of all real estate acquisitions by the 273 | |
| 320 | 336 | Commissioner of Administrative Services and the State Properties 274 | |
| 321 | 337 | Review Board, in carrying out said sections, the Department of [Aging 275 | |
| 322 | 338 | and] Disability Services may (1) establish, operate, foster and promote 276 | |
| 323 | - | the establishment of rehabilitation facilities and make grants to public 277 | |
| 339 | + | the establishment of rehabilitation facilities and make grants to public 277 T | |
| 340 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 341 | + | ||
| 342 | + | ||
| 343 | + | LCO No. 4161 10 of 130 | |
| 344 | + | ||
| 324 | 345 | and other nonprofit and nonsectarian organizations for such purposes; 278 | |
| 325 | 346 | (2) assist persons with significant disabilities to establish and operate 279 | |
| 326 | 347 | small businesses; and (3) make studies, investigations, demonstrations 280 | |
| 327 | 348 | and reports, and provide training and instruction, including the 281 | |
| 328 | - | establishment and maintenance of such research fellowships and 282 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 329 | - | ||
| 330 | - | ||
| 331 | - | LCO 10 of 128 | |
| 332 | - | ||
| 349 | + | establishment and maintenance of such research fellowships and 282 | |
| 333 | 350 | traineeships with such stipends and allowances as may be deemed 283 | |
| 334 | 351 | necessary, in matters relating to vocational rehabilitation. 284 | |
| 335 | 352 | (c) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 285 | |
| 336 | 353 | develop and maintain a program of public education and information. 286 | |
| 337 | 354 | The program shall include, but need not be limited to, education of the 287 | |
| 338 | 355 | public concerning services available from the Department of [Aging 288 | |
| 339 | 356 | and] Disability Services, its policies and goals, an outreach effort to 289 | |
| 340 | 357 | discover persons with disabilities, including such persons who are 290 | |
| 341 | 358 | minorities as defined in subsection (a) of section 32-9n, who may benefit 291 | |
| 342 | 359 | from the services it offers and the dissemination of printed materials to 292 | |
| 343 | 360 | persons at their initial meeting with staff of the department, including a 293 | |
| 344 | 361 | statement of such person's rights. 294 | |
| 345 | 362 | Sec. 6. Section 17a-785 of the general statutes is repealed and the 295 | |
| 346 | 363 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 296 | |
| 347 | 364 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to 297 | |
| 348 | 365 | cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the purposes of 298 | |
| 349 | 366 | any federal statutes pertaining to vocational rehabilitation, to adopt 299 | |
| 350 | 367 | such methods of administration as it finds necessary for the proper and 300 | |
| 351 | 368 | efficient operation of agreements or plans for vocational rehabilitation 301 | |
| 352 | 369 | and to comply with such conditions as may be necessary to secure the 302 | |
| 353 | 370 | full benefits of such federal statutes to this state. 303 | |
| 354 | 371 | Sec. 7. Section 17a-786 of the general statutes is repealed and the 304 | |
| 355 | 372 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 305 | |
| 356 | 373 | The State Treasurer is designated as the custodian of all funds 306 | |
| 357 | 374 | received from the federal government for the purpose of carrying out 307 | |
| 358 | - | any federal statutes pertaining to vocational rehabilitation or any 308 | |
| 375 | + | any federal statutes pertaining to vocational rehabilitation or any 308 T | |
| 376 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 377 | + | ||
| 378 | + | ||
| 379 | + | LCO No. 4161 11 of 130 | |
| 380 | + | ||
| 359 | 381 | agreements authorized by sections 17a-780 to 17a-790, inclusive, as 309 | |
| 360 | 382 | amended by this act, 17a-796, 17a-797, as amended by this act, 17a-799, 310 | |
| 361 | 383 | as amended by this act, and 17a-835, as amended by this act, and shall 311 | |
| 362 | 384 | make disbursements from such funds and from all state funds available 312 | |
| 363 | 385 | for vocational rehabilitation purposes upon certification by the 313 | |
| 364 | - | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services. 314 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 365 | - | ||
| 366 | - | ||
| 367 | - | LCO 11 of 128 | |
| 368 | - | ||
| 386 | + | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services. 314 | |
| 369 | 387 | Sec. 8. Section 17a-787 of the general statutes is repealed and the 315 | |
| 370 | 388 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 316 | |
| 371 | 389 | The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to 317 | |
| 372 | 390 | accept and use gifts, grants, reimbursements or bequests made by will 318 | |
| 373 | 391 | or otherwise for carrying out the purposes of the donor or of the general 319 | |
| 374 | 392 | statutes concerning the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 320 | |
| 375 | 393 | Gifts, grants, reimbursements or bequests made under such conditions 321 | |
| 376 | 394 | as in the judgment of the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 322 | |
| 377 | 395 | Services are proper and consistent with the provisions of state and 323 | |
| 378 | 396 | federal law may be so accepted and shall be held, invested, reinvested 324 | |
| 379 | 397 | and used in accordance with the conditions of the gift, grant, 325 | |
| 380 | 398 | reimbursement or bequest. 326 | |
| 381 | 399 | Sec. 9. Section 17a-788 of the general statutes is repealed and the 327 | |
| 382 | 400 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 328 | |
| 383 | 401 | Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the 329 | |
| 384 | 402 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may, within the limits of 330 | |
| 385 | 403 | appropriations, purchase (1) wheelchairs and placement equipment 331 | |
| 386 | 404 | directly and without the issuance of a purchase order, provided the cost 332 | |
| 387 | 405 | of such purchases shall not be in excess of twenty thousand dollars per 333 | |
| 388 | 406 | unit, and (2) adaptive equipment, including equipment to modify 334 | |
| 389 | 407 | vehicles for persons with disabilities directly and without the issuance 335 | |
| 390 | 408 | of a purchase order, provided the cost of such purchases of adaptive 336 | |
| 391 | 409 | equipment shall not be in excess of one hundred twenty thousand 337 | |
| 392 | 410 | dollars per unit. All such purchases shall be made in the open market, 338 | |
| 393 | 411 | but shall, when possible, be based on at least three competitive bids. 339 | |
| 394 | - | Such bids shall be solicited by sending notice to prospective suppliers 340 | |
| 412 | + | Such bids shall be solicited by sending notice to prospective suppliers 340 T | |
| 413 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 414 | + | ||
| 415 | + | ||
| 416 | + | LCO No. 4161 12 of 130 | |
| 417 | + | ||
| 395 | 418 | and by posting notice on the Internet web site of the Department of 341 | |
| 396 | 419 | [Aging and] Disability Services. Each bid shall be opened publicly at the 342 | |
| 397 | 420 | time stated in the notice soliciting such bid. Acceptance of a bid by the 343 | |
| 398 | 421 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall be based on 344 | |
| 399 | 422 | standard specifications as may be adopted by said department. 345 | |
| 400 | - | Sec. 10. Section 17a-791 of the general statutes is repealed and the 346 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 401 | - | ||
| 402 | - | ||
| 403 | - | LCO 12 of 128 | |
| 404 | - | ||
| 423 | + | Sec. 10. Section 17a-791 of the general statutes is repealed and the 346 | |
| 405 | 424 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 347 | |
| 406 | 425 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall establish a 348 | |
| 407 | 426 | program to assist public school students with disabilities in preparing 349 | |
| 408 | 427 | for and obtaining competitive employment and to strengthen the 350 | |
| 409 | 428 | linkage between vocational rehabilitation services and public schools. 351 | |
| 410 | 429 | Under the program, the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services 352 | |
| 411 | 430 | shall provide, within the limits of available appropriations, vocational 353 | |
| 412 | 431 | evaluations and other appropriate transitional services and shall 354 | |
| 413 | 432 | provide vocational rehabilitation counselors to school districts 355 | |
| 414 | 433 | throughout the state. The counselors shall, if requested, assist those 356 | |
| 415 | 434 | persons planning in-school skill development programs. The counselors 357 | |
| 416 | 435 | shall, with planning and placement team members, develop transition 358 | |
| 417 | 436 | plans and individual education and work rehabilitation plans for 359 | |
| 418 | 437 | students with disabilities who will no longer be eligible for continued 360 | |
| 419 | 438 | public school services. Students whose termination date for receipt of 361 | |
| 420 | 439 | public school services is most immediate shall be given priority. 362 | |
| 421 | 440 | Sec. 11. Section 17a-791a of the general statutes is repealed and the 363 | |
| 422 | 441 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 364 | |
| 423 | 442 | The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall employ, 365 | |
| 424 | 443 | within available appropriations, a sufficient number of vocational 366 | |
| 425 | 444 | rehabilitation staff to provide transition services, as defined in section 367 | |
| 426 | 445 | 10-74o, for children requiring special education who may be eligible to 368 | |
| 427 | 446 | receive services from the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services 369 | |
| 428 | 447 | as determined through a planning and placement team meeting 370 | |
| 429 | 448 | pursuant to subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d, as 371 | |
| 430 | - | amended by this act. 372 | |
| 449 | + | amended by this act. 372 T | |
| 450 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 451 | + | ||
| 452 | + | ||
| 453 | + | LCO No. 4161 13 of 130 | |
| 454 | + | ||
| 431 | 455 | Sec. 12. Section 17a-793 of the general statutes is repealed and the 373 | |
| 432 | 456 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 374 | |
| 433 | 457 | (a) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall establish 375 | |
| 434 | 458 | and maintain a state-wide network of centers for independent living. 376 | |
| 435 | - | (b) Not more than five per cent of the amount appropriated in any 377 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 436 | - | ||
| 437 | - | ||
| 438 | - | LCO 13 of 128 | |
| 439 | - | ||
| 459 | + | (b) Not more than five per cent of the amount appropriated in any 377 | |
| 440 | 460 | fiscal year for the purposes of this section may be used by the 378 | |
| 441 | 461 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services to provide state-wide 379 | |
| 442 | 462 | administration, evaluation and technical assistance relating to the 380 | |
| 443 | 463 | implementation of this section. 381 | |
| 444 | 464 | Sec. 13. Section 17a-794 of the general statutes is repealed and the 382 | |
| 445 | 465 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 383 | |
| 446 | 466 | (a) The Governor shall appoint a state-wide Independent Living 384 | |
| 447 | 467 | Council, in accordance with Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 385 | |
| 448 | 468 | 29 USC 701 et seq., as amended from time to time. 386 | |
| 449 | 469 | (b) The council shall meet regularly with the Commissioner of [Aging 387 | |
| 450 | 470 | and] Disability Services and shall perform the following duties: (1) Issue 388 | |
| 451 | 471 | an annual report by January first, with recommendations regarding 389 | |
| 452 | 472 | independent living services and centers, to the Governor and the 390 | |
| 453 | 473 | chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 391 | |
| 454 | 474 | having cognizance of matters relating to human services, and (2) consult 392 | |
| 455 | 475 | with, advise and make recommendations to the Department [of Aging 393 | |
| 456 | 476 | and Disability Services] on Aging concerning independent living and 394 | |
| 457 | 477 | related policy, management and budgetary issues. 395 | |
| 458 | 478 | (c) Council members who are consumers shall be reimbursed for 396 | |
| 459 | 479 | expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as council 397 | |
| 460 | 480 | members. 398 | |
| 461 | 481 | Sec. 14. Section 17a-795 of the general statutes is repealed and the 399 | |
| 462 | 482 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 400 | |
| 463 | - | (a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services is 401 | |
| 483 | + | (a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services is 401 T | |
| 484 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 485 | + | ||
| 486 | + | ||
| 487 | + | LCO No. 4161 14 of 130 | |
| 488 | + | ||
| 464 | 489 | authorized to establish and administer state financing activities as 402 | |
| 465 | 490 | outlined in the federal Assistive Technology Act of 2004, P.L. 108-364, 403 | |
| 466 | 491 | as amended from time to time, to be known as the Assistive Technology 404 | |
| 467 | 492 | Loan Program. The program shall be used by the commissioner to make 405 | |
| 468 | 493 | and guarantee loans to persons with disabilities, older adults or the 406 | |
| 469 | 494 | family members of persons with disabilities or older adults for the 407 | |
| 470 | - | purchase of assistive technology and adaptive equipment and services. 408 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 471 | - | ||
| 472 | - | ||
| 473 | - | LCO 14 of 128 | |
| 474 | - | ||
| 495 | + | purchase of assistive technology and adaptive equipment and services. 408 | |
| 475 | 496 | Each such loan shall be made for a term of not more than ten years. Any 409 | |
| 476 | 497 | loans made under this section shall bear interest at a fixed rate not to 410 | |
| 477 | 498 | exceed six per cent. The commissioner is authorized to expend any 411 | |
| 478 | 499 | funds necessary for the reasonable direct expenses relating to the 412 | |
| 479 | 500 | administration of the program. The commissioner shall adopt 413 | |
| 480 | 501 | regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 414 | |
| 481 | 502 | implement the purposes of this section. 415 | |
| 482 | 503 | (b) The State Bond Commission shall have power from time to time 416 | |
| 483 | 504 | to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series in 417 | |
| 484 | 505 | accordance with section 3-20 and in a principal amount necessary to 418 | |
| 485 | 506 | carry out the purposes of this section, but not in excess of an aggregate 419 | |
| 486 | 507 | amount of one million dollars. All of the bonds shall (1) be payable at 420 | |
| 487 | 508 | such place or places as may be determined by the Treasurer pursuant to 421 | |
| 488 | 509 | section 3-19, (2) bear such date or dates, (3) mature at such time or times, 422 | |
| 489 | 510 | not exceeding five years from their respective dates, (4) bear interest at 423 | |
| 490 | 511 | such rate or different or varying rates and payable at such time or times, 424 | |
| 491 | 512 | (5) be in such denominations, (6) be in such form with or without 425 | |
| 492 | 513 | interest coupons attached, (7) carry such registration and transfer 426 | |
| 493 | 514 | privileges, (8) be payable in such medium of payment, and (9) be subject 427 | |
| 494 | 515 | to such terms of redemption with or without premium as, irrespective 428 | |
| 495 | 516 | of the provisions of section 3-20, may be provided by the authorization 429 | |
| 496 | 517 | of the State Bond Commission or fixed in accordance therewith. The 430 | |
| 497 | 518 | proceeds of the sale of such bonds shall be deposited in the Assistive 431 | |
| 498 | 519 | Technology Loan Program created by this section. Such bonds shall be 432 | |
| 499 | 520 | general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 433 | |
| 500 | 521 | of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 434 | |
| 501 | - | interest on such bonds as the same become due. Accordingly, and as 435 | |
| 522 | + | interest on such bonds as the same become due. Accordingly, and as 435 T | |
| 523 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 524 | + | ||
| 525 | + | ||
| 526 | + | LCO No. 4161 15 of 130 | |
| 527 | + | ||
| 502 | 528 | part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 436 | |
| 503 | 529 | appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 437 | |
| 504 | 530 | principal and interest is hereby made and the Treasurer shall pay such 438 | |
| 505 | 531 | principal and interest as the same become due. Net earnings on 439 | |
| 506 | 532 | investments or reinvestments of proceeds, accrued interest and 440 | |
| 507 | 533 | premiums on the issuance of such bonds, after payment therefrom of 441 | |
| 508 | - | expenses incurred by the Treasurer or State Bond Commission in 442 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 509 | - | ||
| 510 | - | ||
| 511 | - | LCO 15 of 128 | |
| 512 | - | ||
| 534 | + | expenses incurred by the Treasurer or State Bond Commission in 442 | |
| 513 | 535 | connection with their issuance, shall be deposited in the General Fund 443 | |
| 514 | 536 | of the state. 444 | |
| 515 | 537 | (c) The Connecticut Tech Act Project, within the Department of 445 | |
| 516 | 538 | [Aging and] Disability Services and as authorized by 29 USC 3001, as 446 | |
| 517 | 539 | amended from time to time, may provide assistive technology 447 | |
| 518 | 540 | evaluation and training services upon the request of any person or any 448 | |
| 519 | 541 | public or private entity, to the extent persons who provide assistive 449 | |
| 520 | 542 | technology services are available. The project may charge a fee to any 450 | |
| 521 | 543 | person or entity receiving such assistive technology evaluation and 451 | |
| 522 | 544 | training services to reimburse the department for its costs. The 452 | |
| 523 | 545 | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall establish fees at 453 | |
| 524 | 546 | reasonable rates that will cover the department's direct and indirect 454 | |
| 525 | 547 | costs. 455 | |
| 526 | 548 | Sec. 15. Section 17a-797 of the general statutes is repealed and the 456 | |
| 527 | 549 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 457 | |
| 528 | 550 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to 458 | |
| 529 | 551 | provide such medical, diagnostic, physical restoration, training and 459 | |
| 530 | 552 | other rehabilitation services as may be needed to enable persons with 460 | |
| 531 | 553 | disabilities to attain the maximum degree of self care. The powers herein 461 | |
| 532 | 554 | delegated and authorized to the Department of [Aging and] Disability 462 | |
| 533 | 555 | Services shall be in addition to those authorized by any other law and 463 | |
| 534 | 556 | shall become effective upon authorization of federal grant-in-aid funds 464 | |
| 535 | 557 | for participation in the cost of independent living rehabilitation services 465 | |
| 536 | 558 | for persons with disabilities. The Department of [Aging and] Disability 466 | |
| 537 | - | Services shall be authorized to cooperate with whatever federal agency 467 | |
| 559 | + | Services shall be authorized to cooperate with whatever federal agency 467 T | |
| 560 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 561 | + | ||
| 562 | + | ||
| 563 | + | LCO No. 4161 16 of 130 | |
| 564 | + | ||
| 538 | 565 | is directed to administer the federal aspects of such program and to 468 | |
| 539 | 566 | comply with such requirements and conditions as may be established 469 | |
| 540 | 567 | for the receipt and disbursement of federal grant-in-aid funds which 470 | |
| 541 | 568 | may be made available to the state of Connecticut in carrying out such 471 | |
| 542 | 569 | program. 472 | |
| 543 | 570 | Sec. 16. Section 17a-798 of the general statutes is repealed and the 473 | |
| 544 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 474 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 545 | - | ||
| 546 | - | ||
| 547 | - | LCO 16 of 128 | |
| 548 | - | ||
| 571 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 474 | |
| 549 | 572 | (a) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may receive 475 | |
| 550 | 573 | state and federal funds to administer, within available appropriations, 476 | |
| 551 | 574 | an employment opportunities program to serve individuals with the 477 | |
| 552 | 575 | most significant disabilities who do not meet the eligibility requirements 478 | |
| 553 | 576 | of supported employment programs administered by the Departments 479 | |
| 554 | 577 | of Developmental Services, Social Services and Mental Health and 480 | |
| 555 | 578 | Addiction Services. For the purposes of this section, "individuals with 481 | |
| 556 | 579 | the most significant disabilities" means those individuals who (1) have 482 | |
| 557 | 580 | serious employment limitations in a total of three or more functional 483 | |
| 558 | 581 | areas including, but not limited to, mobility, communication, self-care, 484 | |
| 559 | 582 | interpersonal skills, work tolerance or work skills, or (2) will require 485 | |
| 560 | 583 | significant ongoing disability-related services on the job in order to 486 | |
| 561 | 584 | maintain employment. 487 | |
| 562 | 585 | (b) The employment opportunities program shall provide extended 488 | |
| 563 | 586 | services, as defined in 34 CFR 361.5(b)(19), that are necessary for 489 | |
| 564 | 587 | individuals with the most significant disabilities to maintain supported 490 | |
| 565 | 588 | employment. Such services shall include coaching and other related 491 | |
| 566 | 589 | services that allow participants to obtain and maintain employment and 492 | |
| 567 | 590 | maximize economic self-sufficiency. 493 | |
| 568 | 591 | (c) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall adopt 494 | |
| 569 | 592 | regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions 495 | |
| 570 | 593 | of this section. 496 | |
| 571 | 594 | Sec. 17. Section 17a-799 of the general statutes is repealed and the 497 | |
| 572 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 498 | |
| 595 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 498 T | |
| 596 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 597 | + | ||
| 598 | + | ||
| 599 | + | LCO No. 4161 17 of 130 | |
| 600 | + | ||
| 573 | 601 | The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall inquire 499 | |
| 574 | 602 | into the criminal history of any applicant, who is not at the time of 500 | |
| 575 | 603 | application employed by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 501 | |
| 576 | 604 | Services, for a position of employment with the department's disability 502 | |
| 577 | 605 | determination services unit. Such inquiry shall be conducted in 503 | |
| 578 | 606 | accordance with the provisions of section 31-51i. The commissioner 504 | |
| 579 | 607 | shall require each such applicant to state whether the applicant has ever 505 | |
| 580 | - | been convicted of a crime, whether criminal charges are pending against 506 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 581 | - | ||
| 582 | - | ||
| 583 | - | LCO 17 of 128 | |
| 584 | - | ||
| 608 | + | been convicted of a crime, whether criminal charges are pending against 506 | |
| 585 | 609 | the applicant at the time of application, and, if so, to identify the charges 507 | |
| 586 | 610 | and court in which such charges are pending. Each such applicant 508 | |
| 587 | 611 | offered a position of employment with the department's disability 509 | |
| 588 | 612 | determination services unit shall be required to submit to fingerprinting 510 | |
| 589 | 613 | and state and national criminal history records checks, as provided in 511 | |
| 590 | 614 | section 29-17a. 512 | |
| 591 | 615 | Sec. 18. Subsection (b) of section 17a-810 of the general statutes is 513 | |
| 592 | 616 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 514 | |
| 593 | 617 | 2026): 515 | |
| 594 | 618 | (b) (1) The Advisory Board for Persons Who are Blind or Visually 516 | |
| 595 | 619 | Impaired shall consist of members appointed as follows: Six appointed 517 | |
| 596 | 620 | by the Governor, one appointed by the president pro tempore of the 518 | |
| 597 | 621 | Senate, one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 519 | |
| 598 | 622 | one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one appointed by 520 | |
| 599 | 623 | the minority leader of the Senate, one appointed by the majority leader 521 | |
| 600 | 624 | of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the minority 522 | |
| 601 | 625 | leader of the House of Representatives and all shall be residents of the 523 | |
| 602 | 626 | state. The Commissioner of Social Services shall be an ex-officio 524 | |
| 603 | 627 | member. One of the members appointed by the Governor shall be the 525 | |
| 604 | 628 | parent of a child who receives services provided by the Department of 526 | |
| 605 | 629 | [Aging and] Disability Services, and not less than two of the members 527 | |
| 606 | 630 | appointed by the Governor shall be persons who are blind. 528 | |
| 607 | 631 | (2) Three members appointed by the Governor shall serve a term of 529 | |
| 608 | - | four years. Three members appointed by the Governor shall serve a 530 | |
| 632 | + | four years. Three members appointed by the Governor shall serve a 530 T | |
| 633 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 634 | + | ||
| 635 | + | ||
| 636 | + | LCO No. 4161 18 of 130 | |
| 637 | + | ||
| 609 | 638 | term of two years. The three members appointed by the president pro 531 | |
| 610 | 639 | tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate and the minority 532 | |
| 611 | 640 | leader of the Senate shall serve a term of four years. The three members 533 | |
| 612 | 641 | appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority 534 | |
| 613 | 642 | leader of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader of the 535 | |
| 614 | 643 | House of Representatives shall serve a term of two years. Thereafter, all 536 | |
| 615 | 644 | members shall be appointed for a term of four years, commencing on 537 | |
| 616 | - | January fourth of the year of the appointment. 538 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 617 | - | ||
| 618 | - | ||
| 619 | - | LCO 18 of 128 | |
| 620 | - | ||
| 645 | + | January fourth of the year of the appointment. 538 | |
| 621 | 646 | (3) One of the members appointed by the Governor shall be 539 | |
| 622 | 647 | designated by the Governor as the chairperson of the advisory board. 540 | |
| 623 | 648 | The advisory board shall meet annually in the month of September and 541 | |
| 624 | 649 | may meet at any other time upon the call of its chairperson; and the 542 | |
| 625 | 650 | chairperson shall call a meeting at the request of two or more members. 543 | |
| 626 | 651 | Any appointed member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings 544 | |
| 627 | 652 | or fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be 545 | |
| 628 | 653 | deemed to have resigned. A majority of the members in office shall 546 | |
| 629 | 654 | constitute a quorum. The appointing authority may, for reasonable 547 | |
| 630 | 655 | cause, remove any appointed member and appoint another person to 548 | |
| 631 | 656 | fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term. Any vacancy in 549 | |
| 632 | 657 | the advisory board shall be filled by the appointing authority for the 550 | |
| 633 | 658 | unexpired portion of the term. 551 | |
| 634 | 659 | Sec. 19. Section 17a-812 of the general statutes is repealed and the 552 | |
| 635 | 660 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 553 | |
| 636 | 661 | (a) All residents of this state, regardless of age, who, because of 554 | |
| 637 | 662 | blindness or impaired vision, require specialized vision-related 555 | |
| 638 | 663 | educational programs, goods and services, on the signed 556 | |
| 639 | 664 | recommendation of the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 557 | |
| 640 | 665 | Services, shall be entitled to receive such instruction, programs, goods 558 | |
| 641 | 666 | and services for such length of time as is deemed expedient by said 559 | |
| 642 | 667 | commissioner. Upon the petition of any parent or guardian of a child 560 | |
| 643 | 668 | who is blind or visually impaired, a local board of education may 561 | |
| 644 | - | provide such instruction within the town or it may provide for such 562 | |
| 669 | + | provide such instruction within the town or it may provide for such 562 T | |
| 670 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 671 | + | ||
| 672 | + | ||
| 673 | + | LCO No. 4161 19 of 130 | |
| 674 | + | ||
| 645 | 675 | instruction by agreement with other towns as provided in subsection (d) 563 | |
| 646 | 676 | of section 10-76d. All educational privileges prescribed in part V of 564 | |
| 647 | 677 | chapter 164, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, shall 565 | |
| 648 | 678 | apply to the pupils covered by this subsection. 566 | |
| 649 | 679 | (b) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall expend 567 | |
| 650 | 680 | funds for the services made available pursuant to subsection (a) of this 568 | |
| 651 | 681 | section from the educational aid for children who are blind or visually 569 | |
| 652 | 682 | impaired account in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. 570 | |
| 653 | - | The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt, in 571 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 654 | - | ||
| 655 | - | ||
| 656 | - | LCO 19 of 128 | |
| 657 | - | ||
| 683 | + | The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt, in 571 | |
| 658 | 684 | accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, such regulations as the 572 | |
| 659 | 685 | commissioner deems necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of 573 | |
| 660 | 686 | this subsection. 574 | |
| 661 | 687 | (1) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 575 | |
| 662 | 688 | provide, upon written request from any interested school district, the 576 | |
| 663 | 689 | services of teachers who instruct students who are visually impaired, 577 | |
| 664 | 690 | based on the levels established in the individualized education or 578 | |
| 665 | 691 | service plan. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 579 | |
| 666 | 692 | also make available resources, including, but not limited to, the braille 580 | |
| 667 | 693 | and large print library, to all teachers of public and nonpublic school 581 | |
| 668 | 694 | children. The commissioner may also provide vision -related 582 | |
| 669 | 695 | professional development and training to all school districts and cover 583 | |
| 670 | 696 | the actual cost for paraeducators from school districts to participate in 584 | |
| 671 | 697 | agency-sponsored braille training programs. The commissioner shall 585 | |
| 672 | 698 | utilize education consultant positions, funded by moneys appropriated 586 | |
| 673 | 699 | from the General Fund, to supplement new staffing that will be made 587 | |
| 674 | 700 | available through the educational aid for children who are blind or 588 | |
| 675 | 701 | visually impaired account, which shall be governed by formal written 589 | |
| 676 | 702 | policies established by the commissioner. 590 | |
| 677 | 703 | (2) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may use 591 | |
| 678 | 704 | funds appropriated to said account to provide specialized books, 592 | |
| 679 | 705 | materials, equipment, supplies, adaptive technology services and 593 | |
| 680 | - | devices, specialist examinations and aids, preschool programs and 594 | |
| 706 | + | devices, specialist examinations and aids, preschool programs and 594 T | |
| 707 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 708 | + | ||
| 709 | + | ||
| 710 | + | LCO No. 4161 20 of 130 | |
| 711 | + | ||
| 681 | 712 | vision-related independent living services, excluding primary 595 | |
| 682 | 713 | educational placement, for eligible children. 596 | |
| 683 | 714 | (3) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may, within 597 | |
| 684 | 715 | available appropriations, employ certified teachers who instruct 598 | |
| 685 | 716 | students who are visually impaired in sufficient numbers to meet the 599 | |
| 686 | 717 | requests for services received from school districts. In responding to 600 | |
| 687 | 718 | such requests, the commissioner shall utilize a formula for determining 601 | |
| 688 | 719 | the number of teachers needed to serve the school districts, crediting six 602 | |
| 689 | 720 | points for each child learning braille and one point for each other child, 603 | |
| 690 | - | with one full-time certified teacher who instructs students who are 604 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 691 | - | ||
| 692 | - | ||
| 693 | - | LCO 20 of 128 | |
| 694 | - | ||
| 721 | + | with one full-time certified teacher who instructs students who are 604 | |
| 695 | 722 | visually impaired assigned for every twenty-five points credited. The 605 | |
| 696 | 723 | commissioner shall exercise due diligence to employ the needed 606 | |
| 697 | 724 | number of certified teachers who instruct students who are visually 607 | |
| 698 | 725 | impaired, but shall not be liable for lack of resources. Funds 608 | |
| 699 | 726 | appropriated to said account may also be utilized to employ additional 609 | |
| 700 | 727 | staff in numbers sufficient to provide compensatory skills, evaluations 610 | |
| 701 | 728 | and training to children who are blind or visually impaired, special 611 | |
| 702 | 729 | assistants and other support staff necessary to ensure the efficient 612 | |
| 703 | 730 | operation of service delivery. Not later than October first of each year, 613 | |
| 704 | 731 | the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall determine the 614 | |
| 705 | 732 | number of teachers needed based on the formula provided in this 615 | |
| 706 | 733 | subdivision. Based on such determination, the Commissioner of [Aging 616 | |
| 707 | 734 | and] Disability Services shall estimate the funding needed to pay such 617 | |
| 708 | 735 | teachers' salaries and related expenses. 618 | |
| 709 | 736 | (4) In any fiscal year, when funds appropriated to cover the combined 619 | |
| 710 | 737 | costs associated with providing the services set forth in subdivisions (2) 620 | |
| 711 | 738 | and (3) of this subsection are projected to be insufficient, the 621 | |
| 712 | 739 | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may collect revenue 622 | |
| 713 | 740 | from all school districts that have requested such services on a per 623 | |
| 714 | 741 | student pro rata basis, in the sums necessary to cover the projected 624 | |
| 715 | 742 | portion of these services for which there are insufficient appropriations. 625 | |
| 716 | - | (c) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may provide 626 | |
| 743 | + | (c) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may provide 626 T | |
| 744 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 745 | + | ||
| 746 | + | ||
| 747 | + | LCO No. 4161 21 of 130 | |
| 748 | + | ||
| 717 | 749 | for the instruction of adults who are blind in their homes, expending 627 | |
| 718 | 750 | annually for this purpose such sums as the General Assembly may 628 | |
| 719 | 751 | appropriate. 629 | |
| 720 | 752 | (d) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may expend 630 | |
| 721 | 753 | up to ten thousand dollars per fiscal year per person twenty-one years 631 | |
| 722 | 754 | of age or older who is both blind or visually impaired and deaf, in 632 | |
| 723 | 755 | addition to any other expenditures for such person, for the purpose of 633 | |
| 724 | 756 | providing community inclusion services through specialized public and 634 | |
| 725 | 757 | private entities from which such person can benefit. The commissioner 635 | |
| 726 | 758 | may determine the criteria by which a person is eligible to receive 636 | |
| 727 | - | specialized services and may adopt regulations necessary to carry out 637 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 728 | - | ||
| 729 | - | ||
| 730 | - | LCO 21 of 128 | |
| 731 | - | ||
| 759 | + | specialized services and may adopt regulations necessary to carry out 637 | |
| 732 | 760 | the provisions of this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, 638 | |
| 733 | 761 | "community inclusion services" means the assistance provided to 639 | |
| 734 | 762 | persons with disabilities to enable them to connect with their peers 640 | |
| 735 | 763 | without disabilities and with the community at large. 641 | |
| 736 | 764 | (e) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may, within 642 | |
| 737 | 765 | available appropriations, purchase adaptive equipment for persons 643 | |
| 738 | 766 | receiving services pursuant to this chapter. 644 | |
| 739 | 767 | Sec. 20. Section 17a-813 of the general statutes is repealed and the 645 | |
| 740 | 768 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 646 | |
| 741 | 769 | The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may, within 647 | |
| 742 | 770 | available appropriations, contract with public or private entities, 648 | |
| 743 | 771 | individuals or private enterprises for the instruction of persons who are 649 | |
| 744 | 772 | blind. 650 | |
| 745 | 773 | Sec. 21. Section 17a-814 of the general statutes is repealed and the 651 | |
| 746 | 774 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 652 | |
| 747 | 775 | The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to 653 | |
| 748 | 776 | aid in securing employment for persons who are legally blind. Said 654 | |
| 749 | 777 | commissioner may aid persons who are legally blind in such way as said 655 | |
| 750 | - | commissioner deems expedient, expending for such purpose such sum 656 | |
| 778 | + | commissioner deems expedient, expending for such purpose such sum 656 T | |
| 779 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 780 | + | ||
| 781 | + | ||
| 782 | + | LCO No. 4161 22 of 130 | |
| 783 | + | ||
| 751 | 784 | as the General Assembly appropriates. 657 | |
| 752 | 785 | Sec. 22. Section 17a-815 of the general statutes is repealed and the 658 | |
| 753 | 786 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 659 | |
| 754 | 787 | The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may make 660 | |
| 755 | 788 | grants, within available appropriations, to the Connecticut Radio 661 | |
| 756 | 789 | Information Service, Inc., for the purchase of receivers and for costs 662 | |
| 757 | 790 | related to the operation of said service. 663 | |
| 758 | 791 | Sec. 23. Section 17a-816 of the general statutes is repealed and the 664 | |
| 759 | 792 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 665 | |
| 760 | - | (a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 666 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 761 | - | ||
| 762 | - | ||
| 763 | - | LCO 22 of 128 | |
| 764 | - | ||
| 793 | + | (a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 666 | |
| 765 | 794 | prepare and maintain a register of persons who are blind in this state 667 | |
| 766 | 795 | which shall describe their condition, cause of blindness and capacity for 668 | |
| 767 | 796 | education and rehabilitative training. The commissioner may register 669 | |
| 768 | 797 | cases of persons who are liable to become visually impaired or blind, 670 | |
| 769 | 798 | and may take such measures in cooperation with other authorities as the 671 | |
| 770 | 799 | commissioner deems advisable for the prevention of blindness or 672 | |
| 771 | 800 | conservation of eyesight and, in appropriate cases, for the education of 673 | |
| 772 | 801 | children and for the vocational guidance of adults whose eyesight 674 | |
| 773 | 802 | approaches visual impairment or blindness. The commissioner shall 675 | |
| 774 | 803 | establish criteria for low vision care and maintain a list of 676 | |
| 775 | 804 | ophthalmologists and optometrists that are exclusively authorized to 677 | |
| 776 | 805 | receive agency funds through established and existing state fee 678 | |
| 777 | 806 | schedules for the delivery of specifically defined low vision services that 679 | |
| 778 | 807 | increase the capacity of eligible recipients of such services to maximize 680 | |
| 779 | 808 | the use of their remaining vision. 681 | |
| 780 | 809 | (b) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 682 | |
| 781 | 810 | provide the Department of Motor Vehicles with the names of all 683 | |
| 782 | 811 | individuals sixteen years of age or older who, on or after October 1, 2005, 684 | |
| 783 | 812 | have been determined to be blind by a physician, an advanced practice 685 | |
| 784 | 813 | registered nurse or an optometrist, as provided in section 17a-819, as 686 | |
| 785 | - | amended by this act. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 687 | |
| 814 | + | amended by this act. The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 687 T | |
| 815 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 816 | + | ||
| 817 | + | ||
| 818 | + | LCO No. 4161 23 of 130 | |
| 819 | + | ||
| 786 | 820 | Services shall provide simultaneous written notification to any 688 | |
| 787 | 821 | individual whose name is being transmitted by the [Commissioner of 689 | |
| 788 | 822 | Aging and Disability Services] commissioner to the Department of 690 | |
| 789 | 823 | Motor Vehicles. The [Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services] 691 | |
| 790 | 824 | commissioner shall update the list of names provided to the Department 692 | |
| 791 | 825 | of Motor Vehicles on a quarterly basis. The list shall also contain the 693 | |
| 792 | 826 | address and date of birth for each individual reported, as shown on the 694 | |
| 793 | 827 | records of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. The 695 | |
| 794 | 828 | Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain such list on a confidential 696 | |
| 795 | 829 | basis, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-46d. The 697 | |
| 796 | 830 | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall enter into a 698 | |
| 797 | 831 | memorandum of understanding with the Commissioner of Motor 699 | |
| 798 | - | Vehicles to effectuate the purposes of this subsection. 700 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 799 | - | ||
| 800 | - | ||
| 801 | - | LCO 23 of 128 | |
| 802 | - | ||
| 832 | + | Vehicles to effectuate the purposes of this subsection. 700 | |
| 803 | 833 | Sec. 24. Section 17a-818 of the general statutes is repealed and the 701 | |
| 804 | 834 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 702 | |
| 805 | 835 | (a) The authority in charge of any building or property owned, 703 | |
| 806 | 836 | operated or leased by the state or any municipality therein shall grant 704 | |
| 807 | 837 | to the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services a permit to operate 705 | |
| 808 | 838 | in such building or on such property a food service facility, a vending 706 | |
| 809 | 839 | machine or a stand for the vending of newspapers, periodicals, 707 | |
| 810 | 840 | confections, tobacco products, food and such other articles as such 708 | |
| 811 | 841 | authority approves when, in the opinion of such authority, such facility, 709 | |
| 812 | 842 | machine or stand is desirable in such location. Any person operating 710 | |
| 813 | 843 | such a stand in any such location on October 1, 1945, shall be permitted 711 | |
| 814 | 844 | to continue such operation, but upon such person's ceasing such 712 | |
| 815 | 845 | operation such authority shall grant a permit for continued operation to 713 | |
| 816 | 846 | the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. The department may 714 | |
| 817 | 847 | establish a training facility at any such location. 715 | |
| 818 | 848 | (b) Pursuant to the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Stand Act, 49 Stat. 716 | |
| 819 | 849 | 1559 (1936), 20 USC 107, as amended from time to time, the Department 717 | |
| 820 | 850 | of [Aging and] Disability Services is authorized to maintain a 718 | |
| 821 | - | nonlapsing account and to accrue interest thereon for federal vending 719 | |
| 851 | + | nonlapsing account and to accrue interest thereon for federal vending 719 T | |
| 852 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 853 | + | ||
| 854 | + | ||
| 855 | + | LCO No. 4161 24 of 130 | |
| 856 | + | ||
| 822 | 857 | machine income which, in accordance with federal regulations, shall be 720 | |
| 823 | 858 | used for the payment of fringe benefits to the vending facility operators 721 | |
| 824 | 859 | by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 722 | |
| 825 | 860 | (c) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may maintain 723 | |
| 826 | 861 | a nonlapsing account and accrue interest thereon for state and local 724 | |
| 827 | 862 | vending machine income which shall be used for the payment of fringe 725 | |
| 828 | 863 | benefits, training and support to vending facilities operators, to provide 726 | |
| 829 | 864 | entrepreneurial and independent-living training and equipment to 727 | |
| 830 | 865 | children who are blind or visually impaired and adults who are blind 728 | |
| 831 | 866 | and for other vocational rehabilitation programs and services for adults 729 | |
| 832 | 867 | who are blind. 730 | |
| 833 | 868 | (d) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may disburse 731 | |
| 834 | - | state and local vending machine income to student or client activity 732 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 835 | - | ||
| 836 | - | ||
| 837 | - | LCO 24 of 128 | |
| 838 | - | ||
| 869 | + | state and local vending machine income to student or client activity 732 | |
| 839 | 870 | funds, as defined in section 4-52. 733 | |
| 840 | 871 | Sec. 25. Section 17a-819 of the general statutes is repealed and the 734 | |
| 841 | 872 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 735 | |
| 842 | 873 | Each physician, advanced practice registered nurse and optometrist 736 | |
| 843 | 874 | shall report in writing to the Department of [Aging and] Disability 737 | |
| 844 | 875 | Services not later than thirty days after a person who is blind comes 738 | |
| 845 | 876 | under his or her private or institutional care within this state. The report 739 | |
| 846 | 877 | of such person shall include the name, address, Social Security number, 740 | |
| 847 | 878 | date of birth, date of diagnosis of blindness and degree of vision. Such 741 | |
| 848 | 879 | reports shall not be open to public inspection. 742 | |
| 849 | 880 | Sec. 26. Section 17a-820 of the general statutes is repealed and the 743 | |
| 850 | 881 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 744 | |
| 851 | 882 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may maintain a 745 | |
| 852 | 883 | vocational rehabilitation program as authorized under the Federal 746 | |
| 853 | 884 | Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 791 et seq., for the purpose of 747 | |
| 854 | 885 | providing and coordinating the full scope of necessary services to assist 748 | |
| 855 | - | persons who are legally blind and who receive services from the 749 | |
| 886 | + | persons who are legally blind and who receive services from the 749 T | |
| 887 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 888 | + | ||
| 889 | + | ||
| 890 | + | LCO No. 4161 25 of 130 | |
| 891 | + | ||
| 856 | 892 | department to prepare for, enter into and maintain employment 750 | |
| 857 | 893 | consistent with the purposes of said act. 751 | |
| 858 | 894 | Sec. 27. Section 17a-821 of the general statutes is repealed and the 752 | |
| 859 | 895 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 753 | |
| 860 | 896 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services is empowered to 754 | |
| 861 | 897 | receive any federal funds made available to this state under which 755 | |
| 862 | 898 | vocational rehabilitation is provided for a person whose visual acuity 756 | |
| 863 | 899 | has been impaired and to expend such funds for the purpose or 757 | |
| 864 | 900 | purposes for which they are made available. The State Treasurer shall 758 | |
| 865 | 901 | be the custodian of such funds. 759 | |
| 866 | 902 | Sec. 28. Section 17a-822 of the general statutes is repealed and the 760 | |
| 867 | 903 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 761 | |
| 868 | - | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may cooperate, 762 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 869 | - | ||
| 870 | - | ||
| 871 | - | LCO 25 of 128 | |
| 872 | - | ||
| 904 | + | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may cooperate, 762 | |
| 873 | 905 | pursuant to agreements, with the federal government in carrying out 763 | |
| 874 | 906 | the purposes of any federal statutes pertaining to vocational 764 | |
| 875 | 907 | rehabilitation, and is authorized to adopt such methods of 765 | |
| 876 | 908 | administration as are found by the federal government to be necessary 766 | |
| 877 | 909 | for the proper and efficient operation of such agreements or plans for 767 | |
| 878 | 910 | vocational rehabilitation and to comply with such conditions as may be 768 | |
| 879 | 911 | necessary to secure the full benefits of such federal statutes. 769 | |
| 880 | 912 | Sec. 29. Section 17a-823 of the general statutes is repealed and the 770 | |
| 881 | 913 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 771 | |
| 882 | 914 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall adopt 772 | |
| 883 | 915 | regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to determine the order to be 773 | |
| 884 | 916 | followed in selecting those eligible persons to whom vocational 774 | |
| 885 | 917 | rehabilitation services will be provided, in accordance with federal 775 | |
| 886 | 918 | regulations. 776 | |
| 887 | 919 | Sec. 30. Section 17a-824 of the general statutes is repealed and the 777 | |
| 888 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 778 | |
| 920 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 778 T | |
| 921 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 922 | + | ||
| 923 | + | ||
| 924 | + | LCO No. 4161 26 of 130 | |
| 925 | + | ||
| 889 | 926 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may place in 779 | |
| 890 | 927 | remunerative occupations persons whose capacity to earn a living has 780 | |
| 891 | 928 | been lost or impaired by lessened visual acuity and who, in the opinion 781 | |
| 892 | 929 | of the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, are [susceptible 782 | |
| 893 | 930 | of] appropriate for placement, and may make such regulations as are 783 | |
| 894 | 931 | necessary for the administration of the provisions of this section and 784 | |
| 895 | 932 | sections 17a-820 to 17a-823, inclusive, as amended by this act. 785 | |
| 896 | 933 | Sec. 31. Section 17a-825 of the general statutes is repealed and the 786 | |
| 897 | 934 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 787 | |
| 898 | 935 | The case records of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services 788 | |
| 899 | 936 | maintained for the purposes of this chapter shall be confidential and the 789 | |
| 900 | 937 | names and addresses of recipients of assistance under this chapter shall 790 | |
| 901 | 938 | not be published or used for purposes not directly connected with the 791 | |
| 902 | 939 | administration of this chapter, except as necessary to carry out the 792 | |
| 903 | - | provisions of sections 17a-816, as amended by this act, and 17b-6. 793 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 904 | - | ||
| 905 | - | ||
| 906 | - | LCO 26 of 128 | |
| 907 | - | ||
| 940 | + | provisions of sections 17a-816, as amended by this act, and 17b-6. 793 | |
| 908 | 941 | Sec. 32. Section 17a-835 of the general statutes is repealed and the 794 | |
| 909 | 942 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 795 | |
| 910 | 943 | The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may provide 796 | |
| 911 | 944 | necessary services to persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing, 797 | |
| 912 | 945 | including, but not limited to, nonreimbursable interpreter services and 798 | |
| 913 | 946 | message relay services for persons using telecommunication devices for 799 | |
| 914 | 947 | persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing. 800 | |
| 915 | 948 | Sec. 33. Section 17a-835a of the general statutes is repealed and the 801 | |
| 916 | 949 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 802 | |
| 917 | 950 | (a) There is established a Bureau of Services for Persons Who are 803 | |
| 918 | 951 | Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing which shall be within the 804 | |
| 919 | 952 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. 805 | |
| 920 | 953 | (b) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, in 806 | |
| 921 | 954 | consultation with the Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, 807 | |
| 922 | - | Deafblind or Hard of Hearing established pursuant to section 17a-836, 808 | |
| 955 | + | Deafblind or Hard of Hearing established pursuant to section 17a-836, 808 T | |
| 956 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 957 | + | ||
| 958 | + | ||
| 959 | + | LCO No. 4161 27 of 130 | |
| 960 | + | ||
| 923 | 961 | as amended by this act, shall, not later than October 1, 2024, hire a 809 | |
| 924 | 962 | director of the bureau. The director shall (1) have professional 810 | |
| 925 | 963 | experience in serving the needs of deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing 811 | |
| 926 | 964 | persons, and (2) be (A) able to communicate in American Sign 812 | |
| 927 | 965 | Language, and (B) familiar with effective interpretation methods to 813 | |
| 928 | 966 | assist deafblind persons. The commissioner shall also hire an 814 | |
| 929 | 967 | administrative assistant for the director. 815 | |
| 930 | 968 | (c) The director shall report to the commissioner. The director's duties 816 | |
| 931 | 969 | shall include, but need not be limited to: 817 | |
| 932 | 970 | (1) Assisting in overseeing department employees who provide 818 | |
| 933 | 971 | counseling, interpreting and other assistance to persons who are deaf, 819 | |
| 934 | 972 | deafblind or hard of hearing, except for federally funded vocational 820 | |
| 935 | 973 | rehabilitation employees; 821 | |
| 936 | 974 | (2) Annually updating and publishing on the department's Internet 822 | |
| 937 | - | web site and the Internet web page of the bureau established pursuant 823 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 938 | - | ||
| 939 | - | ||
| 940 | - | LCO 27 of 128 | |
| 941 | - | ||
| 975 | + | web site and the Internet web page of the bureau established pursuant 823 | |
| 942 | 976 | to subdivision (6) of this subsection a resource guide for persons who 824 | |
| 943 | 977 | are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing; 825 | |
| 944 | 978 | (3) Assisting in the registration of state-registered interpreters, 826 | |
| 945 | 979 | including maintaining and publishing on the Internet web page of the 827 | |
| 946 | 980 | bureau and the department's Internet web site a list of such interpreters 828 | |
| 947 | 981 | categorized by the settings in which they are qualified to interpret, in 829 | |
| 948 | 982 | accordance with section 17a-838, as amended by this act; 830 | |
| 949 | 983 | (4) Assisting each state agency, as defined in section 1-79, in 831 | |
| 950 | 984 | appointing an employee of each such agency to serve as a point of 832 | |
| 951 | 985 | contact for concerns related to persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard 833 | |
| 952 | 986 | of hearing, pursuant to section 4-61pp, and coordinating efforts to 834 | |
| 953 | 987 | resolve such concerns with such employees serving as a point of contact; 835 | |
| 954 | 988 | (5) Coordinating efforts of the Department of [Aging and] Disability 836 | |
| 955 | 989 | Services to provide information and referral services to deaf, deafblind 837 | |
| 956 | - | or hard of hearing persons on resources available to such persons; 838 | |
| 990 | + | or hard of hearing persons on resources available to such persons; 838 T | |
| 991 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 992 | + | ||
| 993 | + | ||
| 994 | + | LCO No. 4161 28 of 130 | |
| 995 | + | ||
| 957 | 996 | (6) Establishing a separate Internet web page on the department's 839 | |
| 958 | 997 | Internet web site for the bureau and including on such web page (A) the 840 | |
| 959 | 998 | meeting schedule, agendas, minutes and other resources of the 841 | |
| 960 | 999 | Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of 842 | |
| 961 | 1000 | Hearing established pursuant to section 17a-836, as amended by this act, 843 | |
| 962 | 1001 | (B) an instructional video with audio and captions on the home page on 844 | |
| 963 | 1002 | how persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing can navigate 845 | |
| 964 | 1003 | the web page, resources and tools, and (C) other material pursuant to 846 | |
| 965 | 1004 | this section; 847 | |
| 966 | 1005 | (7) Coordinating responses to consumer concerns, requests for 848 | |
| 967 | 1006 | assistance and referrals to resources, including from state agencies; 849 | |
| 968 | 1007 | (8) Coordinating education and training initiatives, including, but not 850 | |
| 969 | 1008 | limited to, working with (A) local and state public safety and public 851 | |
| 970 | 1009 | health officials and first responders on best practices for serving and 852 | |
| 971 | 1010 | communicating with deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing persons, and (B) 853 | |
| 972 | - | sign language interpreters, oral interpreters and interpreters who are 854 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 973 | - | ||
| 974 | - | ||
| 975 | - | LCO 28 of 128 | |
| 976 | - | ||
| 1011 | + | sign language interpreters, oral interpreters and interpreters who are 854 | |
| 977 | 1012 | trained to interpret for deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing persons to 855 | |
| 978 | 1013 | maintain or enhance the skills of such interpreters in a variety of 856 | |
| 979 | 1014 | settings; 857 | |
| 980 | 1015 | (9) Collaborating with interpreting services providers and training 858 | |
| 981 | 1016 | organizations to increase opportunities for mentorships, internships, 859 | |
| 982 | 1017 | apprenticeships and specialized training in interpreting services for 860 | |
| 983 | 1018 | deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing persons; 861 | |
| 984 | 1019 | (10) Partnering with civic and community organizations serving deaf, 862 | |
| 985 | 1020 | deafblind or hard of hearing persons on workshops and information 863 | |
| 986 | 1021 | sessions regarding new laws, regulations or developments regarding 864 | |
| 987 | 1022 | services, programs or health care needs of such persons; 865 | |
| 988 | 1023 | (11) Raising public awareness of programs and services available to 866 | |
| 989 | 1024 | deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing persons; 867 | |
| 990 | - | (12) Assisting the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in 868 | |
| 1025 | + | (12) Assisting the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in 868 T | |
| 1026 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1027 | + | ||
| 1028 | + | ||
| 1029 | + | LCO No. 4161 29 of 130 | |
| 1030 | + | ||
| 991 | 1031 | implementing telecommunication relay service programs for deaf, 869 | |
| 992 | 1032 | deafblind or hard of hearing persons. In awarding any contract for such 870 | |
| 993 | 1033 | relay service programs, the authority shall consult with the 871 | |
| 994 | 1034 | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services and the director of the 872 | |
| 995 | 1035 | bureau; 873 | |
| 996 | 1036 | (13) Working with the Governor and Connecticut television stations 874 | |
| 997 | 1037 | on ways to make television broadcasts more accessible to persons who 875 | |
| 998 | 1038 | are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing; and 876 | |
| 999 | 1039 | (14) In consultation with the Advisory Board for Persons Who are 877 | |
| 1000 | 1040 | Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing established pursuant to section 17a-878 | |
| 1001 | 1041 | 836, as amended by this act, identifying the needs of deaf, deafblind or 879 | |
| 1002 | 1042 | hard of hearing persons and addressing policy changes that may be 880 | |
| 1003 | 1043 | necessary to better serve such persons. 881 | |
| 1004 | 1044 | Sec. 34. Subdivision (2) of section 17a-836 of the general statutes is 882 | |
| 1005 | 1045 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 883 | |
| 1006 | - | 2026): 884 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1007 | - | ||
| 1008 | - | ||
| 1009 | - | LCO 29 of 128 | |
| 1010 | - | ||
| 1046 | + | 2026): 884 | |
| 1011 | 1047 | (2) Establish an annual leadership roundtable meeting with the Board 885 | |
| 1012 | 1048 | of Regents for Higher Education, the Commissioners of [Aging and] 886 | |
| 1013 | 1049 | Disability Services, Public Health, Social Services, Mental Health and 887 | |
| 1014 | 1050 | Addiction Services, Education, Developmental Services, Children and 888 | |
| 1015 | 1051 | Families, Early Childhood, Economic and Community Development, 889 | |
| 1016 | 1052 | Emergency Services and Public Protection, Correction, Housing and 890 | |
| 1017 | 1053 | Higher Education and the Labor Commissioner, or their designees, to 891 | |
| 1018 | 1054 | discuss best practices to serve persons who are deaf, deafblind or hard 892 | |
| 1019 | 1055 | of hearing, identify gaps in such services and make recommendations 893 | |
| 1020 | 1056 | to rectify such gaps; 894 | |
| 1021 | 1057 | Sec. 35. Subsection (a) of section 17a-837 of the general statutes is 895 | |
| 1022 | 1058 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 896 | |
| 1023 | 1059 | 2026): 897 | |
| 1024 | - | (a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may request 898 | |
| 1060 | + | (a) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may request 898 T | |
| 1061 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1062 | + | ||
| 1063 | + | ||
| 1064 | + | LCO No. 4161 30 of 130 | |
| 1065 | + | ||
| 1025 | 1066 | and shall receive from any department, division, board, bureau, 899 | |
| 1026 | 1067 | commission or agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof 900 | |
| 1027 | 1068 | such assistance and data as will enable the Department of [Aging and] 901 | |
| 1028 | 1069 | Disability Services to properly carry out its activities under sections 17a-902 | |
| 1029 | 1070 | 835, as amended by this act, 17a-838, as amended by this act, and 17a-903 | |
| 1030 | 1071 | 839, as amended by this act, and to effectuate the purposes therein set 904 | |
| 1031 | 1072 | forth. 905 | |
| 1032 | 1073 | Sec. 36. Section 17a-838 of the general statutes is repealed and the 906 | |
| 1033 | 1074 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 907 | |
| 1034 | 1075 | (a) For the purposes of this section: 908 | |
| 1035 | 1076 | (1) "Community setting" means any setting, other than those 909 | |
| 1036 | 1077 | specifically identified as educational, legal or medical, including, but 910 | |
| 1037 | 1078 | not limited to, any setting involving everyday life activities such as 911 | |
| 1038 | 1079 | information sharing, employment, social services, entertainment and 912 | |
| 1039 | 1080 | civic and community engagements; 913 | |
| 1040 | 1081 | (2) "Department" means the Department of [Aging and] Disability 914 | |
| 1041 | - | Services; 915 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1042 | - | ||
| 1043 | - | ||
| 1044 | - | LCO 30 of 128 | |
| 1045 | - | ||
| 1082 | + | Services; 915 | |
| 1046 | 1083 | (3) "Interpreting" means the translating or transliterating of English 916 | |
| 1047 | 1084 | concepts to a language concept used by a person who is deaf, deafblind 917 | |
| 1048 | 1085 | or hard of hearing or the translating of a deaf, deafblind or hard of 918 | |
| 1049 | 1086 | hearing person's language to English concepts through the use of 919 | |
| 1050 | 1087 | American Sign Language, English-based sign language, cued speech, 920 | |
| 1051 | 1088 | oral transliterating and information received tactually; 921 | |
| 1052 | 1089 | (4) "Deafblind" means combined vision and hearing impairments that 922 | |
| 1053 | 1090 | challenge a person's ability to communicate, interact with others, access 923 | |
| 1054 | 1091 | information and move about safely; 924 | |
| 1055 | 1092 | (5) "Educational setting" means any setting where interpretive 925 | |
| 1056 | 1093 | services are provided concerning education-related matters, including, 926 | |
| 1057 | 1094 | but not limited to, all schools, school-based programs, services and 927 | |
| 1058 | - | activities and other educational programs; 928 | |
| 1095 | + | activities and other educational programs; 928 T | |
| 1096 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1097 | + | ||
| 1098 | + | ||
| 1099 | + | LCO No. 4161 31 of 130 | |
| 1100 | + | ||
| 1059 | 1101 | (6) "Legal setting" means any criminal or civil action involving a court 929 | |
| 1060 | 1102 | of competent jurisdiction, any investigation or action conducted by a 930 | |
| 1061 | 1103 | duly authorized law enforcement agency, employment -related 931 | |
| 1062 | 1104 | hearings, appointments and situations requiring the presence of an 932 | |
| 1063 | 1105 | attorney; 933 | |
| 1064 | 1106 | (7) "Medical setting" means gatherings or gathering places where 934 | |
| 1065 | 1107 | physical health, mental health, or both are addressed, including, but not 935 | |
| 1066 | 1108 | limited to, hospitals, clinics, assisted living and rehabilitation facilities, 936 | |
| 1067 | 1109 | mental health treatment sessions, psychological evaluations, substance 937 | |
| 1068 | 1110 | abuse treatment sessions, crisis intervention and appointments or other 938 | |
| 1069 | 1111 | treatment requiring the presence of a doctor, nurse, medical staff or 939 | |
| 1070 | 1112 | other health care professional; and 940 | |
| 1071 | 1113 | (8) "Transliterating" means converting or rendering English concepts 941 | |
| 1072 | 1114 | to a language concept used by a person who is deaf, deafblind or hard 942 | |
| 1073 | 1115 | of hearing or the translating of a deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing 943 | |
| 1074 | 1116 | person's language concept to English concepts. 944 | |
| 1075 | 1117 | (b) Except as provided in subsections (g) and (h) of this section, all 945 | |
| 1076 | - | persons providing interpreting services shall register, annually, with the 946 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1077 | - | ||
| 1078 | - | ||
| 1079 | - | LCO 31 of 128 | |
| 1080 | - | ||
| 1118 | + | persons providing interpreting services shall register, annually, with the 946 | |
| 1081 | 1119 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. Such registration shall 947 | |
| 1082 | 1120 | be on a form prescribed or furnished by the Commissioner of [Aging 948 | |
| 1083 | 1121 | and] Disability Services and shall include the registrant's name, 949 | |
| 1084 | 1122 | residential or business address, or both, contact information, including, 950 | |
| 1085 | 1123 | but not limited to, phone number, place of employment as interpreter 951 | |
| 1086 | 1124 | and interpreter certification or credentials. The department shall (1) 952 | |
| 1087 | 1125 | issue interpreter identification cards for those who register in 953 | |
| 1088 | 1126 | accordance with this section, and (2) maintain a current listing on its 954 | |
| 1089 | 1127 | Internet web site of such registered interpreters, categorized by 955 | |
| 1090 | 1128 | interpreter settings for which they are qualified. The department may 956 | |
| 1091 | 1129 | also require documentation of the registrant's training hours. The 957 | |
| 1092 | 1130 | department shall annually issue interpreter identification cards listing 958 | |
| 1093 | 1131 | the type of settings in which the registrant is qualified to interpret. The 959 | |
| 1094 | - | department shall establish an Internet web page containing information 960 | |
| 1132 | + | department shall establish an Internet web page containing information 960 T | |
| 1133 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1134 | + | ||
| 1135 | + | ||
| 1136 | + | LCO No. 4161 32 of 130 | |
| 1137 | + | ||
| 1095 | 1138 | about services for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing individuals. The 961 | |
| 1096 | 1139 | department's Internet web page shall include, but not be limited to, 962 | |
| 1097 | 1140 | information related to such services provided by the department and 963 | |
| 1098 | 1141 | the Departments of Social Services, Mental Health and Addiction 964 | |
| 1099 | 1142 | Services and Children and Families. 965 | |
| 1100 | 1143 | (c) Except as provided in subsections (g) and (h) of this section, no 966 | |
| 1101 | 1144 | person shall provide interpreting services in the state, including in a 967 | |
| 1102 | 1145 | community setting, unless such person is registered with the 968 | |
| 1103 | 1146 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services according to the 969 | |
| 1104 | 1147 | provisions of this section, holds recognized national or state interpreter 970 | |
| 1105 | 1148 | credentials determined by the department to be acceptable for 971 | |
| 1106 | 1149 | interpreting purposes where appropriate in Connecticut and has met at 972 | |
| 1107 | 1150 | least one of the following qualifications: 973 | |
| 1108 | 1151 | (1) (A) Has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf 974 | |
| 1109 | 1152 | written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National 975 | |
| 1110 | 1153 | Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge 976 | |
| 1111 | 1154 | examination, (B) holds a level three certification provided by the 977 | |
| 1112 | 1155 | National Association of the Deaf, and (C) (i) documents the achievement 978 | |
| 1113 | 1156 | of two continuing education units per year for a maximum of five years 979 | |
| 1114 | - | of training approved by the Commissioner of Aging and Disability 980 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1115 | - | ||
| 1116 | - | ||
| 1117 | - | LCO 32 of 128 | |
| 1118 | - | ||
| 1157 | + | of training approved by the Commissioner of Aging and Disability 980 | |
| 1119 | 1158 | Services, and (ii) on or before the fifth anniversary of having passed the 981 | |
| 1120 | 1159 | National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test or 982 | |
| 1121 | 1160 | the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters 983 | |
| 1122 | 1161 | for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, has passed the 984 | |
| 1123 | 1162 | National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance examination 985 | |
| 1124 | 1163 | or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters 986 | |
| 1125 | 1164 | for the Deaf national interpreter certification examination; 987 | |
| 1126 | 1165 | (2) (A) Has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf 988 | |
| 1127 | 1166 | written generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National 989 | |
| 1128 | 1167 | Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge 990 | |
| 1129 | 1168 | examination, (B) is a graduate of an accredited interpreter training 991 | |
| 1130 | - | program and documents the achievement of two continuing education 992 | |
| 1169 | + | program and documents the achievement of two continuing education 992 T | |
| 1170 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1171 | + | ||
| 1172 | + | ||
| 1173 | + | LCO No. 4161 33 of 130 | |
| 1174 | + | ||
| 1131 | 1175 | units per year for a maximum of five years of training approved by the 993 | |
| 1132 | 1176 | commissioner, and (C) on or before the fifth anniversary of having 994 | |
| 1133 | 1177 | passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written 995 | |
| 1134 | 1178 | generalist test or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry 996 | |
| 1135 | 1179 | of Interpreters for the Deaf certification knowledge examination, has 997 | |
| 1136 | 1180 | passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf performance 998 | |
| 1137 | 1181 | examination or the National Association of the Deaf-National Registry 999 | |
| 1138 | 1182 | of Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreter certification 1000 | |
| 1139 | 1183 | examination; 1001 | |
| 1140 | 1184 | (3) Holds a level four or higher certification from the National 1002 | |
| 1141 | 1185 | Association of the Deaf; 1003 | |
| 1142 | 1186 | (4) Holds certification by the National Registry of Interpreters for the 1004 | |
| 1143 | 1187 | Deaf; 1005 | |
| 1144 | 1188 | (5) For situations requiring an oral interpreter only, holds oral 1006 | |
| 1145 | 1189 | certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; 1007 | |
| 1146 | 1190 | (6) For situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, holds 1008 | |
| 1147 | 1191 | certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification 1009 | |
| 1148 | 1192 | Unit and has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf 1010 | |
| 1149 | - | written generalist test; 1011 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1150 | - | ||
| 1151 | - | ||
| 1152 | - | LCO 33 of 128 | |
| 1153 | - | ||
| 1193 | + | written generalist test; 1011 | |
| 1154 | 1194 | (7) Holds a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter 1012 | |
| 1155 | 1195 | under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; 1013 | |
| 1156 | 1196 | (8) Holds a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of 1014 | |
| 1157 | 1197 | Interpreters for the Deaf national interpreting certificate; or 1015 | |
| 1158 | 1198 | (9) Holds the credential of Approved Deaf Interpreter, Approved 1016 | |
| 1159 | 1199 | American Sign Language-English Interpreter, or Approved Sign 1017 | |
| 1160 | 1200 | Language Transliterator by the Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf 1018 | |
| 1161 | 1201 | and Hard of Hearing. 1019 | |
| 1162 | 1202 | (d) No person shall provide interpreting services in a medical setting 1020 | |
| 1163 | - | unless such person is registered with the Department of [Aging and] 1021 | |
| 1203 | + | unless such person is registered with the Department of [Aging and] 1021 T | |
| 1204 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1205 | + | ||
| 1206 | + | ||
| 1207 | + | LCO No. 4161 34 of 130 | |
| 1208 | + | ||
| 1164 | 1209 | Disability Services according to the provisions of this section and holds 1022 | |
| 1165 | 1210 | (1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of 1023 | |
| 1166 | 1211 | Interpreters for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation or a certificate 1024 | |
| 1167 | 1212 | of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 1025 | |
| 1168 | 1213 | (3) a level four or higher certification from the National Association of 1026 | |
| 1169 | 1214 | the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or certification as a deaf 1027 | |
| 1170 | 1215 | interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (5) 1028 | |
| 1171 | 1216 | for situations requiring an oral interpreter only, an oral certification 1029 | |
| 1172 | 1217 | from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for situations 1030 | |
| 1173 | 1218 | requiring a cued speech transliterator only, a certification from the 1031 | |
| 1174 | 1219 | National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the 1032 | |
| 1175 | 1220 | National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, (7) 1033 | |
| 1176 | 1221 | a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for 1034 | |
| 1177 | 1222 | the Deaf national interpreting certificate, or (8) the credential of 1035 | |
| 1178 | 1223 | Approved Deaf Interpreter by the Massachusetts Commission on the 1036 | |
| 1179 | 1224 | Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 1037 | |
| 1180 | 1225 | (e) No person shall provide interpreting services in a legal setting 1038 | |
| 1181 | 1226 | unless such person is registered with the Department of [Aging and] 1039 | |
| 1182 | 1227 | Disability Services according to the provisions of this section and holds 1040 | |
| 1183 | 1228 | (1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of 1041 | |
| 1184 | 1229 | Interpreters for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation and a 1042 | |
| 1185 | - | certificate of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters 1043 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1186 | - | ||
| 1187 | - | ||
| 1188 | - | LCO 34 of 128 | |
| 1189 | - | ||
| 1230 | + | certificate of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters 1043 | |
| 1190 | 1231 | for the Deaf, (3) a level five certification from the National Association 1044 | |
| 1191 | 1232 | of the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter 1045 | |
| 1192 | 1233 | under the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (5) for 1046 | |
| 1193 | 1234 | situations requiring an oral interpreter only, an oral certification from 1047 | |
| 1194 | 1235 | the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for situations 1048 | |
| 1195 | 1236 | requiring a cued speech transliterator only, certification from the 1049 | |
| 1196 | 1237 | National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the 1050 | |
| 1197 | 1238 | National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, (7) 1051 | |
| 1198 | 1239 | a National Association of the Deaf-National Registry of Interpreters for 1052 | |
| 1199 | 1240 | the Deaf national interpreting certificate, or (8) the credential of 1053 | |
| 1200 | 1241 | Approved Deaf Interpreter by the Massachusetts Commission on the 1054 | |
| 1201 | - | Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 1055 | |
| 1242 | + | Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 1055 T | |
| 1243 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1244 | + | ||
| 1245 | + | ||
| 1246 | + | LCO No. 4161 35 of 130 | |
| 1247 | + | ||
| 1202 | 1248 | (f) No person who is not registered as a qualified interpreter pursuant 1056 | |
| 1203 | 1249 | to this section shall: 1057 | |
| 1204 | 1250 | (1) Engage in the practice of or offer to engage in the practice of 1058 | |
| 1205 | 1251 | interpreting for another person, an agency or an entity; 1059 | |
| 1206 | 1252 | (2) Use the title "interpreter", "transliterator" or a similar title in 1060 | |
| 1207 | 1253 | connection with services provided under his or her name; 1061 | |
| 1208 | 1254 | (3) Present or identify himself or herself as an interpreter qualified to 1062 | |
| 1209 | 1255 | engage in interpreting in this state; 1063 | |
| 1210 | 1256 | (4) Use the title "interpreter", "transliterator" or a similar title in 1064 | |
| 1211 | 1257 | advertisements or communications; or 1065 | |
| 1212 | 1258 | (5) Perform the function of or convey the impression that he or she is 1066 | |
| 1213 | 1259 | an interpreter or transliterator. 1067 | |
| 1214 | 1260 | (g) The requirements of this section shall apply to persons who (1) 1068 | |
| 1215 | 1261 | receive compensation for the provision of interpreting services, and (2) 1069 | |
| 1216 | 1262 | provide interpreting services as part of their job duties. The 1070 | |
| 1217 | 1263 | requirements of this section shall not apply to nonregistered individuals 1071 | |
| 1218 | 1264 | such as family members and friends who voluntarily provide 1072 | |
| 1219 | - | interpreting services at the request of a deaf, deafblind or hard of 1073 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1220 | - | ||
| 1221 | - | ||
| 1222 | - | LCO 35 of 128 | |
| 1223 | - | ||
| 1265 | + | interpreting services at the request of a deaf, deafblind or hard of 1073 | |
| 1224 | 1266 | hearing person. 1074 | |
| 1225 | 1267 | (h) The following individuals shall be exempt from the registration 1075 | |
| 1226 | 1268 | requirements of this section: 1076 | |
| 1227 | 1269 | (1) An individual interpreting at (A) a worship service conducted by 1077 | |
| 1228 | 1270 | a religious entity, or (B) services for educational purposes conducted by 1078 | |
| 1229 | 1271 | a religious entity or religiously affiliated school; 1079 | |
| 1230 | 1272 | (2) An individual engaged in interpreting during an emergency 1080 | |
| 1231 | 1273 | situation, when obtaining a registered interpreter or registered 1081 | |
| 1232 | 1274 | transliterator could cause a delay that may lead to injury or loss to the 1082 | |
| 1233 | - | individual requiring the interpreting services, provided such 1083 | |
| 1275 | + | individual requiring the interpreting services, provided such 1083 T | |
| 1276 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1277 | + | ||
| 1278 | + | ||
| 1279 | + | LCO No. 4161 36 of 130 | |
| 1280 | + | ||
| 1234 | 1281 | emergency assistance does not waive any communication access 1084 | |
| 1235 | 1282 | requirements for any entity pursuant to the federal Americans with 1085 | |
| 1236 | 1283 | Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as both 1086 | |
| 1237 | 1284 | may be amended from time to time; 1087 | |
| 1238 | 1285 | (3) An individual engaged in interpreting as part of a supervised 1088 | |
| 1239 | 1286 | internship or practicum in an interpreting program at an accredited 1089 | |
| 1240 | 1287 | college or university or an interpreting mentorship program approved 1090 | |
| 1241 | 1288 | by the department if (A) such interpreting is not in a legal, medical or 1091 | |
| 1242 | 1289 | educational setting, or (B) the individual is accompanied by an 1092 | |
| 1243 | 1290 | interpreter registered pursuant to this section; or 1093 | |
| 1244 | 1291 | (4) An interpreter who is certified by a recognized national 1094 | |
| 1245 | 1292 | professional certifying body such as the National Registry of 1095 | |
| 1246 | 1293 | Interpreters for the Deaf or the National Association of the Deaf or a 1096 | |
| 1247 | 1294 | recognized state professional certifying body from outside the state and 1097 | |
| 1248 | 1295 | provides interpreting services in the state for a period of time not 1098 | |
| 1249 | 1296 | exceeding fourteen days during a calendar year. 1099 | |
| 1250 | 1297 | (i) Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing persons may exercise their 1100 | |
| 1251 | 1298 | right to request or use a different registered interpreter than the 1101 | |
| 1252 | 1299 | interpreter provided to interpret for such persons in any interpreting 1102 | |
| 1253 | 1300 | setting in accordance with a nationally recognized interpreter code of 1103 | |
| 1254 | - | professional conduct. 1104 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1255 | - | ||
| 1256 | - | ||
| 1257 | - | LCO 36 of 128 | |
| 1258 | - | ||
| 1301 | + | professional conduct. 1104 | |
| 1259 | 1302 | (j) Any person who is not registered in accordance with this section 1105 | |
| 1260 | 1303 | who represents himself or herself as an interpreter registered with the 1106 | |
| 1261 | 1304 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services, or who engages in wilful 1107 | |
| 1262 | 1305 | or fraudulent misrepresentation of his or her credentials in an attempt 1108 | |
| 1263 | 1306 | to register with the department, shall be guilty of a class C 1109 | |
| 1264 | 1307 | misdemeanor. Failure to renew such registration in a timely manner 1110 | |
| 1265 | 1308 | shall not in and of itself constitute a violation for the purposes of this 1111 | |
| 1266 | 1309 | subsection. For purposes of this subsection, "timely manner" means 1112 | |
| 1267 | 1310 | registration renewal not more than thirty days after such registration 1113 | |
| 1268 | - | has expired. 1114 | |
| 1311 | + | has expired. 1114 T | |
| 1312 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1313 | + | ||
| 1314 | + | ||
| 1315 | + | LCO No. 4161 37 of 130 | |
| 1316 | + | ||
| 1269 | 1317 | Sec. 37. Section 17a-839 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1115 | |
| 1270 | 1318 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1116 | |
| 1271 | 1319 | Upon the request of any person or any public or private entity, the 1117 | |
| 1272 | 1320 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services may provide interpreting 1118 | |
| 1273 | 1321 | services to assist such person or entity to the extent such persons who 1119 | |
| 1274 | 1322 | provide interpreting services are available. Any person or entity 1120 | |
| 1275 | 1323 | receiving interpreting services through the department shall reimburse 1121 | |
| 1276 | 1324 | the department for such services at a rate set by the Commissioner of 1122 | |
| 1277 | 1325 | [Aging and] Disability Services. The commissioner may adopt 1123 | |
| 1278 | 1326 | regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish 1124 | |
| 1279 | 1327 | the manner of rate setting. 1125 | |
| 1280 | 1328 | Sec. 38. Section 17a-839a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1126 | |
| 1281 | 1329 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1127 | |
| 1282 | 1330 | For purposes of this section, "state agency" has the same meaning as 1128 | |
| 1283 | 1331 | provided in section 9-612 and "interpreting" has the same meaning as 1129 | |
| 1284 | 1332 | provided in section 17a-838, as amended by this act. Any state agency 1130 | |
| 1285 | 1333 | that is unable to fulfill a request for interpreting services with its own 1131 | |
| 1286 | 1334 | interpreting staff shall first request such services from the Department 1132 | |
| 1287 | 1335 | of [Aging and] Disability Services and may seek such services elsewhere 1133 | |
| 1288 | 1336 | if (1) the department is unable to fulfill the request in two business days, 1134 | |
| 1289 | 1337 | or (2) the agency shows good cause that it needs such services 1135 | |
| 1290 | - | immediately. The provisions of this section shall not (A) apply to the 1136 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1291 | - | ||
| 1292 | - | ||
| 1293 | - | LCO 37 of 128 | |
| 1294 | - | ||
| 1338 | + | immediately. The provisions of this section shall not (A) apply to the 1136 | |
| 1295 | 1339 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services if the department needs 1137 | |
| 1296 | 1340 | interpreting services related to an internal matter and the use of 1138 | |
| 1297 | 1341 | department interpreters may raise confidentiality concerns, or (B) affect 1139 | |
| 1298 | 1342 | any preexisting contract for interpreting services. Interpreting services 1140 | |
| 1299 | 1343 | provided by a state agency shall be in accordance with the provisions of 1141 | |
| 1300 | 1344 | section 17a-838, as amended by this act. 1142 | |
| 1301 | 1345 | Sec. 39. Section 17a-850 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1143 | |
| 1302 | 1346 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1144 | |
| 1303 | - | The state shall be divided into five elderly planning and service areas, 1145 | |
| 1347 | + | The state shall be divided into five elderly planning and service areas, 1145 T | |
| 1348 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1349 | + | ||
| 1350 | + | ||
| 1351 | + | LCO No. 4161 38 of 130 | |
| 1352 | + | ||
| 1304 | 1353 | in accordance with federal law and regulations, each having an area 1146 | |
| 1305 | 1354 | agency on aging to carry out the mandates of the federal Older 1147 | |
| 1306 | 1355 | Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to time. The area agencies 1148 | |
| 1307 | 1356 | shall (1) represent older persons within their geographic areas, (2) 1149 | |
| 1308 | 1357 | develop an area plan for approval by the Department [of Aging and 1150 | |
| 1309 | 1358 | Disability Services] on Aging and upon such approval administer the 1151 | |
| 1310 | 1359 | plan, (3) coordinate and assist local public and nonprofit, private 1152 | |
| 1311 | 1360 | agencies in the development of programs, (4) receive and distribute 1153 | |
| 1312 | 1361 | federal and state funds for such purposes, in accordance with applicable 1154 | |
| 1313 | 1362 | law, (5) distribute nutritional risk assessment surveys to older persons, 1155 | |
| 1314 | 1363 | collect the surveys and report individual and average nutritional risk 1156 | |
| 1315 | 1364 | assessment scores for each elderly planning and service area to the 1157 | |
| 1316 | 1365 | Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, and (6) carry 1158 | |
| 1317 | 1366 | out any additional duties and functions required by federal law and 1159 | |
| 1318 | 1367 | regulations. 1160 | |
| 1319 | 1368 | Sec. 40. Section 17a-851 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1161 | |
| 1320 | 1369 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1162 | |
| 1321 | 1370 | (a) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1163 | |
| 1322 | 1371 | equitably allocate, in accordance with federal law, federal funds 1164 | |
| 1323 | 1372 | received under Title IIIB and IIIC of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as 1165 | |
| 1324 | 1373 | amended from time to time, to the five area agencies on aging 1166 | |
| 1325 | 1374 | established pursuant to section 17a-850, as amended by this act. The 1167 | |
| 1326 | - | department, before seeking federal approval to spend any amount 1168 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1327 | - | ||
| 1328 | - | ||
| 1329 | - | LCO 38 of 128 | |
| 1330 | - | ||
| 1375 | + | department, before seeking federal approval to spend any amount 1168 | |
| 1331 | 1376 | above that allotted for administrative expenses under said act, shall 1169 | |
| 1332 | 1377 | inform the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 1170 | |
| 1333 | 1378 | cognizance of matters relating to aging and human services that it is 1171 | |
| 1334 | 1379 | seeking such approval. 1172 | |
| 1335 | 1380 | (b) Sixty per cent of the state funds appropriated to the five area 1173 | |
| 1336 | 1381 | agencies on aging for elderly nutrition and social services shall be 1174 | |
| 1337 | 1382 | allocated in the same proportion as allocations made pursuant to 1175 | |
| 1338 | 1383 | subsection (a) of this section. Forty per cent of all state funds 1176 | |
| 1339 | - | appropriated to the five area agencies on aging for elderly nutrition and 1177 | |
| 1384 | + | appropriated to the five area agencies on aging for elderly nutrition and 1177 T | |
| 1385 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1386 | + | ||
| 1387 | + | ||
| 1388 | + | LCO No. 4161 39 of 130 | |
| 1389 | + | ||
| 1340 | 1390 | social services used for purposes other than the required nonfederal 1178 | |
| 1341 | 1391 | matching funds shall be allocated at the discretion of the Commissioner 1179 | |
| 1342 | 1392 | [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, in consultation with the 1180 | |
| 1343 | 1393 | five area agencies on aging, based on their need for such funds. Any 1181 | |
| 1344 | 1394 | state funds appropriated to the five area agencies on aging for 1182 | |
| 1345 | 1395 | administrative expenses shall be allocated equally. 1183 | |
| 1346 | 1396 | (c) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, in 1184 | |
| 1347 | 1397 | consultation with the five area agencies on aging, shall review the 1185 | |
| 1348 | 1398 | method of allocation set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section 1186 | |
| 1349 | 1399 | and evaluate the method used to allocate funding for elderly nutrition 1187 | |
| 1350 | 1400 | services based on factors including, but not limited to, for each of the 1188 | |
| 1351 | 1401 | five elderly planning and service areas as described in section 17a-850, 1189 | |
| 1352 | 1402 | as amended by this act, (1) elderly population data from the most recent 1190 | |
| 1353 | 1403 | United States census, and (2) average and individual nutritional risk 1191 | |
| 1354 | 1404 | assessment scores on nutritional risk assessment surveys. The 1192 | |
| 1355 | 1405 | department shall solicit information and recommendations from elderly 1193 | |
| 1356 | 1406 | nutrition program providers for consideration in the department's 1194 | |
| 1357 | 1407 | evaluation. Not later than July 1, 2023, the department shall report, in 1195 | |
| 1358 | 1408 | accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 1196 | |
| 1359 | 1409 | committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 1197 | |
| 1360 | 1410 | relating to aging, appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and 1198 | |
| 1361 | 1411 | human services on (A) the data collected pursuant to this subsection, (B) 1199 | |
| 1362 | 1412 | the rates of reimbursement for each meals on wheels provider in the 1200 | |
| 1363 | 1413 | department's elderly nutrition program compared to the cost to provide 1201 | |
| 1364 | - | meals on wheels for each such provider, (C) the administrative expenses 1202 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1365 | - | ||
| 1366 | - | ||
| 1367 | - | LCO 39 of 128 | |
| 1368 | - | ||
| 1414 | + | meals on wheels for each such provider, (C) the administrative expenses 1202 | |
| 1369 | 1415 | of each such meals on wheels provider, (D) the number of such meals 1203 | |
| 1370 | 1416 | on wheels providers that have reduced or eliminated deliveries based 1204 | |
| 1371 | 1417 | on inadequate state reimbursement, and (E) any recommended changes 1205 | |
| 1372 | 1418 | in the method of allocation of funds. Providers of meals in the 1206 | |
| 1373 | 1419 | department's elderly nutrition program shall annually provide the 1207 | |
| 1374 | 1420 | department with data on service levels and costs. 1208 | |
| 1375 | 1421 | (d) An area agency may request a person participating in the elderly 1209 | |
| 1376 | - | nutrition program to pay a voluntary fee for meals furnished, except 1210 | |
| 1422 | + | nutrition program to pay a voluntary fee for meals furnished, except 1210 T | |
| 1423 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1424 | + | ||
| 1425 | + | ||
| 1426 | + | LCO No. 4161 40 of 130 | |
| 1427 | + | ||
| 1377 | 1428 | that no eligible person shall be denied a meal due to an inability to pay 1211 | |
| 1378 | 1429 | such fee. 1212 | |
| 1379 | 1430 | (e) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1213 | |
| 1380 | 1431 | disburse additional payments under the elderly nutrition program to 1214 | |
| 1381 | 1432 | any area agency on aging contracting with the department that has 1215 | |
| 1382 | 1433 | expended fifty per cent or more of the initial disbursement of funding 1216 | |
| 1383 | 1434 | under such contract. Within available appropriations, the department 1217 | |
| 1384 | 1435 | shall disburse additional payments not later than thirty days after the 1218 | |
| 1385 | 1436 | area agency on aging provides documentation prescribed by the 1219 | |
| 1386 | 1437 | department of such expenditures. The area agency on aging shall 1220 | |
| 1387 | 1438 | transfer additional payments not later than thirty days after receipt from 1221 | |
| 1388 | 1439 | the department to vendors that contract with the agency to participate 1222 | |
| 1389 | 1440 | in the elderly nutrition program. Not later than July 1, 2025, and 1223 | |
| 1390 | 1441 | annually thereafter, the Commissioner [of Aging and Disability 1224 | |
| 1391 | 1442 | Services] on Aging shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions 1225 | |
| 1392 | 1443 | of section 11-4a, with the joint standing committees of the General 1226 | |
| 1393 | 1444 | Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging and human 1227 | |
| 1394 | 1445 | services on the feasibility of the department disbursing additional funds 1228 | |
| 1395 | 1446 | under an elderly nutrition program contract upon evidence that a 1229 | |
| 1396 | 1447 | contracting area agency on aging has expended twenty-five per cent or 1230 | |
| 1397 | 1448 | more of the initial disbursement of funding under the contract. 1231 | |
| 1398 | 1449 | (f) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1232 | |
| 1399 | 1450 | shall require each area agency on aging, in consultation with the chief 1233 | |
| 1400 | 1451 | elected officials of the municipalities and municipal agents for elderly 1234 | |
| 1401 | - | persons appointed pursuant to section 7-127b, as amended by this act, 1235 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1402 | - | ||
| 1403 | - | ||
| 1404 | - | LCO 40 of 128 | |
| 1405 | - | ||
| 1452 | + | persons appointed pursuant to section 7-127b, as amended by this act, 1235 | |
| 1406 | 1453 | within the area each agency serves, to develop a continuity of effort plan 1236 | |
| 1407 | 1454 | to minimize any disruption to benefits provided under the elderly 1237 | |
| 1408 | 1455 | nutrition program in such area when a provider leaves the program or 1238 | |
| 1409 | 1456 | there is a significant increase in service levels or demand for the 1239 | |
| 1410 | 1457 | program. Such plan shall include an area agency on aging applying for 1240 | |
| 1411 | 1458 | funding to support elderly nutrition program services through any 1241 | |
| 1412 | 1459 | available grant source. An area agency on aging shall, not later than 1242 | |
| 1413 | - | January 1, 2025, submit such plan to the commissioner and notify, in 1243 | |
| 1460 | + | January 1, 2025, submit such plan to the commissioner and notify, in 1243 T | |
| 1461 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1462 | + | ||
| 1463 | + | ||
| 1464 | + | LCO No. 4161 41 of 130 | |
| 1465 | + | ||
| 1414 | 1466 | writing, chief elected officials, municipal agents for the elderly and state 1244 | |
| 1415 | 1467 | and federal elected officials of the area such agency serves not later than 1245 | |
| 1416 | 1468 | ten business days after a significant increase in service levels or demand 1246 | |
| 1417 | 1469 | for the elderly nutrition program. The commissioner may withhold 1247 | |
| 1418 | 1470 | funding from an area agency on aging or take other remedial measures 1248 | |
| 1419 | 1471 | against such agency for violating any provision of this subsection. 1249 | |
| 1420 | 1472 | Sec. 41. Subsection (a) of section 17a-852 of the general statutes is 1250 | |
| 1421 | 1473 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1251 | |
| 1422 | 1474 | 2026): 1252 | |
| 1423 | 1475 | (a) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1253 | |
| 1424 | 1476 | be responsible for the administration of programs which provide 1254 | |
| 1425 | 1477 | nutritionally sound diets to needy older persons and for the expansion 1255 | |
| 1426 | 1478 | of such programs when possible. Such programs shall be continued in 1256 | |
| 1427 | 1479 | such a manner as to fully utilize congregate feeding and nutrition 1257 | |
| 1428 | 1480 | education of older citizens who qualify for such program. 1258 | |
| 1429 | 1481 | Sec. 42. Section 17a-852a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1259 | |
| 1430 | 1482 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1260 | |
| 1431 | 1483 | (a) The Commissioner of Social Services, upon a request from the 1261 | |
| 1432 | 1484 | Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, or from an 1262 | |
| 1433 | 1485 | area agency on aging contracting with the Department [of Aging and 1263 | |
| 1434 | 1486 | Disability Services] on Aging to provide services under the elderly 1264 | |
| 1435 | 1487 | nutrition program, shall provide information on whether a person who 1265 | |
| 1436 | 1488 | is eligible to receive services under the elderly nutrition program is 1266 | |
| 1437 | - | receiving benefits from the supplemental nutrition assistance program. 1267 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1438 | - | ||
| 1439 | - | ||
| 1440 | - | LCO 41 of 128 | |
| 1441 | - | ||
| 1489 | + | receiving benefits from the supplemental nutrition assistance program. 1267 | |
| 1442 | 1490 | (b) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the 1268 | |
| 1443 | 1491 | Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, shall 1269 | |
| 1444 | 1492 | develop a plan to maximize supplemental nutrition assistance program 1270 | |
| 1445 | 1493 | benefits to support the elderly nutrition program. The plan shall 1271 | |
| 1446 | 1494 | include, but need not be limited to, (1) outreach to persons who may be 1272 | |
| 1447 | 1495 | eligible for both the elderly nutrition program and the supplemental 1273 | |
| 1448 | - | nutrition assistance program, and (2) federally permissible uses of 1274 | |
| 1496 | + | nutrition assistance program, and (2) federally permissible uses of 1274 T | |
| 1497 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1498 | + | ||
| 1499 | + | ||
| 1500 | + | LCO No. 4161 42 of 130 | |
| 1501 | + | ||
| 1449 | 1502 | supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to fund meals provided to 1275 | |
| 1450 | 1503 | persons age sixty and over, persons with disabilities and such persons' 1276 | |
| 1451 | 1504 | households. 1277 | |
| 1452 | 1505 | (c) Not later than October 1, 2024, the Commissioner of Social 1278 | |
| 1453 | 1506 | Services, in consultation with the Commissioner [of Aging and 1279 | |
| 1454 | 1507 | Disability Services] on Aging, shall file a report on the plan, in 1280 | |
| 1455 | 1508 | accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, with the joint standing 1281 | |
| 1456 | 1509 | committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 1282 | |
| 1457 | 1510 | relating to aging and human services. 1283 | |
| 1458 | 1511 | Sec. 43. Section 17a-853 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1284 | |
| 1459 | 1512 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1285 | |
| 1460 | 1513 | The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1286 | |
| 1461 | 1514 | hold quarterly meetings with nutrition service stakeholders to (1) 1287 | |
| 1462 | 1515 | develop recommendations to address complexities in the administrative 1288 | |
| 1463 | 1516 | processes of nutrition services programs, (2) establish quality control 1289 | |
| 1464 | 1517 | benchmarks in such programs, and (3) help move toward greater 1290 | |
| 1465 | 1518 | quality, efficiency and transparency in the elderly nutrition program. 1291 | |
| 1466 | 1519 | Stakeholders shall include, but need not be limited to, (A) one 1292 | |
| 1467 | 1520 | representative of each of the following: (i) Area agencies on aging, (ii) 1293 | |
| 1468 | 1521 | access agencies, (iii) the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, 1294 | |
| 1469 | 1522 | Equity and Opportunity, and (iv) nutrition providers, and (B) one or 1295 | |
| 1470 | 1523 | more representatives of (i) food security programs, (ii) contractors, (iii) 1296 | |
| 1471 | 1524 | nutrition host sites, and (iv) consumers. 1297 | |
| 1472 | 1525 | Sec. 44. Section 17a-854 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1298 | |
| 1473 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1299 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1474 | - | ||
| 1475 | - | ||
| 1476 | - | LCO 42 of 128 | |
| 1477 | - | ||
| 1526 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1299 | |
| 1478 | 1527 | The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1300 | |
| 1479 | 1528 | adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 1301 | |
| 1480 | 1529 | carry out the purposes, programs and services authorized pursuant to 1302 | |
| 1481 | 1530 | the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to time. The 1303 | |
| 1482 | 1531 | department may operate under any new policy necessary to conform to 1304 | |
| 1483 | - | a requirement of a federal or joint state and federal program while it is 1305 | |
| 1532 | + | a requirement of a federal or joint state and federal program while it is 1305 T | |
| 1533 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1534 | + | ||
| 1535 | + | ||
| 1536 | + | LCO No. 4161 43 of 130 | |
| 1537 | + | ||
| 1484 | 1538 | in the process of adopting the policy in regulation form, provided the 1306 | |
| 1485 | 1539 | department posts such policy on the eRegulations System not later than 1307 | |
| 1486 | 1540 | twenty days after adopting the policy. Such policy shall be valid until 1308 | |
| 1487 | 1541 | the time final regulations are effective. 1309 | |
| 1488 | 1542 | Sec. 45. Section 17a-855 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1310 | |
| 1489 | 1543 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1311 | |
| 1490 | 1544 | The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging may 1312 | |
| 1491 | 1545 | make a grant to any city, town or borough or public or private agency, 1313 | |
| 1492 | 1546 | organization or institution for the following purposes: (1) For 1314 | |
| 1493 | 1547 | community planning and coordination of programs carrying out the 1315 | |
| 1494 | 1548 | purposes of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to 1316 | |
| 1495 | 1549 | time; (2) for demonstration programs or activities particularly valuable 1317 | |
| 1496 | 1550 | in carrying out such purposes; (3) for training of special personnel 1318 | |
| 1497 | 1551 | needed to carry out such programs and activities; (4) for establishment 1319 | |
| 1498 | 1552 | of new or expansion of existing programs to carry out such purposes, 1320 | |
| 1499 | 1553 | including establishment of new or expansion of existing centers of 1321 | |
| 1500 | 1554 | service for older persons, providing recreational, cultural and other 1322 | |
| 1501 | 1555 | leisure time activities, and informational, transportation, referral and 1323 | |
| 1502 | 1556 | preretirement and postretirement counseling services for older persons 1324 | |
| 1503 | 1557 | and assisting such persons in providing volunteer community or civic 1325 | |
| 1504 | 1558 | services, except that no costs of construction, other than for minor 1326 | |
| 1505 | 1559 | alterations and repairs, shall be included in such establishment or 1327 | |
| 1506 | 1560 | expansion; and (5) for programs to develop or demonstrate approaches, 1328 | |
| 1507 | 1561 | methods and techniques for achieving or improving coordination of 1329 | |
| 1508 | 1562 | community services for older or aging persons and such other programs 1330 | |
| 1509 | 1563 | and services as may be allowed under Title III of the Older Americans 1331 | |
| 1510 | 1564 | Act of 1965, as amended from time to time, or to evaluate these 1332 | |
| 1511 | - | approaches, techniques and methods, as well as others which may assist 1333 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1512 | - | ||
| 1513 | - | ||
| 1514 | - | LCO 43 of 128 | |
| 1515 | - | ||
| 1565 | + | approaches, techniques and methods, as well as others which may assist 1333 | |
| 1516 | 1566 | older or aging persons to enjoy wholesome and meaningful living and 1334 | |
| 1517 | 1567 | to continue to contribute to the strength and welfare of the state and 1335 | |
| 1518 | 1568 | nation. 1336 | |
| 1519 | - | Sec. 46. Section 17a-856 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1337 | |
| 1569 | + | Sec. 46. Section 17a-856 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1337 T | |
| 1570 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1571 | + | ||
| 1572 | + | ||
| 1573 | + | LCO No. 4161 44 of 130 | |
| 1574 | + | ||
| 1520 | 1575 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1338 | |
| 1521 | 1576 | The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging may use 1339 | |
| 1522 | 1577 | moneys appropriated for the purposes of section 17a-855, as amended 1340 | |
| 1523 | 1578 | by this act, for the expenses of administering the grant program under 1341 | |
| 1524 | 1579 | said section, provided the total of such moneys so used shall not exceed 1342 | |
| 1525 | 1580 | five per cent of the moneys so appropriated. 1343 | |
| 1526 | 1581 | Sec. 47. Section 17a-857 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1344 | |
| 1527 | 1582 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1345 | |
| 1528 | 1583 | (a) As used in this section: 1346 | |
| 1529 | 1584 | (1) "CHOICES" means Connecticut's programs for health insurance 1347 | |
| 1530 | 1585 | assistance, outreach, information and referral, counseling and eligibility 1348 | |
| 1531 | 1586 | screening; and 1349 | |
| 1532 | 1587 | (2) "CHOICES health insurance assistance program" means the 1350 | |
| 1533 | 1588 | federally recognized state health insurance assistance program funded 1351 | |
| 1534 | 1589 | pursuant to P.L. 101-508 and administered by the Department [of Aging 1352 | |
| 1535 | 1590 | and Disability Services] on Aging, in conjunction with the area agencies 1353 | |
| 1536 | 1591 | on aging and the Center for Medicare Advocacy, that provides free 1354 | |
| 1537 | 1592 | information and assistance related to health insurance issues and 1355 | |
| 1538 | 1593 | concerns of older persons and other Medicare beneficiaries in 1356 | |
| 1539 | 1594 | Connecticut. 1357 | |
| 1540 | 1595 | (b) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1358 | |
| 1541 | 1596 | administer the CHOICES health insurance assistance program, which 1359 | |
| 1542 | 1597 | shall be a comprehensive Medicare advocacy program that provides 1360 | |
| 1543 | 1598 | assistance to Connecticut residents who are Medicare beneficiaries. 1361 | |
| 1544 | 1599 | (c) The program shall provide: (1) Toll-free telephone access for 1362 | |
| 1545 | - | consumers to obtain advice and information on Medicare benefits, 1363 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1546 | - | ||
| 1547 | - | ||
| 1548 | - | LCO 44 of 128 | |
| 1549 | - | ||
| 1600 | + | consumers to obtain advice and information on Medicare benefits, 1363 | |
| 1550 | 1601 | including prescription drug benefits available through the Medicare 1364 | |
| 1551 | 1602 | Part D program, the Medicare appeals process, health insurance matters 1365 | |
| 1552 | 1603 | applicable to Medicare beneficiaries and long-term care options 1366 | |
| 1553 | - | available in the state at least five days per week during normal business 1367 | |
| 1604 | + | available in the state at least five days per week during normal business 1367 T | |
| 1605 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1606 | + | ||
| 1607 | + | ||
| 1608 | + | LCO No. 4161 45 of 130 | |
| 1609 | + | ||
| 1554 | 1610 | hours; (2) information, advice and representation, where appropriate, 1368 | |
| 1555 | 1611 | concerning the Medicare appeals process, by a qualified attorney or 1369 | |
| 1556 | 1612 | paralegal at least five days per week during normal business hours; (3) 1370 | |
| 1557 | 1613 | information through appropriate means and format, including written 1371 | |
| 1558 | 1614 | materials, to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, senior citizens and 1372 | |
| 1559 | 1615 | organizations regarding Medicare benefits, including prescription drug 1373 | |
| 1560 | 1616 | benefits available through Medicare Part D and other pharmaceutical 1374 | |
| 1561 | 1617 | drug company programs and long-term care options available in the 1375 | |
| 1562 | 1618 | state; (4) information concerning Medicare plans and services, private 1376 | |
| 1563 | 1619 | insurance policies and federal and state-funded programs that are 1377 | |
| 1564 | 1620 | available to beneficiaries to supplement Medicare coverage; (5) 1378 | |
| 1565 | 1621 | information permitting Medicare beneficiaries to compare and evaluate 1379 | |
| 1566 | 1622 | their options for delivery of Medicare and supplemental insurance 1380 | |
| 1567 | 1623 | services; (6) information concerning the procedure to appeal a denial of 1381 | |
| 1568 | 1624 | care and the procedure to request an expedited appeal of a denial of 1382 | |
| 1569 | - | care; and (7) any other information the program or the Commissioner 1383 | |
| 1570 | - | [ | |
| 1625 | + | care; and (7) any other information the program or the Commissioner of 1383 | |
| 1626 | + | [Rehabilitation Services] on Aging deems relevant to Medicare 1384 | |
| 1571 | 1627 | beneficiaries. 1385 | |
| 1572 | 1628 | (d) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1386 | |
| 1573 | 1629 | may include any additional functions necessary to conform to federal 1387 | |
| 1574 | 1630 | grant requirements. 1388 | |
| 1575 | 1631 | (e) All hospitals, as defined in section 19a-490, which treat persons 1389 | |
| 1576 | 1632 | covered by Medicare Part A shall: (1) Notify incoming patients covered 1390 | |
| 1577 | 1633 | by Medicare of the availability of the services established pursuant to 1391 | |
| 1578 | 1634 | subsection (c) of this section, (2) post or cause to be posted in a 1392 | |
| 1579 | 1635 | conspicuous place therein the toll-free number established pursuant to 1393 | |
| 1580 | 1636 | subsection (c) of this section, and (3) provide each Medicare patient with 1394 | |
| 1581 | 1637 | the toll-free number and information on how to access the CHOICES 1395 | |
| 1582 | - | program. 1396 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1583 | - | ||
| 1584 | - | ||
| 1585 | - | LCO 45 of 128 | |
| 1586 | - | ||
| 1638 | + | program. 1396 | |
| 1587 | 1639 | (f) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1397 | |
| 1588 | 1640 | may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as necessary to 1398 | |
| 1589 | - | implement the provisions of this section. 1399 | |
| 1641 | + | implement the provisions of this section. 1399 T | |
| 1642 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1643 | + | ||
| 1644 | + | ||
| 1645 | + | LCO No. 4161 46 of 130 | |
| 1646 | + | ||
| 1590 | 1647 | Sec. 48. Subsection (a) of section 17a-858 of the general statutes is 1400 | |
| 1591 | 1648 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1401 | |
| 1592 | 1649 | 2026): 1402 | |
| 1593 | 1650 | (a) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1403 | |
| 1594 | 1651 | shall develop and administer a program to provide a single, coordinated 1404 | |
| 1595 | 1652 | system of information and access for individuals seeking long-term 1405 | |
| 1596 | 1653 | support, including in-home, community-based and institutional 1406 | |
| 1597 | 1654 | services. The program shall be the state Aging and Disability Resource 1407 | |
| 1598 | 1655 | Center Program in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act 1408 | |
| 1599 | 1656 | Amendments of 2006, P.L. 109-365 and shall be administered as part of 1409 | |
| 1600 | 1657 | the Department [of Aging and Disability Services'] on Aging's 1410 | |
| 1601 | 1658 | CHOICES program in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (a) 1411 | |
| 1602 | 1659 | of section 17a-857, as amended by this act. Consumers served by the 1412 | |
| 1603 | 1660 | program shall include, but not be limited to, those sixty years of age or 1413 | |
| 1604 | 1661 | older and those eighteen years of age or older with disabilities and 1414 | |
| 1605 | 1662 | caregivers. 1415 | |
| 1606 | 1663 | Sec. 49. Section 17a-859 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1416 | |
| 1607 | 1664 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1417 | |
| 1608 | 1665 | (a) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1418 | |
| 1609 | 1666 | establish, within available appropriations, a fall prevention program. 1419 | |
| 1610 | 1667 | Within such program, the department shall: 1420 | |
| 1611 | 1668 | (1) Promote and support research to: (A) Improve the identification, 1421 | |
| 1612 | 1669 | diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of older persons and others who 1422 | |
| 1613 | 1670 | have a high risk of falling; (B) improve data collection and analysis to 1423 | |
| 1614 | 1671 | identify risk factors for falls and factors that reduce the likelihood of 1424 | |
| 1615 | 1672 | falls; (C) design, implement and evaluate the most effective fall 1425 | |
| 1616 | 1673 | prevention interventions; (D) improve intervention strategies that have 1426 | |
| 1617 | 1674 | been proven effective in reducing falls by tailoring such strategies to 1427 | |
| 1618 | - | specific populations of older persons; (E) maximize the dissemination of 1428 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1619 | - | ||
| 1620 | - | ||
| 1621 | - | LCO 46 of 128 | |
| 1622 | - | ||
| 1675 | + | specific populations of older persons; (E) maximize the dissemination of 1428 | |
| 1623 | 1676 | proven, effective fall prevention interventions; (F) assess the risk of falls 1429 | |
| 1624 | 1677 | occurring in various settings; (G) identify barriers to the adoption of 1430 | |
| 1625 | - | proven interventions with respect to the prevention of falls among older 1431 | |
| 1678 | + | proven interventions with respect to the prevention of falls among older 1431 T | |
| 1679 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1680 | + | ||
| 1681 | + | ||
| 1682 | + | LCO No. 4161 47 of 130 | |
| 1683 | + | ||
| 1626 | 1684 | persons; (H) develop, implement and evaluate the most effective 1432 | |
| 1627 | 1685 | approaches to reducing falls among high-risk older persons living in 1433 | |
| 1628 | 1686 | communities and long-term care and assisted living facilities; and (I) 1434 | |
| 1629 | 1687 | evaluate the effectiveness of community programs designed to prevent 1435 | |
| 1630 | 1688 | falls among older persons; 1436 | |
| 1631 | 1689 | (2) Establish, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health, 1437 | |
| 1632 | 1690 | a professional education program in fall prevention, evaluation and 1438 | |
| 1633 | 1691 | management for physicians, allied health professionals and other health 1439 | |
| 1634 | 1692 | care providers who provide services for older persons in this state. The 1440 | |
| 1635 | 1693 | Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging may contract 1441 | |
| 1636 | 1694 | for the establishment of such program through (A) a request for 1442 | |
| 1637 | 1695 | proposal process, (B) a competitive grant program, or (C) cooperative 1443 | |
| 1638 | 1696 | agreements with qualified organizations, institutions or consortia of 1444 | |
| 1639 | 1697 | qualified organizations and institutions; 1445 | |
| 1640 | 1698 | (3) Oversee and support demonstration and research projects to be 1446 | |
| 1641 | 1699 | carried out by organizations, institutions or consortia of organizations 1447 | |
| 1642 | 1700 | and institutions deemed qualified by the Commissioner [of Aging and 1448 | |
| 1643 | 1701 | Disability Services] on Aging. Such demonstration and research projects 1449 | |
| 1644 | 1702 | may be in the following areas: 1450 | |
| 1645 | 1703 | (A) Targeted fall risk screening and referral programs; 1451 | |
| 1646 | 1704 | (B) Programs designed for community-dwelling older persons that 1452 | |
| 1647 | 1705 | use fall intervention approaches, including physical activity, medication 1453 | |
| 1648 | 1706 | assessment and reduction of medication when possible, vision 1454 | |
| 1649 | 1707 | enhancement and home-modification strategies; 1455 | |
| 1650 | 1708 | (C) Programs that target new fall victims who are at a high risk for 1456 | |
| 1651 | 1709 | second falls and that are designed to maximize independence and 1457 | |
| 1652 | 1710 | quality of life for older persons, particularly those older persons with 1458 | |
| 1653 | - | functional limitations; and 1459 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1654 | - | ||
| 1655 | - | ||
| 1656 | - | LCO 47 of 128 | |
| 1657 | - | ||
| 1711 | + | functional limitations; and 1459 | |
| 1658 | 1712 | (D) Private sector and public-private partnerships to develop 1460 | |
| 1659 | - | technologies to prevent falls among older persons and prevent or reduce 1461 | |
| 1713 | + | technologies to prevent falls among older persons and prevent or reduce 1461 T | |
| 1714 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1715 | + | ||
| 1716 | + | ||
| 1717 | + | LCO No. 4161 48 of 130 | |
| 1718 | + | ||
| 1660 | 1719 | injuries when falls occur; and 1462 | |
| 1661 | 1720 | (4) Award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 1463 | |
| 1662 | 1721 | with, organizations, institutions or consortia of organizations and 1464 | |
| 1663 | 1722 | institutions deemed qualified by the Commissioner [of Aging and 1465 | |
| 1664 | 1723 | Disability Services] on Aging to design, implement and evaluate fall 1466 | |
| 1665 | 1724 | prevention programs using proven intervention strategies in residential 1467 | |
| 1666 | 1725 | and institutional settings. 1468 | |
| 1667 | 1726 | (b) In awarding any grants or entering into any contracts or 1469 | |
| 1668 | 1727 | agreements pursuant to this section, after October 1, 2017, the 1470 | |
| 1669 | 1728 | Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1471 | |
| 1670 | 1729 | determine appropriate data and program outcome measures, including 1472 | |
| 1671 | 1730 | fall prevention program outcome measures, as applicable, that the 1473 | |
| 1672 | 1731 | recipient organization, institution or consortia of organizations and 1474 | |
| 1673 | 1732 | institutions shall collect and report to the commissioner and the 1475 | |
| 1674 | 1733 | frequency of such reports. 1476 | |
| 1675 | 1734 | Sec. 50. Subsection (b) of section 17a-860 of the general statutes is 1477 | |
| 1676 | 1735 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1478 | |
| 1677 | 1736 | 2026): 1479 | |
| 1678 | 1737 | (b) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1480 | |
| 1679 | 1738 | shall operate a program, within available appropriations, to provide 1481 | |
| 1680 | 1739 | respite care services for caretakers of individuals with Alzheimer's 1482 | |
| 1681 | 1740 | disease, provided such individuals with Alzheimer's disease meet the 1483 | |
| 1682 | 1741 | requirements set forth in subsection (c) of this section. Such respite care 1484 | |
| 1683 | 1742 | services may include, but need not be limited to (1) homemaker services; 1485 | |
| 1684 | 1743 | (2) adult day care; (3) temporary care in a licensed medical facility; (4) 1486 | |
| 1685 | 1744 | home-health care; (5) companion services; or (6) personal care assistant 1487 | |
| 1686 | 1745 | services. Such respite care services may be administered directly by the 1488 | |
| 1687 | 1746 | Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, or through 1489 | |
| 1688 | 1747 | contracts for services with providers of such services, or by means of 1490 | |
| 1689 | - | direct subsidy to caretakers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease to 1491 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1690 | - | ||
| 1691 | - | ||
| 1692 | - | LCO 48 of 128 | |
| 1693 | - | ||
| 1694 | - | purchase such services. 1492 | |
| 1748 | + | direct subsidy to caretakers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease to 1491 | |
| 1749 | + | purchase such services. 1492 T | |
| 1750 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1751 | + | ||
| 1752 | + | ||
| 1753 | + | LCO No. 4161 49 of 130 | |
| 1754 | + | ||
| 1695 | 1755 | Sec. 51. Section 17a-862 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1493 | |
| 1696 | 1756 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1494 | |
| 1697 | 1757 | There shall be within the Department [of Aging and Disability 1495 | |
| 1698 | 1758 | Services] on Aging a dementia services coordinator. The dementia 1496 | |
| 1699 | 1759 | services coordinator shall (1) coordinate dementia services across state 1497 | |
| 1700 | 1760 | agencies, (2) assess and analyze dementia-related data collected by the 1498 | |
| 1701 | 1761 | state, (3) evaluate state-funded dementia services, (4) identify and 1499 | |
| 1702 | 1762 | support the development of dementia-specific training programs, and 1500 | |
| 1703 | 1763 | (5) perform any other relevant duties to support individuals with 1501 | |
| 1704 | 1764 | dementia in the state, as determined by the Commissioner [of Aging and 1502 | |
| 1705 | 1765 | Disability Services] on Aging. 1503 | |
| 1706 | 1766 | Sec. 52. Section 17a-870 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1504 | |
| 1707 | 1767 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1505 | |
| 1708 | 1768 | (a) As used in this chapter: 1506 | |
| 1709 | 1769 | (1) "State agency" means the Department [of Aging and Disability 1507 | |
| 1710 | 1770 | Services] on Aging. 1508 | |
| 1711 | 1771 | (2) "Office" or "Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman" means the 1509 | |
| 1712 | 1772 | organizational unit which is headed by the State Long-Term Care 1510 | |
| 1713 | 1773 | Ombudsman established in this section. 1511 | |
| 1714 | 1774 | (3) "State Ombudsman" means the individual who heads the office 1512 | |
| 1715 | 1775 | established in this section. 1513 | |
| 1716 | 1776 | (4) "Program" means the long-term care ombudsman program 1514 | |
| 1717 | 1777 | established in this section. 1515 | |
| 1718 | 1778 | (5) "Representative of the office" includes a regional ombudsman, a 1516 | |
| 1719 | 1779 | residents' advocate or an employee of the Office of the Long-Term Care 1517 | |
| 1720 | 1780 | Ombudsman who is individually designated by the State Ombudsman. 1518 | |
| 1721 | - | (6) "Resident" means an individual who resides in a long-term care 1519 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1722 | - | ||
| 1723 | - | ||
| 1724 | - | LCO 49 of 128 | |
| 1725 | - | ||
| 1726 | - | facility. 1520 | |
| 1781 | + | (6) "Resident" means an individual who resides in a long-term care 1519 | |
| 1782 | + | facility. 1520 T | |
| 1783 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1784 | + | ||
| 1785 | + | ||
| 1786 | + | LCO No. 4161 50 of 130 | |
| 1787 | + | ||
| 1727 | 1788 | (7) "Long-term care facility" means any skilled nursing facility, as 1521 | |
| 1728 | 1789 | defined in Section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act, (42 USC 1395i-3(a)) 1522 | |
| 1729 | 1790 | any nursing facility, as defined in Section 1919(a) of the Social Security 1523 | |
| 1730 | 1791 | Act, (42 USC 1396r(a)) a board and care facility as defined in Section 1524 | |
| 1731 | 1792 | 102(19) of the federal Older Americans Act, (42 USC 3002(19)) and for 1525 | |
| 1732 | 1793 | purposes of ombudsman program coverage, an institution regulated by 1526 | |
| 1733 | 1794 | the state pursuant to Section 1616(e) of the Social Security Act, (42 USC 1527 | |
| 1734 | 1795 | 1382e(e)) and any other adult care home similar to a facility or nursing 1528 | |
| 1735 | 1796 | facility or board and care home. 1529 | |
| 1736 | 1797 | (8) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner [of Aging and 1530 | |
| 1737 | 1798 | Disability Services] on Aging. 1531 | |
| 1738 | 1799 | (9) "Applicant" means an individual who has applied for admission 1532 | |
| 1739 | 1800 | to a long-term care facility. 1533 | |
| 1740 | 1801 | (10) "Resident representative" means (A) an individual chosen by the 1534 | |
| 1741 | 1802 | resident to act on behalf of the resident in order to support the resident 1535 | |
| 1742 | 1803 | in decision making, accessing medical, social or other personal 1536 | |
| 1743 | 1804 | information of the resident, managing financial matters, or receiving 1537 | |
| 1744 | 1805 | notifications; (B) a person authorized by state or federal law to act on 1538 | |
| 1745 | 1806 | behalf of the resident in order to support the resident in decision 1539 | |
| 1746 | 1807 | making, accessing medical, social or other personal information of the 1540 | |
| 1747 | 1808 | resident, managing financial matters, or receiving notifications; (C) a 1541 | |
| 1748 | 1809 | legal representative, as used in Section 712 of the Older Americans Act 1542 | |
| 1749 | 1810 | of 1965, as amended from time to time; or (D) the court-appointed 1543 | |
| 1750 | 1811 | guardian or conservator of a resident. 1544 | |
| 1751 | 1812 | (b) There is established an independent Office of the Long-Term Care 1545 | |
| 1752 | 1813 | Ombudsman within the Department [of Aging and Disability Services] 1546 | |
| 1753 | 1814 | on Aging. The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on 1547 | |
| 1754 | 1815 | Aging shall appoint a State Ombudsman, or, if a State Ombudsman has 1548 | |
| 1755 | 1816 | already been appointed, a successor State Ombudsman when the 1549 | |
| 1756 | 1817 | position becomes vacant, who shall be selected from among individuals 1550 | |
| 1757 | - | with expertise and experience in the fields of long-term care and 1551 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1758 | - | ||
| 1759 | - | ||
| 1760 | - | LCO 50 of 128 | |
| 1761 | - | ||
| 1762 | - | advocacy to head the office and the State Ombudsman shall appoint 1552 | |
| 1818 | + | with expertise and experience in the fields of long-term care and 1551 | |
| 1819 | + | advocacy to head the office and the State Ombudsman shall appoint 1552 T | |
| 1820 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1821 | + | ||
| 1822 | + | ||
| 1823 | + | LCO No. 4161 51 of 130 | |
| 1824 | + | ||
| 1763 | 1825 | regional ombudsmen. In the event the State Ombudsman or a regional 1553 | |
| 1764 | 1826 | ombudsman is unable to fulfill the duties of the office, the commissioner 1554 | |
| 1765 | 1827 | shall appoint an acting State Ombudsman and the State Ombudsman 1555 | |
| 1766 | 1828 | shall appoint an acting regional ombudsman. 1556 | |
| 1767 | 1829 | (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, 1557 | |
| 1768 | 1830 | on and after July 1, 1990, the positions of State Ombudsman and regional 1558 | |
| 1769 | 1831 | ombudsmen shall be classified service positions. The State Ombudsman 1559 | |
| 1770 | 1832 | and regional ombudsmen holding said positions on said date shall 1560 | |
| 1771 | 1833 | continue to serve in their positions as if selected through classified 1561 | |
| 1772 | 1834 | service procedures. As vacancies occur in such positions thereafter, such 1562 | |
| 1773 | 1835 | vacancies shall be filled in accordance with classified service 1563 | |
| 1774 | 1836 | procedures. 1564 | |
| 1775 | 1837 | (d) The activities of the State Ombudsman or representatives of the 1565 | |
| 1776 | 1838 | office do not constitute lobbying under 45 CFR Part 93. 1566 | |
| 1777 | 1839 | Sec. 53. Section 17a-872 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1567 | |
| 1778 | 1840 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1568 | |
| 1779 | 1841 | No person may perform any functions as a residents' advocate until 1569 | |
| 1780 | 1842 | the person has successfully completed a course of training required by 1570 | |
| 1781 | 1843 | the State Ombudsman. Any residents' advocate who fails to complete 1571 | |
| 1782 | 1844 | such a course within a reasonable time after appointment may be 1572 | |
| 1783 | 1845 | removed by the State Ombudsman or the regional ombudsman for the 1573 | |
| 1784 | 1846 | region in which such residents' advocate serves. The Commissioner [of 1574 | |
| 1785 | 1847 | Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, after consultation with the 1575 | |
| 1786 | 1848 | State Ombudsman, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the 1576 | |
| 1787 | 1849 | provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section. Such 1577 | |
| 1788 | 1850 | regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the course of training 1578 | |
| 1789 | 1851 | required by this section. 1579 | |
| 1790 | 1852 | Sec. 54. Subsection (c) of section 17a-876 of the general statutes is 1580 | |
| 1791 | 1853 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1581 | |
| 1792 | - | 2026): 1582 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1793 | - | ||
| 1794 | - | ||
| 1795 | - | LCO 51 of 128 | |
| 1854 | + | 2026): 1582 T | |
| 1855 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1856 | + | ||
| 1857 | + | ||
| 1858 | + | LCO No. 4161 52 of 130 | |
| 1796 | 1859 | ||
| 1797 | 1860 | (c) The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging 1583 | |
| 1798 | 1861 | shall have authority to seek funding for the purposes contained in this 1584 | |
| 1799 | 1862 | section from public and private sources, including, but not limited to, 1585 | |
| 1800 | 1863 | any federal or state funded programs. 1586 | |
| 1801 | 1864 | Sec. 55. Section 17a-879 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1587 | |
| 1802 | 1865 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1588 | |
| 1803 | 1866 | The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, after 1589 | |
| 1804 | 1867 | consultation with the State Ombudsman, shall adopt regulations in 1590 | |
| 1805 | 1868 | accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions 1591 | |
| 1806 | 1869 | of sections 17a-412, 17a-413, 17a-870 to 17a-880, inclusive, as amended 1592 | |
| 1807 | 1870 | by this act, 19a-531 and 19a-532. 1593 | |
| 1808 | 1871 | Sec. 56. Section 17a-880 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1594 | |
| 1809 | 1872 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1595 | |
| 1810 | 1873 | The Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 1596 | |
| 1811 | 1874 | require the State Ombudsman to: 1597 | |
| 1812 | 1875 | (1) Prepare an annual report: 1598 | |
| 1813 | 1876 | (A) Describing the activities carried out by the office in the year for 1599 | |
| 1814 | 1877 | which the report is prepared; 1600 | |
| 1815 | 1878 | (B) Containing and analyzing the data collected under section 17a-1601 | |
| 1816 | 1879 | 881; 1602 | |
| 1817 | 1880 | (C) Evaluating the problems experienced by and the complaints 1603 | |
| 1818 | 1881 | made by or on behalf of residents; 1604 | |
| 1819 | 1882 | (D) Containing recommendations for (i) improving the quality of the 1605 | |
| 1820 | 1883 | care and life of the residents, and (ii) protecting the health, safety, 1606 | |
| 1821 | 1884 | welfare and rights of the residents; 1607 | |
| 1822 | 1885 | (E) (i) Analyzing the success of the program including success in 1608 | |
| 1823 | 1886 | providing services to residents of long-term care facilities; and (ii) 1609 | |
| 1824 | - | identifying barriers that prevent the optimal operation of the program; 1610 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1825 | - | ||
| 1826 | - | ||
| 1827 | - | LCO 52 of 128 | |
| 1887 | + | identifying barriers that prevent the optimal operation of the program; 1610 T | |
| 1888 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1889 | + | ||
| 1890 | + | ||
| 1891 | + | LCO No. 4161 53 of 130 | |
| 1828 | 1892 | ||
| 1829 | 1893 | and 1611 | |
| 1830 | 1894 | (F) Providing policy, regulatory and legislative recommendations to 1612 | |
| 1831 | 1895 | solve identified problems, to resolve the complaints, to improve the 1613 | |
| 1832 | 1896 | quality of the care and life of residents, to protect the health, safety, 1614 | |
| 1833 | 1897 | welfare and rights of residents and to remove the barriers that prevent 1615 | |
| 1834 | 1898 | the optimal operation of the program. 1616 | |
| 1835 | 1899 | (2) Analyze, comment on and monitor the development and 1617 | |
| 1836 | 1900 | implementation of federal, state and local laws, regulations and other 1618 | |
| 1837 | 1901 | government policies and actions that pertain to long-term care facilities 1619 | |
| 1838 | 1902 | and services, and to the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents in 1620 | |
| 1839 | 1903 | the state, and recommend any changes in such laws, regulations and 1621 | |
| 1840 | 1904 | policies as the office determines to be appropriate. 1622 | |
| 1841 | 1905 | (3) (A) Provide such information as the office determines to be 1623 | |
| 1842 | 1906 | necessary to public and private agencies, legislators and other persons, 1624 | |
| 1843 | 1907 | regarding (i) the problems and concerns of older individuals residing in 1625 | |
| 1844 | 1908 | long-term care facilities; and (ii) recommendations related to the 1626 | |
| 1845 | 1909 | problems and concerns; and (B) make available to the public and submit 1627 | |
| 1846 | 1910 | to the federal assistant secretary for aging, the Governor, the General 1628 | |
| 1847 | 1911 | Assembly, the Department of Public Health and other appropriate 1629 | |
| 1848 | 1912 | governmental entities, each report prepared under subdivision (1) of 1630 | |
| 1849 | 1913 | this section. 1631 | |
| 1850 | 1914 | Sec. 57. Subsection (c) of section 17a-885 of the general statutes is 1632 | |
| 1851 | 1915 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1633 | |
| 1852 | 1916 | 2026): 1634 | |
| 1853 | 1917 | (c) Not later than June 30, 2005, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman 1635 | |
| 1854 | 1918 | shall submit a report on the pilot program to the Commissioners [of 1636 | |
| 1855 | - | Aging and Disability Services] on Aging and of Public Health, and to 1637 | |
| 1856 | - | the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 1638 | |
| 1857 | - | cognizance of matters relating to aging, human services, public health 1639 | |
| 1858 | - | and appropriations. [, and to the select committee of the General 1640 | |
| 1859 | - | Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging.] The report 1641 | |
| 1860 | - | shall be submitted in accordance with section 11-4a. 1642 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1861 | - | ||
| 1862 | - | ||
| 1863 | - | LCO 53 of 128 | |
| 1864 | - | ||
| 1919 | + | Aging and Disability Services] on Aging and Public Health, and to the 1637 | |
| 1920 | + | joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance 1638 | |
| 1921 | + | of matters relating to aging, human services, public health and 1639 | |
| 1922 | + | appropriations. [, and to the select committee of the General Assembly 1640 | |
| 1923 | + | having cognizance of matters relating to aging.] The report shall be 1641 T | |
| 1924 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1925 | + | ||
| 1926 | + | ||
| 1927 | + | LCO No. 4161 54 of 130 | |
| 1928 | + | ||
| 1929 | + | submitted in accordance with section 11-4a. 1642 | |
| 1865 | 1930 | Sec. 58. Subsection (b) of section 17b-4 of the general statutes is 1643 | |
| 1866 | 1931 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1644 | |
| 1867 | 1932 | 2026): 1645 | |
| 1868 | 1933 | (b) The Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the 1646 | |
| 1869 | 1934 | Department of Public Health and the Department [of Aging and 1647 | |
| 1870 | 1935 | Disability Services] on Aging, may adopt regulations in accordance with 1648 | |
| 1871 | 1936 | the provisions of chapter 54 to establish requirements with respect to 1649 | |
| 1872 | 1937 | the submission of reports concerning financial solvency and quality of 1650 | |
| 1873 | 1938 | care by nursing homes for the purpose of determining the financial 1651 | |
| 1874 | 1939 | viability of such homes, identifying homes that appear to be 1652 | |
| 1875 | 1940 | experiencing financial distress and examining the underlying reasons 1653 | |
| 1876 | 1941 | for such distress. Such reports shall be submitted to the Nursing Home 1654 | |
| 1877 | 1942 | Financial Advisory Committee established under section 17b-339. 1655 | |
| 1878 | 1943 | Sec. 59. Subsection (c) of section 17b-28 of the general statutes is 1656 | |
| 1879 | 1944 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1657 | |
| 1880 | 1945 | 2026): 1658 | |
| 1881 | 1946 | (c) On and after October 31, 2017, the council shall be composed of 1659 | |
| 1882 | 1947 | the following members: 1660 | |
| 1883 | 1948 | (1) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing 1661 | |
| 1884 | 1949 | committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 1662 | |
| 1885 | 1950 | relating to aging, human services, public health and appropriations and 1663 | |
| 1886 | 1951 | the budgets of state agencies, or their designees; 1664 | |
| 1887 | 1952 | (2) Five appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 1665 | |
| 1888 | 1953 | one of whom shall be a member of the General Assembly, one of whom 1666 | |
| 1889 | 1954 | shall be a community provider of adult Medicaid health services, one of 1667 | |
| 1890 | 1955 | whom shall be a recipient of Medicaid benefits for the aged, blind and 1668 | |
| 1891 | 1956 | disabled or an advocate for such a recipient, one of whom shall be a 1669 | |
| 1892 | 1957 | representative of the state's federally qualified health clinics and one of 1670 | |
| 1893 | - | whom shall be a member of the Connecticut Hospital Association; 1671 | |
| 1958 | + | whom shall be a member of the Connecticut Hospital Association; 1671 T | |
| 1959 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1960 | + | ||
| 1961 | + | ||
| 1962 | + | LCO No. 4161 55 of 130 | |
| 1963 | + | ||
| 1894 | 1964 | (3) Five appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of 1672 | |
| 1895 | - | whom shall be a member of the General Assembly, one of whom shall 1673 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1896 | - | ||
| 1897 | - | ||
| 1898 | - | LCO 54 of 128 | |
| 1899 | - | ||
| 1965 | + | whom shall be a member of the General Assembly, one of whom shall 1673 | |
| 1900 | 1966 | be a representative of the home health care industry, one of whom shall 1674 | |
| 1901 | 1967 | be a primary care medical home provider, one of whom shall be an 1675 | |
| 1902 | 1968 | advocate for Department of Children and Families foster families and 1676 | |
| 1903 | 1969 | one of whom shall be a representative of the business community with 1677 | |
| 1904 | 1970 | experience in cost efficiency management; 1678 | |
| 1905 | 1971 | (4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of 1679 | |
| 1906 | 1972 | Representatives, one of whom shall be an advocate for persons with 1680 | |
| 1907 | 1973 | substance abuse disabilities, one of whom shall be a Medicaid dental 1681 | |
| 1908 | 1974 | provider and one of whom shall be a representative of the for-profit 1682 | |
| 1909 | 1975 | nursing home industry; 1683 | |
| 1910 | 1976 | (5) Three appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom 1684 | |
| 1911 | 1977 | shall be a representative of school-based health centers, one of whom 1685 | |
| 1912 | 1978 | shall be a recipient of benefits under the HUSKY Health program and 1686 | |
| 1913 | 1979 | one of whom shall be a physician who serves Medicaid clients; 1687 | |
| 1914 | 1980 | (6) Three appointed by the minority leader of the House of 1688 | |
| 1915 | 1981 | Representatives, one of whom shall be an advocate for persons with 1689 | |
| 1916 | 1982 | disabilities, one of whom shall be a dually eligible Medicaid-Medicare 1690 | |
| 1917 | 1983 | beneficiary or an advocate for such a beneficiary and one of whom shall 1691 | |
| 1918 | 1984 | be a representative of the not-for-profit nursing home industry; 1692 | |
| 1919 | 1985 | (7) Three appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of 1693 | |
| 1920 | 1986 | whom shall be a low-income adult recipient of Medicaid benefits or an 1694 | |
| 1921 | 1987 | advocate for such a recipient, one of whom shall be a representative of 1695 | |
| 1922 | 1988 | hospitals and one of whom shall be a representative of the business 1696 | |
| 1923 | 1989 | community with experience in cost efficiency management; 1697 | |
| 1924 | 1990 | (8) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, 1698 | |
| 1925 | 1991 | Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director's designee; 1699 | |
| 1926 | 1992 | (9) A member of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, 1700 | |
| 1927 | - | Equity and Opportunity, designated by the executive director of said 1701 | |
| 1993 | + | Equity and Opportunity, designated by the executive director of said 1701 T | |
| 1994 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1995 | + | ||
| 1996 | + | ||
| 1997 | + | LCO No. 4161 56 of 130 | |
| 1998 | + | ||
| 1928 | 1999 | commission; 1702 | |
| 1929 | - | (10) A representative of the Long-Term Care Advisory Council; 1703 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1930 | - | ||
| 1931 | - | ||
| 1932 | - | LCO 55 of 128 | |
| 1933 | - | ||
| 2000 | + | (10) A representative of the Long-Term Care Advisory Council; 1703 | |
| 1934 | 2001 | (11) The Commissioners of Social Services, Children and Families, 1704 | |
| 1935 | 2002 | Public Health, Developmental Services, [Aging and Disability Services 1705 | |
| 1936 | - | and] Mental Health and Addiction Services and | |
| 2003 | + | and] Mental Health and Addiction Services and Aging, or their 1706 | |
| 1937 | 2004 | designees, who shall be ex-officio nonvoting members; 1707 | |
| 1938 | 2005 | (12) The Comptroller, or the Comptroller's designee, who shall be an 1708 | |
| 1939 | 2006 | ex-officio nonvoting member; 1709 | |
| 1940 | 2007 | (13) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 1710 | |
| 1941 | 2008 | secretary's designee, who shall be an ex-officio nonvoting member; and 1711 | |
| 1942 | 2009 | (14) One representative of an administrative services organization 1712 | |
| 1943 | 2010 | which contracts with the Department of Social Services in the 1713 | |
| 1944 | 2011 | administration of the Medicaid program, who shall be a nonvoting 1714 | |
| 1945 | 2012 | member. 1715 | |
| 1946 | 2013 | Sec. 60. Subsection (b) of section 17b-90 of the general statutes is 1716 | |
| 1947 | 2014 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1717 | |
| 1948 | 2015 | 2026): 1718 | |
| 1949 | 2016 | (b) No person shall, except for purposes directly connected with the 1719 | |
| 1950 | 2017 | administration of programs of the Department of Social Services and in 1720 | |
| 1951 | 2018 | accordance with the regulations of the commissioner, solicit, disclose, 1721 | |
| 1952 | 2019 | receive or make use of, or authorize, knowingly permit, participate in or 1722 | |
| 1953 | 2020 | acquiesce in the use of, any list of the names of, or any information 1723 | |
| 1954 | 2021 | concerning, persons applying for or receiving assistance from the 1724 | |
| 1955 | 2022 | Department of Social Services or persons participating in a program 1725 | |
| 1956 | 2023 | administered by said department, directly or indirectly derived from 1726 | |
| 1957 | 2024 | the records, papers, files or communications of the state or its 1727 | |
| 1958 | 2025 | subdivisions or agencies, or acquired in the course of the performance 1728 | |
| 1959 | 2026 | of official duties. The Commissioner of Social Services shall disclose (1) 1729 | |
| 1960 | 2027 | to any authorized representative of the Labor Commissioner such 1730 | |
| 1961 | - | information directly related to unemployment compensation, 1731 | |
| 2028 | + | information directly related to unemployment compensation, 1731 T | |
| 2029 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2030 | + | ||
| 2031 | + | ||
| 2032 | + | LCO No. 4161 57 of 130 | |
| 2033 | + | ||
| 1962 | 2034 | administered pursuant to chapter 567 or information necessary for 1732 | |
| 1963 | 2035 | implementation of sections 17b-112l, 17b-688b, 17b-688c and 17b-688h 1733 | |
| 1964 | 2036 | and section 122 of public act 97-2 of the June 18 special session, (2) to 1734 | |
| 1965 | - | any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Mental Health 1735 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 1966 | - | ||
| 1967 | - | ||
| 1968 | - | LCO 56 of 128 | |
| 1969 | - | ||
| 2037 | + | any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Mental Health 1735 | |
| 1970 | 2038 | and Addiction Services any information necessary for the 1736 | |
| 1971 | 2039 | implementation and operation of the basic needs supplement program, 1737 | |
| 1972 | 2040 | (3) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of 1738 | |
| 1973 | 2041 | Administrative Services or the Commissioner of Emergency Services 1739 | |
| 1974 | 2042 | and Public Protection such information as the Commissioner of Social 1740 | |
| 1975 | 2043 | Services determines is directly related to and necessary for the 1741 | |
| 1976 | 2044 | Department of Administrative Services or the Department of 1742 | |
| 1977 | 2045 | Emergency Services and Public Protection for purposes of performing 1743 | |
| 1978 | 2046 | their functions of collecting social services recoveries and overpayments 1744 | |
| 1979 | 2047 | or amounts due as support in social services cases, investigating social 1745 | |
| 1980 | 2048 | services fraud or locating absent parents of public assistance recipients, 1746 | |
| 1981 | 2049 | (4) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Children 1747 | |
| 1982 | 2050 | and Families necessary information concerning a child or the immediate 1748 | |
| 1983 | 2051 | family of a child receiving services from the Department of Social 1749 | |
| 1984 | 2052 | Services, including safety net services, if (A) the Commissioner of 1750 | |
| 1985 | 2053 | Children and Families or the Commissioner of Social Services has 1751 | |
| 1986 | 2054 | determined that imminent danger to such child's health, safety or 1752 | |
| 1987 | 2055 | welfare exists to target the services of the family services programs 1753 | |
| 1988 | 2056 | administered by the Department of Children and Families, or (B) the 1754 | |
| 1989 | 2057 | Commissioner of Children and Families requires access to the federal 1755 | |
| 1990 | 2058 | Parent Locator Service established pursuant to 42 USC 653 in order to 1756 | |
| 1991 | 2059 | identify a parent or putative parent of a child, (5) to a town official or 1757 | |
| 1992 | 2060 | other contractor or authorized representative of the Labor 1758 | |
| 1993 | 2061 | Commissioner such information concerning an applicant for or a 1759 | |
| 1994 | 2062 | recipient of assistance under state-administered general assistance 1760 | |
| 1995 | 2063 | deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Social Services and the Labor 1761 | |
| 1996 | 2064 | Commissioner to carry out their respective responsibilities to serve such 1762 | |
| 1997 | 2065 | persons under the programs administered by the Labor Department 1763 | |
| 1998 | 2066 | that are designed to serve applicants for or recipients of state-1764 | |
| 1999 | - | administered general assistance, (6) to any authorized representative of 1765 | |
| 2067 | + | administered general assistance, (6) to any authorized representative of 1765 T | |
| 2068 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2069 | + | ||
| 2070 | + | ||
| 2071 | + | LCO No. 4161 58 of 130 | |
| 2072 | + | ||
| 2000 | 2073 | the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the 1766 | |
| 2001 | 2074 | purposes of the behavioral health managed care program established by 1767 | |
| 2002 | 2075 | section 17a-453, (7) to any authorized representative of the 1768 | |
| 2003 | 2076 | Commissioner of Early Childhood to carry out his or her respective 1769 | |
| 2004 | - | responsibilities under the two-generational academic achievement and 1770 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2005 | - | ||
| 2006 | - | ||
| 2007 | - | LCO 57 of 128 | |
| 2008 | - | ||
| 2077 | + | responsibilities under the two-generational academic achievement and 1770 | |
| 2009 | 2078 | workforce readiness initiative established pursuant to section 17b-112l 1771 | |
| 2010 | 2079 | and programs that regulate child care services or youth camps, (8) to a 1772 | |
| 2011 | 2080 | health insurance provider, in IV-D support cases, as defined in 1773 | |
| 2012 | 2081 | subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, information 1774 | |
| 2013 | 2082 | concerning a child and the custodial parent of such child that is 1775 | |
| 2014 | 2083 | necessary to enroll such child in a health insurance plan available 1776 | |
| 2015 | 2084 | through such provider when the noncustodial parent of such child is 1777 | |
| 2016 | 2085 | under court order to provide health insurance coverage but is unable to 1778 | |
| 2017 | 2086 | provide such information, provided the Commissioner of Social 1779 | |
| 2018 | 2087 | Services determines, after providing prior notice of the disclosure to 1780 | |
| 2019 | 2088 | such custodial parent and an opportunity for such parent to object, that 1781 | |
| 2020 | 2089 | such disclosure is in the best interests of the child, (9) to any authorized 1782 | |
| 2021 | 2090 | representative of the Department of Correction, in IV-D support cases, 1783 | |
| 2022 | 2091 | as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, 1784 | |
| 2023 | 2092 | information concerning noncustodial parents that is necessary to 1785 | |
| 2024 | 2093 | identify inmates or parolees with IV-D support cases who may benefit 1786 | |
| 2025 | 2094 | from Department of Correction educational, training, skill building, 1787 | |
| 2026 | 2095 | work or rehabilitation programming that will significantly increase an 1788 | |
| 2027 | 2096 | inmate's or parolee's ability to fulfill such inmate's support obligation, 1789 | |
| 2028 | 2097 | (10) to any authorized representative of the Judicial Branch, in IV-D 1790 | |
| 2029 | 2098 | support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 1791 | |
| 2030 | 2099 | 46b-231, information concerning noncustodial parents that is necessary 1792 | |
| 2031 | 2100 | to: (A) Identify noncustodial parents with IV-D support cases who may 1793 | |
| 2032 | 2101 | benefit from educational, training, skill building, work or rehabilitation 1794 | |
| 2033 | 2102 | programming that will significantly increase such parent's ability to 1795 | |
| 2034 | 2103 | fulfill such parent's support obligation, (B) assist in the administration 1796 | |
| 2035 | 2104 | of the Title IV-D child support program, or (C) assist in the identification 1797 | |
| 2036 | 2105 | of cases involving family violence, (11) to any authorized representative 1798 | |
| 2037 | - | of the State Treasurer, in IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision 1799 | |
| 2106 | + | of the State Treasurer, in IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision 1799 T | |
| 2107 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2108 | + | ||
| 2109 | + | ||
| 2110 | + | LCO No. 4161 59 of 130 | |
| 2111 | + | ||
| 2038 | 2112 | (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, information that is necessary to 1800 | |
| 2039 | 2113 | identify child support obligors who owe overdue child support prior to 1801 | |
| 2040 | 2114 | the Treasurer's payment of such obligors' claim for any property 1802 | |
| 2041 | 2115 | unclaimed or presumed abandoned under part III of chapter 32, (12) to 1803 | |
| 2042 | 2116 | any authorized representative of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 1804 | |
| 2043 | - | Management any information necessary for the implementation and 1805 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2044 | - | ||
| 2045 | - | ||
| 2046 | - | LCO 58 of 128 | |
| 2047 | - | ||
| 2117 | + | Management any information necessary for the implementation and 1805 | |
| 2048 | 2118 | operation of the renters rebate program established by section 12-170d, 1806 | |
| 2049 | 2119 | or (13) to any authorized representative of the Department [of Aging 1807 | |
| 2050 | 2120 | and Disability Services] on Aging, or to an area agency on aging 1808 | |
| 2051 | 2121 | contracting with said department to provide services under the elderly 1809 | |
| 2052 | 2122 | nutrition program, information on persons enrolled in the supplemental 1810 | |
| 2053 | 2123 | nutrition assistance program who have requested or been 1811 | |
| 2054 | 2124 | recommended to receive elderly nutrition program services. No such 1812 | |
| 2055 | 2125 | representative shall disclose any information obtained pursuant to this 1813 | |
| 2056 | 2126 | section, except as specified in this section. Any applicant for assistance 1814 | |
| 2057 | 2127 | provided through the Department of Social Services shall be notified 1815 | |
| 2058 | 2128 | that, if and when such applicant receives benefits, the department will 1816 | |
| 2059 | 2129 | be providing law enforcement officials with the address of such 1817 | |
| 2060 | 2130 | applicant upon the request of any such official pursuant to section 17b-1818 | |
| 2061 | 2131 | 16a. 1819 | |
| 2062 | 2132 | Sec. 61. Subsection (c) of section 17b-337 of the general statutes is 1820 | |
| 2063 | 2133 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1821 | |
| 2064 | 2134 | 2026): 1822 | |
| 2065 | 2135 | (c) The Long-Term Care Planning Committee shall consist of: (1) The 1823 | |
| 2066 | 2136 | chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of 1824 | |
| 2067 | 2137 | the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human 1825 | |
| 2068 | 2138 | services, public health, elderly services and long-term care; (2) the 1826 | |
| 2069 | 2139 | Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee; (3) 1827 | |
| 2070 | 2140 | one member of the Office of Policy and Management appointed by the 1828 | |
| 2071 | 2141 | Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; (4) one member from 1829 | |
| 2072 | 2142 | the Department of Public Health appointed by the Commissioner of 1830 | |
| 2073 | 2143 | Public Health; (5) one member from the Department of Housing 1831 | |
| 2074 | - | appointed by the Commissioner of Housing; (6) one member from the 1832 | |
| 2144 | + | appointed by the Commissioner of Housing; (6) one member from the 1832 T | |
| 2145 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2146 | + | ||
| 2147 | + | ||
| 2148 | + | LCO No. 4161 60 of 130 | |
| 2149 | + | ||
| 2075 | 2150 | Department of Developmental Services appointed by the Commissioner 1833 | |
| 2076 | 2151 | of Developmental Services; (7) one member from the Department of 1834 | |
| 2077 | 2152 | Mental Health and Addiction Services appointed by the Commissioner 1835 | |
| 2078 | 2153 | of Mental Health and Addiction Services; (8) one member from the 1836 | |
| 2079 | 2154 | Department of Transportation appointed by the Commissioner of 1837 | |
| 2080 | 2155 | Transportation; (9) one member from the Department of Children and 1838 | |
| 2081 | - | Families appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families; (10) 1839 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2082 | - | ||
| 2083 | - | ||
| 2084 | - | LCO 59 of 128 | |
| 2085 | - | ||
| 2156 | + | Families appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families; (10) 1839 | |
| 2086 | 2157 | one member from the Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of 1840 | |
| 2087 | 2158 | Health Strategy appointed by the Commissioner of Health Strategy; and 1841 | |
| 2088 | 2159 | (11) one member from the Department [of Aging and Disability 1842 | |
| 2089 | 2160 | Services] on Aging appointed by the Commissioner [of Aging and 1843 | |
| 2090 | 2161 | Disability Services] on Aging. The committee shall convene no later than 1844 | |
| 2091 | 2162 | ninety days after June 4, 1998. Any vacancy shall be filled by the 1845 | |
| 2092 | 2163 | appointing authority. The chairperson shall be elected from among the 1846 | |
| 2093 | 2164 | members of the committee. The committee shall seek the advice and 1847 | |
| 2094 | 2165 | participation of any person, organization or state or federal agency it 1848 | |
| 2095 | 2166 | deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. 1849 | |
| 2096 | 2167 | Sec. 62. Section 17b-352 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1850 | |
| 2097 | 2168 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1851 | |
| 2098 | 2169 | (a) For the purposes of this section and section 17b-353, "facility" 1852 | |
| 2099 | 2170 | means a residential facility for persons with intellectual disability 1853 | |
| 2100 | 2171 | licensed pursuant to section 17a-277 and certified to participate in the 1854 | |
| 2101 | 2172 | Title XIX Medicaid program as an intermediate care facility for 1855 | |
| 2102 | 2173 | individuals with intellectual disabilities, a nursing home, rest home or 1856 | |
| 2103 | 2174 | residential care home, as defined in section 19a-490. "Facility" does not 1857 | |
| 2104 | 2175 | include a nursing home that does not participate in the Medicaid 1858 | |
| 2105 | 2176 | program and is associated with a continuing care facility as described in 1859 | |
| 2106 | 2177 | section 17b-520. 1860 | |
| 2107 | 2178 | (b) Any facility which intends to (1) transfer all or part of its 1861 | |
| 2108 | 2179 | ownership or control prior to being initially licensed; (2) introduce any 1862 | |
| 2109 | 2180 | additional function or service into its program of care or expand an 1863 | |
| 2110 | - | existing function or service; (3) terminate a service or decrease 1864 | |
| 2181 | + | existing function or service; (3) terminate a service or decrease 1864 T | |
| 2182 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2183 | + | ||
| 2184 | + | ||
| 2185 | + | LCO No. 4161 61 of 130 | |
| 2186 | + | ||
| 2111 | 2187 | substantially its total licensed bed capacity; or (4) relocate all or a portion 1865 | |
| 2112 | 2188 | of such facility's licensed beds, to a new facility or replacement facility, 1866 | |
| 2113 | 2189 | shall submit a complete request for permission to implement such 1867 | |
| 2114 | 2190 | transfer, addition, expansion, increase, termination, decrease or 1868 | |
| 2115 | 2191 | relocation of facility beds to the Department of Social Services with such 1869 | |
| 2116 | 2192 | information as the department requires, provided no permission or 1870 | |
| 2117 | 2193 | request for permission is required (A) to close a facility when a facility 1871 | |
| 2118 | - | in receivership is closed by order of the Superior Court pursuant to 1872 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2119 | - | ||
| 2120 | - | ||
| 2121 | - | LCO 60 of 128 | |
| 2122 | - | ||
| 2194 | + | in receivership is closed by order of the Superior Court pursuant to 1872 | |
| 2123 | 2195 | section 19a-545, or (B) to change a facility's licensure as a rest home with 1873 | |
| 2124 | 2196 | nursing supervision to licensure as a chronic and convalescent nursing 1874 | |
| 2125 | 2197 | home. The Commissioner of Social Services shall consider the criteria in 1875 | |
| 2126 | 2198 | subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (a) of section 17b-354 when 1876 | |
| 2127 | 2199 | evaluating a certificate of need request to relocate licensed nursing 1877 | |
| 2128 | 2200 | facility beds from an existing facility to another licensed nursing facility 1878 | |
| 2129 | 2201 | or to a new facility or replacement facility. The Office of the Long-Term 1879 | |
| 2130 | 2202 | Care Ombudsman, or, in the case of a residential facility for persons 1880 | |
| 2131 | 2203 | with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, as 1881 | |
| 2132 | 2204 | described in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the 1882 | |
| 2133 | 2205 | Developmental Services Ombudsperson shall be notified by the facility 1883 | |
| 2134 | 2206 | of any proposed actions pursuant to this subsection at the same time the 1884 | |
| 2135 | 2207 | request for permission is submitted to the department and when a 1885 | |
| 2136 | 2208 | facility in receivership is closed by order of the Superior Court pursuant 1886 | |
| 2137 | 2209 | to section 19a-545. 1887 | |
| 2138 | 2210 | (c) A facility may submit a petition for closure to the Department of 1888 | |
| 2139 | 2211 | Social Services. The Department of Social Services may authorize the 1889 | |
| 2140 | 2212 | closure of a facility if the facility's management demonstrates to the 1890 | |
| 2141 | 2213 | satisfaction of the Commissioner of Social Services in the petition for 1891 | |
| 2142 | 2214 | closure that the facility (1) is not viable based on actual and projected 1892 | |
| 2143 | 2215 | operating losses; (2) has an occupancy rate of less than seventy per cent 1893 | |
| 2144 | 2216 | of the facility's licensed bed capacity; (3) closure is consistent with the 1894 | |
| 2145 | 2217 | strategic rebalancing plan developed in accordance with section 17b-1895 | |
| 2146 | 2218 | 369, including bed need by geographical region; (4) is in compliance 1896 | |
| 2147 | 2219 | with the requirements of Sections 1128I(h) and 1819(h)(4) of the Social 1897 | |
| 2148 | - | Security Act and 42 CFR 483.75; and (5) is not providing special services 1898 | |
| 2220 | + | Security Act and 42 CFR 483.75; and (5) is not providing special services 1898 T | |
| 2221 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2222 | + | ||
| 2223 | + | ||
| 2224 | + | LCO No. 4161 62 of 130 | |
| 2225 | + | ||
| 2149 | 2226 | that would go unmet if the facility closes. The department shall review 1899 | |
| 2150 | 2227 | a petition for closure to the extent it deems necessary and the facility 1900 | |
| 2151 | 2228 | shall submit information the department requests or deems necessary 1901 | |
| 2152 | 2229 | to substantiate that the facility closure is consistent with the provisions 1902 | |
| 2153 | 2230 | of this subsection. The facility shall submit information the department 1903 | |
| 2154 | 2231 | requests or deems necessary to allow the department to provide 1904 | |
| 2155 | 2232 | oversight during this process. The Office of the Long-Term Care 1905 | |
| 2156 | - | Ombudsman, or, in the case of a residential facility for persons with 1906 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2157 | - | ||
| 2158 | - | ||
| 2159 | - | LCO 61 of 128 | |
| 2160 | - | ||
| 2233 | + | Ombudsman, or, in the case of a residential facility for persons with 1906 | |
| 2161 | 2234 | intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, as described 1907 | |
| 2162 | 2235 | in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the Developmental Services 1908 | |
| 2163 | 2236 | Ombudsperson shall be notified by the facility at the same time as a 1909 | |
| 2164 | 2237 | petition for closure is submitted to the department. Any facility acting 1910 | |
| 2165 | 2238 | pursuant to this subsection shall provide written notice, on the same 1911 | |
| 2166 | 2239 | date that the facility submits its petition for closure, to all patients, 1912 | |
| 2167 | 2240 | guardians or conservators, if any, or legally liable relatives or other 1913 | |
| 2168 | 2241 | responsible parties, if known, and shall post such notice in a 1914 | |
| 2169 | 2242 | conspicuous location at the facility. The facility's written notice shall be 1915 | |
| 2170 | 2243 | accompanied by an informational letter issued jointly from the Office of 1916 | |
| 2171 | 2244 | the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Department [of Aging and 1917 | |
| 2172 | 2245 | Disability Services] on Aging, or, in the case of a residential facility for 1918 | |
| 2173 | 2246 | persons with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, 1919 | |
| 2174 | 2247 | as described in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the 1920 | |
| 2175 | 2248 | Developmental Services Ombudsperson and the Department [of Aging 1921 | |
| 2176 | 2249 | and Disability Services] on Aging on patients' rights and services 1922 | |
| 2177 | 2250 | available as they relate to the petition for closure. The informational 1923 | |
| 2178 | 2251 | letter shall also state the date and time that the Office of the Long-Term 1924 | |
| 2179 | 2252 | Care Ombudsman and the Department of Public Health, or, in the case 1925 | |
| 2180 | 2253 | of a residential facility for persons with intellectual disability licensed 1926 | |
| 2181 | 2254 | pursuant to section 17a-277, as described in subsection (a) of this section, 1927 | |
| 2182 | 2255 | the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson and the 1928 | |
| 2183 | 2256 | Department of Public Health will hold an informational session at the 1929 | |
| 2184 | 2257 | facility for patients, guardians or conservators, if any, and legally liable 1930 | |
| 2185 | 2258 | relatives or other responsible parties, if known, about their rights and 1931 | |
| 2186 | - | the process concerning a petition for closure. The notice shall state: (A) 1932 | |
| 2259 | + | the process concerning a petition for closure. The notice shall state: (A) 1932 T | |
| 2260 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2261 | + | ||
| 2262 | + | ||
| 2263 | + | LCO No. 4161 63 of 130 | |
| 2264 | + | ||
| 2187 | 2265 | The date the facility submitted the petition for closure, (B) that only the 1933 | |
| 2188 | 2266 | Department of Social Services has the authority to either grant or deny 1934 | |
| 2189 | 2267 | the petition for closure, (C) that the Department of Social Services has 1935 | |
| 2190 | 2268 | up to thirty days to grant or deny the petition for closure, (D) a brief 1936 | |
| 2191 | 2269 | description of the reason or reasons for submitting the petition for 1937 | |
| 2192 | 2270 | closure, (E) that no patient shall be involuntarily transferred or 1938 | |
| 2193 | 2271 | discharged within or from a facility pursuant to state and federal law 1939 | |
| 2194 | 2272 | because of the filing of a petition for closure, (F) that all patients have a 1940 | |
| 2195 | - | right to appeal any proposed transfer or discharge, and (G) the name, 1941 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2196 | - | ||
| 2197 | - | ||
| 2198 | - | LCO 62 of 128 | |
| 2199 | - | ||
| 2273 | + | right to appeal any proposed transfer or discharge, and (G) the name, 1941 | |
| 2200 | 2274 | mailing address and telephone number of the Office of the Long-Term 1942 | |
| 2201 | 2275 | Care Ombudsman and local legal aid office, or, in the case of a 1943 | |
| 2202 | 2276 | residential facility for persons with intellectual disability licensed 1944 | |
| 2203 | 2277 | pursuant to section 17a-277, as described in subsection (a) of this section, 1945 | |
| 2204 | 2278 | the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson and local legal 1946 | |
| 2205 | 2279 | aid office. The commissioner shall grant or deny a petition for closure 1947 | |
| 2206 | 2280 | within thirty days of receiving such request. 1948 | |
| 2207 | 2281 | (d) An applicant, prior to submitting a certificate of need application, 1949 | |
| 2208 | 2282 | shall request, in writing, application forms and instructions from the 1950 | |
| 2209 | 2283 | department. The request shall include: (1) The name of the applicant or 1951 | |
| 2210 | 2284 | applicants; (2) a statement indicating whether the application is for (A) 1952 | |
| 2211 | 2285 | a new, additional, expanded or replacement facility, service or function 1953 | |
| 2212 | 2286 | or relocation of facility beds, (B) a termination or reduction in a 1954 | |
| 2213 | 2287 | presently authorized service or bed capacity, or (C) any new, additional 1955 | |
| 2214 | 2288 | or terminated beds and their type; (3) the estimated capital cost; (4) the 1956 | |
| 2215 | 2289 | town where the project is or will be located; and (5) a brief description 1957 | |
| 2216 | 2290 | of the proposed project. Such request shall be deemed a letter of intent. 1958 | |
| 2217 | 2291 | No certificate of need application shall be considered submitted to the 1959 | |
| 2218 | 2292 | department unless a current letter of intent, specific to the proposal and 1960 | |
| 2219 | 2293 | in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, has been on file 1961 | |
| 2220 | 2294 | with the department for not less than ten business days. For purposes of 1962 | |
| 2221 | 2295 | this subsection, "a current letter of intent" means a letter of intent on file 1963 | |
| 2222 | 2296 | with the department for not more than one hundred eighty days. A 1964 | |
| 2223 | 2297 | certificate of need application shall be deemed withdrawn by the 1965 | |
| 2224 | - | department, if a department completeness letter is not responded to 1966 | |
| 2298 | + | department, if a department completeness letter is not responded to 1966 T | |
| 2299 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2300 | + | ||
| 2301 | + | ||
| 2302 | + | LCO No. 4161 64 of 130 | |
| 2303 | + | ||
| 2225 | 2304 | within one hundred eighty days. The Office of the Long-Term Care 1967 | |
| 2226 | 2305 | Ombudsman, or, in the case of a residential facility for persons with 1968 | |
| 2227 | 2306 | intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, as described 1969 | |
| 2228 | 2307 | in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the Developmental Services 1970 | |
| 2229 | 2308 | Ombudsperson shall be notified by the facility at the same time as the 1971 | |
| 2230 | 2309 | letter of intent is submitted to the department. 1972 | |
| 2231 | 2310 | (e) Any facility acting pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of 1973 | |
| 2232 | 2311 | this section shall provide written notice, at the same time it submits its 1974 | |
| 2233 | - | letter of intent, to all patients, guardians or conservators, if any, or 1975 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2234 | - | ||
| 2235 | - | ||
| 2236 | - | LCO 63 of 128 | |
| 2237 | - | ||
| 2312 | + | letter of intent, to all patients, guardians or conservators, if any, or 1975 | |
| 2238 | 2313 | legally liable relatives or other responsible parties, if known, and shall 1976 | |
| 2239 | 2314 | post such notice in a conspicuous location at the facility. The facility's 1977 | |
| 2240 | 2315 | written notice shall be accompanied by an informational letter issued 1978 | |
| 2241 | 2316 | jointly from the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the 1979 | |
| 2242 | 2317 | Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, or, in the case 1980 | |
| 2243 | 2318 | of a residential facility for persons with intellectual disability licensed 1981 | |
| 2244 | 2319 | pursuant to section 17a-277, as described in subsection (a) of this section, 1982 | |
| 2245 | 2320 | the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson and the 1983 | |
| 2246 | 2321 | Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging on patients' 1984 | |
| 2247 | 2322 | rights and services available as they relate to the letter of intent. The 1985 | |
| 2248 | 2323 | notice shall state the following: (1) The projected date the facility will be 1986 | |
| 2249 | 2324 | submitting its certificate of need application, (2) that only the 1987 | |
| 2250 | 2325 | Department of Social Services has the authority to either grant, modify 1988 | |
| 2251 | 2326 | or deny the application, (3) that the Department of Social Services has 1989 | |
| 2252 | 2327 | up to ninety days to grant, modify or deny the certificate of need 1990 | |
| 2253 | 2328 | application, (4) a brief description of the reason or reasons for 1991 | |
| 2254 | 2329 | submitting a request for permission, (5) that no patient shall be 1992 | |
| 2255 | 2330 | involuntarily transferred or discharged within or from a facility 1993 | |
| 2256 | 2331 | pursuant to state and federal law because of the filing of the certificate 1994 | |
| 2257 | 2332 | of need application, (6) that all patients have a right to appeal any 1995 | |
| 2258 | 2333 | proposed transfer or discharge, and (7) the name, mailing address and 1996 | |
| 2259 | 2334 | telephone number of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman 1997 | |
| 2260 | 2335 | and local legal aid office, or, in the case of a residential facility for 1998 | |
| 2261 | 2336 | persons with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-277, 1999 | |
| 2262 | - | as described in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the 2000 | |
| 2337 | + | as described in subsection (a) of this section, the Office of the 2000 T | |
| 2338 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2339 | + | ||
| 2340 | + | ||
| 2341 | + | LCO No. 4161 65 of 130 | |
| 2342 | + | ||
| 2263 | 2343 | Developmental Services Ombudsperson and local legal aid office. 2001 | |
| 2264 | 2344 | (f) The Department of Social Services shall review a request made 2002 | |
| 2265 | 2345 | pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to the extent it deems 2003 | |
| 2266 | 2346 | necessary, including, but not limited to, in the case of a proposed 2004 | |
| 2267 | 2347 | transfer of ownership or control prior to initial licensure, the financial 2005 | |
| 2268 | 2348 | responsibility and business interests of the transferee and the ability of 2006 | |
| 2269 | 2349 | the facility to continue to provide needed services, or in the case of the 2007 | |
| 2270 | 2350 | addition or expansion of a function or service, ascertaining the 2008 | |
| 2271 | - | availability of the function or service at other facilities within the area to 2009 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2272 | - | ||
| 2273 | - | ||
| 2274 | - | LCO 64 of 128 | |
| 2275 | - | ||
| 2351 | + | availability of the function or service at other facilities within the area to 2009 | |
| 2276 | 2352 | be served, the need for the service or function within the area and any 2010 | |
| 2277 | 2353 | other factors the department deems relevant to a determination of 2011 | |
| 2278 | 2354 | whether the facility is justified in adding or expanding the function or 2012 | |
| 2279 | 2355 | service. During the review, the department may hold an informal 2013 | |
| 2280 | 2356 | conference with the facility to discuss the certificate of need application. 2014 | |
| 2281 | 2357 | The Commissioner of Social Services shall grant, modify or deny the 2015 | |
| 2282 | 2358 | request within ninety days of receipt thereof, except as otherwise 2016 | |
| 2283 | 2359 | provided in this section. The commissioner may place conditions, as the 2017 | |
| 2284 | 2360 | commissioner deems necessary to address specified concerns, on any 2018 | |
| 2285 | 2361 | decision approving or modifying a request for a certificate of need filed 2019 | |
| 2286 | 2362 | pursuant to this section. Conditions may include, but are not limited to, 2020 | |
| 2287 | 2363 | project and Medicaid reimbursement details and applicant 2021 | |
| 2288 | 2364 | requirements for summary and audit purposes. If the commissioner 2022 | |
| 2289 | 2365 | modifies the request, the commissioner shall notify the facility of such 2023 | |
| 2290 | 2366 | modification prior to issuing the decision and provide the applicant 2024 | |
| 2291 | 2367 | with an opportunity for an informal conference to discuss the 2025 | |
| 2292 | 2368 | modifications. Upon the request of the applicant, the review period may 2026 | |
| 2293 | 2369 | be extended for an additional fifteen days if the department has 2027 | |
| 2294 | 2370 | requested additional information subsequent to the commencement of 2028 | |
| 2295 | 2371 | the commissioner's review period. The director of the office of certificate 2029 | |
| 2296 | 2372 | of need and rate setting may extend the review period for a maximum 2030 | |
| 2297 | 2373 | of thirty days if the applicant has not filed in a timely manner 2031 | |
| 2298 | 2374 | information deemed necessary by the department. The applicant may 2032 | |
| 2299 | 2375 | request and shall receive a hearing in accordance with section 4-177 if 2033 | |
| 2300 | - | aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner. 2034 | |
| 2376 | + | aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner. 2034 T | |
| 2377 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2378 | + | ||
| 2379 | + | ||
| 2380 | + | LCO No. 4161 66 of 130 | |
| 2381 | + | ||
| 2301 | 2382 | (g) The Commissioner of Social Services shall not approve any 2035 | |
| 2302 | 2383 | requests for beds in residential facilities for persons with intellectual 2036 | |
| 2303 | 2384 | disability which are licensed pursuant to section 17a-227 and are 2037 | |
| 2304 | 2385 | certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Program as 2038 | |
| 2305 | 2386 | intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, 2039 | |
| 2306 | 2387 | except those beds necessary to implement the residential placement 2040 | |
| 2307 | 2388 | goals of the Department of Developmental Services which are within 2041 | |
| 2308 | 2389 | available appropriations. 2042 | |
| 2309 | - | (h) The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in 2043 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2310 | - | ||
| 2311 | - | ||
| 2312 | - | LCO 65 of 128 | |
| 2313 | - | ||
| 2390 | + | (h) The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in 2043 | |
| 2314 | 2391 | accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section. 2044 | |
| 2315 | 2392 | Sec. 63. Section 17b-606 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2045 | |
| 2316 | 2393 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2046 | |
| 2317 | 2394 | The Department of Social Services shall maintain on the department's 2047 | |
| 2318 | 2395 | Internet web site information on services provided to persons with 2048 | |
| 2319 | 2396 | disabilities. The department's Internet web site shall include a link to the 2049 | |
| 2320 | 2397 | Internet web page maintained by the Department of [Aging and] 2050 | |
| 2321 | 2398 | Disability Services pursuant to section 17a-838, as amended by this act, 2051 | |
| 2322 | 2399 | containing information about services for deaf, deafblind and hard of 2052 | |
| 2323 | 2400 | hearing individuals. 2053 | |
| 2324 | 2401 | Sec. 64. Section 21a-3a of the general statutes is repealed and the 2054 | |
| 2325 | 2402 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2055 | |
| 2326 | 2403 | The Department of Consumer Protection, in collaboration with the 2056 | |
| 2327 | 2404 | Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, shall conduct 2057 | |
| 2328 | 2405 | a public awareness campaign, within available funding, to educate 2058 | |
| 2329 | 2406 | elderly consumers and caregivers on ways to resist aggressive 2059 | |
| 2330 | 2407 | marketing tactics and scams. 2060 | |
| 2331 | 2408 | Sec. 65. Section 23-15c of the general statutes is repealed and the 2061 | |
| 2332 | 2409 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2062 | |
| 2333 | 2410 | (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, any 2063 | |
| 2334 | - | person who has a contractual agreement with the Department of [Aging 2064 | |
| 2411 | + | person who has a contractual agreement with the Department of [Aging 2064 T | |
| 2412 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2413 | + | ||
| 2414 | + | ||
| 2415 | + | LCO No. 4161 67 of 130 | |
| 2416 | + | ||
| 2335 | 2417 | and] Disability Services for the operation in any state park of any food 2065 | |
| 2336 | 2418 | service facility, vending machine or stand for the vending of goods shall 2066 | |
| 2337 | 2419 | report to the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services the amount 2067 | |
| 2338 | 2420 | of revenue that such person generated during the calendar year as a 2068 | |
| 2339 | 2421 | result of such contract. Not later than January 1, 2016, and each year 2069 | |
| 2340 | 2422 | thereafter, the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall 2070 | |
| 2341 | 2423 | compile any reports received pursuant to this subsection and transmit 2071 | |
| 2342 | 2424 | such reports to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 2072 | |
| 2343 | - | Protection. 2073 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2344 | - | ||
| 2345 | - | ||
| 2346 | - | LCO 66 of 128 | |
| 2347 | - | ||
| 2425 | + | Protection. 2073 | |
| 2348 | 2426 | (b) On or before January 30, 2016, and each year thereafter, the 2074 | |
| 2349 | 2427 | Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall compile 2075 | |
| 2350 | 2428 | the following information: (1) The number of food service facilities, 2076 | |
| 2351 | 2429 | vending machines and stands for the vending of goods that are located 2077 | |
| 2352 | 2430 | in the state parks and the location of the respective parks that have such 2078 | |
| 2353 | 2431 | facilities, machines or stands, (2) the amount of revenues generated from 2079 | |
| 2354 | 2432 | such food service facilities, vending machines and stands for the 2080 | |
| 2355 | 2433 | vending of goods, as reported to the commissioner by the Department 2081 | |
| 2356 | 2434 | of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to subsection (a) of this 2082 | |
| 2357 | 2435 | section, (3) the contractual agreement or provision of law that provides 2083 | |
| 2358 | 2436 | for the payment of any portion of such revenues to the state or that 2084 | |
| 2359 | 2437 | prohibits or limits the payment of such revenues to the state, (4) the 2085 | |
| 2360 | 2438 | amount of such revenues paid to the state in the subject calendar year, 2086 | |
| 2361 | 2439 | and (5) the manner in which such revenues were used by the state, if 2087 | |
| 2362 | 2440 | identifiable by the commissioner. 2088 | |
| 2363 | 2441 | Sec. 66. Section 26-29 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2089 | |
| 2364 | 2442 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2090 | |
| 2365 | 2443 | No fee shall be charged for any sport fishing license issued under this 2091 | |
| 2366 | 2444 | chapter to any person who is blind, and such license shall be a lifetime 2092 | |
| 2367 | 2445 | license not subject to the expiration provisions of section 26-35. Proof of 2093 | |
| 2368 | 2446 | such blindness shall be furnished, in the case of a veteran, by the United 2094 | |
| 2369 | 2447 | States Department of Veterans Affairs and, in the case of any other 2095 | |
| 2370 | - | person, by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. For the 2096 | |
| 2448 | + | person, by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services. For the 2096 T | |
| 2449 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2450 | + | ||
| 2451 | + | ||
| 2452 | + | LCO No. 4161 68 of 130 | |
| 2453 | + | ||
| 2371 | 2454 | purpose of this section, a person shall be blind only if his or her central 2097 | |
| 2372 | 2455 | visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting 2098 | |
| 2373 | 2456 | lenses, or if his or her visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is 2099 | |
| 2374 | 2457 | accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest 2100 | |
| 2375 | 2458 | diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty 2101 | |
| 2376 | 2459 | degrees. 2102 | |
| 2377 | 2460 | Sec. 67. Subsection (a) of section 31-3i of the general statutes is 2103 | |
| 2378 | 2461 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2104 | |
| 2379 | - | 2026): 2105 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2380 | - | ||
| 2381 | - | ||
| 2382 | - | LCO 67 of 128 | |
| 2383 | - | ||
| 2462 | + | 2026): 2105 | |
| 2384 | 2463 | (a) Pursuant to Section 101 of the federal Workforce Innovation and 2106 | |
| 2385 | 2464 | Opportunity Act of 2014, P.L. 113-128, the members of the Governor's 2107 | |
| 2386 | 2465 | Workforce Council shall be: 2108 | |
| 2387 | 2466 | (1) The Governor; 2109 | |
| 2388 | 2467 | (2) A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the 2110 | |
| 2389 | 2468 | speaker of the House of Representatives, and a member of the Senate, 2111 | |
| 2390 | 2469 | appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 2112 | |
| 2391 | 2470 | (3) Twenty-four members, appointed by the Governor, who (A) are 2113 | |
| 2392 | 2471 | owners of a business, chief executives or operating officers of a business, 2114 | |
| 2393 | 2472 | or other business executives or employers with optimum policy-making 2115 | |
| 2394 | 2473 | or hiring authority; (B) represent businesses or organizations 2116 | |
| 2395 | 2474 | representing businesses that provide employment opportunities that, at 2117 | |
| 2396 | 2475 | a minimum, include high-quality, work-relevant training and 2118 | |
| 2397 | 2476 | development in in-demand industry sectors or occupation in the state; 2119 | |
| 2398 | 2477 | or (C) have been nominated by state business organizations or business 2120 | |
| 2399 | 2478 | trade associations. At a minimum, at least one such member shall 2121 | |
| 2400 | 2479 | represent small businesses, as defined by the United States Small 2122 | |
| 2401 | 2480 | Business Administration; 2123 | |
| 2402 | 2481 | (4) The Labor Commissioner, Commissioner of [Aging and] 2124 | |
| 2403 | 2482 | Disability Services, Commissioner on Aging, Commissioner of 2125 | |
| 2404 | - | Education, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development 2126 | |
| 2483 | + | Education, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development 2126 T | |
| 2484 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2485 | + | ||
| 2486 | + | ||
| 2487 | + | LCO No. 4161 69 of 130 | |
| 2488 | + | ||
| 2405 | 2489 | and the Chief Workforce Officer, or their respective designees; 2127 | |
| 2406 | 2490 | (5) Four representatives of labor organizations, who have been 2128 | |
| 2407 | 2491 | nominated by state labor federations and appointed by the Governor; 2129 | |
| 2408 | 2492 | (6) An individual, appointed by the Governor, who is a member of a 2130 | |
| 2409 | 2493 | labor organization or a training director from a joint labor-management 2131 | |
| 2410 | 2494 | apprenticeship program, or, if no such joint program exists in the state, 2132 | |
| 2411 | 2495 | such a representative of an apprenticeship program in the state; 2133 | |
| 2412 | 2496 | (7) An individual, appointed by the Governor, who is an expert in 2134 | |
| 2413 | - | residential construction; 2135 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2414 | - | ||
| 2415 | - | ||
| 2416 | - | LCO 68 of 128 | |
| 2417 | - | ||
| 2497 | + | residential construction; 2135 | |
| 2418 | 2498 | (8) Five members, appointed by the Governor, who represent 2136 | |
| 2419 | 2499 | community-based organizations that have demonstrated experience 2137 | |
| 2420 | 2500 | and expertise in addressing employment, training, or education, 2138 | |
| 2421 | 2501 | including one representative of a community action agency, as defined 2139 | |
| 2422 | 2502 | in section 17b-885, and one representative of a philanthropic 2140 | |
| 2423 | 2503 | organization; 2141 | |
| 2424 | 2504 | (9) A representative from the Connecticut State Colleges and 2142 | |
| 2425 | 2505 | Universities, a representative from The University of Connecticut and a 2143 | |
| 2426 | 2506 | representative from a nonprofit institution of higher education in the 2144 | |
| 2427 | 2507 | state, each appointed by the Governor; 2145 | |
| 2428 | 2508 | (10) A representative from a regional vocational-technical school and 2146 | |
| 2429 | 2509 | a representative from a regional agricultural science and technology 2147 | |
| 2430 | 2510 | school, each appointed by the Governor; 2148 | |
| 2431 | 2511 | (11) Two superintendents of a local or regional board of education, 2149 | |
| 2432 | 2512 | appointed by the Governor; 2150 | |
| 2433 | 2513 | (12) A certified teacher employed by a local or regional board of 2151 | |
| 2434 | 2514 | education, appointed by the Governor; 2152 | |
| 2435 | 2515 | (13) Two chief elected officials of municipalities, appointed by the 2153 | |
| 2436 | - | Governor; and 2154 | |
| 2516 | + | Governor; and 2154 T | |
| 2517 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2518 | + | ||
| 2519 | + | ||
| 2520 | + | LCO No. 4161 70 of 130 | |
| 2521 | + | ||
| 2437 | 2522 | (14) Two members of the public, who are enrolled in or who have 2155 | |
| 2438 | 2523 | recently completed a nondegree workforce training program, appointed 2156 | |
| 2439 | 2524 | by the Governor. 2157 | |
| 2440 | 2525 | Sec. 68. Subsection (d) of section 31-280 of the general statutes is 2158 | |
| 2441 | 2526 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2159 | |
| 2442 | 2527 | 2026): 2160 | |
| 2443 | 2528 | (d) The chairperson and the Comptroller, as soon as practicable after 2161 | |
| 2444 | 2529 | August first in each year, shall ascertain the total amount of expenses 2162 | |
| 2445 | 2530 | incurred by the commission, including, in addition to the direct cost of 2163 | |
| 2446 | 2531 | personnel services, the cost of maintenance and operation, rentals for 2164 | |
| 2447 | - | space occupied in state leased offices and all other direct and indirect 2165 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2448 | - | ||
| 2449 | - | ||
| 2450 | - | LCO 69 of 128 | |
| 2451 | - | ||
| 2532 | + | space occupied in state leased offices and all other direct and indirect 2165 | |
| 2452 | 2533 | costs, incurred by the commission and the expenses incurred by the 2166 | |
| 2453 | 2534 | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services in providing 2167 | |
| 2454 | 2535 | rehabilitation services for employees suffering compensable injuries in 2168 | |
| 2455 | 2536 | accordance with the provisions of section 31-283a, as amended by this 2169 | |
| 2456 | 2537 | act, during the preceding fiscal year in connection with the 2170 | |
| 2457 | 2538 | administration of the Workers' Compensation Act and the total 2171 | |
| 2458 | 2539 | noncontributory payments required to be made to the Treasurer 2172 | |
| 2459 | 2540 | towards administrative law judges' retirement salaries as provided in 2173 | |
| 2460 | 2541 | sections 51-49, 51-50, 51-50a and 51-50b. An itemized statement of the 2174 | |
| 2461 | 2542 | expenses as so ascertained shall be available for public inspection in the 2175 | |
| 2462 | 2543 | office of the chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission for 2176 | |
| 2463 | 2544 | thirty days after notice to all insurance carriers, and to all employers 2177 | |
| 2464 | 2545 | permitted to pay compensation directly affected thereby. 2178 | |
| 2465 | 2546 | Sec. 69. Section 31-283a of the general statutes is repealed and the 2179 | |
| 2466 | 2547 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2180 | |
| 2467 | 2548 | (a) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services shall provide 2181 | |
| 2468 | 2549 | rehabilitation programs for employees with compensable injuries 2182 | |
| 2469 | 2550 | within the provisions of this chapter, which injuries prevented such 2183 | |
| 2470 | 2551 | employees from performing their customary or most recent work. The 2184 | |
| 2471 | 2552 | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall establish 2185 | |
| 2472 | - | rehabilitation programs which shall best suit the needs of such 2186 | |
| 2553 | + | rehabilitation programs which shall best suit the needs of such 2186 T | |
| 2554 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2555 | + | ||
| 2556 | + | ||
| 2557 | + | LCO No. 4161 71 of 130 | |
| 2558 | + | ||
| 2473 | 2559 | employees and shall make the programs available in convenient 2187 | |
| 2474 | 2560 | locations throughout the state. After consultation with the Labor 2188 | |
| 2475 | 2561 | Commissioner, the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services 2189 | |
| 2476 | 2562 | may establish fees for the programs, so as to provide the most effective 2190 | |
| 2477 | 2563 | rehabilitation programs at a minimum rate. In order to carry out the 2191 | |
| 2478 | 2564 | provisions of this section, the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability 2192 | |
| 2479 | 2565 | Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of 2193 | |
| 2480 | 2566 | chapter 54, and, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, provide for the 2194 | |
| 2481 | 2567 | employment of necessary assistants. 2195 | |
| 2482 | 2568 | (b) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services shall be 2196 | |
| 2483 | 2569 | authorized to (1) enter into agreements with other state or federal 2197 | |
| 2484 | - | agencies to carry out the purposes of this section and expend money for 2198 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2485 | - | ||
| 2486 | - | ||
| 2487 | - | LCO 70 of 128 | |
| 2488 | - | ||
| 2570 | + | agencies to carry out the purposes of this section and expend money for 2198 | |
| 2489 | 2571 | that purpose, and (2) on behalf of the state of Connecticut, develop 2199 | |
| 2490 | 2572 | matching programs or activities to secure federal grants or funds for the 2200 | |
| 2491 | 2573 | purposes of this section and may pledge or use funds supplied from the 2201 | |
| 2492 | 2574 | administrative costs fund, as provided in section 31-345, as amended by 2202 | |
| 2493 | 2575 | this act, to finance the state's share of the programs or activities. 2203 | |
| 2494 | 2576 | Sec. 70. Subsection (a) of section 31-296 of the general statutes is 2204 | |
| 2495 | 2577 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2205 | |
| 2496 | 2578 | 2026): 2206 | |
| 2497 | 2579 | (a) If an employer and an injured employee, or in case of fatal injury 2207 | |
| 2498 | 2580 | the employee's legal representative or dependent, at a date not earlier 2208 | |
| 2499 | 2581 | than the expiration of the waiting period, reach an agreement in regard 2209 | |
| 2500 | 2582 | to compensation, such agreement shall be submitted in writing to the 2210 | |
| 2501 | 2583 | administrative law judge by the employer with a statement of the time, 2211 | |
| 2502 | 2584 | place and nature of the injury upon which it is based; and, if such 2212 | |
| 2503 | 2585 | administrative law judge finds such agreement to conform to the 2213 | |
| 2504 | 2586 | provisions of this chapter in every regard, the administrative law judge 2214 | |
| 2505 | 2587 | shall so approve it. A copy of the agreement, with a statement of the 2215 | |
| 2506 | 2588 | administrative law judge's approval, shall be delivered to each of the 2216 | |
| 2507 | 2589 | parties and thereafter it shall be as binding upon both parties as an 2217 | |
| 2508 | - | award by the administrative law judge. The administrative law judge's 2218 | |
| 2590 | + | award by the administrative law judge. The administrative law judge's 2218 T | |
| 2591 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2592 | + | ||
| 2593 | + | ||
| 2594 | + | LCO No. 4161 72 of 130 | |
| 2595 | + | ||
| 2509 | 2596 | statement of approval shall also inform the employee or the employee's 2219 | |
| 2510 | 2597 | dependent, as the case may be, of any rights the individual may have to 2220 | |
| 2511 | 2598 | an annual cost-of-living adjustment or to participate in a rehabilitation 2221 | |
| 2512 | 2599 | program administered by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 2222 | |
| 2513 | 2600 | Services under the provisions of this chapter. The administrative law 2223 | |
| 2514 | 2601 | judge shall retain the original agreement, with the administrative law 2224 | |
| 2515 | 2602 | judge's approval thereof, in the administrative law judge's office and, if 2225 | |
| 2516 | 2603 | an application is made to the superior court for an execution, the 2226 | |
| 2517 | 2604 | administrative law judge shall, upon the request of said court, file in the 2227 | |
| 2518 | 2605 | court a certified copy of the agreement and statement of approval. 2228 | |
| 2519 | 2606 | Sec. 71. Section 31-300 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2229 | |
| 2520 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2230 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2521 | - | ||
| 2522 | - | ||
| 2523 | - | LCO 71 of 128 | |
| 2524 | - | ||
| 2607 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2230 | |
| 2525 | 2608 | As soon as may be after the conclusion of any hearing, but no later 2231 | |
| 2526 | 2609 | than one hundred twenty days after such conclusion, the administrative 2232 | |
| 2527 | 2610 | law judge shall send to each party a written copy of the administrative 2233 | |
| 2528 | 2611 | law judge's findings and award. The administrative law judge shall, as 2234 | |
| 2529 | 2612 | part of the written award, inform the employee or the employee's 2235 | |
| 2530 | 2613 | dependent, as the case may be, of any rights the individual may have to 2236 | |
| 2531 | 2614 | an annual cost-of-living adjustment or to participate in a rehabilitation 2237 | |
| 2532 | 2615 | program administered by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 2238 | |
| 2533 | 2616 | Services under the provisions of this chapter. The administrative law 2239 | |
| 2534 | 2617 | judge shall retain the original findings and award in said administrative 2240 | |
| 2535 | 2618 | law judge's office. If no appeal from the decision is taken by either party 2241 | |
| 2536 | 2619 | within twenty days thereafter, such award shall be final and may be 2242 | |
| 2537 | 2620 | enforced in the same manner as a judgment of the Superior Court. The 2243 | |
| 2538 | 2621 | court may issue execution upon any uncontested or final award of an 2244 | |
| 2539 | 2622 | administrative law judge in the same manner as in cases of judgments 2245 | |
| 2540 | 2623 | rendered in the Superior Court; and, upon the filing of an application to 2246 | |
| 2541 | 2624 | the court for an execution, the administrative law judge in whose office 2247 | |
| 2542 | 2625 | the award is on file shall, upon the request of the clerk of said court, 2248 | |
| 2543 | 2626 | send to the clerk a certified copy of such findings and award. In cases 2249 | |
| 2544 | 2627 | where, through the fault or neglect of the employer or insurer, 2250 | |
| 2545 | - | adjustments of compensation have been unduly delayed, or where 2251 | |
| 2628 | + | adjustments of compensation have been unduly delayed, or where 2251 T | |
| 2629 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2630 | + | ||
| 2631 | + | ||
| 2632 | + | LCO No. 4161 73 of 130 | |
| 2633 | + | ||
| 2546 | 2634 | through such fault or neglect, payments have been unduly delayed, the 2252 | |
| 2547 | 2635 | administrative law judge may include in the award interest at the rate 2253 | |
| 2548 | 2636 | prescribed in section 37-3a and a reasonable attorney's fee in the case of 2254 | |
| 2549 | 2637 | undue delay in adjustments of compensation and may include in the 2255 | |
| 2550 | 2638 | award in the case of undue delay in payments of compensation, interest 2256 | |
| 2551 | 2639 | at twelve per cent per annum and a reasonable attorney's fee. Payments 2257 | |
| 2552 | 2640 | not commenced within thirty-five days after the filing of a written notice 2258 | |
| 2553 | 2641 | of claim shall be presumed to be unduly delayed unless a notice to 2259 | |
| 2554 | 2642 | contest the claim is filed in accordance with section 31-297. In cases 2260 | |
| 2555 | 2643 | where there has been delay in either adjustment or payment, which 2261 | |
| 2556 | 2644 | delay has not been due to the fault or neglect of the employer or insurer, 2262 | |
| 2557 | 2645 | whether such delay was caused by appeals or otherwise, the 2263 | |
| 2558 | 2646 | administrative law judge may allow interest at such rate, not to exceed 2264 | |
| 2559 | - | the rate prescribed in section 37-3a, as may be fair and reasonable, taking 2265 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2560 | - | ||
| 2561 | - | ||
| 2562 | - | LCO 72 of 128 | |
| 2563 | - | ||
| 2647 | + | the rate prescribed in section 37-3a, as may be fair and reasonable, taking 2265 | |
| 2564 | 2648 | into account whatever advantage the employer or insurer, as the case 2266 | |
| 2565 | 2649 | may be, may have had from the use of the money, the burden of 2267 | |
| 2566 | 2650 | showing that the rate in such case should be less than the rate prescribed 2268 | |
| 2567 | 2651 | in section 37-3a to be upon the employer or insurer. In cases where the 2269 | |
| 2568 | 2652 | claimant prevails and the administrative law judge finds that the 2270 | |
| 2569 | 2653 | employer or insurer has unreasonably contested liability, the 2271 | |
| 2570 | 2654 | administrative law judge may allow to the claimant a reasonable 2272 | |
| 2571 | 2655 | attorney's fee. No employer or insurer shall discontinue or reduce 2273 | |
| 2572 | 2656 | payment on account of total or partial incapacity under any such award, 2274 | |
| 2573 | 2657 | if it is claimed by or on behalf of the injured person that such person's 2275 | |
| 2574 | 2658 | incapacity still continues, unless such employer or insurer notifies the 2276 | |
| 2575 | 2659 | administrative law judge and the employee of such proposed 2277 | |
| 2576 | 2660 | discontinuance or reduction in the manner prescribed in section 31-296, 2278 | |
| 2577 | 2661 | as amended by this act, and the administrative law judge specifically 2279 | |
| 2578 | 2662 | approves such discontinuance or reduction in writing. The 2280 | |
| 2579 | 2663 | administrative law judge shall render the decision within fourteen days 2281 | |
| 2580 | 2664 | of receipt of such notice and shall forward to all parties to the claim a 2282 | |
| 2581 | 2665 | copy of the decision not later than seven days after the decision has been 2283 | |
| 2582 | 2666 | rendered. If the decision of the administrative law judge finds for the 2284 | |
| 2583 | - | employer or insurer, the injured person shall return any wrongful 2285 | |
| 2667 | + | employer or insurer, the injured person shall return any wrongful 2285 T | |
| 2668 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2669 | + | ||
| 2670 | + | ||
| 2671 | + | LCO No. 4161 74 of 130 | |
| 2672 | + | ||
| 2584 | 2673 | payments received from the day designated by the administrative law 2286 | |
| 2585 | 2674 | judge as the effective date for the discontinuance or reduction of 2287 | |
| 2586 | 2675 | benefits. Any employee whose benefits for total incapacity are 2288 | |
| 2587 | 2676 | discontinued under the provisions of this section and who is entitled to 2289 | |
| 2588 | 2677 | receive benefits for partial incapacity as a result of an award, shall 2290 | |
| 2589 | 2678 | receive those benefits commencing the day following the designated 2291 | |
| 2590 | 2679 | effective date for the discontinuance of benefits for total incapacity. In 2292 | |
| 2591 | 2680 | any case where the administrative law judge finds that the employer or 2293 | |
| 2592 | 2681 | insurer has discontinued or reduced any such payment without having 2294 | |
| 2593 | 2682 | given such notice and without the administrative law judge having 2295 | |
| 2594 | 2683 | approved such discontinuance or reduction in writing, the 2296 | |
| 2595 | 2684 | administrative law judge shall allow the claimant a reasonable 2297 | |
| 2596 | 2685 | attorney's fee together with interest at the rate prescribed in section 37-2298 | |
| 2597 | - | 3a on the discontinued or reduced payments. 2299 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2598 | - | ||
| 2599 | - | ||
| 2600 | - | LCO 73 of 128 | |
| 2601 | - | ||
| 2686 | + | 3a on the discontinued or reduced payments. 2299 | |
| 2602 | 2687 | Sec. 72. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 31-345 of the 2300 | |
| 2603 | 2688 | general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2301 | |
| 2604 | 2689 | thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2302 | |
| 2605 | 2690 | (2) The chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall 2303 | |
| 2606 | 2691 | annually, on or after July first of each fiscal year, determine an amount 2304 | |
| 2607 | 2692 | sufficient in the chairperson's judgment to meet the expenses incurred 2305 | |
| 2608 | 2693 | by the Workers' Compensation Commission and the Department of 2306 | |
| 2609 | 2694 | [Aging and] Disability Services in providing rehabilitation services for 2307 | |
| 2610 | 2695 | employees suffering compensable injuries in accordance with section 2308 | |
| 2611 | 2696 | 31-283a, as amended by this act. Such expenses shall include (A) the 2309 | |
| 2612 | 2697 | costs of the Division of Workers' Rehabilitation and the programs 2310 | |
| 2613 | 2698 | established by its director, for fiscal years prior to the fiscal year 2311 | |
| 2614 | 2699 | beginning July 1, 2011, (B) the costs of the Division of Worker Education 2312 | |
| 2615 | 2700 | and the programs established by its director, and (C) funding for the 2313 | |
| 2616 | 2701 | occupational health clinic program created pursuant to sections 31-396 2314 | |
| 2617 | 2702 | to 31-402, inclusive. The Treasurer shall thereupon assess upon and 2315 | |
| 2618 | 2703 | collect from each employer, other than the state and any municipality 2316 | |
| 2619 | 2704 | participating for purposes of its liability under this chapter as a member 2317 | |
| 2620 | - | in an interlocal risk management agency pursuant to chapter 113a, the 2318 | |
| 2705 | + | in an interlocal risk management agency pursuant to chapter 113a, the 2318 T | |
| 2706 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2707 | + | ||
| 2708 | + | ||
| 2709 | + | LCO No. 4161 75 of 130 | |
| 2710 | + | ||
| 2621 | 2711 | proportion of such expenses, based on the immediately preceding fiscal 2319 | |
| 2622 | 2712 | year, that the total compensation and payment for hospital, medical and 2320 | |
| 2623 | 2713 | nursing care made by such self-insured employer or private insurance 2321 | |
| 2624 | 2714 | carrier acting on behalf of any such employer bore to the total 2322 | |
| 2625 | 2715 | compensation and payments for the immediately preceding fiscal year 2323 | |
| 2626 | 2716 | for hospital, medical and nursing care made by such insurance carriers 2324 | |
| 2627 | 2717 | and self-insurers. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2325 | |
| 2628 | 2718 | 2001, such assessments shall not exceed five per cent of such total 2326 | |
| 2629 | 2719 | compensation and payments made by such insurance carriers and self-2327 | |
| 2630 | 2720 | insurers. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2002, and June 30, 2003, 2328 | |
| 2631 | 2721 | such assessments shall not exceed four and one-half per cent of such 2329 | |
| 2632 | 2722 | total compensation and payments made by such insurance carriers and 2330 | |
| 2633 | 2723 | self-insurers. For any fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 2004, such 2331 | |
| 2634 | 2724 | assessment shall not exceed four per cent of such total compensation 2332 | |
| 2635 | - | and payments made by such insurance carriers and self-insurers. Such 2333 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2636 | - | ||
| 2637 | - | ||
| 2638 | - | LCO 74 of 128 | |
| 2639 | - | ||
| 2725 | + | and payments made by such insurance carriers and self-insurers. Such 2333 | |
| 2640 | 2726 | assessments and expenses shall not exceed the budget estimates 2334 | |
| 2641 | 2727 | submitted in accordance with subsection (c) of section 31-280. For each 2335 | |
| 2642 | 2728 | fiscal year, such assessment shall be reduced pro rata by the amount of 2336 | |
| 2643 | 2729 | any surplus from the assessments of prior fiscal years. Said surplus shall 2337 | |
| 2644 | 2730 | be determined in accordance with subdivision (3) of this subsection. 2338 | |
| 2645 | 2731 | Such assessments shall be made in one annual assessment upon receipt 2339 | |
| 2646 | 2732 | of the chairperson's expense determination by the Treasurer. All 2340 | |
| 2647 | 2733 | assessments shall be paid not later than sixty days following the date of 2341 | |
| 2648 | 2734 | the assessment by the Treasurer. Any employer who fails to pay such 2342 | |
| 2649 | 2735 | assessment to the Treasurer within the time prescribed by this 2343 | |
| 2650 | 2736 | subdivision shall pay interest to the Treasurer on the assessment at the 2344 | |
| 2651 | 2737 | rate of eight per cent per annum from the date the assessment is due 2345 | |
| 2652 | 2738 | until the date of payment. All assessments received by the Treasurer 2346 | |
| 2653 | 2739 | pursuant to this subdivision to meet the expenses of the Workers' 2347 | |
| 2654 | 2740 | Compensation Commission shall be deposited in the Workers' 2348 | |
| 2655 | 2741 | Compensation Administration Fund established under section 31-344a. 2349 | |
| 2656 | 2742 | All assessments received by the Treasurer pursuant to this subdivision 2350 | |
| 2657 | 2743 | to meet the expenses incurred by the Department of [Aging and] 2351 | |
| 2658 | - | Disability Services in providing rehabilitation services for employees 2352 | |
| 2744 | + | Disability Services in providing rehabilitation services for employees 2352 T | |
| 2745 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2746 | + | ||
| 2747 | + | ||
| 2748 | + | LCO No. 4161 76 of 130 | |
| 2749 | + | ||
| 2659 | 2750 | suffering compensable injuries in accordance with section 31-283a, as 2353 | |
| 2660 | 2751 | amended by this act, shall be deposited in the Workers' Compensation 2354 | |
| 2661 | 2752 | Administration Fund. The Treasurer is hereby authorized to make 2355 | |
| 2662 | 2753 | credits or rebates for overpayments made under this subsection by any 2356 | |
| 2663 | 2754 | employer for any fiscal year. 2357 | |
| 2664 | 2755 | Sec. 73. Subsection (a) of section 31-349b of the general statutes is 2358 | |
| 2665 | 2756 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2359 | |
| 2666 | 2757 | 2026): 2360 | |
| 2667 | 2758 | (a) Any employee who has suffered a compensable injury under the 2361 | |
| 2668 | 2759 | provisions of this chapter, and who is receiving benefits for such injury 2362 | |
| 2669 | 2760 | from the Second Injury Fund pursuant to the provisions of section 31-2363 | |
| 2670 | 2761 | 349, may file a written request with the administrative law judge in the 2364 | |
| 2671 | 2762 | district where the original claim was filed for a hearing to determine 2365 | |
| 2672 | 2763 | whether the employee's injury constitutes a permanent vocational 2366 | |
| 2673 | - | disability. The hearing shall be held within sixty days of the date the 2367 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2674 | - | ||
| 2675 | - | ||
| 2676 | - | LCO 75 of 128 | |
| 2677 | - | ||
| 2764 | + | disability. The hearing shall be held within sixty days of the date the 2367 | |
| 2678 | 2765 | request was filed. Upon the request of the administrative law judge and 2368 | |
| 2679 | 2766 | prior to the conclusion of such hearing, the Commissioner of [Aging 2369 | |
| 2680 | 2767 | and] Disability Services shall, after receiving such information on the 2370 | |
| 2681 | 2768 | case which the administrative law judge deems necessary, submit 2371 | |
| 2682 | 2769 | written recommendations concerning the case to the administrative law 2372 | |
| 2683 | 2770 | judge for his consideration. The administrative law judge shall issue his 2373 | |
| 2684 | 2771 | decision, in writing, within ten days after the conclusion of the hearing. 2374 | |
| 2685 | 2772 | If the administrative law judge determines that the employee's injury is 2375 | |
| 2686 | 2773 | a permanent vocational disability, the employee shall be issued a 2376 | |
| 2687 | 2774 | certificate of disability by the administrative law judge. Such certificate 2377 | |
| 2688 | 2775 | shall be effective for a stated period of time of from one to five years, as 2378 | |
| 2689 | 2776 | determined by the administrative law judge. The decision of the 2379 | |
| 2690 | 2777 | administrative law judge may be appealed in accordance with the 2380 | |
| 2691 | 2778 | provisions of section 31-301. 2381 | |
| 2692 | 2779 | Sec. 74. Subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of section 32-7t of the general 2382 | |
| 2693 | 2780 | statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2383 | |
| 2694 | - | (Effective July 1, 2026): 2384 | |
| 2781 | + | (Effective July 1, 2026): 2384 T | |
| 2782 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2783 | + | ||
| 2784 | + | ||
| 2785 | + | LCO No. 4161 77 of 130 | |
| 2786 | + | ||
| 2695 | 2787 | (4) The commissioner may approve an application in whole or in part 2385 | |
| 2696 | 2788 | by a qualified business that creates new discretionary FTEs or may 2386 | |
| 2697 | 2789 | approve such an application with amendments if a majority of such new 2387 | |
| 2698 | 2790 | discretionary FTEs are individuals who (A) because of a disability, are 2388 | |
| 2699 | 2791 | receiving or have received services from the Department of [Aging and] 2389 | |
| 2700 | 2792 | Disability Services; (B) are receiving employment services from the 2390 | |
| 2701 | 2793 | Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or participating in 2391 | |
| 2702 | 2794 | employment opportunities and day services, as defined in section 17a-2392 | |
| 2703 | 2795 | 226, operated or funded by the Department of Developmental Services; 2393 | |
| 2704 | 2796 | (C) have been unemployed for at least six of the preceding twelve 2394 | |
| 2705 | 2797 | months; (D) have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony; (E) are 2395 | |
| 2706 | 2798 | veterans, as defined in section 27-103; (F) have not earned any 2396 | |
| 2707 | 2799 | postsecondary credential and are not currently enrolled in a 2397 | |
| 2708 | 2800 | postsecondary institution or program; or (G) are currently enrolled in a 2398 | |
| 2709 | 2801 | workforce training program fully or substantially paid for by the 2399 | |
| 2710 | 2802 | employer that results in such individual earning a postsecondary 2400 | |
| 2711 | - | credential. 2401 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2712 | - | ||
| 2713 | - | ||
| 2714 | - | LCO 76 of 128 | |
| 2715 | - | ||
| 2803 | + | credential. 2401 | |
| 2716 | 2804 | Sec. 75. Subsection (a) of section 38a-47 of the general statutes is 2402 | |
| 2717 | 2805 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2403 | |
| 2718 | 2806 | 2026): 2404 | |
| 2719 | 2807 | (a) All domestic insurance companies and other domestic entities 2405 | |
| 2720 | 2808 | subject to taxation under chapter 207 shall, in accordance with section 2406 | |
| 2721 | 2809 | 38a-48, as amended by this act, annually pay to the Insurance 2407 | |
| 2722 | 2810 | Commissioner, for deposit in the Insurance Fund established under 2408 | |
| 2723 | 2811 | section 38a-52a, an amount equal to: 2409 | |
| 2724 | 2812 | (1) The actual expenditures made by the Insurance Department 2410 | |
| 2725 | 2813 | during each fiscal year, and the actual expenditures made by the Office 2411 | |
| 2726 | 2814 | of the Healthcare Advocate, including the cost of fringe benefits for 2412 | |
| 2727 | 2815 | department and office personnel as estimated by the Comptroller; 2413 | |
| 2728 | 2816 | (2) The amount appropriated to the Office of Health Strategy from 2414 | |
| 2729 | 2817 | the Insurance Fund for the fiscal year, including the cost of fringe 2415 | |
| 2730 | - | benefits for office personnel as estimated by the Comptroller, which 2416 | |
| 2818 | + | benefits for office personnel as estimated by the Comptroller, which 2416 T | |
| 2819 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2820 | + | ||
| 2821 | + | ||
| 2822 | + | LCO No. 4161 78 of 130 | |
| 2823 | + | ||
| 2731 | 2824 | shall be reduced by the amount of federal reimbursement received for 2417 | |
| 2732 | 2825 | allowable Medicaid administrative expenses; 2418 | |
| 2733 | 2826 | (3) The expenditures made on behalf of the department and said 2419 | |
| 2734 | 2827 | offices from the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 2420 | |
| 2735 | 2828 | 4a-9 for such year, but excluding such estimated expenditures made on 2421 | |
| 2736 | 2829 | behalf of the Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of Health 2422 | |
| 2737 | 2830 | Strategy; and 2423 | |
| 2738 | 2831 | (4) The amount appropriated to the Department [of Aging and 2424 | |
| 2739 | 2832 | Disability Services] on Aging for the fall prevention program 2425 | |
| 2740 | 2833 | established in section 17a-859, as amended by this act, from the 2426 | |
| 2741 | 2834 | Insurance Fund for the fiscal year. 2427 | |
| 2742 | - | Sec. 76. Section 38a-48 of the general statutes, as amended by section 2428 | |
| 2743 | - | 31 of public act 24-1 of the June special session, is repealed and the 2429 | |
| 2744 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2430 | |
| 2745 | - | (a) On or before June thirtieth, annually, the Commissioner of 2431 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2746 | - | ||
| 2747 | - | ||
| 2748 | - | LCO 77 of 128 | |
| 2749 | - | ||
| 2750 | - | Revenue Services shall render to the Insurance Commissioner a 2432 | |
| 2751 | - | statement certifying the total amount of taxes reported to the 2433 | |
| 2752 | - | Commissioner of Revenue Services on returns filed with said 2434 | |
| 2753 | - | commissioner by each domestic insurance company or other domestic 2435 | |
| 2754 | - | entity under chapter 207 on business done in this state during the 2436 | |
| 2755 | - | calendar year immediately preceding the prior calendar year. For 2437 | |
| 2756 | - | purposes of preparing the annual statement under this subsection, the 2438 | |
| 2757 | - | total amount of taxes required to be set forth in such statement shall be 2439 | |
| 2758 | - | the amount of tax reported by each domestic insurance company or 2440 | |
| 2759 | - | other domestic entity under chapter 207 to the Commissioner of 2441 | |
| 2760 | - | Revenue Services prior to the application of any credits allowable or 2442 | |
| 2761 | - | available under law to each such domestic insurance company or other 2443 | |
| 2762 | - | domestic entity under chapter 207. 2444 | |
| 2763 | - | (b) On or before July thirty-first, annually, the Insurance 2445 | |
| 2764 | - | Commissioner shall render to each domestic insurance company or 2446 | |
| 2765 | - | other domestic entity liable for payment under section 38a-47, as 2447 | |
| 2766 | - | amended by this act: 2448 | |
| 2767 | - | (1) A statement that includes (A) the amount appropriated to the 2449 | |
| 2768 | - | Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and the 2450 | |
| 2769 | - | Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund established under 2451 | |
| 2770 | - | section 38a-52a for the fiscal year beginning July first of the same year, 2452 | |
| 2771 | - | (B) the cost of fringe benefits for department and office personnel for 2453 | |
| 2772 | - | such year, as estimated by the Comptroller, (C) the estimated 2454 | |
| 2773 | - | expenditures on behalf of the department and the offices from the 2455 | |
| 2774 | - | Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9 for such 2456 | |
| 2775 | - | year, not including such estimated expenditures made on behalf of the 2457 | |
| 2776 | - | Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy, and (D) 2458 | |
| 2777 | - | the amount appropriated to the Department [of Aging and Disability 2459 | |
| 2778 | - | Services] on Aging for the fall prevention program established in section 2460 | |
| 2779 | - | 17a-859, as amended by this act, from the Insurance Fund for the fiscal 2461 | |
| 2780 | - | year; 2462 | |
| 2781 | - | (2) A statement of the total amount of taxes reported in the annual 2463 | |
| 2782 | - | statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to 2464 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2783 | - | ||
| 2784 | - | ||
| 2785 | - | LCO 78 of 128 | |
| 2786 | - | ||
| 2787 | - | subsection (a) of this section; and 2465 | |
| 2788 | - | (3) The proposed assessment against that company or entity, 2466 | |
| 2789 | - | calculated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this 2467 | |
| 2790 | - | section, provided for the purposes of this calculation the amount 2468 | |
| 2791 | - | appropriated to the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare 2469 | |
| 2792 | - | Advocate and the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund 2470 | |
| 2793 | - | plus the cost of fringe benefits for department and office personnel and 2471 | |
| 2794 | - | the estimated expenditures on behalf of the department and said offices 2472 | |
| 2795 | - | from the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9, 2473 | |
| 2796 | - | not including such expenditures made on behalf of the Health Systems 2474 | |
| 2797 | - | Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy shall be deemed to be the 2475 | |
| 2798 | - | actual expenditures of the department and said offices, and the amount 2476 | |
| 2799 | - | appropriated to the Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on 2477 | |
| 2800 | - | Aging from the Insurance Fund for the fiscal year for the fall prevention 2478 | |
| 2801 | - | program established in section 17a-859, as amended by this act, shall be 2479 | |
| 2802 | - | deemed to be the actual expenditures for the program. 2480 | |
| 2803 | - | (c) (1) The proposed assessments for each domestic insurance 2481 | |
| 2804 | - | company or other domestic entity shall be calculated by (A) allocating 2482 | |
| 2805 | - | twenty per cent of the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, as 2483 | |
| 2806 | - | amended by this act, among the domestic entities organized under 2484 | |
| 2807 | - | sections 38a-199 to 38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 38a-225, inclusive, 2485 | |
| 2808 | - | in proportion to their respective shares of the total amount of taxes 2486 | |
| 2809 | - | reported in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance 2487 | |
| 2810 | - | Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (B) 2488 | |
| 2811 | - | allocating eighty per cent of the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, 2489 | |
| 2812 | - | as amended by this act, among all domestic insurance companies and 2490 | |
| 2813 | - | domestic entities other than those organized under sections 38a-199 to 2491 | |
| 2814 | - | 38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 38a-225, inclusive, in proportion to 2492 | |
| 2815 | - | their respective shares of the total amount of taxes reported in the 2493 | |
| 2816 | - | annual statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to 2494 | |
| 2817 | - | subsection (a) of this section, provided if there are no domestic entities 2495 | |
| 2818 | - | organized under sections 38a-199 to 38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 2496 | |
| 2819 | - | 38a-225, inclusive, at the time of assessment, one hundred per cent of 2497 | |
| 2820 | - | the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, as amended by this act, shall 2498 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2821 | - | ||
| 2822 | - | ||
| 2823 | - | LCO 79 of 128 | |
| 2824 | - | ||
| 2825 | - | be allocated among such domestic insurance companies and domestic 2499 | |
| 2826 | - | entities. 2500 | |
| 2827 | - | (2) When the amount any such company or entity is assessed 2501 | |
| 2828 | - | pursuant to this section exceeds twenty-five per cent of the actual 2502 | |
| 2829 | - | expenditures of the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare 2503 | |
| 2830 | - | Advocate and the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund, 2504 | |
| 2831 | - | such excess amount shall not be paid by such company or entity but 2505 | |
| 2832 | - | rather shall be assessed against and paid by all other such companies 2506 | |
| 2833 | - | and entities in proportion to their respective shares of the total amount 2507 | |
| 2834 | - | of taxes reported in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance 2508 | |
| 2835 | - | Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, except that for 2509 | |
| 2836 | - | purposes of any assessment made to fund payments to the Department 2510 | |
| 2837 | - | of Public Health to purchase vaccines, such company or entity shall be 2511 | |
| 2838 | - | responsible for its share of the costs, notwithstanding whether its 2512 | |
| 2839 | - | assessment exceeds twenty-five per cent of the actual expenditures of 2513 | |
| 2840 | - | the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and 2514 | |
| 2841 | - | the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund. The provisions 2515 | |
| 2842 | - | of this subdivision shall not be applicable to any corporation that has 2516 | |
| 2843 | - | converted to a domestic mutual insurance company pursuant to section 2517 | |
| 2844 | - | 38a-155 upon the effective date of any public act that amends said 2518 | |
| 2845 | - | section to modify or remove any restriction on the business such a 2519 | |
| 2846 | - | company may engage in, for purposes of any assessment due from such 2520 | |
| 2847 | - | company on and after such effective date. 2521 | |
| 2848 | - | (d) Each annual payment determined under section 38a-47, as 2522 | |
| 2849 | - | amended by this act, and each annual assessment determined under this 2523 | |
| 2850 | - | section shall be calculated based on the total amount of taxes reported 2524 | |
| 2851 | - | in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner 2525 | |
| 2852 | - | pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 2526 | |
| 2853 | - | (e) On or before September first, annually, for each fiscal year, the 2527 | |
| 2854 | - | Insurance Commissioner, after receiving any objections to the proposed 2528 | |
| 2855 | - | assessments and making such adjustments as in the commissioner's 2529 | |
| 2856 | - | opinion may be indicated, shall assess each such domestic insurance 2530 | |
| 2857 | - | company or other domestic entity an amount equal to its proposed 2531 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2858 | - | ||
| 2859 | - | ||
| 2860 | - | LCO 80 of 128 | |
| 2861 | - | ||
| 2862 | - | assessment as so adjusted. Each domestic insurance company or other 2532 | |
| 2863 | - | domestic entity shall pay to the Insurance Commissioner (1) on or before 2533 | |
| 2864 | - | June thirtieth, annually, an estimated payment against its assessment for 2534 | |
| 2865 | - | the following year equal to twenty-five per cent of its assessment for the 2535 | |
| 2866 | - | fiscal year ending such June thirtieth, (2) on or before September 2536 | |
| 2867 | - | thirtieth, annually, twenty-five per cent of its assessment adjusted to 2537 | |
| 2868 | - | reflect any credit or amount due from the preceding fiscal year as 2538 | |
| 2869 | - | determined by the commissioner under subsection (f) of this section, 2539 | |
| 2870 | - | and (3) on or before the following December thirty-first and March 2540 | |
| 2871 | - | thirty-first, annually, each domestic insurance company or other 2541 | |
| 2872 | - | domestic entity shall pay to the Insurance Commissioner the remaining 2542 | |
| 2873 | - | fifty per cent of its proposed assessment to the department in two equal 2543 | |
| 2874 | - | installments. 2544 | |
| 2875 | - | (f) If the actual expenditures for the fall prevention program 2545 | |
| 2876 | - | established in section 17a-859, as amended by this act, are less than the 2546 | |
| 2877 | - | amount allocated, the Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] 2547 | |
| 2878 | - | on Aging shall notify the Insurance Commissioner. Immediately 2548 | |
| 2879 | - | following the close of the fiscal year, the Insurance Commissioner shall 2549 | |
| 2880 | - | recalculate the proposed assessment for each domestic insurance 2550 | |
| 2881 | - | company or other domestic entity in accordance with subsection (c) of 2551 | |
| 2882 | - | this section using the actual expenditures made during the fiscal year by 2552 | |
| 2883 | - | the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and 2553 | |
| 2884 | - | the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund, the actual 2554 | |
| 2885 | - | expenditures made on behalf of the department and said offices from 2555 | |
| 2886 | - | the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9, not 2556 | |
| 2887 | - | including such expenditures made on behalf of the Health Systems 2557 | |
| 2888 | - | Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy, and the actual 2558 | |
| 2889 | - | expenditures for the fall prevention program. On or before July thirty-2559 | |
| 2890 | - | first, annually, the Insurance Commissioner shall render to each such 2560 | |
| 2891 | - | domestic insurance company and other domestic entity a statement 2561 | |
| 2892 | - | showing the difference between their respective recalculated 2562 | |
| 2893 | - | assessments and the amount they have previously paid. On or before 2563 | |
| 2894 | - | August thirty-first, the Insurance Commissioner, after receiving any 2564 | |
| 2895 | - | objections to such statements, shall make such adjustments that in the 2565 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2896 | - | ||
| 2897 | - | ||
| 2898 | - | LCO 81 of 128 | |
| 2899 | - | ||
| 2900 | - | commissioner's opinion may be indicated, and shall render an adjusted 2566 | |
| 2901 | - | assessment, if any, to the affected companies. Any such domestic 2567 | |
| 2902 | - | insurance company or other domestic entity may pay to the Insurance 2568 | |
| 2903 | - | Commissioner the entire assessment required under this subsection in 2569 | |
| 2904 | - | one payment when the first installment of such assessment is due. 2570 | |
| 2905 | - | (g) If any assessment is not paid when due, a penalty of twenty-five 2571 | |
| 2906 | - | dollars shall be added thereto, and interest at the rate of six per cent per 2572 | |
| 2907 | - | annum shall be paid thereafter on such assessment and penalty. 2573 | |
| 2908 | - | (h) The Insurance Commissioner shall deposit all payments made 2574 | |
| 2909 | - | under this section with the State Treasurer. On and after June 6, 1991, 2575 | |
| 2910 | - | the moneys so deposited shall be credited to the Insurance Fund 2576 | |
| 2911 | - | established under section 38a-52a and shall be accounted for as expenses 2577 | |
| 2912 | - | recovered from insurance companies. 2578 | |
| 2913 | - | Sec. 77. Section 38a-475 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2579 | |
| 2914 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2580 | |
| 2915 | - | The Insurance Department shall only precertify long-term care 2581 | |
| 2916 | - | insurance policies that (1) alert the purchaser to the availability of 2582 | |
| 2917 | - | consumer information and public education provided by the 2583 | |
| 2918 | - | Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging pursuant to 2584 | |
| 2919 | - | section 17a-861; (2) offer the option of home and community-based 2585 | |
| 2920 | - | services in addition to nursing home care; (3) in all home care plans, 2586 | |
| 2921 | - | include case management services delivered by an access agency 2587 | |
| 2922 | - | approved by the Office of Policy and Management and the Department 2588 | |
| 2923 | - | of Social Services as meeting the requirements for such agency as 2589 | |
| 2924 | - | defined in regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (m) of section 2590 | |
| 2925 | - | 17b-342, which services shall include, but need not be limited to, the 2591 | |
| 2926 | - | development of a comprehensive individualized assessment and care 2592 | |
| 2927 | - | plan and, as needed, the coordination of appropriate services and the 2593 | |
| 2928 | - | monitoring of the delivery of such services; (4) provide inflation 2594 | |
| 2929 | - | protection; (5) provide for the keeping of records and an explanation of 2595 | |
| 2930 | - | benefit reports on insurance payments which count toward Medicaid 2596 | |
| 2931 | - | resource exclusion; and (6) provide the management information and 2597 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2932 | - | ||
| 2933 | - | ||
| 2934 | - | LCO 82 of 128 | |
| 2935 | - | ||
| 2936 | - | reports necessary to document the extent of Medicaid resource 2598 | |
| 2937 | - | protection offered and to evaluate the Connecticut Partnership for 2599 | |
| 2938 | - | Long-Term Care. No policy shall be precertified if it requires prior 2600 | |
| 2939 | - | hospitalization or a prior stay in a nursing home as a condition of 2601 | |
| 2940 | - | providing benefits. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in 2602 | |
| 2941 | - | accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the precertification provisions 2603 | |
| 2942 | - | of this section. 2604 | |
| 2943 | - | Sec. 78. Section 42-339 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2605 | |
| 2944 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2606 | |
| 2945 | - | (a) There is established a complex rehabilitation technology and 2607 | |
| 2946 | - | wheelchair repair advisory council to monitor repairs of wheelchairs, 2608 | |
| 2947 | - | including complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs, as defined in 2609 | |
| 2948 | - | section 42-337, and to make recommendations concerning improving 2610 | |
| 2949 | - | repair times. 2611 | |
| 2950 | - | (b) The advisory council shall consist of the following members: 2612 | |
| 2951 | - | (1) Two appointed by the House and Senate chairpersons of the joint 2613 | |
| 2952 | - | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2614 | |
| 2953 | - | matters relating to human services, one of whom is a consumer who 2615 | |
| 2954 | - | uses a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair purchased, leased 2616 | |
| 2955 | - | or repaired under the Medicaid program, and one of whom is a 2617 | |
| 2956 | - | representative of the state advocacy system for persons with disabilities, 2618 | |
| 2957 | - | established pursuant to section 46a-10b; 2619 | |
| 2958 | - | (2) Two appointed by the House and Senate ranking members of the 2620 | |
| 2959 | - | joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2621 | |
| 2960 | - | matters relating to human services, one of whom is a consumer who 2622 | |
| 2961 | - | uses a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair purchased, leased 2623 | |
| 2962 | - | or repaired under a private health insurance policy, and one of whom is 2624 | |
| 2963 | - | an authorized wheelchair dealer, as defined in section 42-337; 2625 | |
| 2964 | - | (3) Two appointed by the House and Senate chairpersons of the joint 2626 | |
| 2965 | - | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2627 | |
| 2966 | - | matters relating to general law, each of whom is a representative of an 2628 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2967 | - | ||
| 2968 | - | ||
| 2969 | - | LCO 83 of 128 | |
| 2970 | - | ||
| 2971 | - | organization that represents persons with physical disabilities; 2629 | |
| 2972 | - | (4) Two appointed by the House and Senate ranking members of the 2630 | |
| 2973 | - | joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2631 | |
| 2974 | - | matters relating to general law, each of whom is a consumer who 2632 | |
| 2975 | - | privately pays for complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs; 2633 | |
| 2976 | - | (5) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 2634 | |
| 2977 | - | commissioner's designee; 2635 | |
| 2978 | - | (6) The Insurance Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; 2636 | |
| 2979 | - | (7) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 2637 | |
| 2980 | - | designee; 2638 | |
| 2981 | - | (8) The Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's designee; 2639 | |
| 2982 | - | and 2640 | |
| 2983 | - | (9) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's 2641 | |
| 2984 | - | designee. 2642 | |
| 2985 | - | (c) Any member of the advisory council appointed under subdivision 2643 | |
| 2986 | - | (1), (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the 2644 | |
| 2987 | - | General Assembly. 2645 | |
| 2988 | - | (d) All initial appointments to the advisory council shall be made not 2646 | |
| 2989 | - | later than August 1, 2024. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing 2647 | |
| 2990 | - | authority. The advisory council shall meet at least monthly. 2648 | |
| 2991 | - | (e) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 2649 | |
| 2992 | - | commissioner's designee, and a member of the advisory council chosen 2650 | |
| 2993 | - | by a majority of members of the advisory council, shall serve as 2651 | |
| 2994 | - | chairpersons. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the 2652 | |
| 2995 | - | advisory council not later than September 1, 2024. 2653 | |
| 2996 | - | (f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 2654 | |
| 2997 | - | General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human 2655 | |
| 2998 | - | services shall serve as administrative staff of the advisory council. 2656 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2999 | - | ||
| 3000 | - | ||
| 3001 | - | LCO 84 of 128 | |
| 3002 | - | ||
| 3003 | - | (g) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 2657 | |
| 3004 | - | advisory council shall submit a report on its findings and 2658 | |
| 3005 | - | recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 2659 | |
| 3006 | - | Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, general law, 2660 | |
| 3007 | - | human services and insurance, in accordance with the provisions of 2661 | |
| 3008 | - | section 11-4a. 2662 | |
| 3009 | - | Sec. 79. Subsection (c) of section 3-123aa of the general statutes is 2663 | |
| 3010 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2664 | |
| 3011 | - | 2026): 2665 | |
| 3012 | - | (c) There is established an advisory committee to the Connecticut 2666 | |
| 3013 | - | Homecare Option Program for the Elderly, which shall consist of the 2667 | |
| 3014 | - | State Treasurer, the State Comptroller, the Commissioner of Social 2668 | |
| 3015 | - | Services, the Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, 2669 | |
| 3016 | - | the director of the long-term care partnership policy program within the 2670 | |
| 3017 | - | Office of Policy and Management, and the cochairpersons and ranking 2671 | |
| 3018 | - | members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 2672 | |
| 3019 | - | having cognizance of matters relating to aging, human services and 2673 | |
| 3020 | - | finance, revenue and bonding, or their designees. The Governor shall 2674 | |
| 3021 | - | appoint one provider of home care services for the elderly and a 2675 | |
| 3022 | - | physician specializing in geriatric care. The advisory committee shall 2676 | |
| 3023 | - | meet at least annually. The State Comptroller shall convene the 2677 | |
| 3024 | - | meetings of the committee. 2678 | |
| 3025 | - | Sec. 80. Section 4-5 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2679 | |
| 3026 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2680 | |
| 3027 | - | As used in sections 4-6, 4-7 and 4-8, the term "department head" 2681 | |
| 3028 | - | means the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, 2682 | |
| 3029 | - | Commissioner of Administrative Services, Commissioner of Revenue 2683 | |
| 3030 | - | Services, Banking Commissioner, Commissioner of Children and 2684 | |
| 3031 | - | Families, Commissioner of Consumer Protection, Commissioner of 2685 | |
| 3032 | - | Correction, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 2686 | |
| 3033 | - | State Board of Education, Commissioner of Emergency Services and 2687 | |
| 3034 | - | Public Protection, Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 2688 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3035 | - | ||
| 3036 | - | ||
| 3037 | - | LCO 85 of 128 | |
| 3038 | - | ||
| 3039 | - | Protection, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Public 2689 | |
| 3040 | - | Health, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Commissioner 2690 | |
| 3041 | - | of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Commissioner of Social 2691 | |
| 3042 | - | Services, Commissioner of Developmental Services, Commissioner of 2692 | |
| 3043 | - | Motor Vehicles, Commissioner of Transportation, Commissioner of 2693 | |
| 3044 | - | Veterans Affairs, Commissioner of Housing, Commissioner on Aging, 2694 | |
| 3045 | - | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, Commissioner of 2695 | |
| 3046 | - | Early Childhood, Commissioner of Health Strategy, executive director 2696 | |
| 3047 | - | of the Office of Military Affairs, executive director of the Technical 2697 | |
| 3048 | - | Education and Career System, Chief Workforce Officer and 2698 | |
| 3049 | - | Commissioner of Higher Education. As used in sections 4-6 and 4-7, 2699 | |
| 3050 | - | "department head" also means the Commissioner of Education. 2700 | |
| 3051 | - | Sec. 81. Section 4-38c of the general statutes is repealed and the 2701 | |
| 3052 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2702 | |
| 3053 | - | There shall be within the executive branch of state government the 2703 | |
| 3054 | - | following departments: Office of Policy and Management, Department 2704 | |
| 3055 | - | of Administrative Services, Department on Aging, Department of 2705 | |
| 3056 | - | [Aging and] Disability Services, Department of Revenue Services, 2706 | |
| 3057 | - | Department of Banking, Department of Agriculture, Department of 2707 | |
| 3058 | - | Children and Families, Department of Consumer Protection, 2708 | |
| 3059 | - | Department of Correction, Department of Economic and Community 2709 | |
| 3060 | - | Development, State Board of Education, Department of Emergency 2710 | |
| 3061 | - | Services and Public Protection, Department of Energy and 2711 | |
| 3062 | - | Environmental Protection, Department of Housing, Department of 2712 | |
| 3063 | - | Public Health, Board of Regents for Higher Education, Insurance 2713 | |
| 3064 | - | Department, Labor Department, Department of Mental Health and 2714 | |
| 3065 | - | Addiction Services, Department of Developmental Services, 2715 | |
| 3066 | - | Department of Social Services, Department of Transportation, 2716 | |
| 3067 | - | Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Veterans Affairs and the 2717 | |
| 3068 | - | Technical Education and Career System. 2718 | |
| 3069 | - | Sec. 82. Subsection (a) of section 4-61aa of the general statutes is 2719 | |
| 3070 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2720 | |
| 3071 | - | 2026): 2721 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3072 | - | ||
| 3073 | - | ||
| 3074 | - | LCO 86 of 128 | |
| 3075 | - | ||
| 3076 | - | (a) For purposes of this section, "state Americans with Disabilities Act 2722 | |
| 3077 | - | coordinator" means the person appointed by the Governor to coordinate 2723 | |
| 3078 | - | state compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 2724 | |
| 3079 | - | 1990. There is established a committee to advise the state Americans 2725 | |
| 3080 | - | with Disabilities Act coordinator. The state Americans with Disabilities 2726 | |
| 3081 | - | Act coordinator shall appoint the members of the committee, which 2727 | |
| 3082 | - | shall be chaired by said coordinator, or his designee, and include at least 2728 | |
| 3083 | - | one representative of each of the following: 2729 | |
| 3084 | - | (1) The Board of Education and Services to the Blind; 2730 | |
| 3085 | - | (2) The Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard 2731 | |
| 3086 | - | of Hearing; 2732 | |
| 3087 | - | (3) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services; 2733 | |
| 3088 | - | (4) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; 2734 | |
| 3089 | - | (5) The Department of Developmental Services; 2735 | |
| 3090 | - | (6) The Labor Department; 2736 | |
| 3091 | - | (7) The Department of Administrative Services; and 2737 | |
| 3092 | - | (8) The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. 2738 | |
| 3093 | - | Sec. 83. Section 4-67cc of the general statutes is repealed and the 2739 | |
| 3094 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2740 | |
| 3095 | - | The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in 2741 | |
| 3096 | - | consultation with the Department on Aging and the Departments of 2742 | |
| 3097 | - | Administrative Services, Developmental Services, Social Services, 2743 | |
| 3098 | - | [Aging and] Disability Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services, 2744 | |
| 3099 | - | Education, Correction and Children and Families and the Office of Early 2745 | |
| 3100 | - | Childhood, shall create a plan to develop a secure online portal to 2746 | |
| 3101 | - | facilitate sharing of basic critical information across agencies in order to 2747 | |
| 3102 | - | ensure efficient and safe delivery of services. The portal shall include a 2748 | |
| 3103 | - | means for each agency to note when it has performed a site visit or has 2749 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3104 | - | ||
| 3105 | - | ||
| 3106 | - | LCO 87 of 128 | |
| 3107 | - | ||
| 3108 | - | scheduled a site visit and shall give the individual performing the site 2750 | |
| 3109 | - | visit the opportunity to record notes that can be shared across agencies. 2751 | |
| 3110 | - | Such plan shall: (1) Review the feasibility of using current online portals 2752 | |
| 3111 | - | already utilized by state agencies as well as a new online portal; (2) 2753 | |
| 3112 | - | detail data sharing and privacy requirements for sharing such 2754 | |
| 3113 | - | information across state agencies in accordance with federal and state 2755 | |
| 3114 | - | law concerning data sharing and privacy; and (3) be submitted, in 2756 | |
| 3115 | - | accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 2757 | |
| 3116 | - | committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 2758 | |
| 3117 | - | relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and human 2759 | |
| 3118 | - | services not later than July 1, 2024. For purposes of this section, "site 2760 | |
| 3119 | - | visit" means any meeting with a client or an inspection that occurs 2761 | |
| 3120 | - | outside the physical offices of the state agency providing the service or 2762 | |
| 3121 | - | conducting the inspection. 2763 | |
| 3122 | - | Sec. 84. Subsection (g) of section 4-89 of the general statutes is 2764 | |
| 3123 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2765 | |
| 3124 | - | 2026): 2766 | |
| 3125 | - | (g) The provisions of this section shall not apply to appropriations to 2767 | |
| 3126 | - | the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services in an amount not 2768 | |
| 3127 | - | greater than the amount of reimbursements of prior year expenditures 2769 | |
| 3128 | - | for the services of interpreters received by the department during the 2770 | |
| 3129 | - | fiscal year pursuant to section 17a-839, as amended by this act, and such 2771 | |
| 3130 | - | appropriations shall not lapse until the end of the fiscal year succeeding 2772 | |
| 3131 | - | the fiscal year of the appropriation. 2773 | |
| 3132 | - | Sec. 85. Section 4-124xx of the general statutes is repealed and the 2774 | |
| 3133 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2775 | |
| 3134 | - | (a) The Chief Workforce Officer, appointed pursuant to section 4-2776 | |
| 3135 | - | 124w, in consultation with the Labor Commissioner, the Commissioner 2777 | |
| 3136 | - | on Aging, the Commissioners of Social Services, Developmental 2778 | |
| 3137 | - | Disabilities, Public Health, Higher Education and [Aging and] Disability 2779 | |
| 3138 | - | Services, the Governor's Workforce Council, the Council on 2780 | |
| 3139 | - | Developmental Disabilities, the Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory 2781 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3140 | - | ||
| 3141 | - | ||
| 3142 | - | LCO 88 of 128 | |
| 3143 | - | ||
| 3144 | - | Council and regional workforce development boards, shall, within 2782 | |
| 3145 | - | available appropriations, establish a Human Services Career Pipeline 2783 | |
| 3146 | - | program to ensure a sufficient number of trained providers are available 2784 | |
| 3147 | - | to serve the needs of persons in the state [with] who are elderly and 2785 | |
| 3148 | - | persons who have (1) an intellectual disability, (2) other developmental 2786 | |
| 3149 | - | disabilities, (3) physical disabilities, (4) cognitive impairment, or (5) 2787 | |
| 3150 | - | mental illness. [and elderly persons.] Such pipeline shall include 2788 | |
| 3151 | - | training and certification for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, 2789 | |
| 3152 | - | medication administration, job placement and incentives for retention 2790 | |
| 3153 | - | in the human services labor sector upon successful completion of the 2791 | |
| 3154 | - | program. 2792 | |
| 3155 | - | (b) The Chief Workforce Officer shall consult with the Labor 2793 | |
| 3156 | - | Commissioner, [and] the Commissioner on Aging, the Commissioners 2794 | |
| 3157 | - | of [Aging and] Disability Services, Developmental Services, Mental 2795 | |
| 3158 | - | Health and Addiction Services and Social Services, the Council on 2796 | |
| 3159 | - | Developmental Disabilities and the Autism Spectrum Disorder 2797 | |
| 3160 | - | Advisory Council to determine: (1) The greatest needs for human 2798 | |
| 3161 | - | services providers, and (2) barriers to hiring and retaining qualified 2799 | |
| 3162 | - | providers. The Chief Workforce Officer shall assist local and regional 2800 | |
| 3163 | - | boards of education in enhancing existing partnerships or establishing 2801 | |
| 3164 | - | new partnerships with providers of human services and higher 2802 | |
| 3165 | - | education institutions to provide a pathway to a diploma, credential, 2803 | |
| 3166 | - | certificate or license and a job providing human services. 2804 | |
| 3167 | - | (c) The Chief Workforce Officer, in consultation with the Labor 2805 | |
| 3168 | - | Commissioner, shall develop a plan for the Human Services Career 2806 | |
| 3169 | - | Pipeline program that includes, but shall not be limited to: (1) A strategy 2807 | |
| 3170 | - | to increase the number of state residents pursuing careers in human 2808 | |
| 3171 | - | services, (2) recommended salary and working conditions necessary to 2809 | |
| 3172 | - | retain an adequate number of human services providers to serve state 2810 | |
| 3173 | - | residents, and (3) estimated funding needed to support the Human 2811 | |
| 3174 | - | Services Career Pipeline program. Not later than July 1, 2024, the Chief 2812 | |
| 3175 | - | Workforce Officer shall submit a report on the plan, in accordance with 2813 | |
| 3176 | - | the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 2814 | |
| 3177 | - | General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 2815 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3178 | - | ||
| 3179 | - | ||
| 3180 | - | LCO 89 of 128 | |
| 3181 | - | ||
| 3182 | - | appropriations, aging, higher education and employment advancement, 2816 | |
| 3183 | - | human services, labor and public health. The report shall include the 2817 | |
| 3184 | - | Chief Workforce Officer's recommendations for establishing the career 2818 | |
| 3185 | - | pipeline and estimates of funding needed to implement the pipeline. 2819 | |
| 3186 | - | (d) The Chief Workforce Officer shall, within available 2820 | |
| 3187 | - | appropriations, establish such career pipeline and, if such pipeline is 2821 | |
| 3188 | - | established, submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 2822 | |
| 3189 | - | section 11-4a, not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, 2823 | |
| 3190 | - | regarding the development and implementation of the pipeline to the 2824 | |
| 3191 | - | joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance 2825 | |
| 3192 | - | of matters relating to appropriations, aging, higher education and 2826 | |
| 3193 | - | employment advancement, human services, labor and public health. For 2827 | |
| 3194 | - | purposes of this section, "human services labor sector" means persons 2828 | |
| 3195 | - | trained to provide services to elderly persons and persons with an 2829 | |
| 3196 | - | intellectual disability; other developmental disabilities, including, but 2830 | |
| 3197 | - | not limited to, autism spectrum disorder; physical disabilities; cognitive 2831 | |
| 3198 | - | impairment or mental illness. [; and elderly persons.] 2832 | |
| 3199 | - | Sec. 86. Section 4a-82 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2833 | |
| 3200 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2834 | |
| 3201 | - | (a) For the purposes of this section: 2835 | |
| 3202 | - | (1) "Person with a disability" means any individual with a disability, 2836 | |
| 3203 | - | excluding blindness, as such term is applied by the Department of 2837 | |
| 3204 | - | Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of 2838 | |
| 3205 | - | Developmental Services, the Department of [Aging and] Disability 2839 | |
| 3206 | - | Services or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and who 2840 | |
| 3207 | - | is certified by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services as 2841 | |
| 3208 | - | qualified to participate in a qualified partnership, as described in 2842 | |
| 3209 | - | subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section; 2843 | |
| 3210 | - | (2) "Vocational rehabilitation service" means any goods and services 2844 | |
| 3211 | - | necessary to render a person with a disability employable, in accordance 2845 | |
| 3212 | - | with Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 701 et seq., as 2846 | |
| 3213 | - | amended from time to time; 2847 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3214 | - | ||
| 3215 | - | ||
| 3216 | - | LCO 90 of 128 | |
| 3217 | - | ||
| 3218 | - | (3) "Community rehabilitation program" means any entity or 2848 | |
| 3219 | - | individual that provides directly for or facilitates the provision of 2849 | |
| 3220 | - | vocational rehabilitation services to, or provides services in connection 2850 | |
| 3221 | - | with, the recruiting, hiring or managing of the employment of persons 2851 | |
| 3222 | - | with disabilities based on an individualized plan and budget for each 2852 | |
| 3223 | - | worker with a disability; 2853 | |
| 3224 | - | (4) "Commercial contractor" means any for-profit proprietorship, 2854 | |
| 3225 | - | partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, trust, 2855 | |
| 3226 | - | association or other privately owned entity that employs persons to 2856 | |
| 3227 | - | perform janitorial work or contractual services, and that enters into 2857 | |
| 3228 | - | contracts to provide janitorial services or contractual services; 2858 | |
| 3229 | - | (5) "Janitorial work" means work performed in connection with the 2859 | |
| 3230 | - | care or maintenance of buildings, including, but not limited to, work 2860 | |
| 3231 | - | customarily performed by cleaners, porters, janitors and handypersons; 2861 | |
| 3232 | - | (6) "Janitorial contract" means a contract or subcontract to perform 2862 | |
| 3233 | - | janitorial work for a department or agency of the state; 2863 | |
| 3234 | - | (7) "Person with a disadvantage" means any individual who is 2864 | |
| 3235 | - | determined by the Labor Department, or its designee, to be eligible for 2865 | |
| 3236 | - | employment services in accordance with the Workforce Innovation and 2866 | |
| 3237 | - | Opportunity Act or whose verified individual gross annual income 2867 | |
| 3238 | - | during the previous calendar year was not greater than two hundred 2868 | |
| 3239 | - | per cent of the federal poverty level for a family of four; 2869 | |
| 3240 | - | (8) "Awarding authority" means the Commissioner of Administrative 2870 | |
| 3241 | - | Services, Chief Court Administrator of the Judicial Branch and 2871 | |
| 3242 | - | chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, as 2872 | |
| 3243 | - | applicable; and 2873 | |
| 3244 | - | (9) "Contractual services" includes, but is not limited to, any and all 2874 | |
| 3245 | - | laundry and cleaning services, mail supply room staffing, data entry, 2875 | |
| 3246 | - | telephone call center staffing and other services specified by the 2876 | |
| 3247 | - | Commissioner of Administrative Services under subsection (b) of this 2877 | |
| 3248 | - | section. 2878 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3249 | - | ||
| 3250 | - | ||
| 3251 | - | LCO 91 of 128 | |
| 3252 | - | ||
| 3253 | - | (b) (1) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall establish a 2879 | |
| 3254 | - | program to create and expand janitorial work job opportunities for 2880 | |
| 3255 | - | persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage. The program 2881 | |
| 3256 | - | shall create full-time jobs or full-time equivalents at standard wage rates 2882 | |
| 3257 | - | for persons with disabilities and persons with disadvantages. The 2883 | |
| 3258 | - | Judicial Branch and Board of Regents for Higher Education may 2884 | |
| 3259 | - | participate in such program. 2885 | |
| 3260 | - | (2) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may expand such 2886 | |
| 3261 | - | program to include contractual services that the commissioner deems 2887 | |
| 3262 | - | appropriate and shall post a list of such services on the department's 2888 | |
| 3263 | - | Internet web site. 2889 | |
| 3264 | - | (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, 2890 | |
| 3265 | - | under such program, the awarding authority may award janitorial 2891 | |
| 3266 | - | contracts or contracts for contractual services pursuant to the following 2892 | |
| 3267 | - | procedures: (1) Upon receipt of a request for janitorial services or a 2893 | |
| 3268 | - | contractual service that the Commissioner of Administrative Services 2894 | |
| 3269 | - | has deemed appropriate for inclusion in the program by an agency or 2895 | |
| 3270 | - | department of the state, the awarding authority shall notify each 2896 | |
| 3271 | - | qualified partnership, as described in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of 2897 | |
| 3272 | - | this section, of such request and invite each qualified partnership in 2898 | |
| 3273 | - | good standing to submit a bid proposal for such janitorial contract or 2899 | |
| 3274 | - | service contract to the awarding authority in a manner and form as 2900 | |
| 3275 | - | prescribed by the awarding authority; (2) in the event that only one such 2901 | |
| 3276 | - | qualified partnership submits a bid or proposal for such janitorial or 2902 | |
| 3277 | - | service contract, the awarding authority shall award such contract to 2903 | |
| 3278 | - | such qualified partnership, provided such bid or proposal does not 2904 | |
| 3279 | - | exceed the fair market value for such contract, as determined by the 2905 | |
| 3280 | - | awarding authority; (3) if more than one qualified partnership submits 2906 | |
| 3281 | - | a bid or proposal, the awarding authority shall award the contract to the 2907 | |
| 3282 | - | lowest responsible qualified bidder or most advantageous proposer, as 2908 | |
| 3283 | - | described in section 4a-59; and (4) in the event that a qualified 2909 | |
| 3284 | - | partnership does not submit a bid or proposal or is not awarded such 2910 | |
| 3285 | - | contract, the awarding authority shall award such contract in 2911 | |
| 3286 | - | accordance with the provisions of sections 4a-52a, 4a-59, 10a-151b and 2912 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3287 | - | ||
| 3288 | - | ||
| 3289 | - | LCO 92 of 128 | |
| 3290 | - | ||
| 3291 | - | 17a-796, or title 51, as applicable. No awarding authority shall award a 2913 | |
| 3292 | - | contract under the provisions of this subsection at a site where 2914 | |
| 3293 | - | employees are employed pursuant to an existing collective bargaining 2915 | |
| 3294 | - | agreement or where a contract has been awarded pursuant to section 2916 | |
| 3295 | - | 17a-796 unless a contract has been previously awarded to a qualified 2917 | |
| 3296 | - | partnership pursuant to this section at such site. 2918 | |
| 3297 | - | (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the 2919 | |
| 3298 | - | responsibilities of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, Chief 2920 | |
| 3299 | - | Court Administrator or chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and 2921 | |
| 3300 | - | Universities as established in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, may 2922 | |
| 3301 | - | not be delegated to an outside vendor. 2923 | |
| 3302 | - | (e) The Connecticut Community Providers Association shall 2924 | |
| 3303 | - | designate a commercial contractor and a community rehabilitation 2925 | |
| 3304 | - | program as a "qualified partnership" whenever the following criteria 2926 | |
| 3305 | - | have been established: (1) Such commercial contractor has entered into 2927 | |
| 3306 | - | a binding agreement with such community rehabilitation program in 2928 | |
| 3307 | - | which such contractor agrees to fill not less than one-third of the jobs 2929 | |
| 3308 | - | from a successful bid for a janitorial or service contract under the 2930 | |
| 3309 | - | program established in subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section 2931 | |
| 3310 | - | with persons with disabilities and not less than one-third of such jobs 2932 | |
| 3311 | - | with persons with a disadvantage; (2) such contractor employs not less 2933 | |
| 3312 | - | than two hundred persons who perform janitorial work or contractual 2934 | |
| 3313 | - | services in the state; and (3) such contractor certifies, in writing, that it 2935 | |
| 3314 | - | will pay the standard wage to employees, including persons with 2936 | |
| 3315 | - | disabilities, under such janitorial or service contract. Any partnership 2937 | |
| 3316 | - | between a commercial contractor and a community rehabilitation 2938 | |
| 3317 | - | program that has been denied designation as a qualified partnership 2939 | |
| 3318 | - | may appeal such denial, in writing, to the Commissioner of 2940 | |
| 3319 | - | Administrative Services and said commissioner may, after review of 2941 | |
| 3320 | - | such appeal, designate such program as a qualified partnership. 2942 | |
| 3321 | - | (f) The requirement established in subsection (e) of this section to fill 2943 | |
| 3322 | - | not less than one-third of the jobs from a successful bid for a janitorial 2944 | |
| 3323 | - | or service contract with persons with disabilities and one-third with 2945 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3324 | - | ||
| 3325 | - | ||
| 3326 | - | LCO 93 of 128 | |
| 3327 | - | ||
| 3328 | - | persons with a disadvantage shall be met whenever such contractor 2946 | |
| 3329 | - | employs the requisite number of persons with disabilities and persons 2947 | |
| 3330 | - | with a disadvantage throughout the entirety of its operations in the state 2948 | |
| 3331 | - | provided any persons with disabilities employed by such contractor 2949 | |
| 3332 | - | prior to the commencement date of any such contract shall not be 2950 | |
| 3333 | - | counted for the purpose of determining the number of persons with 2951 | |
| 3334 | - | disabilities employed by such contractor. 2952 | |
| 3335 | - | (g) The number of persons with disabilities and the number of 2953 | |
| 3336 | - | persons with a disadvantage that such contractor is required to employ 2954 | |
| 3337 | - | pursuant to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section shall be 2955 | |
| 3338 | - | employed not later than six months after the commencement of 2956 | |
| 3339 | - | janitorial work or the contractual service under the terms of any contract 2957 | |
| 3340 | - | awarded pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, 2958 | |
| 3341 | - | of this section, provided such contractor shall fill any vacancy for 2959 | |
| 3342 | - | janitorial work or contractual service that arises during the first six 2960 | |
| 3343 | - | months of any such contract with persons with disabilities and persons 2961 | |
| 3344 | - | with disadvantages. 2962 | |
| 3345 | - | (h) The Connecticut Community Providers Association shall develop 2963 | |
| 3346 | - | an application process and submit a list of employees who have applied 2964 | |
| 3347 | - | to participate in a partnership to the Department of [Aging and] 2965 | |
| 3348 | - | Disability Services for certification. Such association shall maintain a list 2966 | |
| 3349 | - | of certified employees who are persons with disabilities and community 2967 | |
| 3350 | - | rehabilitation programs. 2968 | |
| 3351 | - | (i) Any qualified partnership awarded a janitorial or service contract 2969 | |
| 3352 | - | pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this 2970 | |
| 3353 | - | section shall provide to the Connecticut Community Providers 2971 | |
| 3354 | - | Association, not later than six months after the commencement date of 2972 | |
| 3355 | - | such contract and annually thereafter, a list of the persons with 2973 | |
| 3356 | - | disabilities and persons with a disadvantage employed by such 2974 | |
| 3357 | - | contractor that includes the date of hire and employment location for 2975 | |
| 3358 | - | each such person. Such association shall certify annually to the 2976 | |
| 3359 | - | Department of Administrative Services, the Judicial Branch or the Board 2977 | |
| 3360 | - | of Regents for Higher Education, as applicable, in such manner and 2978 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3361 | - | ||
| 3362 | - | ||
| 3363 | - | LCO 94 of 128 | |
| 3364 | - | ||
| 3365 | - | form as prescribed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, 2979 | |
| 3366 | - | Chief Court Administrator or the president of the Board of Regents for 2980 | |
| 3367 | - | Higher Education, that the requisite number of persons with disabilities 2981 | |
| 3368 | - | for such contract continue to be employed by such contractor in 2982 | |
| 3369 | - | positions equivalent to those created under such contract and have been 2983 | |
| 3370 | - | integrated into the general workforce of such contractor. 2984 | |
| 3371 | - | (j) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the 2985 | |
| 3372 | - | responsibilities of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services, as 2986 | |
| 3373 | - | established in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section, may not be 2987 | |
| 3374 | - | delegated to an outside vendor. 2988 | |
| 3375 | - | (k) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt 2989 | |
| 3376 | - | regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 2990 | |
| 3377 | - | undertake the certification requirements established pursuant to 2991 | |
| 3378 | - | subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section. 2992 | |
| 3379 | - | (l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, 2993 | |
| 3380 | - | the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall authorize certified 2994 | |
| 3381 | - | small and minority businesses to participate in such program. 2995 | |
| 3382 | - | (m) The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 2996 | |
| 3383 | - | cognizance of matters relating to government administration shall study 2997 | |
| 3384 | - | the effectiveness of such program, including, but not limited to, the 2998 | |
| 3385 | - | effectiveness of such program to create integrated work settings for 2999 | |
| 3386 | - | persons with disabilities. Additionally, said committee shall study ways 3000 | |
| 3387 | - | to provide incentives for municipalities and businesses to utilize such 3001 | |
| 3388 | - | program if such program is determined by the committee to be effective. 3002 | |
| 3389 | - | (n) Each exclusive contract awarded prior to October 1, 2013, 3003 | |
| 3390 | - | pursuant to section 17a-796 shall remain in effect until such time as 3004 | |
| 3391 | - | either party terminates the contract in such party's own best interest, 3005 | |
| 3392 | - | with not less than sixty days written notice. Each such contract may be 3006 | |
| 3393 | - | amended to include updated terms and conditions, but shall not allow 3007 | |
| 3394 | - | for any price increases except statutory or mandated increases to the 3008 | |
| 3395 | - | minimum wage and standard wage. If either party exercises his or her 3009 | |
| 3396 | - | right to terminate any such contract, the next contract solicitation may 3010 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3397 | - | ||
| 3398 | - | ||
| 3399 | - | LCO 95 of 128 | |
| 3400 | - | ||
| 3401 | - | be awarded pursuant to this section or sections 4a-59 and 17a-796. 3011 | |
| 3402 | - | Additionally, any new janitorial contract awarded pursuant to section 3012 | |
| 3403 | - | 17a-796 shall be limited to not more than four full-time employees per 3013 | |
| 3404 | - | contract. 3014 | |
| 3405 | - | (o) Any person employed under a janitorial contract let: (1) On or 3015 | |
| 3406 | - | before October 1, 2006, or thereafter if such contract constitutes a 3016 | |
| 3407 | - | successor contract to such janitorial contract let on or before October 1, 3017 | |
| 3408 | - | 2006, and (2) pursuant to section 4a-57 or 10a-151b or by the judicial or 3018 | |
| 3409 | - | legislative departments or pursuant to subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, 3019 | |
| 3410 | - | of this section shall have the same rights conferred upon an employee 3020 | |
| 3411 | - | by section 31-57g for the duration of the program described in 3021 | |
| 3412 | - | subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section. The provisions of this 3022 | |
| 3413 | - | subsection shall not apply to any new janitorial contract with not more 3023 | |
| 3414 | - | than four full-time employees per contract, as described in subsection 3024 | |
| 3415 | - | (n) of this section. 3025 | |
| 3416 | - | (p) If a position is not available at a job site for a janitorial or service 3026 | |
| 3417 | - | contract awarded pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and a person 3027 | |
| 3418 | - | with a disability or a person with a disadvantage is placed at an alternate 3028 | |
| 3419 | - | job site in the operations of the contractor pursuant to subsection (f) of 3029 | |
| 3420 | - | this section, such person with a disability or person with a disadvantage 3030 | |
| 3421 | - | shall be paid the wage applicable at such alternate site, provided when 3031 | |
| 3422 | - | a position at the job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded 3032 | |
| 3423 | - | pursuant to subsection (c) of this section becomes available, such person 3033 | |
| 3424 | - | with a disability or person with a disadvantage shall be transferred to 3034 | |
| 3425 | - | the job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded pursuant to 3035 | |
| 3426 | - | subsection (c) of this section and shall be paid the applicable standard 3036 | |
| 3427 | - | wage for such site. 3037 | |
| 3428 | - | (q) If a person with a disability or a person with a disadvantage is 3038 | |
| 3429 | - | transferred pursuant to subsection (p) of this section and such person 3039 | |
| 3430 | - | subsequently leaves such position, the position shall be filled with 3040 | |
| 3431 | - | another person with a disability or person with a disadvantage. 3041 | |
| 3432 | - | Sec. 87. Subsection (a) of section 5-175a of the general statutes is 3042 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3433 | - | ||
| 3434 | - | ||
| 3435 | - | LCO 96 of 128 | |
| 3436 | - | ||
| 3437 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3043 | |
| 3438 | - | 2026): 3044 | |
| 3439 | - | (a) Vending stand operators, operating stands under permits held by 3045 | |
| 3440 | - | the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to section 3046 | |
| 3441 | - | 17a-818, as amended by this act, shall be members of the state employees 3047 | |
| 3442 | - | retirement system, part A, exclusive of the Social Security option and 3048 | |
| 3443 | - | benefits in the state employees' retirement system dependent thereon. 3049 | |
| 3444 | - | Each such person shall annually, on or before June thirtieth, pay five per 3050 | |
| 3445 | - | cent of his adjusted gross income, arising out of the operation of such 3051 | |
| 3446 | - | stand, as determined under the Internal Revenue Code, during the 3052 | |
| 3447 | - | calendar year preceding to the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3053 | |
| 3448 | - | Services which shall, as the state administering agency for such persons, 3054 | |
| 3449 | - | certify such payment and pay it over to the State Retirement 3055 | |
| 3450 | - | Commission, provided membership of such persons in said system shall 3056 | |
| 3451 | - | be exclusive of disability retirement upon the grounds of defects of 3057 | |
| 3452 | - | vision. 3058 | |
| 3453 | - | Sec. 88. Section 5-198 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3059 | |
| 3454 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3060 | |
| 3455 | - | The offices and positions filled by the following-described 3061 | |
| 3456 | - | incumbents shall be exempt from the classified service: 3062 | |
| 3457 | - | (1) All officers and employees of the Judicial Department; 3063 | |
| 3458 | - | (2) All officers and employees of the Legislative Department; 3064 | |
| 3459 | - | (3) All officers elected by popular vote; 3065 | |
| 3460 | - | (4) All agency heads, members of boards and commissions and other 3066 | |
| 3461 | - | officers appointed by the Governor; 3067 | |
| 3462 | - | (5) All persons designated by name in any special act to hold any state 3068 | |
| 3463 | - | office; 3069 | |
| 3464 | - | (6) All officers, noncommissioned officers and enlisted men in the 3070 | |
| 3465 | - | military or naval service of the state and under military or naval 3071 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3466 | - | ||
| 3467 | - | ||
| 3468 | - | LCO 97 of 128 | |
| 3469 | - | ||
| 3470 | - | discipline and control; 3072 | |
| 3471 | - | (7) (A) All correctional wardens, as provided in section 18-82, and (B) 3073 | |
| 3472 | - | all superintendents of state institutions, the State Librarian, the 3074 | |
| 3473 | - | president of The University of Connecticut and any other commissioner 3075 | |
| 3474 | - | or administrative head of a state department or institution who is 3076 | |
| 3475 | - | appointed by a board or commission responsible by statute for the 3077 | |
| 3476 | - | administration of such department or institution; 3078 | |
| 3477 | - | (8) The State Historian appointed by the State Library Board; 3079 | |
| 3478 | - | (9) Deputies to the administrative head of each department or 3080 | |
| 3479 | - | institution designated by statute to act for and perform all of the duties 3081 | |
| 3480 | - | of such administrative head during such administrative head's absence 3082 | |
| 3481 | - | or incapacity; 3083 | |
| 3482 | - | (10) Executive assistants to each state elective officer and each 3084 | |
| 3483 | - | department head, as defined in section 4-5, as amended by this act, 3085 | |
| 3484 | - | provided (A) each position of executive assistant shall have been created 3086 | |
| 3485 | - | in accordance with section 5-214, and (B) in no event shall the 3087 | |
| 3486 | - | Commissioner of Administrative Services or the Secretary of the Office 3088 | |
| 3487 | - | of Policy and Management approve more than four executive assistants 3089 | |
| 3488 | - | for a department head and, for any department with two or more 3090 | |
| 3489 | - | deputies, more than two executive assistants for each such deputy; 3091 | |
| 3490 | - | (11) One personal secretary to the administrative head and to each 3092 | |
| 3491 | - | undersecretary or deputy to such head of each department or 3093 | |
| 3492 | - | institution; 3094 | |
| 3493 | - | (12) All members of the professional and technical staffs of the 3095 | |
| 3494 | - | constituent units of the state system of higher education, as defined in 3096 | |
| 3495 | - | section 10a-1, of all other state institutions of learning, of the Board of 3097 | |
| 3496 | - | Regents for Higher Education, and of the agricultural experiment 3098 | |
| 3497 | - | station at New Haven, professional and managerial employees of the 3099 | |
| 3498 | - | Department of Education and the Office of Early Childhood, teachers 3100 | |
| 3499 | - | and administrators employed by the Technical Education and Career 3101 | |
| 3500 | - | System and teachers certified by the State Board of Education and 3102 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3501 | - | ||
| 3502 | - | ||
| 3503 | - | LCO 98 of 128 | |
| 3504 | - | ||
| 3505 | - | employed in teaching positions at state institutions; 3103 | |
| 3506 | - | (13) Physicians, dentists, student nurses in institutions and other 3104 | |
| 3507 | - | professional specialists who are employed on a part-time basis; 3105 | |
| 3508 | - | (14) Persons employed to make or conduct a special inquiry, 3106 | |
| 3509 | - | investigation, examination or installation; 3107 | |
| 3510 | - | (15) Students in educational institutions who are employed on a part-3108 | |
| 3511 | - | time basis; 3109 | |
| 3512 | - | (16) Forest fire wardens provided for by section 23-36; 3110 | |
| 3513 | - | (17) Patients or inmates of state institutions who receive 3111 | |
| 3514 | - | compensation for services rendered therein; 3112 | |
| 3515 | - | (18) Employees of the Governor including employees working at the 3113 | |
| 3516 | - | executive office, official executive residence at 990 Prospect Avenue, 3114 | |
| 3517 | - | Hartford and the Washington D.C. office; 3115 | |
| 3518 | - | (19) Persons filling positions expressly exempted by statute from the 3116 | |
| 3519 | - | classified service; 3117 | |
| 3520 | - | (20) Librarians employed by the State Board of Education or any 3118 | |
| 3521 | - | constituent unit of the state system of higher education; 3119 | |
| 3522 | - | (21) All officers and employees of the Division of Criminal Justice; 3120 | |
| 3523 | - | (22) Professional employees in the education professions bargaining 3121 | |
| 3524 | - | unit of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services; 3122 | |
| 3525 | - | (23) Lieutenant colonels in the Division of State Police within the 3123 | |
| 3526 | - | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; 3124 | |
| 3527 | - | (24) The Deputy State Fire Marshal within the Department of 3125 | |
| 3528 | - | Administrative Services; 3126 | |
| 3529 | - | (25) The chief administrative officer of the Workers' Compensation 3127 | |
| 3530 | - | Commission; 3128 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3531 | - | ||
| 3532 | - | ||
| 3533 | - | LCO 99 of 128 | |
| 3534 | - | ||
| 3535 | - | (26) Employees in the education professions bargaining unit; 3129 | |
| 3536 | - | (27) Disability policy specialists employed by the Council on 3130 | |
| 3537 | - | Developmental Disabilities; 3131 | |
| 3538 | - | (28) The director for digital media and motion picture activities in the 3132 | |
| 3539 | - | Department of Economic and Community Development; and 3133 | |
| 3540 | - | (29) Any Director of Communications 1, Director of Communications 3134 | |
| 3541 | - | 1 (Rc), Director of Communications 2, Director of Communications 2 3135 | |
| 3542 | - | (Rc), Legislative Program Manager, Communications and Legislative 3136 | |
| 3543 | - | Program Manager, Director of Legislation, Regulation and 3137 | |
| 3544 | - | Communication, Legislative and Administrative Advisor 1, or 3138 | |
| 3545 | - | Legislative and Administrative Advisor 2 as such positions are 3139 | |
| 3546 | - | classified within the Executive Department. 3140 | |
| 3547 | - | Sec. 89. Subsection (e) of section 5-259 of the general statutes is 3141 | |
| 3548 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3142 | |
| 3549 | - | 2026): 3143 | |
| 3550 | - | (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 3144 | |
| 3551 | - | vending stand operators eligible for membership in the state employees 3145 | |
| 3552 | - | retirement system pursuant to section 5-175a, as amended by this act, 3146 | |
| 3553 | - | shall be eligible for coverage under the group hospitalization and 3147 | |
| 3554 | - | medical and surgical insurance plans procured under this section, 3148 | |
| 3555 | - | provided the cost for such operators' insurance coverage shall be paid 3149 | |
| 3556 | - | by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services from vending 3150 | |
| 3557 | - | machine income pursuant to section 17a-818, as amended by this act. 3151 | |
| 3558 | - | Sec. 90. Section 7-127b of the general statutes is repealed and the 3152 | |
| 3559 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3153 | |
| 3560 | - | (a) The chief elected official or the chief executive officer if by 3154 | |
| 3561 | - | ordinance of each municipality shall appoint a municipal agent for 3155 | |
| 3562 | - | elderly persons. Such agent shall be a staff member of a senior center, a 3156 | |
| 3563 | - | member of an agency that serves elderly persons in the municipality or 3157 | |
| 3564 | - | a responsible resident of the municipality who has demonstrated an 3158 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3565 | - | ||
| 3566 | - | ||
| 3567 | - | LCO 100 of 128 | |
| 3568 | - | ||
| 3569 | - | interest in assisting elderly persons or has been involved in programs in 3159 | |
| 3570 | - | the field of aging. 3160 | |
| 3571 | - | (b) The duties of the municipal agent shall include, but need not be 3161 | |
| 3572 | - | limited to: (1) Disseminating information to elderly persons, assisting 3162 | |
| 3573 | - | such persons in learning about the community resources available to 3163 | |
| 3574 | - | them and publicizing such resources and benefits; (2) assisting elderly 3164 | |
| 3575 | - | persons in applying for federal and state benefits, and accessing 3165 | |
| 3576 | - | community resources, available to such persons; and (3) reporting to the 3166 | |
| 3577 | - | chief elected official or chief executive officer of the municipality and 3167 | |
| 3578 | - | the Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging any needs 3168 | |
| 3579 | - | and problems of the elderly and any recommendations for action to 3169 | |
| 3580 | - | improve services to the elderly. For the purposes of this subsection, 3170 | |
| 3581 | - | "community resources" means resources that assist elderly persons in 3171 | |
| 3582 | - | gaining access to housing opportunities, including, but not limited to, 3172 | |
| 3583 | - | information regarding access to waitlists for housing designated for 3173 | |
| 3584 | - | elderly persons, applications and consumer reports. 3174 | |
| 3585 | - | (c) Each municipal agent shall serve for a term of two or four years, 3175 | |
| 3586 | - | at the discretion of the appointing authority of each municipality, and 3176 | |
| 3587 | - | may be reappointed. If more than one agent is necessary to carry out the 3177 | |
| 3588 | - | purposes of this section, the appointing authority, in its discretion, may 3178 | |
| 3589 | - | appoint one or more assistant agents. The town clerk in each 3179 | |
| 3590 | - | municipality shall notify the Department [of Aging and Disability 3180 | |
| 3591 | - | Services] on Aging immediately of the appointment of a new municipal 3181 | |
| 3592 | - | agent. Each municipality may provide to its municipal agent resources 3182 | |
| 3593 | - | sufficient for such agent to perform the duties of the office. 3183 | |
| 3594 | - | (d) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 3184 | |
| 3595 | - | adopt and disseminate to municipalities guidelines as to the role and 3185 | |
| 3596 | - | duties of municipal agents and such informational and technical 3186 | |
| 3597 | - | materials as may assist such agents in performance of their duties. The 3187 | |
| 3598 | - | department, in cooperation with the area agencies on aging, may 3188 | |
| 3599 | - | provide training for municipal agents within the available resources of 3189 | |
| 3600 | - | the department and of the area agencies on aging. 3190 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3601 | - | ||
| 3602 | - | ||
| 3603 | - | LCO 101 of 128 | |
| 3604 | - | ||
| 3605 | - | (e) On or before January 1, 2025, the Commissioner [of Aging and 3191 | |
| 3606 | - | Disability Services] on Aging shall create a directory of municipal agents 3192 | |
| 3607 | - | appointed pursuant to the provisions of this section, which shall 3193 | |
| 3608 | - | include, but need not be limited to, the name, title, telephone number, 3194 | |
| 3609 | - | electronic mail address and mailing address of each municipal agent. 3195 | |
| 3610 | - | The commissioner shall post a link to the directory on the Department 3196 | |
| 3611 | - | [of Aging and Disability Services'] on Aging's Internet web site. 3197 | |
| 3612 | - | Sec. 91. Section 8-119f of the general statutes is repealed and the 3198 | |
| 3613 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3199 | |
| 3614 | - | The Commissioner of Housing shall design, implement, operate and 3200 | |
| 3615 | - | monitor a program of congregate housing. For the purpose of this 3201 | |
| 3616 | - | program, the Commissioner of Housing shall consult with the 3202 | |
| 3617 | - | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services for the provision of 3203 | |
| 3618 | - | services for persons with physical disabilities in order to comply with 3204 | |
| 3619 | - | the requirements of section 29-271. 3205 | |
| 3620 | - | Sec. 92. Subsection (c) of section 9-20 of the general statutes is 3206 | |
| 3621 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3207 | |
| 3622 | - | 2026): 3208 | |
| 3623 | - | (c) The application for admission as an elector shall include a 3209 | |
| 3624 | - | statement that (1) specifies each eligibility requirement, (2) contains an 3210 | |
| 3625 | - | attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement, and (3) 3211 | |
| 3626 | - | requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. Each 3212 | |
| 3627 | - | registrar of voters and town clerk shall maintain a copy of such 3213 | |
| 3628 | - | statement in braille, large print and audio form. The Department of 3214 | |
| 3629 | - | [Aging and] Disability Services shall, in consultation with the Secretary 3215 | |
| 3630 | - | of the State, produce an accessible version of such statement in voice 3216 | |
| 3631 | - | and sign language and provide the accessible version to the Secretary of 3217 | |
| 3632 | - | the State who shall make it available to the registrars of voters of any 3218 | |
| 3633 | - | municipality. If a person applies for admission as an elector in person to 3219 | |
| 3634 | - | an admitting official, such admitting official shall, upon the request of 3220 | |
| 3635 | - | the applicant, administer the elector's oath. 3221 | |
| 3636 | - | Sec. 93. Section 10-74m of the general statutes is repealed and the 3222 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3637 | - | ||
| 3638 | - | ||
| 3639 | - | LCO 102 of 128 | |
| 3640 | - | ||
| 3641 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3223 | |
| 3642 | - | (a) The Department of Education shall enter into memoranda of 3224 | |
| 3643 | - | understanding with the Office of Early Childhood and the Departments 3225 | |
| 3644 | - | of Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children 3226 | |
| 3645 | - | and Families, Social Services and Correction regarding the provision of 3227 | |
| 3646 | - | special education and related services to children, including, but not 3228 | |
| 3647 | - | limited to, education, health care, transition resources, transition 3229 | |
| 3648 | - | services and transition programs, as those terms are defined in section 3230 | |
| 3649 | - | 10-74o. Such memoranda of understanding shall account for current 3231 | |
| 3650 | - | programs and services, utilize best practices and be updated or renewed 3232 | |
| 3651 | - | at least every five years. 3233 | |
| 3652 | - | (b) The Office of Early Childhood and the Departments of 3234 | |
| 3653 | - | Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children and 3235 | |
| 3654 | - | Families, Social Services and Correction shall, as necessary, enter into 3236 | |
| 3655 | - | memoranda of understanding regarding the provision of special 3237 | |
| 3656 | - | education and related services to children as such services relate to one 3238 | |
| 3657 | - | another. Such memoranda of understanding shall account for current 3239 | |
| 3658 | - | programs and services, utilize best practices and be updated or renewed 3240 | |
| 3659 | - | at least every five years. 3241 | |
| 3660 | - | (c) The Office of Early Childhood and the Departments of 3242 | |
| 3661 | - | Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children and 3243 | |
| 3662 | - | Families, the Labor Department, Mental Health and Addiction Services, 3244 | |
| 3663 | - | Public Health, Social Services and Correction shall each appoint an 3245 | |
| 3664 | - | employee to act as a liaison to the Department of Education's State-wide 3246 | |
| 3665 | - | Transition Services Coordinator, established pursuant to section 10-74o. 3247 | |
| 3666 | - | Each liaison shall provide information and advice to such coordinator 3248 | |
| 3667 | - | concerning the transition resources, transition services and transition 3249 | |
| 3668 | - | programs provided by the agency such liaison represents. 3250 | |
| 3669 | - | Sec. 94. Subsection (a) of section 10-74n of the general statutes is 3251 | |
| 3670 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3252 | |
| 3671 | - | 2026): 3253 | |
| 3672 | - | (a) The Department of Education's State-wide Transition Services 3254 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3673 | - | ||
| 3674 | - | ||
| 3675 | - | LCO 103 of 128 | |
| 3676 | - | ||
| 3677 | - | Coordinator, established pursuant to section 10-74o, in collaboration 3255 | |
| 3678 | - | with the liaisons appointed by other state agencies pursuant to section 3256 | |
| 3679 | - | 10-74m, as amended by this act, shall: (1) Develop and maintain an 3257 | |
| 3680 | - | easily accessible and navigable online listing of the transition resources, 3258 | |
| 3681 | - | transition services and transition programs, as those terms are defined 3259 | |
| 3682 | - | in section 10-74o, provided by each such state agency, including, but not 3260 | |
| 3683 | - | limited to, for each resource, service and program (A) a plain language 3261 | |
| 3684 | - | description, (B) eligibility requirements, and (C) application deadlines 3262 | |
| 3685 | - | and instructions, and (2) annually collect information related to 3263 | |
| 3686 | - | transition resources, programs and services provided by other state 3264 | |
| 3687 | - | agencies. The Departments of [Aging and] Disability Services, 3265 | |
| 3688 | - | Developmental Services, Social Services, Children and Families, Mental 3266 | |
| 3689 | - | Health and Addiction Services, Public Health and Correction, the Labor 3267 | |
| 3690 | - | Department and the Office of Early Childhood shall each post a link to 3268 | |
| 3691 | - | such online listing on an easily accessible location of said departments' 3269 | |
| 3692 | - | Internet web sites. 3270 | |
| 3693 | - | Sec. 95. Subsection (a) of section 10-74q of the general statutes is 3271 | |
| 3694 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3272 | |
| 3695 | - | 2026): 3273 | |
| 3696 | - | (a) Not later than July 1, 2024, the Department of Education, in 3274 | |
| 3697 | - | consultation with the Departments of Developmental Services and 3275 | |
| 3698 | - | [Aging and] Disability Services and the regional educational service 3276 | |
| 3699 | - | centers, shall develop a training program for transition coordinators, 3277 | |
| 3700 | - | educators and paraeducators. Such training program shall comply with 3278 | |
| 3701 | - | the minimum standards established by the State-wide Transition 3279 | |
| 3702 | - | Services Coordinator pursuant to section 10-74o. 3280 | |
| 3703 | - | Sec. 96. Section 10-74t of the general statutes is repealed and the 3281 | |
| 3704 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3282 | |
| 3705 | - | Not later than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Department 3283 | |
| 3706 | - | of Education shall report to each state agency that provides services and 3284 | |
| 3707 | - | programs for adults with disabilities, including, but not limited to, the 3285 | |
| 3708 | - | Departments of Developmental Services, Social Services and [Aging 3286 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3709 | - | ||
| 3710 | - | ||
| 3711 | - | LCO 104 of 128 | |
| 3712 | - | ||
| 3713 | - | and] Disability Services, and, in accordance with section 11-4a, the joint 3287 | |
| 3714 | - | standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 3288 | |
| 3715 | - | matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, 3289 | |
| 3716 | - | education, human services and public health, the aggregate number of 3290 | |
| 3717 | - | students from all school districts who had planning and placement team 3291 | |
| 3718 | - | meetings during the prior school year in which information concerning 3292 | |
| 3719 | - | such services and programs was provided pursuant to the provisions of 3293 | |
| 3720 | - | subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 3294 | |
| 3721 | - | 10-76d, as amended by this act. Such aggregate number may be reduced, 3295 | |
| 3722 | - | to the extent possible, to the number of students who may qualify for 3296 | |
| 3723 | - | the services or programs provided by such agencies. 3297 | |
| 3724 | - | Sec. 97. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of 3298 | |
| 3725 | - | section 10-76d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 3299 | |
| 3726 | - | substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3300 | |
| 3727 | - | (9) (A) The planning and placement team shall, in accordance with 3301 | |
| 3728 | - | the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 3302 | |
| 3729 | - | USC 1400, et seq., as amended from time to time, develop and include a 3303 | |
| 3730 | - | statement of transition service needs in the individualized education 3304 | |
| 3731 | - | program for each child requiring special education, beginning not later 3305 | |
| 3732 | - | than the first individualized education program to be in effect when 3306 | |
| 3733 | - | such child becomes fourteen years of age, or younger if the planning 3307 | |
| 3734 | - | and placement team determines it is appropriate. Such individualized 3308 | |
| 3735 | - | education program shall include (i) appropriate measurable 3309 | |
| 3736 | - | postsecondary goals based upon age -appropriate transition 3310 | |
| 3737 | - | assessments related to training, education, employment and, where 3311 | |
| 3738 | - | appropriate, independent living skills; and (ii) the transition services, 3312 | |
| 3739 | - | including courses of study, needed to assist such child in reaching those 3313 | |
| 3740 | - | goals. Such individualized education program shall be updated 3314 | |
| 3741 | - | annually thereafter in accordance with the provisions of this 3315 | |
| 3742 | - | subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as requiring 3316 | |
| 3743 | - | the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services to lower the age of 3317 | |
| 3744 | - | transitional services for a child with disabilities from sixteen to fourteen 3318 | |
| 3745 | - | years of age. 3319 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3746 | - | ||
| 3747 | - | ||
| 3748 | - | LCO 105 of 128 | |
| 3749 | - | ||
| 3750 | - | Sec. 98. Subsection (a) of section 10-76i of the general statutes is 3320 | |
| 3751 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3321 | |
| 3752 | - | 2026): 3322 | |
| 3753 | - | (a) There shall be an Advisory Council for Special Education which 3323 | |
| 3754 | - | shall advise the General Assembly, State Board of Education and the 3324 | |
| 3755 | - | Commissioner of Education, and which shall engage in such other 3325 | |
| 3756 | - | activities as described in this section. On and after July 1, 2012, the 3326 | |
| 3757 | - | advisory council shall consist of the following members: (1) Nine 3327 | |
| 3758 | - | appointed by the Commissioner of Education, (A) six of whom shall be 3328 | |
| 3759 | - | (i) the parents of children with disabilities, provided such children are 3329 | |
| 3760 | - | under the age of twenty-seven, or (ii) individuals with disabilities, (B) 3330 | |
| 3761 | - | one of whom shall be an official of the Department of Education, (C) one 3331 | |
| 3762 | - | of whom shall be a state or local official responsible for carrying out 3332 | |
| 3763 | - | activities under Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 3333 | |
| 3764 | - | Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time, and 3334 | |
| 3765 | - | (D) one of whom shall be a representative of an institution of higher 3335 | |
| 3766 | - | education in the state that prepares teacher and related services 3336 | |
| 3767 | - | personnel; (2) one appointed by the Commissioner of Developmental 3337 | |
| 3768 | - | Services who shall be an official of the department; (3) one appointed by 3338 | |
| 3769 | - | the Commissioner of Children and Families who shall be an official of 3339 | |
| 3770 | - | the department; (4) one appointed by the Commissioner of Correction 3340 | |
| 3771 | - | who shall be an official of the department; (5) one appointed by the 3341 | |
| 3772 | - | director of the Parent Leadership Training Institute within the 3342 | |
| 3773 | - | Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity 3343 | |
| 3774 | - | who shall be (A) the parent of a child with a disability, provided such 3344 | |
| 3775 | - | child is under the age of twenty-seven, or (B) an individual with a 3345 | |
| 3776 | - | disability; (6) a representative from the parent training and information 3346 | |
| 3777 | - | center for Connecticut established pursuant to the Individuals With 3347 | |
| 3778 | - | Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time 3348 | |
| 3779 | - | to time; (7) the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 3349 | |
| 3780 | - | commissioner's designee; (8) five who are members of the General 3350 | |
| 3781 | - | Assembly who shall serve as nonvoting members of the advisory 3351 | |
| 3782 | - | council, one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 3352 | |
| 3783 | - | one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, 3353 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3784 | - | ||
| 3785 | - | ||
| 3786 | - | LCO 106 of 128 | |
| 3787 | - | ||
| 3788 | - | one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, 3354 | |
| 3789 | - | one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and one 3355 | |
| 3790 | - | appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (9) one appointed by the 3356 | |
| 3791 | - | president pro tempore of the Senate who shall be a member of the 3357 | |
| 3792 | - | Connecticut Speech-Language-Hearing Association; (10) one appointed 3358 | |
| 3793 | - | by the majority leader of the Senate who shall be a public school teacher; 3359 | |
| 3794 | - | (11) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who shall be a 3360 | |
| 3795 | - | representative of a vocational, community or business organization 3361 | |
| 3796 | - | concerned with the provision of transitional services to children with 3362 | |
| 3797 | - | disabilities; (12) one appointed by the speaker of the House of 3363 | |
| 3798 | - | Representatives who shall be a member of the Connecticut Council of 3364 | |
| 3799 | - | Special Education Administrators and who is a local education official; 3365 | |
| 3800 | - | (13) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of 3366 | |
| 3801 | - | Representatives who shall be a representative of charter schools; (14) 3367 | |
| 3802 | - | one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives 3368 | |
| 3803 | - | who shall be a member of the Connecticut Association of Private Special 3369 | |
| 3804 | - | Education Facilities; (15) one appointed by the Chief Court 3370 | |
| 3805 | - | Administrator of the Judicial Department who shall be an official of 3371 | |
| 3806 | - | such department responsible for the provision of services to adjudicated 3372 | |
| 3807 | - | children and youth; (16) seven appointed by the Governor, all of whom 3373 | |
| 3808 | - | shall be (A) the parents of children with disabilities, provided such 3374 | |
| 3809 | - | children are under the age of twenty-seven, or (B) individuals with 3375 | |
| 3810 | - | disabilities; (17) the executive director of the nonprofit entity designated 3376 | |
| 3811 | - | by the Governor in accordance with section 46a-10b to serve as the 3377 | |
| 3812 | - | Connecticut protection and advocacy system, or the executive director's 3378 | |
| 3813 | - | designee; and (18) such other members as required by the Individuals 3379 | |
| 3814 | - | with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from 3380 | |
| 3815 | - | time to time, appointed by the Commissioner of Education . 3381 | |
| 3816 | - | Appointments made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be 3382 | |
| 3817 | - | representative of the ethnic and racial diversity of, and the types of 3383 | |
| 3818 | - | disabilities found in, the state population. The terms of the members of 3384 | |
| 3819 | - | the council serving on June 8, 2010, shall expire on June 30, 2010. 3385 | |
| 3820 | - | Appointments shall be made to the council by July 1, 2010. Members 3386 | |
| 3821 | - | shall serve two-year terms, except that members appointed pursuant to 3387 | |
| 3822 | - | subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this subsection whose terms 3388 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3823 | - | ||
| 3824 | - | ||
| 3825 | - | LCO 107 of 128 | |
| 3826 | - | ||
| 3827 | - | commenced July 1, 2010, shall serve three-year terms and the successors 3389 | |
| 3828 | - | to such members appointed pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (3), 3390 | |
| 3829 | - | inclusive, of this subsection shall serve two-year terms. 3391 | |
| 3830 | - | Sec. 99. Subsection (a) of section 10-76y of the general statutes is 3392 | |
| 3831 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3393 | |
| 3832 | - | 2026): 3394 | |
| 3833 | - | (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, school 3395 | |
| 3834 | - | districts, regional educational service centers, the Department of [Aging 3396 | |
| 3835 | - | and] Disability Services, and all other state and local governmental 3397 | |
| 3836 | - | agencies concerned with education may loan, lease or transfer an 3398 | |
| 3837 | - | assistive device for the use and benefit of a student with a disability to 3399 | |
| 3838 | - | such student or the parent or guardian of such student or to any other 3400 | |
| 3839 | - | public or private nonprofit agency providing services to or on behalf of 3401 | |
| 3840 | - | individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, an agency 3402 | |
| 3841 | - | providing educational, health or rehabilitative services. Such device 3403 | |
| 3842 | - | may be sold or transferred pursuant to this section regardless of whether 3404 | |
| 3843 | - | the device was declared surplus. The sale or transfer shall be recorded 3405 | |
| 3844 | - | in an agreement between the parties and based upon the depreciated 3406 | |
| 3845 | - | value of the device. For the purposes of this section, "assistive device" 3407 | |
| 3846 | - | means any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether 3408 | |
| 3847 | - | acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified or customized, that is 3409 | |
| 3848 | - | used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of 3410 | |
| 3849 | - | individuals with disabilities. 3411 | |
| 3850 | - | Sec. 100. Subsection (d) of section 11-1a of the general statutes is 3412 | |
| 3851 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3413 | |
| 3852 | - | 2026): 3414 | |
| 3853 | - | (d) The State Library Board shall create and maintain a library service 3415 | |
| 3854 | - | for the blind and other persons with disabilities, as provided for in 2 3416 | |
| 3855 | - | USC Sections 135a, 135a-1 and 135b. The State Library Board shall 3417 | |
| 3856 | - | consult with the advisory committee relating to the library for blind and 3418 | |
| 3857 | - | physically disabled persons and the Commissioner of [Aging and] 3419 | |
| 3858 | - | Disability Services, or the commissioner's designee, before taking any 3420 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3859 | - | ||
| 3860 | - | ||
| 3861 | - | LCO 108 of 128 | |
| 3862 | - | ||
| 3863 | - | action that may diminish or substantively change the library services 3421 | |
| 3864 | - | described in this subsection. 3422 | |
| 3865 | - | Sec. 101. Subsection (a) of section 12-217oo of the general statutes is 3423 | |
| 3866 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3424 | |
| 3867 | - | 2026): 3425 | |
| 3868 | - | (a) As used in this section: 3426 | |
| 3869 | - | (1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 3427 | |
| 3870 | - | Community Development; 3428 | |
| 3871 | - | (2) "Employer" means a person engaged in business who has 3429 | |
| 3872 | - | employees and who is subject to tax under this chapter or chapter 207 3430 | |
| 3873 | - | or 229; 3431 | |
| 3874 | - | (3) "Income year" means the income year or taxable year, as 3432 | |
| 3875 | - | determined under this chapter or chapter 207 or 229, as the case may be; 3433 | |
| 3876 | - | (4) "New qualifying employee" means a person who (A) is receiving 3434 | |
| 3877 | - | vocational rehabilitation services from the Department of [Aging and] 3435 | |
| 3878 | - | Disability Services, and (B) is hired by the employer to fill a new job after 3436 | |
| 3879 | - | May 6, 2010, during the employer's income years commencing on or 3437 | |
| 3880 | - | after January 1, 2010, and prior to January 1, 2012. A new qualifying 3438 | |
| 3881 | - | employee does not include a person receiving vocational rehabilitation 3439 | |
| 3882 | - | services pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and who was 3440 | |
| 3883 | - | employed in this state by a related person with respect to the employer 3441 | |
| 3884 | - | during the prior twelve months; 3442 | |
| 3885 | - | (5) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 3443 | |
| 3886 | - | company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the employer, 3444 | |
| 3887 | - | (B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3445 | |
| 3888 | - | association or trust that is in control of the employer, (C) a corporation, 3446 | |
| 3889 | - | limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by 3447 | |
| 3890 | - | an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3448 | |
| 3891 | - | association or trust that is in control of the employer, or (D) a member 3449 | |
| 3892 | - | of the same controlled group as the employer; and 3450 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3893 | - | ||
| 3894 | - | ||
| 3895 | - | LCO 109 of 128 | |
| 3896 | - | ||
| 3897 | - | (6) "Control", with respect to a corporation, means ownership, 3451 | |
| 3898 | - | directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per cent or more of the 3452 | |
| 3899 | - | total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of such 3453 | |
| 3900 | - | corporation entitled to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means 3454 | |
| 3901 | - | ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the 3455 | |
| 3902 | - | beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust. The 3456 | |
| 3903 | - | ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a 3457 | |
| 3904 | - | partnership, limited liability company or association or of a beneficial 3458 | |
| 3905 | - | interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for 3459 | |
| 3906 | - | constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the 3460 | |
| 3907 | - | Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 3461 | |
| 3908 | - | internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to 3462 | |
| 3909 | - | time, other than paragraph (3) of said Section 267(c). 3463 | |
| 3910 | - | Sec. 102. Section 12-217pp of the general statutes is repealed and the 3464 | |
| 3911 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3465 | |
| 3912 | - | (a) As used in this section: 3466 | |
| 3913 | - | (1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 3467 | |
| 3914 | - | Community Development; 3468 | |
| 3915 | - | (2) "Control", with respect to a corporation, means ownership, 3469 | |
| 3916 | - | directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per cent or more of the 3470 | |
| 3917 | - | total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of such 3471 | |
| 3918 | - | corporation entitled to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means 3472 | |
| 3919 | - | ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the 3473 | |
| 3920 | - | beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust. The 3474 | |
| 3921 | - | ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a 3475 | |
| 3922 | - | partnership, limited liability company or association or of a beneficial 3476 | |
| 3923 | - | interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for 3477 | |
| 3924 | - | constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the 3478 | |
| 3925 | - | Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 3479 | |
| 3926 | - | internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 3480 | |
| 3927 | - | amended, other than paragraph (3) of said Section 267(c); 3481 | |
| 3928 | - | (3) "Full-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to 3482 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3929 | - | ||
| 3930 | - | ||
| 3931 | - | LCO 110 of 128 | |
| 3932 | - | ||
| 3933 | - | work at least thirty-five hours per week for not less than forty-eight 3483 | |
| 3934 | - | weeks in a calendar year. "Full-time job" does not include a temporary 3484 | |
| 3935 | - | or seasonal job; 3485 | |
| 3936 | - | (4) "Income year" means, with respect to entities subject to the 3486 | |
| 3937 | - | insurance premiums tax under chapter 207, the corporation business tax 3487 | |
| 3938 | - | under this chapter, the utility companies tax under chapter 212 or the 3488 | |
| 3939 | - | income tax under chapter 229, the income year as determined under 3489 | |
| 3940 | - | each of said chapters, as the case may be; 3490 | |
| 3941 | - | (5) "New employee" means a person who resides in this state and is 3491 | |
| 3942 | - | hired by a taxpayer on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 3492 | |
| 3943 | - | 2014, to fill a new job. "New employee" does not include a person who 3493 | |
| 3944 | - | was employed in this state by a related person with respect to a taxpayer 3494 | |
| 3945 | - | during the prior twelve months; 3495 | |
| 3946 | - | (6) "New job" means a job that did not exist in this state prior to a 3496 | |
| 3947 | - | taxpayer's application to the commissioner for certification under this 3497 | |
| 3948 | - | section for a job expansion tax credit, is filled by a new, qualifying or 3498 | |
| 3949 | - | veteran employee, and (A) is a full-time job, or (B) in the case of a 3499 | |
| 3950 | - | qualifying employee under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (7) of this 3500 | |
| 3951 | - | subsection, is a job in which an employee is required to work at least 3501 | |
| 3952 | - | twenty hours per week for not less than forty-eight weeks in a calendar 3502 | |
| 3953 | - | year; 3503 | |
| 3954 | - | (7) "Qualifying employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 3504 | |
| 3955 | - | hiring by the taxpayer: 3505 | |
| 3956 | - | (A) (i) Is receiving unemployment compensation, or (ii) has 3506 | |
| 3957 | - | exhausted unemployment compensation benefits and has not had an 3507 | |
| 3958 | - | intervening full-time job; or 3508 | |
| 3959 | - | (B) Is (i) receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the 3509 | |
| 3960 | - | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services, (ii) receiving 3510 | |
| 3961 | - | employment services from the Department of Mental Health and 3511 | |
| 3962 | - | Addiction Services, or (iii) participating in employment opportunities 3512 | |
| 3963 | - | and day services, as defined in section 17a-226, operated or funded by 3513 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3964 | - | ||
| 3965 | - | ||
| 3966 | - | LCO 111 of 128 | |
| 3967 | - | ||
| 3968 | - | the Department of Developmental Services; 3514 | |
| 3969 | - | (8) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 3515 | |
| 3970 | - | company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the taxpayer, 3516 | |
| 3971 | - | (B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3517 | |
| 3972 | - | association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, (C) a corporation, 3518 | |
| 3973 | - | limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by 3519 | |
| 3974 | - | an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3520 | |
| 3975 | - | association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, or (D) a member of 3521 | |
| 3976 | - | the same controlled group as the taxpayer; 3522 | |
| 3977 | - | (9) "Taxpayer" means a person that (A) has been in business for at 3523 | |
| 3978 | - | least twelve consecutive months prior to the date of the taxpayer's 3524 | |
| 3979 | - | application to the commissioner for certification under this section for a 3525 | |
| 3980 | - | job expansion tax credit, and (B) is subject to tax under this chapter or 3526 | |
| 3981 | - | chapter 207, 212 or 229; and 3527 | |
| 3982 | - | (10) "Veteran employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 3528 | |
| 3983 | - | hiring by the taxpayer, is (A) a member of the armed forces, as defined 3529 | |
| 3984 | - | in section 27-103, or (B) a veteran, as defined in section 27-103. 3530 | |
| 3985 | - | (b) (1) There is established a job expansion tax credit program 3531 | |
| 3986 | - | whereby a taxpayer may be allowed a credit against the tax imposed 3532 | |
| 3987 | - | under this chapter or chapter 207, 212 or 229, other than the liability 3533 | |
| 3988 | - | imposed by section 12-707, for each new, qualifying or veteran 3534 | |
| 3989 | - | employee hired on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 2014. 3535 | |
| 3990 | - | For taxpayers that employ not more than fifty employees in full-time 3536 | |
| 3991 | - | jobs in this state on the date of application to the commissioner for 3537 | |
| 3992 | - | certification under this section, the creation of at least one new job in this 3538 | |
| 3993 | - | state shall be required for said tax credit. For taxpayers that employ 3539 | |
| 3994 | - | more than fifty, but not more than one hundred employees in full-time 3540 | |
| 3995 | - | jobs in this state on the date of application to the commissioner for 3541 | |
| 3996 | - | certification under this section, the creation of at least five new jobs in 3542 | |
| 3997 | - | this state shall be required for said tax credit. For taxpayers that employ 3543 | |
| 3998 | - | more than one hundred employees in full-time jobs in this state on the 3544 | |
| 3999 | - | date of application to the commissioner for certification under this 3545 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4000 | - | ||
| 4001 | - | ||
| 4002 | - | LCO 112 of 128 | |
| 4003 | - | ||
| 4004 | - | section, the creation of at least ten new jobs in this state shall be required 3546 | |
| 4005 | - | for said tax credit. 3547 | |
| 4006 | - | (2) For the purposes of determining the number of new jobs a 3548 | |
| 4007 | - | taxpayer is required to create in order to claim a credit under this 3549 | |
| 4008 | - | section, the number of employees working in full-time jobs the taxpayer 3550 | |
| 4009 | - | employs in this state on the date of its application to the commissioner 3551 | |
| 4010 | - | for certification under this section shall apply to such taxpayer for the 3552 | |
| 4011 | - | duration of such certification. 3553 | |
| 4012 | - | (c) The amount of the credit shall be: 3554 | |
| 4013 | - | (1) Five hundred dollars per month for each new employee; or 3555 | |
| 4014 | - | (2) Nine hundred dollars per month for each qualifying or veteran 3556 | |
| 4015 | - | employee. 3557 | |
| 4016 | - | (d) (1) The taxpayer shall claim the credit in the income year in which 3558 | |
| 4017 | - | it is earned and, if eligible, in the two immediately succeeding income 3559 | |
| 4018 | - | years. Any credit not claimed by the taxpayer in an income year shall 3560 | |
| 4019 | - | expire and shall not be refundable. 3561 | |
| 4020 | - | (2) If the taxpayer is an S corporation or an entity treated as a 3562 | |
| 4021 | - | partnership for federal income tax purposes, the shareholders or 3563 | |
| 4022 | - | partners of such taxpayer may claim the credit. If the taxpayer is a single 3564 | |
| 4023 | - | member limited liability company that is disregarded as an entity 3565 | |
| 4024 | - | separate from its owner, the limited liability company's owner may 3566 | |
| 4025 | - | claim the credit. 3567 | |
| 4026 | - | (3) No taxpayer shall claim a credit for any new, qualifying or veteran 3568 | |
| 4027 | - | employee who is an owner, member or partner in the business or who 3569 | |
| 4028 | - | is not employed by the taxpayer at the close of the taxpayer's income 3570 | |
| 4029 | - | year. 3571 | |
| 4030 | - | (4) No taxpayer claiming the credit under this section with respect to 3572 | |
| 4031 | - | a new, qualifying or veteran employee shall claim any credit against any 3573 | |
| 4032 | - | tax under any other provision of the general statutes with respect to the 3574 | |
| 4033 | - | same new, qualifying or veteran employee. 3575 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4034 | - | ||
| 4035 | - | ||
| 4036 | - | LCO 113 of 128 | |
| 4037 | - | ||
| 4038 | - | (e) (1) To be eligible to claim the credit, a taxpayer shall apply to the 3576 | |
| 4039 | - | commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section. The 3577 | |
| 4040 | - | application shall be on a form provided by the commissioner and shall 3578 | |
| 4041 | - | contain sufficient information as required by the commissioner, 3579 | |
| 4042 | - | including, but not limited to, the activities that the taxpayer primarily 3580 | |
| 4043 | - | engages in, the North American Industrial Classification System code of 3581 | |
| 4044 | - | the taxpayer, the current number of employees employed by the 3582 | |
| 4045 | - | taxpayer as of the application date, and if applicable, the name and 3583 | |
| 4046 | - | position or job title of the new, qualifying or veteran employee. The 3584 | |
| 4047 | - | commissioner shall consult with the Labor Commissioner, the 3585 | |
| 4048 | - | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, the Commissioner of 3586 | |
| 4049 | - | Veterans Affairs, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction 3587 | |
| 4050 | - | Services or the Commissioner of Developmental Services, as applicable, 3588 | |
| 4051 | - | for any verification the commissioner deems necessary of 3589 | |
| 4052 | - | unemployment compensation or vocational rehabilitation services 3590 | |
| 4053 | - | received by a qualifying employee, or of service in the armed forces of 3591 | |
| 4054 | - | the United States by a veteran employee. The commissioner may impose 3592 | |
| 4055 | - | a fee for such application as the commissioner deems appropriate. 3593 | |
| 4056 | - | (2) (A) Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner shall render 3594 | |
| 4057 | - | a decision, in writing, on each completed application not later than 3595 | |
| 4058 | - | thirty days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. If the 3596 | |
| 4059 | - | commissioner approves such application, the commissioner shall issue 3597 | |
| 4060 | - | a certification letter to the taxpayer indicating that the credit will be 3598 | |
| 4061 | - | available to be claimed by the taxpayer if the taxpayer and the new, 3599 | |
| 4062 | - | qualifying or veteran employee otherwise meet the requirements of this 3600 | |
| 4063 | - | section. 3601 | |
| 4064 | - | (B) On and after January 1, 2014, the commissioner shall render a 3602 | |
| 4065 | - | decision upon such completed applications and, if approved, issue such 3603 | |
| 4066 | - | certification letters, as provided in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, 3604 | |
| 4067 | - | that pertain to qualifying or veteran employees who meet the 3605 | |
| 4068 | - | requirements of this section, and with respect to whom credits pursuant 3606 | |
| 4069 | - | to this section have previously been granted. The commissioner may, in 3607 | |
| 4070 | - | his or her discretion, render a decision upon applications that pertain to 3608 | |
| 4071 | - | new employees, with respect to whom credits pursuant to this section 3609 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4072 | - | ||
| 4073 | - | ||
| 4074 | - | LCO 114 of 128 | |
| 4075 | - | ||
| 4076 | - | have previously been granted, when such applications are consistent 3610 | |
| 4077 | - | with the economic development priorities of the state. 3611 | |
| 4078 | - | (f) (1) The total amount of credits granted under this section and 3612 | |
| 4079 | - | sections 12-217ii, 12-217nn and 12-217oo, as amended by this act, shall 3613 | |
| 4080 | - | not exceed twenty million dollars in any one fiscal year or forty million 3614 | |
| 4081 | - | dollars over the duration of the job expansion tax credit program, 3615 | |
| 4082 | - | including the two immediately succeeding income years after such 3616 | |
| 4083 | - | credits are granted. 3617 | |
| 4084 | - | (2) If a taxpayer was issued an eligibility certificate by the 3618 | |
| 4085 | - | commissioner prior to January 1, 2012, to receive a jobs creation tax 3619 | |
| 4086 | - | credit pursuant to section 12-217ii, the provisions of the tax credit 3620 | |
| 4087 | - | program pursuant to said section 12-217ii shall apply to such taxpayer 3621 | |
| 4088 | - | for the duration of the eligibility certificate. 3622 | |
| 4089 | - | (3) If a taxpayer is issued a certification letter by the commissioner 3623 | |
| 4090 | - | prior to January 1, 2013, to receive a qualified small business job creation 3624 | |
| 4091 | - | tax credit pursuant to section 12-217nn, the provisions of the tax credit 3625 | |
| 4092 | - | program pursuant to said section 12-217nn shall apply to such taxpayer 3626 | |
| 4093 | - | for the duration of such certification. 3627 | |
| 4094 | - | (4) If a taxpayer was issued a certification letter by the commissioner 3628 | |
| 4095 | - | prior to January 1, 2012, to receive a vocational rehabilitation job 3629 | |
| 4096 | - | creation tax credit pursuant to section 12-217oo, as amended by this act, 3630 | |
| 4097 | - | the provisions of the tax credit program pursuant to said section 12-3631 | |
| 4098 | - | 217oo shall apply to such taxpayer for the duration of such certification. 3632 | |
| 2835 | + | Sec. 76. Section 38a-48 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2428 | |
| 2836 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2429 | |
| 2837 | + | (a) On or before June thirtieth, annually, the Commissioner of 2430 | |
| 2838 | + | Revenue Services shall render to the Insurance Commissioner a 2431 | |
| 2839 | + | statement certifying the total amount of taxes reported to the 2432 | |
| 2840 | + | Commissioner of Revenue Services on returns filed with said 2433 | |
| 2841 | + | commissioner by each domestic insurance company or other domestic 2434 | |
| 2842 | + | entity under chapter 207 on business done in this state during the 2435 | |
| 2843 | + | calendar year immediately preceding the prior calendar year. For 2436 | |
| 2844 | + | purposes of preparing the annual statement under this subsection, the 2437 | |
| 2845 | + | total amount of taxes required to be set forth in such statement shall be 2438 | |
| 2846 | + | the amount of tax reported by each domestic insurance company or 2439 | |
| 2847 | + | other domestic entity under chapter 207 to the Commissioner of 2440 | |
| 2848 | + | Revenue Services prior to the application of any credits allowable or 2441 | |
| 2849 | + | available under law to each such domestic insurance company or other 2442 | |
| 2850 | + | domestic entity under chapter 207. 2443 | |
| 2851 | + | (b) On or before July thirty-first, annually, the Insurance 2444 | |
| 2852 | + | Commissioner shall render to each domestic insurance company or 2445 | |
| 2853 | + | other domestic entity liable for payment under section 38a-47, as 2446 | |
| 2854 | + | amended by this act: 2447 T | |
| 2855 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2856 | + | ||
| 2857 | + | ||
| 2858 | + | LCO No. 4161 79 of 130 | |
| 2859 | + | ||
| 2860 | + | (1) A statement that includes (A) the amount appropriated to the 2448 | |
| 2861 | + | Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and the 2449 | |
| 2862 | + | Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund established under 2450 | |
| 2863 | + | section 38a-52a for the fiscal year beginning July first of the same year, 2451 | |
| 2864 | + | (B) the cost of fringe benefits for department and office personnel for 2452 | |
| 2865 | + | such year, as estimated by the Comptroller, (C) the estimated 2453 | |
| 2866 | + | expenditures on behalf of the department and the offices from the 2454 | |
| 2867 | + | Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9 for such 2455 | |
| 2868 | + | year, not including such estimated expenditures made on behalf of the 2456 | |
| 2869 | + | Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy, and (D) 2457 | |
| 2870 | + | the amount appropriated to the Department [of Aging and Disability 2458 | |
| 2871 | + | Services] on Aging for the fall prevention program established in section 2459 | |
| 2872 | + | 17a-859, as amended by this act, from the Insurance Fund for the fiscal 2460 | |
| 2873 | + | year; 2461 | |
| 2874 | + | (2) A statement of the total amount of taxes reported in the annual 2462 | |
| 2875 | + | statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to 2463 | |
| 2876 | + | subsection (a) of this section; and 2464 | |
| 2877 | + | (3) The proposed assessment against that company or entity, 2465 | |
| 2878 | + | calculated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this 2466 | |
| 2879 | + | section, provided for the purposes of this calculation the amount 2467 | |
| 2880 | + | appropriated to the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare 2468 | |
| 2881 | + | Advocate and the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund 2469 | |
| 2882 | + | plus the cost of fringe benefits for department and office personnel and 2470 | |
| 2883 | + | the estimated expenditures on behalf of the department and said offices 2471 | |
| 2884 | + | from the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9, 2472 | |
| 2885 | + | not including such expenditures made on behalf of the Health Systems 2473 | |
| 2886 | + | Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy shall be deemed to be the 2474 | |
| 2887 | + | actual expenditures of the department and said offices, and the amount 2475 | |
| 2888 | + | appropriated to the Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on 2476 | |
| 2889 | + | Aging from the Insurance Fund for the fiscal year for the fall prevention 2477 | |
| 2890 | + | program established in section 17a-859, as amended by this act, shall be 2478 | |
| 2891 | + | deemed to be the actual expenditures for the program. 2479 T | |
| 2892 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2893 | + | ||
| 2894 | + | ||
| 2895 | + | LCO No. 4161 80 of 130 | |
| 2896 | + | ||
| 2897 | + | (c) (1) The proposed assessments for each domestic insurance 2480 | |
| 2898 | + | company or other domestic entity shall be calculated by (A) allocating 2481 | |
| 2899 | + | twenty per cent of the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, as 2482 | |
| 2900 | + | amended by this act, among the domestic entities organized under 2483 | |
| 2901 | + | sections 38a-199 to 38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 38a-225, inclusive, 2484 | |
| 2902 | + | in proportion to their respective shares of the total amount of taxes 2485 | |
| 2903 | + | reported in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance 2486 | |
| 2904 | + | Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (B) 2487 | |
| 2905 | + | allocating eighty per cent of the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, 2488 | |
| 2906 | + | as amended by this act, among all domestic insurance companies and 2489 | |
| 2907 | + | domestic entities other than those organized under sections 38a-199 to 2490 | |
| 2908 | + | 38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 38a-225, inclusive, in proportion to 2491 | |
| 2909 | + | their respective shares of the total amount of taxes reported in the 2492 | |
| 2910 | + | annual statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to 2493 | |
| 2911 | + | subsection (a) of this section, provided if there are no domestic entities 2494 | |
| 2912 | + | organized under sections 38a-199 to 38a-209, inclusive, and 38a-214 to 2495 | |
| 2913 | + | 38a-225, inclusive, at the time of assessment, one hundred per cent of 2496 | |
| 2914 | + | the amount to be paid under section 38a-47, as amended by this act, shall 2497 | |
| 2915 | + | be allocated among such domestic insurance companies and domestic 2498 | |
| 2916 | + | entities. 2499 | |
| 2917 | + | (2) When the amount any such company or entity is assessed 2500 | |
| 2918 | + | pursuant to this section exceeds twenty-five per cent of the actual 2501 | |
| 2919 | + | expenditures of the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare 2502 | |
| 2920 | + | Advocate and the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund, 2503 | |
| 2921 | + | such excess amount shall not be paid by such company or entity but 2504 | |
| 2922 | + | rather shall be assessed against and paid by all other such companies 2505 | |
| 2923 | + | and entities in proportion to their respective shares of the total amount 2506 | |
| 2924 | + | of taxes reported in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance 2507 | |
| 2925 | + | Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, except that for 2508 | |
| 2926 | + | purposes of any assessment made to fund payments to the Department 2509 | |
| 2927 | + | of Public Health to purchase vaccines, such company or entity shall be 2510 | |
| 2928 | + | responsible for its share of the costs, notwithstanding whether its 2511 | |
| 2929 | + | assessment exceeds twenty-five per cent of the actual expenditures of 2512 | |
| 2930 | + | the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and 2513 T | |
| 2931 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2932 | + | ||
| 2933 | + | ||
| 2934 | + | LCO No. 4161 81 of 130 | |
| 2935 | + | ||
| 2936 | + | the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund. The provisions 2514 | |
| 2937 | + | of this subdivision shall not be applicable to any corporation that has 2515 | |
| 2938 | + | converted to a domestic mutual insurance company pursuant to section 2516 | |
| 2939 | + | 38a-155 upon the effective date of any public act that amends said 2517 | |
| 2940 | + | section to modify or remove any restriction on the business such a 2518 | |
| 2941 | + | company may engage in, for purposes of any assessment due from such 2519 | |
| 2942 | + | company on and after such effective date. 2520 | |
| 2943 | + | (d) Each annual payment determined under section 38a-47, as 2521 | |
| 2944 | + | amended by this act, and each annual assessment determined under this 2522 | |
| 2945 | + | section shall be calculated based on the total amount of taxes reported 2523 | |
| 2946 | + | in the annual statement rendered to the Insurance Commissioner 2524 | |
| 2947 | + | pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 2525 | |
| 2948 | + | (e) On or before September first, annually, for each fiscal year, the 2526 | |
| 2949 | + | Insurance Commissioner, after receiving any objections to the proposed 2527 | |
| 2950 | + | assessments and making such adjustments as in the commissioner's 2528 | |
| 2951 | + | opinion may be indicated, shall assess each such domestic insurance 2529 | |
| 2952 | + | company or other domestic entity an amount equal to its proposed 2530 | |
| 2953 | + | assessment as so adjusted. Each domestic insurance company or other 2531 | |
| 2954 | + | domestic entity shall pay to the Insurance Commissioner (1) on or before 2532 | |
| 2955 | + | June thirtieth, annually, an estimated payment against its assessment for 2533 | |
| 2956 | + | the following year equal to twenty-five per cent of its assessment for the 2534 | |
| 2957 | + | fiscal year ending such June thirtieth, (2) on or before September 2535 | |
| 2958 | + | thirtieth, annually, twenty-five per cent of its assessment adjusted to 2536 | |
| 2959 | + | reflect any credit or amount due from the preceding fiscal year as 2537 | |
| 2960 | + | determined by the commissioner under subsection (f) of this section, 2538 | |
| 2961 | + | and (3) on or before the following December thirty-first and March 2539 | |
| 2962 | + | thirty-first, annually, each domestic insurance company or other 2540 | |
| 2963 | + | domestic entity shall pay to the Insurance Commissioner the remaining 2541 | |
| 2964 | + | fifty per cent of its proposed assessment to the department in two equal 2542 | |
| 2965 | + | installments. 2543 | |
| 2966 | + | (f) If the actual expenditures for the fall prevention program 2544 | |
| 2967 | + | established in section 17a-859, as amended by this act, are less than the 2545 T | |
| 2968 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 2969 | + | ||
| 2970 | + | ||
| 2971 | + | LCO No. 4161 82 of 130 | |
| 2972 | + | ||
| 2973 | + | amount allocated, the Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] 2546 | |
| 2974 | + | on Aging shall notify the Insurance Commissioner. Immediately 2547 | |
| 2975 | + | following the close of the fiscal year, the Insurance Commissioner shall 2548 | |
| 2976 | + | recalculate the proposed assessment for each domestic insurance 2549 | |
| 2977 | + | company or other domestic entity in accordance with subsection (c) of 2550 | |
| 2978 | + | this section using the actual expenditures made during the fiscal year by 2551 | |
| 2979 | + | the Insurance Department, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and 2552 | |
| 2980 | + | the Office of Health Strategy from the Insurance Fund, the actual 2553 | |
| 2981 | + | expenditures made on behalf of the department and said offices from 2554 | |
| 2982 | + | the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund pursuant to section 4a-9, not 2555 | |
| 2983 | + | including such expenditures made on behalf of the Health Systems 2556 | |
| 2984 | + | Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy, and the actual 2557 | |
| 2985 | + | expenditures for the fall prevention program. On or before July thirty-2558 | |
| 2986 | + | first, annually, the Insurance Commissioner shall render to each such 2559 | |
| 2987 | + | domestic insurance company and other domestic entity a statement 2560 | |
| 2988 | + | showing the difference between their respective recalculated 2561 | |
| 2989 | + | assessments and the amount they have previously paid. On or before 2562 | |
| 2990 | + | August thirty-first, the Insurance Commissioner, after receiving any 2563 | |
| 2991 | + | objections to such statements, shall make such adjustments that in the 2564 | |
| 2992 | + | commissioner's opinion may be indicated, and shall render an adjusted 2565 | |
| 2993 | + | assessment, if any, to the affected companies. Any such domestic 2566 | |
| 2994 | + | insurance company or other domestic entity may pay to the Insurance 2567 | |
| 2995 | + | Commissioner the entire assessment required under this subsection in 2568 | |
| 2996 | + | one payment when the first installment of such assessment is due. 2569 | |
| 2997 | + | (g) If any assessment is not paid when due, a penalty of twenty-five 2570 | |
| 2998 | + | dollars shall be added thereto, and interest at the rate of six per cent per 2571 | |
| 2999 | + | annum shall be paid thereafter on such assessment and penalty. 2572 | |
| 3000 | + | (h) The Insurance Commissioner shall deposit all payments made 2573 | |
| 3001 | + | under this section with the State Treasurer. On and after June 6, 1991, 2574 | |
| 3002 | + | the moneys so deposited shall be credited to the Insurance Fund 2575 | |
| 3003 | + | established under section 38a-52a and shall be accounted for as expenses 2576 | |
| 3004 | + | recovered from insurance companies. 2577 T | |
| 3005 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3006 | + | ||
| 3007 | + | ||
| 3008 | + | LCO No. 4161 83 of 130 | |
| 3009 | + | ||
| 3010 | + | Sec. 77. Section 38a-475 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2578 | |
| 3011 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2579 | |
| 3012 | + | The Insurance Department shall only precertify long-term care 2580 | |
| 3013 | + | insurance policies that (1) alert the purchaser to the availability of 2581 | |
| 3014 | + | consumer information and public education provided by the 2582 | |
| 3015 | + | Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging pursuant to 2583 | |
| 3016 | + | section 17a-861; (2) offer the option of home and community-based 2584 | |
| 3017 | + | services in addition to nursing home care; (3) in all home care plans, 2585 | |
| 3018 | + | include case management services delivered by an access agency 2586 | |
| 3019 | + | approved by the Office of Policy and Management and the Department 2587 | |
| 3020 | + | of Social Services as meeting the requirements for such agency as 2588 | |
| 3021 | + | defined in regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (m) of section 2589 | |
| 3022 | + | 17b-342, which services shall include, but need not be limited to, the 2590 | |
| 3023 | + | development of a comprehensive individualized assessment and care 2591 | |
| 3024 | + | plan and, as needed, the coordination of appropriate services and the 2592 | |
| 3025 | + | monitoring of the delivery of such services; (4) provide inflation 2593 | |
| 3026 | + | protection; (5) provide for the keeping of records and an explanation of 2594 | |
| 3027 | + | benefit reports on insurance payments which count toward Medicaid 2595 | |
| 3028 | + | resource exclusion; and (6) provide the management information and 2596 | |
| 3029 | + | reports necessary to document the extent of Medicaid resource 2597 | |
| 3030 | + | protection offered and to evaluate the Connecticut Partnership for 2598 | |
| 3031 | + | Long-Term Care. No policy shall be precertified if it requires prior 2599 | |
| 3032 | + | hospitalization or a prior stay in a nursing home as a condition of 2600 | |
| 3033 | + | providing benefits. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in 2601 | |
| 3034 | + | accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the precertification provisions 2602 | |
| 3035 | + | of this section. 2603 | |
| 3036 | + | Sec. 78. Section 42-339 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2604 | |
| 3037 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2605 | |
| 3038 | + | (a) There is established a complex rehabilitation technology and 2606 | |
| 3039 | + | wheelchair repair advisory council to monitor repairs of wheelchairs, 2607 | |
| 3040 | + | including complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs, as defined in 2608 | |
| 3041 | + | section 42-337, and to make recommendations concerning improving 2609 T | |
| 3042 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3043 | + | ||
| 3044 | + | ||
| 3045 | + | LCO No. 4161 84 of 130 | |
| 3046 | + | ||
| 3047 | + | repair times. 2610 | |
| 3048 | + | (b) The advisory council shall consist of the following members: 2611 | |
| 3049 | + | (1) Two appointed by the House and Senate chairpersons of the joint 2612 | |
| 3050 | + | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2613 | |
| 3051 | + | matters relating to human services, one of whom is a consumer who 2614 | |
| 3052 | + | uses a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair purchased, leased 2615 | |
| 3053 | + | or repaired under the Medicaid program, and one of whom is a 2616 | |
| 3054 | + | representative of the state advocacy system for persons with disabilities, 2617 | |
| 3055 | + | established pursuant to section 46a-10b; 2618 | |
| 3056 | + | (2) Two appointed by the House and Senate ranking members of the 2619 | |
| 3057 | + | joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2620 | |
| 3058 | + | matters relating to human services, one of whom is a consumer who 2621 | |
| 3059 | + | uses a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair purchased, leased 2622 | |
| 3060 | + | or repaired under a private health insurance policy, and one of whom is 2623 | |
| 3061 | + | an authorized wheelchair dealer, as defined in section 42-337; 2624 | |
| 3062 | + | (3) Two appointed by the House and Senate chairpersons of the joint 2625 | |
| 3063 | + | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2626 | |
| 3064 | + | matters relating to general law, each of whom is a representative of an 2627 | |
| 3065 | + | organization that represents persons with physical disabilities; 2628 | |
| 3066 | + | (4) Two appointed by the House and Senate ranking members of the 2629 | |
| 3067 | + | joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 2630 | |
| 3068 | + | matters relating to general law, each of whom is a consumer who 2631 | |
| 3069 | + | privately pays for complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs; 2632 | |
| 3070 | + | (5) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 2633 | |
| 3071 | + | commissioner's designee; 2634 | |
| 3072 | + | (6) The Insurance Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; 2635 | |
| 3073 | + | (7) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 2636 | |
| 3074 | + | designee; 2637 T | |
| 3075 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3076 | + | ||
| 3077 | + | ||
| 3078 | + | LCO No. 4161 85 of 130 | |
| 3079 | + | ||
| 3080 | + | (8) The Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's designee; 2638 | |
| 3081 | + | and 2639 | |
| 3082 | + | (9) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's 2640 | |
| 3083 | + | designee. 2641 | |
| 3084 | + | (c) Any member of the advisory council appointed under subdivision 2642 | |
| 3085 | + | (1), (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the 2643 | |
| 3086 | + | General Assembly. 2644 | |
| 3087 | + | (d) All initial appointments to the advisory council shall be made not 2645 | |
| 3088 | + | later than August 1, 2024. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing 2646 | |
| 3089 | + | authority. The advisory council shall meet at least monthly. 2647 | |
| 3090 | + | (e) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 2648 | |
| 3091 | + | commissioner's designee, and a member of the advisory council chosen 2649 | |
| 3092 | + | by a majority of members of the advisory council, shall serve as 2650 | |
| 3093 | + | chairpersons. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the 2651 | |
| 3094 | + | advisory council not later than September 1, 2024. 2652 | |
| 3095 | + | (f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 2653 | |
| 3096 | + | General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human 2654 | |
| 3097 | + | services shall serve as administrative staff of the advisory council. 2655 | |
| 3098 | + | (g) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 2656 | |
| 3099 | + | advisory council shall submit a report on its findings and 2657 | |
| 3100 | + | recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 2658 | |
| 3101 | + | Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, general law, 2659 | |
| 3102 | + | human services and insurance, in accordance with the provisions of 2660 | |
| 3103 | + | section 11-4a. 2661 | |
| 3104 | + | Sec. 79. Subsection (c) of section 3-123aa of the general statutes is 2662 | |
| 3105 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2663 | |
| 3106 | + | 2026): 2664 | |
| 3107 | + | (c) There is established an advisory committee to the Connecticut 2665 | |
| 3108 | + | Homecare Option Program for the Elderly, which shall consist of the 2666 T | |
| 3109 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3110 | + | ||
| 3111 | + | ||
| 3112 | + | LCO No. 4161 86 of 130 | |
| 3113 | + | ||
| 3114 | + | State Treasurer, the State Comptroller, the Commissioner of Social 2667 | |
| 3115 | + | Services, the Commissioner [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging, 2668 | |
| 3116 | + | the director of the long-term care partnership policy program within the 2669 | |
| 3117 | + | Office of Policy and Management, and the cochairpersons and ranking 2670 | |
| 3118 | + | members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 2671 | |
| 3119 | + | having cognizance of matters relating to aging, human services and 2672 | |
| 3120 | + | finance, revenue and bonding, or their designees. The Governor shall 2673 | |
| 3121 | + | appoint one provider of home care services for the elderly and a 2674 | |
| 3122 | + | physician specializing in geriatric care. The advisory committee shall 2675 | |
| 3123 | + | meet at least annually. The State Comptroller shall convene the 2676 | |
| 3124 | + | meetings of the committee. 2677 | |
| 3125 | + | Sec. 80. Section 4-5 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2678 | |
| 3126 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2679 | |
| 3127 | + | As used in sections 4-6, 4-7 and 4-8, the term "department head" 2680 | |
| 3128 | + | means the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, 2681 | |
| 3129 | + | Commissioner of Administrative Services, Commissioner of Revenue 2682 | |
| 3130 | + | Services, Banking Commissioner, Commissioner of Children and 2683 | |
| 3131 | + | Families, Commissioner of Consumer Protection, Commissioner of 2684 | |
| 3132 | + | Correction, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 2685 | |
| 3133 | + | State Board of Education, Commissioner of Emergency Services and 2686 | |
| 3134 | + | Public Protection, Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 2687 | |
| 3135 | + | Protection, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Public 2688 | |
| 3136 | + | Health, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Commissioner 2689 | |
| 3137 | + | of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Commissioner of Social 2690 | |
| 3138 | + | Services, Commissioner of Developmental Services, Commissioner of 2691 | |
| 3139 | + | Motor Vehicles, Commissioner of Transportation, Commissioner of 2692 | |
| 3140 | + | Veterans Affairs, Commissioner of Housing, Commissioner on Aging, 2693 | |
| 3141 | + | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, Commissioner of 2694 | |
| 3142 | + | Early Childhood, Commissioner of Health Strategy, executive director 2695 | |
| 3143 | + | of the Office of Military Affairs, executive director of the Technical 2696 | |
| 3144 | + | Education and Career System, Chief Workforce Officer and 2697 | |
| 3145 | + | Commissioner of Higher Education. As used in sections 4-6 and 4-7, 2698 | |
| 3146 | + | "department head" also means the Commissioner of Education. 2699 T | |
| 3147 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3148 | + | ||
| 3149 | + | ||
| 3150 | + | LCO No. 4161 87 of 130 | |
| 3151 | + | ||
| 3152 | + | Sec. 81. Section 4-38c of the general statutes is repealed and the 2700 | |
| 3153 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2701 | |
| 3154 | + | There shall be within the executive branch of state government the 2702 | |
| 3155 | + | following departments: Office of Policy and Management, Department 2703 | |
| 3156 | + | of Administrative Services, Department on Aging, Department of 2704 | |
| 3157 | + | [Aging and] Disability Services, Department of Revenue Services, 2705 | |
| 3158 | + | Department of Banking, Department of Agriculture, Department of 2706 | |
| 3159 | + | Children and Families, Department of Consumer Protection, 2707 | |
| 3160 | + | Department of Correction, Department of Economic and Community 2708 | |
| 3161 | + | Development, State Board of Education, Department of Emergency 2709 | |
| 3162 | + | Services and Public Protection, Department of Energy and 2710 | |
| 3163 | + | Environmental Protection, Department of Housing, Department of 2711 | |
| 3164 | + | Public Health, Board of Regents for Higher Education, Insurance 2712 | |
| 3165 | + | Department, Labor Department, Department of Mental Health and 2713 | |
| 3166 | + | Addiction Services, Department of Developmental Services, 2714 | |
| 3167 | + | Department of Social Services, Department of Transportation, 2715 | |
| 3168 | + | Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Veterans Affairs and the 2716 | |
| 3169 | + | Technical Education and Career System. 2717 | |
| 3170 | + | Sec. 82. Subsection (a) of section 4-61aa of the general statutes is 2718 | |
| 3171 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2719 | |
| 3172 | + | 2026): 2720 | |
| 3173 | + | (a) For purposes of this section, "state Americans with Disabilities Act 2721 | |
| 3174 | + | coordinator" means the person appointed by the Governor to coordinate 2722 | |
| 3175 | + | state compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 2723 | |
| 3176 | + | 1990. There is established a committee to advise the state Americans 2724 | |
| 3177 | + | with Disabilities Act coordinator. The state Americans with Disabilities 2725 | |
| 3178 | + | Act coordinator shall appoint the members of the committee, which 2726 | |
| 3179 | + | shall be chaired by said coordinator, or his designee, and include at least 2727 | |
| 3180 | + | one representative of each of the following: 2728 | |
| 3181 | + | (1) The Board of Education and Services to the Blind; 2729 | |
| 3182 | + | (2) The Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard 2730 T | |
| 3183 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3184 | + | ||
| 3185 | + | ||
| 3186 | + | LCO No. 4161 88 of 130 | |
| 3187 | + | ||
| 3188 | + | of Hearing; 2731 | |
| 3189 | + | (3) The Department of [Aging and] Disability Services; 2732 | |
| 3190 | + | (4) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; 2733 | |
| 3191 | + | (5) The Department of Developmental Services; 2734 | |
| 3192 | + | (6) The Labor Department; 2735 | |
| 3193 | + | (7) The Department of Administrative Services; and 2736 | |
| 3194 | + | (8) The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. 2737 | |
| 3195 | + | Sec. 83. Section 4-67cc of the general statutes is repealed and the 2738 | |
| 3196 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2739 | |
| 3197 | + | The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in 2740 | |
| 3198 | + | consultation with the Department on Aging and the Departments of 2741 | |
| 3199 | + | Administrative Services, Developmental Services, Social Services, 2742 | |
| 3200 | + | [Aging and] Disability Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services, 2743 | |
| 3201 | + | Education, Correction and Children and Families and the Office of Early 2744 | |
| 3202 | + | Childhood, shall create a plan to develop a secure online portal to 2745 | |
| 3203 | + | facilitate sharing of basic critical information across agencies in order to 2746 | |
| 3204 | + | ensure efficient and safe delivery of services. The portal shall include a 2747 | |
| 3205 | + | means for each agency to note when it has performed a site visit or has 2748 | |
| 3206 | + | scheduled a site visit and shall give the individual performing the site 2749 | |
| 3207 | + | visit the opportunity to record notes that can be shared across agencies. 2750 | |
| 3208 | + | Such plan shall: (1) Review the feasibility of using current online portals 2751 | |
| 3209 | + | already utilized by state agencies as well as a new online portal; (2) 2752 | |
| 3210 | + | detail data sharing and privacy requirements for sharing such 2753 | |
| 3211 | + | information across state agencies in accordance with federal and state 2754 | |
| 3212 | + | law concerning data sharing and privacy; and (3) be submitted, in 2755 | |
| 3213 | + | accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 2756 | |
| 3214 | + | committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 2757 | |
| 3215 | + | relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and human 2758 | |
| 3216 | + | services not later than July 1, 2024. For purposes of this section, "site 2759 T | |
| 3217 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3218 | + | ||
| 3219 | + | ||
| 3220 | + | LCO No. 4161 89 of 130 | |
| 3221 | + | ||
| 3222 | + | visit" means any meeting with a client or an inspection that occurs 2760 | |
| 3223 | + | outside the physical offices of the state agency providing the service or 2761 | |
| 3224 | + | conducting the inspection. 2762 | |
| 3225 | + | Sec. 84. Subsection (g) of section 4-89 of the general statutes is 2763 | |
| 3226 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2764 | |
| 3227 | + | 2026): 2765 | |
| 3228 | + | (g) The provisions of this section shall not apply to appropriations to 2766 | |
| 3229 | + | the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services in an amount not 2767 | |
| 3230 | + | greater than the amount of reimbursements of prior year expenditures 2768 | |
| 3231 | + | for the services of interpreters received by the department during the 2769 | |
| 3232 | + | fiscal year pursuant to section 17a-839, as amended by this act, and such 2770 | |
| 3233 | + | appropriations shall not lapse until the end of the fiscal year succeeding 2771 | |
| 3234 | + | the fiscal year of the appropriation. 2772 | |
| 3235 | + | Sec. 85. Section 4-124xx of the general statutes is repealed and the 2773 | |
| 3236 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2774 | |
| 3237 | + | (a) The Chief Workforce Officer, appointed pursuant to section 4-2775 | |
| 3238 | + | 124w, in consultation with the Labor Commissioner, the Commissioner 2776 | |
| 3239 | + | on Aging, the Commissioners of Social Services, Developmental 2777 | |
| 3240 | + | Disabilities, Public Health, Higher Education and [Aging and] Disability 2778 | |
| 3241 | + | Services, the Governor's Workforce Council, the Council on 2779 | |
| 3242 | + | Developmental Disabilities, the Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory 2780 | |
| 3243 | + | Council and regional workforce development boards, shall, within 2781 | |
| 3244 | + | available appropriations, establish a Human Services Career Pipeline 2782 | |
| 3245 | + | program to ensure a sufficient number of trained providers are available 2783 | |
| 3246 | + | to serve the needs of persons in the state [with] who are elderly and 2784 | |
| 3247 | + | persons who have (1) an intellectual disability, (2) other developmental 2785 | |
| 3248 | + | disabilities, (3) physical disabilities, (4) cognitive impairment, or (5) 2786 | |
| 3249 | + | mental illness. [and elderly persons.] Such pipeline shall include 2787 | |
| 3250 | + | training and certification for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, 2788 | |
| 3251 | + | medication administration, job placement and incentives for retention 2789 | |
| 3252 | + | in the human services labor sector upon successful completion of the 2790 | |
| 3253 | + | program. 2791 T | |
| 3254 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3255 | + | ||
| 3256 | + | ||
| 3257 | + | LCO No. 4161 90 of 130 | |
| 3258 | + | ||
| 3259 | + | (b) The Chief Workforce Officer shall consult with the Labor 2792 | |
| 3260 | + | Commissioner, the Commissioner on Aging, [and] the Commissioners 2793 | |
| 3261 | + | of [Aging and] Disability Services, Developmental Services, Mental 2794 | |
| 3262 | + | Health and Addiction Services and Social Services, the Council on 2795 | |
| 3263 | + | Developmental Disabilities and the Autism Spectrum Disorder 2796 | |
| 3264 | + | Advisory Council to determine: (1) The greatest needs for human 2797 | |
| 3265 | + | services providers, and (2) barriers to hiring and retaining qualified 2798 | |
| 3266 | + | providers. The Chief Workforce Officer shall assist local and regional 2799 | |
| 3267 | + | boards of education in enhancing existing partnerships or establishing 2800 | |
| 3268 | + | new partnerships with providers of human services and higher 2801 | |
| 3269 | + | education institutions to provide a pathway to a diploma, credential, 2802 | |
| 3270 | + | certificate or license and a job providing human services. 2803 | |
| 3271 | + | (c) The Chief Workforce Officer, in consultation with the Labor 2804 | |
| 3272 | + | Commissioner, shall develop a plan for the Human Services Career 2805 | |
| 3273 | + | Pipeline program that includes, but shall not be limited to: (1) A strategy 2806 | |
| 3274 | + | to increase the number of state residents pursuing careers in human 2807 | |
| 3275 | + | services, (2) recommended salary and working conditions necessary to 2808 | |
| 3276 | + | retain an adequate number of human services providers to serve state 2809 | |
| 3277 | + | residents, and (3) estimated funding needed to support the Human 2810 | |
| 3278 | + | Services Career Pipeline program. Not later than July 1, 2024, the Chief 2811 | |
| 3279 | + | Workforce Officer shall submit a report on the plan, in accordance with 2812 | |
| 3280 | + | the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 2813 | |
| 3281 | + | General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 2814 | |
| 3282 | + | appropriations, aging, higher education and employment advancement, 2815 | |
| 3283 | + | human services, labor and public health. The report shall include the 2816 | |
| 3284 | + | Chief Workforce Officer's recommendations for establishing the career 2817 | |
| 3285 | + | pipeline and estimates of funding needed to implement the pipeline. 2818 | |
| 3286 | + | (d) The Chief Workforce Officer shall, within available 2819 | |
| 3287 | + | appropriations, establish such career pipeline and, if such pipeline is 2820 | |
| 3288 | + | established, submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 2821 | |
| 3289 | + | section 11-4a, not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, 2822 | |
| 3290 | + | regarding the development and implementation of the pipeline to the 2823 | |
| 3291 | + | joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance 2824 T | |
| 3292 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3293 | + | ||
| 3294 | + | ||
| 3295 | + | LCO No. 4161 91 of 130 | |
| 3296 | + | ||
| 3297 | + | of matters relating to appropriations, aging, higher education and 2825 | |
| 3298 | + | employment advancement, human services, labor and public health. For 2826 | |
| 3299 | + | purposes of this section, "human services labor sector" means persons 2827 | |
| 3300 | + | trained to provide services to elderly persons and persons with an 2828 | |
| 3301 | + | intellectual disability; other developmental disabilities, including, but 2829 | |
| 3302 | + | not limited to, autism spectrum disorder; physical disabilities; cognitive 2830 | |
| 3303 | + | impairment or mental illness. [; and elderly persons.] 2831 | |
| 3304 | + | Sec. 86. Section 4a-82 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2832 | |
| 3305 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2833 | |
| 3306 | + | (a) For the purposes of this section: 2834 | |
| 3307 | + | (1) "Person with a disability" means any individual with a disability, 2835 | |
| 3308 | + | excluding blindness, as such term is applied by the Department of 2836 | |
| 3309 | + | Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of 2837 | |
| 3310 | + | Developmental Services, the Department of [Aging and] Disability 2838 | |
| 3311 | + | Services or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and who 2839 | |
| 3312 | + | is certified by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services as 2840 | |
| 3313 | + | qualified to participate in a qualified partnership, as described in 2841 | |
| 3314 | + | subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section; 2842 | |
| 3315 | + | (2) "Vocational rehabilitation service" means any goods and services 2843 | |
| 3316 | + | necessary to render a person with a disability employable, in accordance 2844 | |
| 3317 | + | with Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 701 et seq., as 2845 | |
| 3318 | + | amended from time to time; 2846 | |
| 3319 | + | (3) "Community rehabilitation program" means any entity or 2847 | |
| 3320 | + | individual that provides directly for or facilitates the provision of 2848 | |
| 3321 | + | vocational rehabilitation services to, or provides services in connection 2849 | |
| 3322 | + | with, the recruiting, hiring or managing of the employment of persons 2850 | |
| 3323 | + | with disabilities based on an individualized plan and budget for each 2851 | |
| 3324 | + | worker with a disability; 2852 | |
| 3325 | + | (4) "Commercial contractor" means any for-profit proprietorship, 2853 | |
| 3326 | + | partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, trust, 2854 T | |
| 3327 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3328 | + | ||
| 3329 | + | ||
| 3330 | + | LCO No. 4161 92 of 130 | |
| 3331 | + | ||
| 3332 | + | association or other privately owned entity that employs persons to 2855 | |
| 3333 | + | perform janitorial work or contractual services, and that enters into 2856 | |
| 3334 | + | contracts to provide janitorial services or contractual services; 2857 | |
| 3335 | + | (5) "Janitorial work" means work performed in connection with the 2858 | |
| 3336 | + | care or maintenance of buildings, including, but not limited to, work 2859 | |
| 3337 | + | customarily performed by cleaners, porters, janitors and handypersons; 2860 | |
| 3338 | + | (6) "Janitorial contract" means a contract or subcontract to perform 2861 | |
| 3339 | + | janitorial work for a department or agency of the state; 2862 | |
| 3340 | + | (7) "Person with a disadvantage" means any individual who is 2863 | |
| 3341 | + | determined by the Labor Department, or its designee, to be eligible for 2864 | |
| 3342 | + | employment services in accordance with the Workforce Innovation and 2865 | |
| 3343 | + | Opportunity Act or whose verified individual gross annual income 2866 | |
| 3344 | + | during the previous calendar year was not greater than two hundred 2867 | |
| 3345 | + | per cent of the federal poverty level for a family of four; 2868 | |
| 3346 | + | (8) "Awarding authority" means the Commissioner of Administrative 2869 | |
| 3347 | + | Services, Chief Court Administrator of the Judicial Branch and 2870 | |
| 3348 | + | chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, as 2871 | |
| 3349 | + | applicable; and 2872 | |
| 3350 | + | (9) "Contractual services" includes, but is not limited to, any and all 2873 | |
| 3351 | + | laundry and cleaning services, mail supply room staffing, data entry, 2874 | |
| 3352 | + | telephone call center staffing and other services specified by the 2875 | |
| 3353 | + | Commissioner of Administrative Services under subsection (b) of this 2876 | |
| 3354 | + | section. 2877 | |
| 3355 | + | (b) (1) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall establish a 2878 | |
| 3356 | + | program to create and expand janitorial work job opportunities for 2879 | |
| 3357 | + | persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage. The program 2880 | |
| 3358 | + | shall create full-time jobs or full-time equivalents at standard wage rates 2881 | |
| 3359 | + | for persons with disabilities and persons with disadvantages. The 2882 | |
| 3360 | + | Judicial Branch and Board of Regents for Higher Education may 2883 | |
| 3361 | + | participate in such program. 2884 T | |
| 3362 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3363 | + | ||
| 3364 | + | ||
| 3365 | + | LCO No. 4161 93 of 130 | |
| 3366 | + | ||
| 3367 | + | (2) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may expand such 2885 | |
| 3368 | + | program to include contractual services that the commissioner deems 2886 | |
| 3369 | + | appropriate and shall post a list of such services on the department's 2887 | |
| 3370 | + | Internet web site. 2888 | |
| 3371 | + | (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, 2889 | |
| 3372 | + | under such program, the awarding authority may award janitorial 2890 | |
| 3373 | + | contracts or contracts for contractual services pursuant to the following 2891 | |
| 3374 | + | procedures: (1) Upon receipt of a request for janitorial services or a 2892 | |
| 3375 | + | contractual service that the Commissioner of Administrative Services 2893 | |
| 3376 | + | has deemed appropriate for inclusion in the program by an agency or 2894 | |
| 3377 | + | department of the state, the awarding authority shall notify each 2895 | |
| 3378 | + | qualified partnership, as described in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of 2896 | |
| 3379 | + | this section, of such request and invite each qualified partnership in 2897 | |
| 3380 | + | good standing to submit a bid proposal for such janitorial contract or 2898 | |
| 3381 | + | service contract to the awarding authority in a manner and form as 2899 | |
| 3382 | + | prescribed by the awarding authority; (2) in the event that only one such 2900 | |
| 3383 | + | qualified partnership submits a bid or proposal for such janitorial or 2901 | |
| 3384 | + | service contract, the awarding authority shall award such contract to 2902 | |
| 3385 | + | such qualified partnership, provided such bid or proposal does not 2903 | |
| 3386 | + | exceed the fair market value for such contract, as determined by the 2904 | |
| 3387 | + | awarding authority; (3) if more than one qualified partnership submits 2905 | |
| 3388 | + | a bid or proposal, the awarding authority shall award the contract to the 2906 | |
| 3389 | + | lowest responsible qualified bidder or most advantageous proposer, as 2907 | |
| 3390 | + | described in section 4a-59; and (4) in the event that a qualified 2908 | |
| 3391 | + | partnership does not submit a bid or proposal or is not awarded such 2909 | |
| 3392 | + | contract, the awarding authority shall award such contract in 2910 | |
| 3393 | + | accordance with the provisions of sections 4a-52a, 4a-59, 10a-151b and 2911 | |
| 3394 | + | 17a-796, or title 51, as applicable. No awarding authority shall award a 2912 | |
| 3395 | + | contract under the provisions of this subsection at a site where 2913 | |
| 3396 | + | employees are employed pursuant to an existing collective bargaining 2914 | |
| 3397 | + | agreement or where a contract has been awarded pursuant to section 2915 | |
| 3398 | + | 17a-796 unless a contract has been previously awarded to a qualified 2916 | |
| 3399 | + | partnership pursuant to this section at such site. 2917 T | |
| 3400 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3401 | + | ||
| 3402 | + | ||
| 3403 | + | LCO No. 4161 94 of 130 | |
| 3404 | + | ||
| 3405 | + | (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the 2918 | |
| 3406 | + | responsibilities of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, Chief 2919 | |
| 3407 | + | Court Administrator or chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and 2920 | |
| 3408 | + | Universities as established in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, may 2921 | |
| 3409 | + | not be delegated to an outside vendor. 2922 | |
| 3410 | + | (e) The Connecticut Community Providers Association shall 2923 | |
| 3411 | + | designate a commercial contractor and a community rehabilitation 2924 | |
| 3412 | + | program as a "qualified partnership" whenever the following criteria 2925 | |
| 3413 | + | have been established: (1) Such commercial contractor has entered into 2926 | |
| 3414 | + | a binding agreement with such community rehabilitation program in 2927 | |
| 3415 | + | which such contractor agrees to fill not less than one-third of the jobs 2928 | |
| 3416 | + | from a successful bid for a janitorial or service contract under the 2929 | |
| 3417 | + | program established in subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section 2930 | |
| 3418 | + | with persons with disabilities and not less than one-third of such jobs 2931 | |
| 3419 | + | with persons with a disadvantage; (2) such contractor employs not less 2932 | |
| 3420 | + | than two hundred persons who perform janitorial work or contractual 2933 | |
| 3421 | + | services in the state; and (3) such contractor certifies, in writing, that it 2934 | |
| 3422 | + | will pay the standard wage to employees, including persons with 2935 | |
| 3423 | + | disabilities, under such janitorial or service contract. Any partnership 2936 | |
| 3424 | + | between a commercial contractor and a community rehabilitation 2937 | |
| 3425 | + | program that has been denied designation as a qualified partnership 2938 | |
| 3426 | + | may appeal such denial, in writing, to the Commissioner of 2939 | |
| 3427 | + | Administrative Services and said commissioner may, after review of 2940 | |
| 3428 | + | such appeal, designate such program as a qualified partnership. 2941 | |
| 3429 | + | (f) The requirement established in subsection (e) of this section to fill 2942 | |
| 3430 | + | not less than one-third of the jobs from a successful bid for a janitorial 2943 | |
| 3431 | + | or service contract with persons with disabilities and one-third with 2944 | |
| 3432 | + | persons with a disadvantage shall be met whenever such contractor 2945 | |
| 3433 | + | employs the requisite number of persons with disabilities and persons 2946 | |
| 3434 | + | with a disadvantage throughout the entirety of its operations in the state 2947 | |
| 3435 | + | provided any persons with disabilities employed by such contractor 2948 | |
| 3436 | + | prior to the commencement date of any such contract shall not be 2949 | |
| 3437 | + | counted for the purpose of determining the number of persons with 2950 T | |
| 3438 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3439 | + | ||
| 3440 | + | ||
| 3441 | + | LCO No. 4161 95 of 130 | |
| 3442 | + | ||
| 3443 | + | disabilities employed by such contractor. 2951 | |
| 3444 | + | (g) The number of persons with disabilities and the number of 2952 | |
| 3445 | + | persons with a disadvantage that such contractor is required to employ 2953 | |
| 3446 | + | pursuant to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section shall be 2954 | |
| 3447 | + | employed not later than six months after the commencement of 2955 | |
| 3448 | + | janitorial work or the contractual service under the terms of any contract 2956 | |
| 3449 | + | awarded pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, 2957 | |
| 3450 | + | of this section, provided such contractor shall fill any vacancy for 2958 | |
| 3451 | + | janitorial work or contractual service that arises during the first six 2959 | |
| 3452 | + | months of any such contract with persons with disabilities and persons 2960 | |
| 3453 | + | with disadvantages. 2961 | |
| 3454 | + | (h) The Connecticut Community Providers Association shall develop 2962 | |
| 3455 | + | an application process and submit a list of employees who have applied 2963 | |
| 3456 | + | to participate in a partnership to the Department of [Aging and] 2964 | |
| 3457 | + | Disability Services for certification. Such association shall maintain a list 2965 | |
| 3458 | + | of certified employees who are persons with disabilities and community 2966 | |
| 3459 | + | rehabilitation programs. 2967 | |
| 3460 | + | (i) Any qualified partnership awarded a janitorial or service contract 2968 | |
| 3461 | + | pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this 2969 | |
| 3462 | + | section shall provide to the Connecticut Community Providers 2970 | |
| 3463 | + | Association, not later than six months after the commencement date of 2971 | |
| 3464 | + | such contract and annually thereafter, a list of the persons with 2972 | |
| 3465 | + | disabilities and persons with a disadvantage employed by such 2973 | |
| 3466 | + | contractor that includes the date of hire and employment location for 2974 | |
| 3467 | + | each such person. Such association shall certify annually to the 2975 | |
| 3468 | + | Department of Administrative Services, the Judicial Branch or the Board 2976 | |
| 3469 | + | of Regents for Higher Education, as applicable, in such manner and 2977 | |
| 3470 | + | form as prescribed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, 2978 | |
| 3471 | + | Chief Court Administrator or the president of the Board of Regents for 2979 | |
| 3472 | + | Higher Education, that the requisite number of persons with disabilities 2980 | |
| 3473 | + | for such contract continue to be employed by such contractor in 2981 | |
| 3474 | + | positions equivalent to those created under such contract and have been 2982 T | |
| 3475 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3476 | + | ||
| 3477 | + | ||
| 3478 | + | LCO No. 4161 96 of 130 | |
| 3479 | + | ||
| 3480 | + | integrated into the general workforce of such contractor. 2983 | |
| 3481 | + | (j) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the 2984 | |
| 3482 | + | responsibilities of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services, as 2985 | |
| 3483 | + | established in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section, may not be 2986 | |
| 3484 | + | delegated to an outside vendor. 2987 | |
| 3485 | + | (k) The Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services may adopt 2988 | |
| 3486 | + | regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 2989 | |
| 3487 | + | undertake the certification requirements established pursuant to 2990 | |
| 3488 | + | subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section. 2991 | |
| 3489 | + | (l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, 2992 | |
| 3490 | + | the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall authorize certified 2993 | |
| 3491 | + | small and minority businesses to participate in such program. 2994 | |
| 3492 | + | (m) The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 2995 | |
| 3493 | + | cognizance of matters relating to government administration shall study 2996 | |
| 3494 | + | the effectiveness of such program, including, but not limited to, the 2997 | |
| 3495 | + | effectiveness of such program to create integrated work settings for 2998 | |
| 3496 | + | persons with disabilities. Additionally, said committee shall study ways 2999 | |
| 3497 | + | to provide incentives for municipalities and businesses to utilize such 3000 | |
| 3498 | + | program if such program is determined by the committee to be effective. 3001 | |
| 3499 | + | (n) Each exclusive contract awarded prior to October 1, 2013, 3002 | |
| 3500 | + | pursuant to section 17a-796 shall remain in effect until such time as 3003 | |
| 3501 | + | either party terminates the contract in such party's own best interest, 3004 | |
| 3502 | + | with not less than sixty days written notice. Each such contract may be 3005 | |
| 3503 | + | amended to include updated terms and conditions, but shall not allow 3006 | |
| 3504 | + | for any price increases except statutory or mandated increases to the 3007 | |
| 3505 | + | minimum wage and standard wage. If either party exercises his or her 3008 | |
| 3506 | + | right to terminate any such contract, the next contract solicitation may 3009 | |
| 3507 | + | be awarded pursuant to this section or sections 4a-59 and 17a-796. 3010 | |
| 3508 | + | Additionally, any new janitorial contract awarded pursuant to section 3011 | |
| 3509 | + | 17a-796 shall be limited to not more than four full-time employees per 3012 | |
| 3510 | + | contract. 3013 T | |
| 3511 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3512 | + | ||
| 3513 | + | ||
| 3514 | + | LCO No. 4161 97 of 130 | |
| 3515 | + | ||
| 3516 | + | (o) Any person employed under a janitorial contract let: (1) On or 3014 | |
| 3517 | + | before October 1, 2006, or thereafter if such contract constitutes a 3015 | |
| 3518 | + | successor contract to such janitorial contract let on or before October 1, 3016 | |
| 3519 | + | 2006, and (2) pursuant to section 4a-57 or 10a-151b or by the judicial or 3017 | |
| 3520 | + | legislative departments or pursuant to subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, 3018 | |
| 3521 | + | of this section shall have the same rights conferred upon an employee 3019 | |
| 3522 | + | by section 31-57g for the duration of the program described in 3020 | |
| 3523 | + | subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section. The provisions of this 3021 | |
| 3524 | + | subsection shall not apply to any new janitorial contract with not more 3022 | |
| 3525 | + | than four full-time employees per contract, as described in subsection 3023 | |
| 3526 | + | (n) of this section. 3024 | |
| 3527 | + | (p) If a position is not available at a job site for a janitorial or service 3025 | |
| 3528 | + | contract awarded pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and a person 3026 | |
| 3529 | + | with a disability or a person with a disadvantage is placed at an alternate 3027 | |
| 3530 | + | job site in the operations of the contractor pursuant to subsection (f) of 3028 | |
| 3531 | + | this section, such person with a disability or person with a disadvantage 3029 | |
| 3532 | + | shall be paid the wage applicable at such alternate site, provided when 3030 | |
| 3533 | + | a position at the job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded 3031 | |
| 3534 | + | pursuant to subsection (c) of this section becomes available, such person 3032 | |
| 3535 | + | with a disability or person with a disadvantage shall be transferred to 3033 | |
| 3536 | + | the job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded pursuant to 3034 | |
| 3537 | + | subsection (c) of this section and shall be paid the applicable standard 3035 | |
| 3538 | + | wage for such site. 3036 | |
| 3539 | + | (q) If a person with a disability or a person with a disadvantage is 3037 | |
| 3540 | + | transferred pursuant to subsection (p) of this section and such person 3038 | |
| 3541 | + | subsequently leaves such position, the position shall be filled with 3039 | |
| 3542 | + | another person with a disability or person with a disadvantage. 3040 | |
| 3543 | + | Sec. 87. Subsection (a) of section 5-175a of the general statutes is 3041 | |
| 3544 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3042 | |
| 3545 | + | 2026): 3043 | |
| 3546 | + | (a) Vending stand operators, operating stands under permits held by 3044 | |
| 3547 | + | the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to section 3045 T | |
| 3548 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3549 | + | ||
| 3550 | + | ||
| 3551 | + | LCO No. 4161 98 of 130 | |
| 3552 | + | ||
| 3553 | + | 17a-818, as amended by this act, shall be members of the state employees 3046 | |
| 3554 | + | retirement system, part A, exclusive of the Social Security option and 3047 | |
| 3555 | + | benefits in the state employees' retirement system dependent thereon. 3048 | |
| 3556 | + | Each such person shall annually, on or before June thirtieth, pay five per 3049 | |
| 3557 | + | cent of his adjusted gross income, arising out of the operation of such 3050 | |
| 3558 | + | stand, as determined under the Internal Revenue Code, during the 3051 | |
| 3559 | + | calendar year preceding to the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3052 | |
| 3560 | + | Services which shall, as the state administering agency for such persons, 3053 | |
| 3561 | + | certify such payment and pay it over to the State Retirement 3054 | |
| 3562 | + | Commission, provided membership of such persons in said system shall 3055 | |
| 3563 | + | be exclusive of disability retirement upon the grounds of defects of 3056 | |
| 3564 | + | vision. 3057 | |
| 3565 | + | Sec. 88. Section 5-198 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3058 | |
| 3566 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3059 | |
| 3567 | + | The offices and positions filled by the following-described 3060 | |
| 3568 | + | incumbents shall be exempt from the classified service: 3061 | |
| 3569 | + | (1) All officers and employees of the Judicial Department; 3062 | |
| 3570 | + | (2) All officers and employees of the Legislative Department; 3063 | |
| 3571 | + | (3) All officers elected by popular vote; 3064 | |
| 3572 | + | (4) All agency heads, members of boards and commissions and other 3065 | |
| 3573 | + | officers appointed by the Governor; 3066 | |
| 3574 | + | (5) All persons designated by name in any special act to hold any state 3067 | |
| 3575 | + | office; 3068 | |
| 3576 | + | (6) All officers, noncommissioned officers and enlisted men in the 3069 | |
| 3577 | + | military or naval service of the state and under military or naval 3070 | |
| 3578 | + | discipline and control; 3071 | |
| 3579 | + | (7) (A) All correctional wardens, as provided in section 18-82, and (B) 3072 | |
| 3580 | + | all superintendents of state institutions, the State Librarian, the 3073 T | |
| 3581 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3582 | + | ||
| 3583 | + | ||
| 3584 | + | LCO No. 4161 99 of 130 | |
| 3585 | + | ||
| 3586 | + | president of The University of Connecticut and any other commissioner 3074 | |
| 3587 | + | or administrative head of a state department or institution who is 3075 | |
| 3588 | + | appointed by a board or commission responsible by statute for the 3076 | |
| 3589 | + | administration of such department or institution; 3077 | |
| 3590 | + | (8) The State Historian appointed by the State Library Board; 3078 | |
| 3591 | + | (9) Deputies to the administrative head of each department or 3079 | |
| 3592 | + | institution designated by statute to act for and perform all of the duties 3080 | |
| 3593 | + | of such administrative head during such administrative head's absence 3081 | |
| 3594 | + | or incapacity; 3082 | |
| 3595 | + | (10) Executive assistants to each state elective officer and each 3083 | |
| 3596 | + | department head, as defined in section 4-5, as amended by this act, 3084 | |
| 3597 | + | provided (A) each position of executive assistant shall have been created 3085 | |
| 3598 | + | in accordance with section 5-214, and (B) in no event shall the 3086 | |
| 3599 | + | Commissioner of Administrative Services or the Secretary of the Office 3087 | |
| 3600 | + | of Policy and Management approve more than four executive assistants 3088 | |
| 3601 | + | for a department head and, for any department with two or more 3089 | |
| 3602 | + | deputies, more than two executive assistants for each such deputy; 3090 | |
| 3603 | + | (11) One personal secretary to the administrative head and to each 3091 | |
| 3604 | + | undersecretary or deputy to such head of each department or 3092 | |
| 3605 | + | institution; 3093 | |
| 3606 | + | (12) All members of the professional and technical staffs of the 3094 | |
| 3607 | + | constituent units of the state system of higher education, as defined in 3095 | |
| 3608 | + | section 10a-1, of all other state institutions of learning, of the Board of 3096 | |
| 3609 | + | Regents for Higher Education, and of the agricultural experiment 3097 | |
| 3610 | + | station at New Haven, professional and managerial employees of the 3098 | |
| 3611 | + | Department of Education and the Office of Early Childhood, teachers 3099 | |
| 3612 | + | and administrators employed by the Technical Education and Career 3100 | |
| 3613 | + | System and teachers certified by the State Board of Education and 3101 | |
| 3614 | + | employed in teaching positions at state institutions; 3102 | |
| 3615 | + | (13) Physicians, dentists, student nurses in institutions and other 3103 T | |
| 3616 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3617 | + | ||
| 3618 | + | ||
| 3619 | + | LCO No. 4161 100 of 130 | |
| 3620 | + | ||
| 3621 | + | professional specialists who are employed on a part-time basis; 3104 | |
| 3622 | + | (14) Persons employed to make or conduct a special inquiry, 3105 | |
| 3623 | + | investigation, examination or installation; 3106 | |
| 3624 | + | (15) Students in educational institutions who are employed on a part-3107 | |
| 3625 | + | time basis; 3108 | |
| 3626 | + | (16) Forest fire wardens provided for by section 23-36; 3109 | |
| 3627 | + | (17) Patients or inmates of state institutions who receive 3110 | |
| 3628 | + | compensation for services rendered therein; 3111 | |
| 3629 | + | (18) Employees of the Governor including employees working at the 3112 | |
| 3630 | + | executive office, official executive residence at 990 Prospect Avenue, 3113 | |
| 3631 | + | Hartford and the Washington D.C. office; 3114 | |
| 3632 | + | (19) Persons filling positions expressly exempted by statute from the 3115 | |
| 3633 | + | classified service; 3116 | |
| 3634 | + | (20) Librarians employed by the State Board of Education or any 3117 | |
| 3635 | + | constituent unit of the state system of higher education; 3118 | |
| 3636 | + | (21) All officers and employees of the Division of Criminal Justice; 3119 | |
| 3637 | + | (22) Professional employees in the education professions bargaining 3120 | |
| 3638 | + | unit of the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services; 3121 | |
| 3639 | + | (23) Lieutenant colonels in the Division of State Police within the 3122 | |
| 3640 | + | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; 3123 | |
| 3641 | + | (24) The Deputy State Fire Marshal within the Department of 3124 | |
| 3642 | + | Administrative Services; 3125 | |
| 3643 | + | (25) The chief administrative officer of the Workers' Compensation 3126 | |
| 3644 | + | Commission; 3127 | |
| 3645 | + | (26) Employees in the education professions bargaining unit; 3128 T | |
| 3646 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3647 | + | ||
| 3648 | + | ||
| 3649 | + | LCO No. 4161 101 of 130 | |
| 3650 | + | ||
| 3651 | + | (27) Disability policy specialists employed by the Council on 3129 | |
| 3652 | + | Developmental Disabilities; 3130 | |
| 3653 | + | (28) The director for digital media and motion picture activities in the 3131 | |
| 3654 | + | Department of Economic and Community Development; and 3132 | |
| 3655 | + | (29) Any Director of Communications 1, Director of Communications 3133 | |
| 3656 | + | 1 (Rc), Director of Communications 2, Director of Communications 2 3134 | |
| 3657 | + | (Rc), Legislative Program Manager, Communications and Legislative 3135 | |
| 3658 | + | Program Manager, Director of Legislation, Regulation and 3136 | |
| 3659 | + | Communication, Legislative and Administrative Advisor 1, or 3137 | |
| 3660 | + | Legislative and Administrative Advisor 2 as such positions are 3138 | |
| 3661 | + | classified within the Executive Department. 3139 | |
| 3662 | + | Sec. 89. Subsection (e) of section 5-259 of the general statutes is 3140 | |
| 3663 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3141 | |
| 3664 | + | 2026): 3142 | |
| 3665 | + | (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 3143 | |
| 3666 | + | vending stand operators eligible for membership in the state employees 3144 | |
| 3667 | + | retirement system pursuant to section 5-175a, as amended by this act, 3145 | |
| 3668 | + | shall be eligible for coverage under the group hospitalization and 3146 | |
| 3669 | + | medical and surgical insurance plans procured under this section, 3147 | |
| 3670 | + | provided the cost for such operators' insurance coverage shall be paid 3148 | |
| 3671 | + | by the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services from vending 3149 | |
| 3672 | + | machine income pursuant to section 17a-818, as amended by this act. 3150 | |
| 3673 | + | Sec. 90. Section 7-127b of the general statutes is repealed and the 3151 | |
| 3674 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3152 | |
| 3675 | + | (a) The chief elected official or the chief executive officer if by 3153 | |
| 3676 | + | ordinance of each municipality shall appoint a municipal agent for 3154 | |
| 3677 | + | elderly persons. Such agent shall be a staff member of a senior center, a 3155 | |
| 3678 | + | member of an agency that serves elderly persons in the municipality or 3156 | |
| 3679 | + | a responsible resident of the municipality who has demonstrated an 3157 | |
| 3680 | + | interest in assisting elderly persons or has been involved in programs in 3158 T | |
| 3681 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3682 | + | ||
| 3683 | + | ||
| 3684 | + | LCO No. 4161 102 of 130 | |
| 3685 | + | ||
| 3686 | + | the field of aging. 3159 | |
| 3687 | + | (b) The duties of the municipal agent shall include, but need not be 3160 | |
| 3688 | + | limited to: (1) Disseminating information to elderly persons, assisting 3161 | |
| 3689 | + | such persons in learning about the community resources available to 3162 | |
| 3690 | + | them and publicizing such resources and benefits; (2) assisting elderly 3163 | |
| 3691 | + | persons in applying for federal and state benefits, and accessing 3164 | |
| 3692 | + | community resources, available to such persons; and (3) reporting to the 3165 | |
| 3693 | + | chief elected official or chief executive officer of the municipality and 3166 | |
| 3694 | + | the Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging any needs 3167 | |
| 3695 | + | and problems of the elderly and any recommendations for action to 3168 | |
| 3696 | + | improve services to the elderly. For the purposes of this subsection, 3169 | |
| 3697 | + | "community resources" means resources that assist elderly persons in 3170 | |
| 3698 | + | gaining access to housing opportunities, including, but not limited to, 3171 | |
| 3699 | + | information regarding access to waitlists for housing designated for 3172 | |
| 3700 | + | elderly persons, applications and consumer reports. 3173 | |
| 3701 | + | (c) Each municipal agent shall serve for a term of two or four years, 3174 | |
| 3702 | + | at the discretion of the appointing authority of each municipality, and 3175 | |
| 3703 | + | may be reappointed. If more than one agent is necessary to carry out the 3176 | |
| 3704 | + | purposes of this section, the appointing authority, in its discretion, may 3177 | |
| 3705 | + | appoint one or more assistant agents. The town clerk in each 3178 | |
| 3706 | + | municipality shall notify the Department [of Aging and Disability 3179 | |
| 3707 | + | Services] on Aging immediately of the appointment of a new municipal 3180 | |
| 3708 | + | agent. Each municipality may provide to its municipal agent resources 3181 | |
| 3709 | + | sufficient for such agent to perform the duties of the office. 3182 | |
| 3710 | + | (d) The Department [of Aging and Disability Services] on Aging shall 3183 | |
| 3711 | + | adopt and disseminate to municipalities guidelines as to the role and 3184 | |
| 3712 | + | duties of municipal agents and such informational and technical 3185 | |
| 3713 | + | materials as may assist such agents in performance of their duties. The 3186 | |
| 3714 | + | department, in cooperation with the area agencies on aging, may 3187 | |
| 3715 | + | provide training for municipal agents within the available resources of 3188 | |
| 3716 | + | the department and of the area agencies on aging. 3189 | |
| 3717 | + | (e) On or before January 1, 2025, the Commissioner [of Aging and 3190 T | |
| 3718 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3719 | + | ||
| 3720 | + | ||
| 3721 | + | LCO No. 4161 103 of 130 | |
| 3722 | + | ||
| 3723 | + | Disability Services] on Aging shall create a directory of municipal agents 3191 | |
| 3724 | + | appointed pursuant to the provisions of this section, which shall 3192 | |
| 3725 | + | include, but need not be limited to, the name, title, telephone number, 3193 | |
| 3726 | + | electronic mail address and mailing address of each municipal agent. 3194 | |
| 3727 | + | The commissioner shall post a link to the directory on the Department 3195 | |
| 3728 | + | [of Aging and Disability Services'] on Aging's Internet web site. 3196 | |
| 3729 | + | Sec. 91. Section 8-119f of the general statutes is repealed and the 3197 | |
| 3730 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3198 | |
| 3731 | + | The Commissioner of Housing shall design, implement, operate and 3199 | |
| 3732 | + | monitor a program of congregate housing. For the purpose of this 3200 | |
| 3733 | + | program, the Commissioner of Housing shall consult with the 3201 | |
| 3734 | + | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services for the provision of 3202 | |
| 3735 | + | services for persons with physical disabilities in order to comply with 3203 | |
| 3736 | + | the requirements of section 29-271. 3204 | |
| 3737 | + | Sec. 92. Subsection (c) of section 9-20 of the general statutes is 3205 | |
| 3738 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3206 | |
| 3739 | + | 2026): 3207 | |
| 3740 | + | (c) The application for admission as an elector shall include a 3208 | |
| 3741 | + | statement that (1) specifies each eligibility requirement, (2) contains an 3209 | |
| 3742 | + | attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement, and (3) 3210 | |
| 3743 | + | requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. Each 3211 | |
| 3744 | + | registrar of voters and town clerk shall maintain a copy of such 3212 | |
| 3745 | + | statement in braille, large print and audio form. The Department of 3213 | |
| 3746 | + | [Aging and] Disability Services shall, in consultation with the Secretary 3214 | |
| 3747 | + | of the State, produce an accessible version of such statement in voice 3215 | |
| 3748 | + | and sign language and provide the accessible version to the Secretary of 3216 | |
| 3749 | + | the State who shall make it available to the registrars of voters of any 3217 | |
| 3750 | + | municipality. If a person applies for admission as an elector in person to 3218 | |
| 3751 | + | an admitting official, such admitting official shall, upon the request of 3219 | |
| 3752 | + | the applicant, administer the elector's oath. 3220 | |
| 3753 | + | Sec. 93. Section 10-74m of the general statutes is repealed and the 3221 T | |
| 3754 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3755 | + | ||
| 3756 | + | ||
| 3757 | + | LCO No. 4161 104 of 130 | |
| 3758 | + | ||
| 3759 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3222 | |
| 3760 | + | (a) The Department of Education shall enter into memoranda of 3223 | |
| 3761 | + | understanding with the Office of Early Childhood and the Departments 3224 | |
| 3762 | + | of Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children 3225 | |
| 3763 | + | and Families, Social Services and Correction regarding the provision of 3226 | |
| 3764 | + | special education and related services to children, including, but not 3227 | |
| 3765 | + | limited to, education, health care, transition resources, transition 3228 | |
| 3766 | + | services and transition programs, as those terms are defined in section 3229 | |
| 3767 | + | 10-74o. Such memoranda of understanding shall account for current 3230 | |
| 3768 | + | programs and services, utilize best practices and be updated or renewed 3231 | |
| 3769 | + | at least every five years. 3232 | |
| 3770 | + | (b) The Office of Early Childhood and the Departments of 3233 | |
| 3771 | + | Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children and 3234 | |
| 3772 | + | Families, Social Services and Correction shall, as necessary, enter into 3235 | |
| 3773 | + | memoranda of understanding regarding the provision of special 3236 | |
| 3774 | + | education and related services to children as such services relate to one 3237 | |
| 3775 | + | another. Such memoranda of understanding shall account for current 3238 | |
| 3776 | + | programs and services, utilize best practices and be updated or renewed 3239 | |
| 3777 | + | at least every five years. 3240 | |
| 3778 | + | (c) The Office of Early Childhood and the Departments of 3241 | |
| 3779 | + | Developmental Services, [Aging and] Disability Services, Children and 3242 | |
| 3780 | + | Families, the Labor Department, Mental Health and Addiction Services, 3243 | |
| 3781 | + | Public Health, Social Services and Correction shall each appoint an 3244 | |
| 3782 | + | employee to act as a liaison to the Department of Education's State-wide 3245 | |
| 3783 | + | Transition Services Coordinator, established pursuant to section 10-74o. 3246 | |
| 3784 | + | Each liaison shall provide information and advice to such coordinator 3247 | |
| 3785 | + | concerning the transition resources, transition services and transition 3248 | |
| 3786 | + | programs provided by the agency such liaison represents. 3249 | |
| 3787 | + | Sec. 94. Subsection (a) of section 10-74n of the general statutes is 3250 | |
| 3788 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3251 | |
| 3789 | + | 2026): 3252 T | |
| 3790 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3791 | + | ||
| 3792 | + | ||
| 3793 | + | LCO No. 4161 105 of 130 | |
| 3794 | + | ||
| 3795 | + | (a) The Department of Education's State-wide Transition Services 3253 | |
| 3796 | + | Coordinator, established pursuant to section 10-74o, in collaboration 3254 | |
| 3797 | + | with the liaisons appointed by other state agencies pursuant to section 3255 | |
| 3798 | + | 10-74m, as amended by this act, shall: (1) Develop and maintain an 3256 | |
| 3799 | + | easily accessible and navigable online listing of the transition resources, 3257 | |
| 3800 | + | transition services and transition programs, as those terms are defined 3258 | |
| 3801 | + | in section 10-74o, provided by each such state agency, including, but not 3259 | |
| 3802 | + | limited to, for each resource, service and program (A) a plain language 3260 | |
| 3803 | + | description, (B) eligibility requirements, and (C) application deadlines 3261 | |
| 3804 | + | and instructions, and (2) annually collect information related to 3262 | |
| 3805 | + | transition resources, programs and services provided by other state 3263 | |
| 3806 | + | agencies. The Departments of [Aging and] Disability Services, 3264 | |
| 3807 | + | Developmental Services, Social Services, Children and Families, Mental 3265 | |
| 3808 | + | Health and Addiction Services, Public Health and Correction, the Labor 3266 | |
| 3809 | + | Department and the Office of Early Childhood shall each post a link to 3267 | |
| 3810 | + | such online listing on an easily accessible location of said departments' 3268 | |
| 3811 | + | Internet web sites. 3269 | |
| 3812 | + | Sec. 95. Subsection (a) of section 10-74q of the general statutes is 3270 | |
| 3813 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3271 | |
| 3814 | + | 2026): 3272 | |
| 3815 | + | (a) Not later than July 1, 2024, the Department of Education, in 3273 | |
| 3816 | + | consultation with the Departments of Developmental Services and 3274 | |
| 3817 | + | [Aging and] Disability Services and the regional educational service 3275 | |
| 3818 | + | centers, shall develop a training program for transition coordinators, 3276 | |
| 3819 | + | educators and paraeducators. Such training program shall comply with 3277 | |
| 3820 | + | the minimum standards established by the State-wide Transition 3278 | |
| 3821 | + | Services Coordinator pursuant to section 10-74o. 3279 | |
| 3822 | + | Sec. 96. Section 10-74t of the general statutes is repealed and the 3280 | |
| 3823 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3281 | |
| 3824 | + | Not later than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Department 3282 | |
| 3825 | + | of Education shall report to each state agency that provides services and 3283 | |
| 3826 | + | programs for adults with disabilities, including, but not limited to, the 3284 T | |
| 3827 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3828 | + | ||
| 3829 | + | ||
| 3830 | + | LCO No. 4161 106 of 130 | |
| 3831 | + | ||
| 3832 | + | Departments of Developmental Services, Social Services and [Aging 3285 | |
| 3833 | + | and] Disability Services, and, in accordance with section 11-4a, the joint 3286 | |
| 3834 | + | standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 3287 | |
| 3835 | + | matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, 3288 | |
| 3836 | + | education, human services and public health, the aggregate number of 3289 | |
| 3837 | + | students from all school districts who had planning and placement team 3290 | |
| 3838 | + | meetings during the prior school year in which information concerning 3291 | |
| 3839 | + | such services and programs was provided pursuant to the provisions of 3292 | |
| 3840 | + | subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 3293 | |
| 3841 | + | 10-76d, as amended by this act. Such aggregate number may be reduced, 3294 | |
| 3842 | + | to the extent possible, to the number of students who may qualify for 3295 | |
| 3843 | + | the services or programs provided by such agencies. 3296 | |
| 3844 | + | Sec. 97. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of 3297 | |
| 3845 | + | section 10-76d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 3298 | |
| 3846 | + | substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3299 | |
| 3847 | + | (9) (A) The planning and placement team shall, in accordance with 3300 | |
| 3848 | + | the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 3301 | |
| 3849 | + | USC 1400, et seq., as amended from time to time, develop and include a 3302 | |
| 3850 | + | statement of transition service needs in the individualized education 3303 | |
| 3851 | + | program for each child requiring special education, beginning not later 3304 | |
| 3852 | + | than the first individualized education program to be in effect when 3305 | |
| 3853 | + | such child becomes fourteen years of age, or younger if the planning 3306 | |
| 3854 | + | and placement team determines it is appropriate. Such individualized 3307 | |
| 3855 | + | education program shall include (i) appropriate measurable 3308 | |
| 3856 | + | postsecondary goals based upon age -appropriate transition 3309 | |
| 3857 | + | assessments related to training, education, employment and, where 3310 | |
| 3858 | + | appropriate, independent living skills; and (ii) the transition services, 3311 | |
| 3859 | + | including courses of study, needed to assist such child in reaching those 3312 | |
| 3860 | + | goals. Such individualized education program shall be updated 3313 | |
| 3861 | + | annually thereafter in accordance with the provisions of this 3314 | |
| 3862 | + | subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as requiring 3315 | |
| 3863 | + | the Department of [Aging and] Disability Services to lower the age of 3316 | |
| 3864 | + | transitional services for a child with disabilities from sixteen to fourteen 3317 T | |
| 3865 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3866 | + | ||
| 3867 | + | ||
| 3868 | + | LCO No. 4161 107 of 130 | |
| 3869 | + | ||
| 3870 | + | years of age. 3318 | |
| 3871 | + | Sec. 98. Subsection (a) of section 10-76i of the general statutes is 3319 | |
| 3872 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3320 | |
| 3873 | + | 2026): 3321 | |
| 3874 | + | (a) There shall be an Advisory Council for Special Education which 3322 | |
| 3875 | + | shall advise the General Assembly, State Board of Education and the 3323 | |
| 3876 | + | Commissioner of Education, and which shall engage in such other 3324 | |
| 3877 | + | activities as described in this section. On and after July 1, 2012, the 3325 | |
| 3878 | + | advisory council shall consist of the following members: (1) Nine 3326 | |
| 3879 | + | appointed by the Commissioner of Education, (A) six of whom shall be 3327 | |
| 3880 | + | (i) the parents of children with disabilities, provided such children are 3328 | |
| 3881 | + | under the age of twenty-seven, or (ii) individuals with disabilities, (B) 3329 | |
| 3882 | + | one of whom shall be an official of the Department of Education, (C) one 3330 | |
| 3883 | + | of whom shall be a state or local official responsible for carrying out 3331 | |
| 3884 | + | activities under Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 3332 | |
| 3885 | + | Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time, and 3333 | |
| 3886 | + | (D) one of whom shall be a representative of an institution of higher 3334 | |
| 3887 | + | education in the state that prepares teacher and related services 3335 | |
| 3888 | + | personnel; (2) one appointed by the Commissioner of Developmental 3336 | |
| 3889 | + | Services who shall be an official of the department; (3) one appointed by 3337 | |
| 3890 | + | the Commissioner of Children and Families who shall be an official of 3338 | |
| 3891 | + | the department; (4) one appointed by the Commissioner of Correction 3339 | |
| 3892 | + | who shall be an official of the department; (5) one appointed by the 3340 | |
| 3893 | + | director of the Parent Leadership Training Institute within the 3341 | |
| 3894 | + | Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity 3342 | |
| 3895 | + | who shall be (A) the parent of a child with a disability, provided such 3343 | |
| 3896 | + | child is under the age of twenty-seven, or (B) an individual with a 3344 | |
| 3897 | + | disability; (6) a representative from the parent training and information 3345 | |
| 3898 | + | center for Connecticut established pursuant to the Individuals With 3346 | |
| 3899 | + | Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time 3347 | |
| 3900 | + | to time; (7) the Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, or the 3348 | |
| 3901 | + | commissioner's designee; (8) five who are members of the General 3349 | |
| 3902 | + | Assembly who shall serve as nonvoting members of the advisory 3350 T | |
| 3903 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3904 | + | ||
| 3905 | + | ||
| 3906 | + | LCO No. 4161 108 of 130 | |
| 3907 | + | ||
| 3908 | + | council, one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 3351 | |
| 3909 | + | one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, 3352 | |
| 3910 | + | one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, 3353 | |
| 3911 | + | one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and one 3354 | |
| 3912 | + | appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (9) one appointed by the 3355 | |
| 3913 | + | president pro tempore of the Senate who shall be a member of the 3356 | |
| 3914 | + | Connecticut Speech-Language-Hearing Association; (10) one appointed 3357 | |
| 3915 | + | by the majority leader of the Senate who shall be a public school teacher; 3358 | |
| 3916 | + | (11) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who shall be a 3359 | |
| 3917 | + | representative of a vocational, community or business organization 3360 | |
| 3918 | + | concerned with the provision of transitional services to children with 3361 | |
| 3919 | + | disabilities; (12) one appointed by the speaker of the House of 3362 | |
| 3920 | + | Representatives who shall be a member of the Connecticut Council of 3363 | |
| 3921 | + | Special Education Administrators and who is a local education official; 3364 | |
| 3922 | + | (13) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of 3365 | |
| 3923 | + | Representatives who shall be a representative of charter schools; (14) 3366 | |
| 3924 | + | one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives 3367 | |
| 3925 | + | who shall be a member of the Connecticut Association of Private Special 3368 | |
| 3926 | + | Education Facilities; (15) one appointed by the Chief Court 3369 | |
| 3927 | + | Administrator of the Judicial Department who shall be an official of 3370 | |
| 3928 | + | such department responsible for the provision of services to adjudicated 3371 | |
| 3929 | + | children and youth; (16) seven appointed by the Governor, all of whom 3372 | |
| 3930 | + | shall be (A) the parents of children with disabilities, provided such 3373 | |
| 3931 | + | children are under the age of twenty-seven, or (B) individuals with 3374 | |
| 3932 | + | disabilities; (17) the executive director of the nonprofit entity designated 3375 | |
| 3933 | + | by the Governor in accordance with section 46a-10b to serve as the 3376 | |
| 3934 | + | Connecticut protection and advocacy system, or the executive director's 3377 | |
| 3935 | + | designee; and (18) such other members as required by the Individuals 3378 | |
| 3936 | + | with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from 3379 | |
| 3937 | + | time to time, appointed by the Commissioner of Education . 3380 | |
| 3938 | + | Appointments made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be 3381 | |
| 3939 | + | representative of the ethnic and racial diversity of, and the types of 3382 | |
| 3940 | + | disabilities found in, the state population. The terms of the members of 3383 | |
| 3941 | + | the council serving on June 8, 2010, shall expire on June 30, 2010. 3384 T | |
| 3942 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3943 | + | ||
| 3944 | + | ||
| 3945 | + | LCO No. 4161 109 of 130 | |
| 3946 | + | ||
| 3947 | + | Appointments shall be made to the council by July 1, 2010. Members 3385 | |
| 3948 | + | shall serve two-year terms, except that members appointed pursuant to 3386 | |
| 3949 | + | subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this subsection whose terms 3387 | |
| 3950 | + | commenced July 1, 2010, shall serve three-year terms and the successors 3388 | |
| 3951 | + | to such members appointed pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (3), 3389 | |
| 3952 | + | inclusive, of this subsection shall serve two-year terms. 3390 | |
| 3953 | + | Sec. 99. Subsection (a) of section 10-76y of the general statutes is 3391 | |
| 3954 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3392 | |
| 3955 | + | 2026): 3393 | |
| 3956 | + | (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, school 3394 | |
| 3957 | + | districts, regional educational service centers, the Department of [Aging 3395 | |
| 3958 | + | and] Disability Services, and all other state and local governmental 3396 | |
| 3959 | + | agencies concerned with education may loan, lease or transfer an 3397 | |
| 3960 | + | assistive device for the use and benefit of a student with a disability to 3398 | |
| 3961 | + | such student or the parent or guardian of such student or to any other 3399 | |
| 3962 | + | public or private nonprofit agency providing services to or on behalf of 3400 | |
| 3963 | + | individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, an agency 3401 | |
| 3964 | + | providing educational, health or rehabilitative services. Such device 3402 | |
| 3965 | + | may be sold or transferred pursuant to this section regardless of whether 3403 | |
| 3966 | + | the device was declared surplus. The sale or transfer shall be recorded 3404 | |
| 3967 | + | in an agreement between the parties and based upon the depreciated 3405 | |
| 3968 | + | value of the device. For the purposes of this section, "assistive device" 3406 | |
| 3969 | + | means any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether 3407 | |
| 3970 | + | acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified or customized, that is 3408 | |
| 3971 | + | used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of 3409 | |
| 3972 | + | individuals with disabilities. 3410 | |
| 3973 | + | Sec. 100. Subsection (d) of section 11-1a of the general statutes is 3411 | |
| 3974 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3412 | |
| 3975 | + | 2026): 3413 | |
| 3976 | + | (d) The State Library Board shall create and maintain a library service 3414 | |
| 3977 | + | for the blind and other persons with disabilities, as provided for in 2 3415 | |
| 3978 | + | USC Sections 135a, 135a-1 and 135b. The State Library Board shall 3416 T | |
| 3979 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 3980 | + | ||
| 3981 | + | ||
| 3982 | + | LCO No. 4161 110 of 130 | |
| 3983 | + | ||
| 3984 | + | consult with the advisory committee relating to the library for blind and 3417 | |
| 3985 | + | physically disabled persons and the Commissioner of [Aging and] 3418 | |
| 3986 | + | Disability Services, or the commissioner's designee, before taking any 3419 | |
| 3987 | + | action that may diminish or substantively change the library services 3420 | |
| 3988 | + | described in this subsection. 3421 | |
| 3989 | + | Sec. 101. Subsection (a) of section 12-217oo of the general statutes is 3422 | |
| 3990 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3423 | |
| 3991 | + | 2026): 3424 | |
| 3992 | + | (a) As used in this section: 3425 | |
| 3993 | + | (1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 3426 | |
| 3994 | + | Community Development; 3427 | |
| 3995 | + | (2) "Employer" means a person engaged in business who has 3428 | |
| 3996 | + | employees and who is subject to tax under this chapter or chapter 207 3429 | |
| 3997 | + | or 229; 3430 | |
| 3998 | + | (3) "Income year" means the income year or taxable year, as 3431 | |
| 3999 | + | determined under this chapter or chapter 207 or 229, as the case may be; 3432 | |
| 4000 | + | (4) "New qualifying employee" means a person who (A) is receiving 3433 | |
| 4001 | + | vocational rehabilitation services from the Department of [Aging and] 3434 | |
| 4002 | + | Disability Services, and (B) is hired by the employer to fill a new job after 3435 | |
| 4003 | + | May 6, 2010, during the employer's income years commencing on or 3436 | |
| 4004 | + | after January 1, 2010, and prior to January 1, 2012. A new qualifying 3437 | |
| 4005 | + | employee does not include a person receiving vocational rehabilitation 3438 | |
| 4006 | + | services pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and who was 3439 | |
| 4007 | + | employed in this state by a related person with respect to the employer 3440 | |
| 4008 | + | during the prior twelve months; 3441 | |
| 4009 | + | (5) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 3442 | |
| 4010 | + | company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the employer, 3443 | |
| 4011 | + | (B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3444 | |
| 4012 | + | association or trust that is in control of the employer, (C) a corporation, 3445 | |
| 4013 | + | limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by 3446 T | |
| 4014 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4015 | + | ||
| 4016 | + | ||
| 4017 | + | LCO No. 4161 111 of 130 | |
| 4018 | + | ||
| 4019 | + | an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3447 | |
| 4020 | + | association or trust that is in control of the employer, or (D) a member 3448 | |
| 4021 | + | of the same controlled group as the employer; and 3449 | |
| 4022 | + | (6) "Control", with respect to a corporation, means ownership, 3450 | |
| 4023 | + | directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per cent or more of the 3451 | |
| 4024 | + | total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of such 3452 | |
| 4025 | + | corporation entitled to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means 3453 | |
| 4026 | + | ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the 3454 | |
| 4027 | + | beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust. The 3455 | |
| 4028 | + | ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a 3456 | |
| 4029 | + | partnership, limited liability company or association or of a beneficial 3457 | |
| 4030 | + | interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for 3458 | |
| 4031 | + | constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the 3459 | |
| 4032 | + | Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 3460 | |
| 4033 | + | internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to 3461 | |
| 4034 | + | time, other than paragraph (3) of said Section 267(c). 3462 | |
| 4035 | + | Sec. 102. Section 12-217pp of the general statutes is repealed and the 3463 | |
| 4036 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3464 | |
| 4037 | + | (a) As used in this section: 3465 | |
| 4038 | + | (1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 3466 | |
| 4039 | + | Community Development; 3467 | |
| 4040 | + | (2) "Control", with respect to a corporation, means ownership, 3468 | |
| 4041 | + | directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per cent or more of the 3469 | |
| 4042 | + | total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of such 3470 | |
| 4043 | + | corporation entitled to vote. "Control", with respect to a trust, means 3471 | |
| 4044 | + | ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the 3472 | |
| 4045 | + | beneficial interest in the principal or income of such trust. The 3473 | |
| 4046 | + | ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a 3474 | |
| 4047 | + | partnership, limited liability company or association or of a beneficial 3475 | |
| 4048 | + | interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for 3476 | |
| 4049 | + | constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the 3477 T | |
| 4050 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4051 | + | ||
| 4052 | + | ||
| 4053 | + | LCO No. 4161 112 of 130 | |
| 4054 | + | ||
| 4055 | + | Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 3478 | |
| 4056 | + | internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 3479 | |
| 4057 | + | amended, other than paragraph (3) of said Section 267(c); 3480 | |
| 4058 | + | (3) "Full-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to 3481 | |
| 4059 | + | work at least thirty-five hours per week for not less than forty-eight 3482 | |
| 4060 | + | weeks in a calendar year. "Full-time job" does not include a temporary 3483 | |
| 4061 | + | or seasonal job; 3484 | |
| 4062 | + | (4) "Income year" means, with respect to entities subject to the 3485 | |
| 4063 | + | insurance premiums tax under chapter 207, the corporation business tax 3486 | |
| 4064 | + | under this chapter, the utility companies tax under chapter 212 or the 3487 | |
| 4065 | + | income tax under chapter 229, the income year as determined under 3488 | |
| 4066 | + | each of said chapters, as the case may be; 3489 | |
| 4067 | + | (5) "New employee" means a person who resides in this state and is 3490 | |
| 4068 | + | hired by a taxpayer on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 3491 | |
| 4069 | + | 2014, to fill a new job. "New employee" does not include a person who 3492 | |
| 4070 | + | was employed in this state by a related person with respect to a taxpayer 3493 | |
| 4071 | + | during the prior twelve months; 3494 | |
| 4072 | + | (6) "New job" means a job that did not exist in this state prior to a 3495 | |
| 4073 | + | taxpayer's application to the commissioner for certification under this 3496 | |
| 4074 | + | section for a job expansion tax credit, is filled by a new, qualifying or 3497 | |
| 4075 | + | veteran employee, and (A) is a full-time job, or (B) in the case of a 3498 | |
| 4076 | + | qualifying employee under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (7) of this 3499 | |
| 4077 | + | subsection, is a job in which an employee is required to work at least 3500 | |
| 4078 | + | twenty hours per week for not less than forty-eight weeks in a calendar 3501 | |
| 4079 | + | year; 3502 | |
| 4080 | + | (7) "Qualifying employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 3503 | |
| 4081 | + | hiring by the taxpayer: 3504 | |
| 4082 | + | (A) (i) Is receiving unemployment compensation, or (ii) has 3505 | |
| 4083 | + | exhausted unemployment compensation benefits and has not had an 3506 | |
| 4084 | + | intervening full-time job; or 3507 T | |
| 4085 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4086 | + | ||
| 4087 | + | ||
| 4088 | + | LCO No. 4161 113 of 130 | |
| 4089 | + | ||
| 4090 | + | (B) Is (i) receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the 3508 | |
| 4091 | + | Department of [Aging and] Disability Services, (ii) receiving 3509 | |
| 4092 | + | employment services from the Department of Mental Health and 3510 | |
| 4093 | + | Addiction Services, or (iii) participating in employment opportunities 3511 | |
| 4094 | + | and day services, as defined in section 17a-226, operated or funded by 3512 | |
| 4095 | + | the Department of Developmental Services; 3513 | |
| 4096 | + | (8) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 3514 | |
| 4097 | + | company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the taxpayer, 3515 | |
| 4098 | + | (B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3516 | |
| 4099 | + | association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, (C) a corporation, 3517 | |
| 4100 | + | limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by 3518 | |
| 4101 | + | an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3519 | |
| 4102 | + | association or trust that is in control of the taxpayer, or (D) a member of 3520 | |
| 4103 | + | the same controlled group as the taxpayer; 3521 | |
| 4104 | + | (9) "Taxpayer" means a person that (A) has been in business for at 3522 | |
| 4105 | + | least twelve consecutive months prior to the date of the taxpayer's 3523 | |
| 4106 | + | application to the commissioner for certification under this section for a 3524 | |
| 4107 | + | job expansion tax credit, and (B) is subject to tax under this chapter or 3525 | |
| 4108 | + | chapter 207, 212 or 229; and 3526 | |
| 4109 | + | (10) "Veteran employee" means a new employee who, at the time of 3527 | |
| 4110 | + | hiring by the taxpayer, is (A) a member of the armed forces, as defined 3528 | |
| 4111 | + | in section 27-103, or (B) a veteran, as defined in section 27-103. 3529 | |
| 4112 | + | (b) (1) There is established a job expansion tax credit program 3530 | |
| 4113 | + | whereby a taxpayer may be allowed a credit against the tax imposed 3531 | |
| 4114 | + | under this chapter or chapter 207, 212 or 229, other than the liability 3532 | |
| 4115 | + | imposed by section 12-707, for each new, qualifying or veteran 3533 | |
| 4116 | + | employee hired on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 2014. 3534 | |
| 4117 | + | For taxpayers that employ not more than fifty employees in full-time 3535 | |
| 4118 | + | jobs in this state on the date of application to the commissioner for 3536 | |
| 4119 | + | certification under this section, the creation of at least one new job in this 3537 | |
| 4120 | + | state shall be required for said tax credit. For taxpayers that employ 3538 | |
| 4121 | + | more than fifty, but not more than one hundred employees in full-time 3539 T | |
| 4122 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4123 | + | ||
| 4124 | + | ||
| 4125 | + | LCO No. 4161 114 of 130 | |
| 4126 | + | ||
| 4127 | + | jobs in this state on the date of application to the commissioner for 3540 | |
| 4128 | + | certification under this section, the creation of at least five new jobs in 3541 | |
| 4129 | + | this state shall be required for said tax credit. For taxpayers that employ 3542 | |
| 4130 | + | more than one hundred employees in full-time jobs in this state on the 3543 | |
| 4131 | + | date of application to the commissioner for certification under this 3544 | |
| 4132 | + | section, the creation of at least ten new jobs in this state shall be required 3545 | |
| 4133 | + | for said tax credit. 3546 | |
| 4134 | + | (2) For the purposes of determining the number of new jobs a 3547 | |
| 4135 | + | taxpayer is required to create in order to claim a credit under this 3548 | |
| 4136 | + | section, the number of employees working in full-time jobs the taxpayer 3549 | |
| 4137 | + | employs in this state on the date of its application to the commissioner 3550 | |
| 4138 | + | for certification under this section shall apply to such taxpayer for the 3551 | |
| 4139 | + | duration of such certification. 3552 | |
| 4140 | + | (c) The amount of the credit shall be: 3553 | |
| 4141 | + | (1) Five hundred dollars per month for each new employee; or 3554 | |
| 4142 | + | (2) Nine hundred dollars per month for each qualifying or veteran 3555 | |
| 4143 | + | employee. 3556 | |
| 4144 | + | (d) (1) The taxpayer shall claim the credit in the income year in which 3557 | |
| 4145 | + | it is earned and, if eligible, in the two immediately succeeding income 3558 | |
| 4146 | + | years. Any credit not claimed by the taxpayer in an income year shall 3559 | |
| 4147 | + | expire and shall not be refundable. 3560 | |
| 4148 | + | (2) If the taxpayer is an S corporation or an entity treated as a 3561 | |
| 4149 | + | partnership for federal income tax purposes, the shareholders or 3562 | |
| 4150 | + | partners of such taxpayer may claim the credit. If the taxpayer is a single 3563 | |
| 4151 | + | member limited liability company that is disregarded as an entity 3564 | |
| 4152 | + | separate from its owner, the limited liability company's owner may 3565 | |
| 4153 | + | claim the credit. 3566 | |
| 4154 | + | (3) No taxpayer shall claim a credit for any new, qualifying or veteran 3567 | |
| 4155 | + | employee who is an owner, member or partner in the business or who 3568 | |
| 4156 | + | is not employed by the taxpayer at the close of the taxpayer's income 3569 T | |
| 4157 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4158 | + | ||
| 4159 | + | ||
| 4160 | + | LCO No. 4161 115 of 130 | |
| 4161 | + | ||
| 4162 | + | year. 3570 | |
| 4163 | + | (4) No taxpayer claiming the credit under this section with respect to 3571 | |
| 4164 | + | a new, qualifying or veteran employee shall claim any credit against any 3572 | |
| 4165 | + | tax under any other provision of the general statutes with respect to the 3573 | |
| 4166 | + | same new, qualifying or veteran employee. 3574 | |
| 4167 | + | (e) (1) To be eligible to claim the credit, a taxpayer shall apply to the 3575 | |
| 4168 | + | commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section. The 3576 | |
| 4169 | + | application shall be on a form provided by the commissioner and shall 3577 | |
| 4170 | + | contain sufficient information as required by the commissioner, 3578 | |
| 4171 | + | including, but not limited to, the activities that the taxpayer primarily 3579 | |
| 4172 | + | engages in, the North American Industrial Classification System code of 3580 | |
| 4173 | + | the taxpayer, the current number of employees employed by the 3581 | |
| 4174 | + | taxpayer as of the application date, and if applicable, the name and 3582 | |
| 4175 | + | position or job title of the new, qualifying or veteran employee. The 3583 | |
| 4176 | + | commissioner shall consult with the Labor Commissioner, the 3584 | |
| 4177 | + | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services, the Commissioner of 3585 | |
| 4178 | + | Veterans Affairs, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction 3586 | |
| 4179 | + | Services or the Commissioner of Developmental Services, as applicable, 3587 | |
| 4180 | + | for any verification the commissioner deems necessary of 3588 | |
| 4181 | + | unemployment compensation or vocational rehabilitation services 3589 | |
| 4182 | + | received by a qualifying employee, or of service in the armed forces of 3590 | |
| 4183 | + | the United States by a veteran employee. The commissioner may impose 3591 | |
| 4184 | + | a fee for such application as the commissioner deems appropriate. 3592 | |
| 4185 | + | (2) (A) Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner shall render 3593 | |
| 4186 | + | a decision, in writing, on each completed application not later than 3594 | |
| 4187 | + | thirty days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. If the 3595 | |
| 4188 | + | commissioner approves such application, the commissioner shall issue 3596 | |
| 4189 | + | a certification letter to the taxpayer indicating that the credit will be 3597 | |
| 4190 | + | available to be claimed by the taxpayer if the taxpayer and the new, 3598 | |
| 4191 | + | qualifying or veteran employee otherwise meet the requirements of this 3599 | |
| 4192 | + | section. 3600 | |
| 4193 | + | (B) On and after January 1, 2014, the commissioner shall render a 3601 T | |
| 4194 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4195 | + | ||
| 4196 | + | ||
| 4197 | + | LCO No. 4161 116 of 130 | |
| 4198 | + | ||
| 4199 | + | decision upon such completed applications and, if approved, issue such 3602 | |
| 4200 | + | certification letters, as provided in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, 3603 | |
| 4201 | + | that pertain to qualifying or veteran employees who meet the 3604 | |
| 4202 | + | requirements of this section, and with respect to whom credits pursuant 3605 | |
| 4203 | + | to this section have previously been granted. The commissioner may, in 3606 | |
| 4204 | + | his or her discretion, render a decision upon applications that pertain to 3607 | |
| 4205 | + | new employees, with respect to whom credits pursuant to this section 3608 | |
| 4206 | + | have previously been granted, when such applications are consistent 3609 | |
| 4207 | + | with the economic development priorities of the state. 3610 | |
| 4208 | + | (f) (1) The total amount of credits granted under this section and 3611 | |
| 4209 | + | sections 12-217ii, 12-217nn and 12-217oo, as amended by this act, shall 3612 | |
| 4210 | + | not exceed twenty million dollars in any one fiscal year or forty million 3613 | |
| 4211 | + | dollars over the duration of the job expansion tax credit program, 3614 | |
| 4212 | + | including the two immediately succeeding income years after such 3615 | |
| 4213 | + | credits are granted. 3616 | |
| 4214 | + | (2) If a taxpayer was issued an eligibility certificate by the 3617 | |
| 4215 | + | commissioner prior to January 1, 2012, to receive a jobs creation tax 3618 | |
| 4216 | + | credit pursuant to section 12-217ii, the provisions of the tax credit 3619 | |
| 4217 | + | program pursuant to said section 12-217ii shall apply to such taxpayer 3620 | |
| 4218 | + | for the duration of the eligibility certificate. 3621 | |
| 4219 | + | (3) If a taxpayer is issued a certification letter by the commissioner 3622 | |
| 4220 | + | prior to January 1, 2013, to receive a qualified small business job creation 3623 | |
| 4221 | + | tax credit pursuant to section 12-217nn, the provisions of the tax credit 3624 | |
| 4222 | + | program pursuant to said section 12-217nn shall apply to such taxpayer 3625 | |
| 4223 | + | for the duration of such certification. 3626 | |
| 4224 | + | (4) If a taxpayer was issued a certification letter by the commissioner 3627 | |
| 4225 | + | prior to January 1, 2012, to receive a vocational rehabilitation job 3628 | |
| 4226 | + | creation tax credit pursuant to section 12-217oo, as amended by this act, 3629 | |
| 4227 | + | the provisions of the tax credit program pursuant to said section 12-3630 | |
| 4228 | + | 217oo, as amended by this act, shall apply to such taxpayer for the 3631 | |
| 4229 | + | duration of such certification. 3632 T | |
| 4230 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4231 | + | ||
| 4232 | + | ||
| 4233 | + | LCO No. 4161 117 of 130 | |
| 4234 | + | ||
| 4099 | 4235 | (g) No credit allowed under this section shall exceed the amount of 3633 | |
| 4100 | 4236 | tax imposed on a taxpayer under this chapter or chapter 207, 212 or 229. 3634 | |
| 4101 | 4237 | The commissioner shall annually provide to the Commissioner of 3635 | |
| 4102 | 4238 | Revenue Services a list detailing all credits that have been approved and 3636 | |
| 4103 | 4239 | all taxpayers that have been issued a certification letter under this 3637 | |
| 4104 | 4240 | section. 3638 | |
| 4105 | 4241 | (h) No credit shall be allowed under this section for any new jobs 3639 | |
| 4106 | - | created on or after January 1, 2014. 3640 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4107 | - | ||
| 4108 | - | ||
| 4109 | - | LCO 115 of 128 | |
| 4110 | - | ||
| 4242 | + | created on or after January 1, 2014. 3640 | |
| 4111 | 4243 | Sec. 103. Section 14-11b of the general statutes is repealed and the 3641 | |
| 4112 | 4244 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3642 | |
| 4113 | 4245 | (a) There shall be within the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3643 | |
| 4114 | 4246 | Services a unit for the purpose of evaluating and training persons with 3644 | |
| 4115 | 4247 | disabilities in the operation of motor vehicles. There shall be assigned to 3645 | |
| 4116 | 4248 | the driver training unit for persons with disabilities such staff as is 3646 | |
| 4117 | 4249 | necessary for the orderly administration of the driver training program 3647 | |
| 4118 | 4250 | for persons with disabilities. The personnel assigned to the driver 3648 | |
| 4119 | 4251 | training unit for persons with disabilities shall, while engaged in the 3649 | |
| 4120 | 4252 | evaluation or instruction of a person with disabilities, have the authority 3650 | |
| 4121 | 4253 | and immunities with respect to such activities as are granted under the 3651 | |
| 4122 | 4254 | general statutes to motor vehicle inspectors. The Commissioner of 3652 | |
| 4123 | 4255 | Motor Vehicles may permit a person whose license has been withdrawn 3653 | |
| 4124 | 4256 | as a result of a condition that makes such person eligible for evaluation 3654 | |
| 4125 | 4257 | and training under this section to operate a motor vehicle while 3655 | |
| 4126 | 4258 | accompanied by personnel assigned to the driver training unit for 3656 | |
| 4127 | 4259 | persons with disabilities. When a person with disabilities has 3657 | |
| 4128 | 4260 | successfully completed the driver training program for persons with 3658 | |
| 4129 | 4261 | disabilities, the Department [of Aging and] Disability Services shall 3659 | |
| 4130 | 4262 | certify such completion in writing to the Commissioner of Motor 3660 | |
| 4131 | 4263 | Vehicles and shall recommend any license restrictions or limitations to 3661 | |
| 4132 | 4264 | be placed on the license of such person. The Commissioner of Motor 3662 | |
| 4133 | 4265 | Vehicles may accept such certification in lieu of the driving skills portion 3663 | |
| 4134 | - | of the examination prescribed under subsection (e) of section 14-36. If 3664 | |
| 4266 | + | of the examination prescribed under subsection (e) of section 14-36. If 3664 T | |
| 4267 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4268 | + | ||
| 4269 | + | ||
| 4270 | + | LCO No. 4161 118 of 130 | |
| 4271 | + | ||
| 4135 | 4272 | such person with disabilities has met all other requirements for 3665 | |
| 4136 | 4273 | obtaining a license, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall issue a 3666 | |
| 4137 | 4274 | license with such restrictions recommended by the Department of 3667 | |
| 4138 | 4275 | [Aging and] Disability Services. 3668 | |
| 4139 | 4276 | (b) Any resident of this state who has a serious physical or mental 3669 | |
| 4140 | 4277 | disability which does not render the resident incapable of operating a 3670 | |
| 4141 | 4278 | motor vehicle and who must utilize special equipment in order to 3671 | |
| 4142 | 4279 | operate a motor vehicle and who cannot obtain instruction in the 3672 | |
| 4143 | 4280 | operation of a motor vehicle through any alternate program, including, 3673 | |
| 4144 | - | but not limited to, other state, federal or privately operated drivers' 3674 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4145 | - | ||
| 4146 | - | ||
| 4147 | - | LCO 116 of 128 | |
| 4148 | - | ||
| 4281 | + | but not limited to, other state, federal or privately operated drivers' 3674 | |
| 4149 | 4282 | schools shall be eligible for instruction under the Department of [Aging 3675 | |
| 4150 | 4283 | and] Disability Services driver training program for persons with 3676 | |
| 4151 | 4284 | disabilities. 3677 | |
| 4152 | 4285 | Sec. 104. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 14-44 of the 3678 | |
| 4153 | 4286 | general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 3679 | |
| 4154 | 4287 | thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3680 | |
| 4155 | 4288 | (2) The Department of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the 3681 | |
| 4156 | 4289 | Departments of [Aging and] Disability Services, Developmental 3682 | |
| 4157 | 4290 | Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Social Services, 3683 | |
| 4158 | 4291 | shall develop, and thereafter revise as needed, a video presentation 3684 | |
| 4159 | 4292 | providing instruction and best practices concerning ways to 3685 | |
| 4160 | 4293 | appropriately interact with disabled persons who may be receiving 3686 | |
| 4161 | 4294 | services from the departments. In developing such video presentation, 3687 | |
| 4162 | 4295 | the departments may use materials and one or more video presentations 3688 | |
| 4163 | 4296 | developed by a governmental entity, independent contractor or any 3689 | |
| 4164 | 4297 | other party. The departments shall post such video presentation and 3690 | |
| 4165 | 4298 | any other training resources concerning ways to appropriately interact 3691 | |
| 4166 | 4299 | with persons with an intellectual disability or other developmental 3692 | |
| 4167 | 4300 | disabilities in a conspicuous location on their respective Internet web 3693 | |
| 4168 | 4301 | sites. On and after January 1, 2024, prior to issuing or renewing an 3694 | |
| 4169 | 4302 | operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement, the 3695 | |
| 4170 | - | Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall require the applicant for such 3696 | |
| 4303 | + | Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall require the applicant for such 3696 T | |
| 4304 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4305 | + | ||
| 4306 | + | ||
| 4307 | + | LCO No. 4161 119 of 130 | |
| 4308 | + | ||
| 4171 | 4309 | license to watch such video presentation. 3697 | |
| 4172 | 4310 | Sec. 105. Subsection (b) of section 14-253a of the general statutes is 3698 | |
| 4173 | 4311 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3699 | |
| 4174 | 4312 | 2026): 3700 | |
| 4175 | 4313 | (b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept applications 3701 | |
| 4176 | 4314 | and renewal applications for removable windshield placards from (1) 3702 | |
| 4177 | 4315 | any person who is blind, as defined in section 1-1f; (2) any person with 3703 | |
| 4178 | 4316 | disabilities; (3) any parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any 3704 | |
| 4179 | 4317 | person with disabilities, if such person is under eighteen years of age at 3705 | |
| 4180 | - | the time of application; (4) any parent or guardian of any person who is 3706 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4181 | - | ||
| 4182 | - | ||
| 4183 | - | LCO 117 of 128 | |
| 4184 | - | ||
| 4318 | + | the time of application; (4) any parent or guardian of any person who is 3706 | |
| 4185 | 4319 | blind or any person with disabilities, if such person is unable to request 3707 | |
| 4186 | 4320 | or complete an application; and (5) any organization which meets 3708 | |
| 4187 | 4321 | criteria established by the commissioner and which certifies to the 3709 | |
| 4188 | 4322 | commissioner's satisfaction that the vehicle for which a placard is 3710 | |
| 4189 | 4323 | requested is primarily used to transport persons who are blind or 3711 | |
| 4190 | 4324 | persons with disabilities. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this 3712 | |
| 4191 | 4325 | section, on and after October 1, 2011, the commissioner shall not accept 3713 | |
| 4192 | 4326 | applications for special license plates, but shall accept renewal 3714 | |
| 4193 | 4327 | applications for such plates that were issued prior to October 1, 2011. 3715 | |
| 4194 | 4328 | No person shall be issued a placard in accordance with this section 3716 | |
| 4195 | 4329 | unless such person is the holder of a valid motor vehicle operator's 3717 | |
| 4196 | 4330 | license, or identification card issued in accordance with the provisions 3718 | |
| 4197 | 4331 | of section 1-1h. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance 3719 | |
| 4198 | 4332 | with the provisions of chapter 54, for the issuance of placards to persons 3720 | |
| 4199 | 4333 | who, by reason of hardship, do not hold or cannot obtain an operator's 3721 | |
| 4200 | 4334 | license or identification card. The commissioner shall maintain a record 3722 | |
| 4201 | 4335 | of each placard issued to any such person. Such applications and 3723 | |
| 4202 | 4336 | renewal applications shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner. 3724 | |
| 4203 | 4337 | The application and renewal application shall include: (A) Certification 3725 | |
| 4204 | 4338 | by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, an advanced 3726 | |
| 4205 | 4339 | practice registered nurse licensed in accordance with the provisions of 3727 | |
| 4206 | 4340 | chapter 378, or a member of the driver training unit for persons with 3728 | |
| 4207 | - | disabilities established pursuant to section 14-11b, as amended by this 3729 | |
| 4341 | + | disabilities established pursuant to section 14-11b, as amended by this 3729 T | |
| 4342 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4343 | + | ||
| 4344 | + | ||
| 4345 | + | LCO No. 4161 120 of 130 | |
| 4346 | + | ||
| 4208 | 4347 | act, that the applicant meets the definition of a person with a disability 3730 | |
| 4209 | 4348 | which limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR 1235.2, 3731 | |
| 4210 | 4349 | as amended from time to time; or (B) certification by a psychiatrist who 3732 | |
| 4211 | 4350 | is employed by, or under contract with, the United States Department 3733 | |
| 4212 | 4351 | of Veterans Affairs that the applicant (i) is a veteran, as defined in 3734 | |
| 4213 | 4352 | subsection (a) of section 27-103, who has post-traumatic stress disorder 3735 | |
| 4214 | 4353 | certified as service-connected by the United States Department of 3736 | |
| 4215 | 4354 | Veterans Affairs, and (ii) meets the definition of a person with a 3737 | |
| 4216 | 4355 | disability which limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 3738 | |
| 4217 | 4356 | CFR 1235.2, as amended from time to time. In the case of persons who 3739 | |
| 4218 | 4357 | are blind, the application or renewal application shall include 3740 | |
| 4219 | - | certification of legal blindness made by the Department of [Aging and] 3741 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4220 | - | ||
| 4221 | - | ||
| 4222 | - | LCO 118 of 128 | |
| 4223 | - | ||
| 4358 | + | certification of legal blindness made by the Department of [Aging and] 3741 | |
| 4224 | 4359 | Disability Services, an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Any 3742 | |
| 4225 | 4360 | certification issued by a health care professional pursuant to this section 3743 | |
| 4226 | 4361 | shall be based upon such person's professional opinion after having 3744 | |
| 4227 | 4362 | completed a medically reasonable assessment of the applicant's medical 3745 | |
| 4228 | 4363 | history and current medical condition made in the course of a bona fide 3746 | |
| 4229 | 4364 | health care professional-patient relationship. Any person who makes a 3747 | |
| 4230 | 4365 | certification required by this subsection shall sign the application or 3748 | |
| 4231 | 4366 | renewal application under penalty of false statement pursuant to section 3749 | |
| 4232 | 4367 | 53a-157b. The commissioner, in said commissioner's discretion, may 3750 | |
| 4233 | 4368 | accept the discharge papers of a disabled veteran, as defined in section 3751 | |
| 4234 | 4369 | 14-254, in lieu of such certification. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 3752 | |
| 4235 | 4370 | may require additional certification at the time of the original 3753 | |
| 4236 | 4371 | application or at any time thereafter. If a person who has been requested 3754 | |
| 4237 | 4372 | to submit additional certification fails to do so within thirty days of the 3755 | |
| 4238 | 4373 | request, or if such additional certification is deemed by the 3756 | |
| 4239 | 4374 | Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to be unfavorable to the applicant, the 3757 | |
| 4240 | 4375 | commissioner may refuse to issue or, if already issued, suspend or 3758 | |
| 4241 | 4376 | revoke such special license plate or placard. The commissioner shall not 3759 | |
| 4242 | 4377 | issue more than one placard per applicant, except the commissioner 3760 | |
| 4243 | 4378 | shall issue one placard to each applicant who is a parent or guardian of 3761 | |
| 4244 | 4379 | any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, provided no 3762 | |
| 4245 | - | more than two such placards shall be issued on behalf of such person. 3763 | |
| 4380 | + | more than two such placards shall be issued on behalf of such person. 3763 T | |
| 4381 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4382 | + | ||
| 4383 | + | ||
| 4384 | + | LCO No. 4161 121 of 130 | |
| 4385 | + | ||
| 4246 | 4386 | The fee for the issuance of a temporary removable windshield placard 3764 | |
| 4247 | 4387 | shall be five dollars. Any person whose application has been denied or 3765 | |
| 4248 | 4388 | whose special license plate or placard has been suspended or revoked 3766 | |
| 4249 | 4389 | shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the 3767 | |
| 4250 | 4390 | provisions of chapter 54. 3768 | |
| 4251 | 4391 | Sec. 106. Subsection (b) of section 14-253c of the general statutes is 3769 | |
| 4252 | 4392 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3770 | |
| 4253 | 4393 | 2026): 3771 | |
| 4254 | 4394 | (b) The advisory council shall consist of (1) the Commissioner of 3772 | |
| 4255 | 4395 | Motor Vehicles or the commissioner's designee, (2) the Commissioner of 3773 | |
| 4256 | 4396 | [Aging and] Disability Services or the commissioner's designee, (3) two 3774 | |
| 4257 | - | members appointed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, who are 3775 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4258 | - | ||
| 4259 | - | ||
| 4260 | - | LCO 119 of 128 | |
| 4261 | - | ||
| 4397 | + | members appointed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, who are 3775 | |
| 4262 | 4398 | licensed physicians, physician assistants or advanced practice registered 3776 | |
| 4263 | 4399 | nurses who certify applications for removable windshield placards 3777 | |
| 4264 | 4400 | while in the course of employment, (4) one member appointed by the 3778 | |
| 4265 | 4401 | Commissioner of [Aging and] Disability Services who represents an 3779 | |
| 4266 | 4402 | organization that advocates on behalf of persons with physical 3780 | |
| 4267 | 4403 | disabilities, (5) one appointed by the House chairperson of the joint 3781 | |
| 4268 | 4404 | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 3782 | |
| 4269 | 4405 | matters relating to transportation, (6) one appointed by the Senate 3783 | |
| 4270 | 4406 | chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 3784 | |
| 4271 | 4407 | having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, who uses 3785 | |
| 4272 | 4408 | accessible parking or advocates on behalf of such users, (7) one 3786 | |
| 4273 | 4409 | appointed by the House ranking member of the joint standing 3787 | |
| 4274 | 4410 | committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 3788 | |
| 4275 | 4411 | relating to transportation, who uses accessible parking or advocates on 3789 | |
| 4276 | 4412 | behalf of such users, (8) one appointed by the Senate ranking member 3790 | |
| 4277 | 4413 | of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 3791 | |
| 4278 | 4414 | cognizance of matters relating to transportation, who is a sworn 3792 | |
| 4279 | 4415 | member of a municipal police department, and (9) and such other 3793 | |
| 4280 | 4416 | members as the advisory council may prescribe. All initial 3794 | |
| 4281 | 4417 | appointments to the advisory council shall be made not later than 3795 | |
| 4282 | - | September 1, 2023. Each member appointed pursuant to subdivisions (3) 3796 | |
| 4418 | + | September 1, 2023. Each member appointed pursuant to subdivisions (3) 3796 T | |
| 4419 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4420 | + | ||
| 4421 | + | ||
| 4422 | + | LCO No. 4161 122 of 130 | |
| 4423 | + | ||
| 4283 | 4424 | to (9), inclusive, of this subsection shall serve for a term of two years and 3797 | |
| 4284 | 4425 | may serve until such member's successor is appointed. Any vacancy 3798 | |
| 4285 | 4426 | shall be filled by the appointing authority. The Commissioner of Motor 3799 | |
| 4286 | 4427 | Vehicles, or the commissioner's designee, shall serve as chairperson of 3800 | |
| 4287 | 4428 | the advisory council. The advisory council shall meet at such times as it 3801 | |
| 4288 | 4429 | deems necessary and may establish rules governing its internal 3802 | |
| 4289 | 4430 | procedures. 3803 | |
| 4290 | 4431 | Sec. 107. Subsection (d) of section 17a-3 of the general statutes is 3804 | |
| 4291 | 4432 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3805 | |
| 4292 | 4433 | 2026): 3806 | |
| 4293 | 4434 | (d) The Department of Children and Families shall maintain on the 3807 | |
| 4294 | 4435 | department's Internet web site information on services provided to 3808 | |
| 4295 | - | persons with disabilities. The department's Internet web site shall 3809 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4296 | - | ||
| 4297 | - | ||
| 4298 | - | LCO 120 of 128 | |
| 4299 | - | ||
| 4436 | + | persons with disabilities. The department's Internet web site shall 3809 | |
| 4300 | 4437 | include a link to the Internet web page maintained by the Department 3810 | |
| 4301 | 4438 | of [Aging and] Disability Services pursuant to section 46a-33a, 3811 | |
| 4302 | 4439 | containing information about services for deaf, deafblind and hard of 3812 | |
| 4303 | 4440 | hearing individuals. 3813 | |
| 4304 | 4441 | Sec. 108. Subsection (a) of section 17a-215j of the general statutes is 3814 | |
| 4305 | 4442 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3815 | |
| 4306 | 4443 | 2026): 3816 | |
| 4307 | 4444 | (a) There shall be an Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council 3817 | |
| 4308 | 4445 | which shall consist of the following members: (1) The Commissioner of 3818 | |
| 4309 | 4446 | Social Services, or the commissioner's designee; (2) the Commissioner of 3819 | |
| 4310 | 4447 | Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee; (3) the 3820 | |
| 4311 | 4448 | Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; (4) the 3821 | |
| 4312 | 4449 | Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the 3822 | |
| 4313 | 4450 | commissioner's designee; (5) the Commissioner of Public Health, or the 3823 | |
| 4314 | 4451 | commissioner's designee; (6) the Commissioner of [Aging and] 3824 | |
| 4315 | 4452 | Disability Services, or the commissioner's designee; (7) the 3825 | |
| 4316 | 4453 | Commissioner of Developmental Services, or the commissioner's 3826 | |
| 4317 | 4454 | designee; (8) the Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the 3827 | |
| 4318 | - | commissioner's designee; (9) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 3828 | |
| 4455 | + | commissioner's designee; (9) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 3828 T | |
| 4456 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4457 | + | ||
| 4458 | + | ||
| 4459 | + | LCO No. 4161 123 of 130 | |
| 4460 | + | ||
| 4319 | 4461 | Management, or the secretary's designee; (10) two persons with autism 3829 | |
| 4320 | 4462 | spectrum disorder, one each appointed by the Governor and the speaker 3830 | |
| 4321 | 4463 | of the House of Representatives; (11) two persons who are parents or 3831 | |
| 4322 | 4464 | guardians of a child with autism spectrum disorder, one each appointed 3832 | |
| 4323 | 4465 | by the Governor and the minority leader of the Senate; (12) two persons 3833 | |
| 4324 | 4466 | who are parents or guardians of an adult with autism spectrum 3834 | |
| 4325 | 4467 | disorder, one each appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate 3835 | |
| 4326 | 4468 | and the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (13) two 3836 | |
| 4327 | 4469 | persons who are advocates for persons with autism spectrum disorder, 3837 | |
| 4328 | 4470 | one each appointed by the Governor and the speaker of the House of 3838 | |
| 4329 | 4471 | Representatives; (14) two persons who are licensed professionals 3839 | |
| 4330 | 4472 | working in the field of autism spectrum disorder, one each appointed 3840 | |
| 4331 | 4473 | by the Governor and the majority leader of the Senate; (15) two persons 3841 | |
| 4332 | 4474 | who provide services for persons with autism spectrum disorder, one 3842 | |
| 4333 | - | each appointed by the Governor and the minority leader of the House 3843 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4334 | - | ||
| 4335 | - | ||
| 4336 | - | LCO 121 of 128 | |
| 4337 | - | ||
| 4475 | + | each appointed by the Governor and the minority leader of the House 3843 | |
| 4338 | 4476 | of Representatives; (16) two persons who shall be representatives of an 3844 | |
| 4339 | 4477 | institution of higher education in the state with experience in the field 3845 | |
| 4340 | 4478 | of autism spectrum disorder, one each appointed by the Governor and 3846 | |
| 4341 | 4479 | the president pro tempore of the Senate; (17) the executive director of 3847 | |
| 4342 | 4480 | the nonprofit entity designated by the Governor in accordance with 3848 | |
| 4343 | 4481 | section 46a-10b to serve as the Connecticut protection and advocacy 3849 | |
| 4344 | 4482 | system for persons with disabilities, or the executive director's designee; 3850 | |
| 4345 | 4483 | and (18) one person who is a physician who treats or diagnoses persons 3851 | |
| 4346 | 4484 | with autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the Governor. 3852 | |
| 4347 | 4485 | Sec. 109. Section 17a-248 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3853 | |
| 4348 | 4486 | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 3854 | |
| 4349 | 4487 | As used in this section, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248g, inclusive, 17a-3855 | |
| 4350 | 4488 | 248m, 38a-490a and 38a-516a, unless the context otherwise requires: 3856 | |
| 4351 | 4489 | (1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Early Childhood. 3857 | |
| 4352 | 4490 | (2) "Council" means the State Interagency Birth -to-Three 3858 | |
| 4353 | - | Coordinating Council established pursuant to section 17a-248b. 3859 | |
| 4491 | + | Coordinating Council established pursuant to section 17a-248b. 3859 T | |
| 4492 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4493 | + | ||
| 4494 | + | ||
| 4495 | + | LCO No. 4161 124 of 130 | |
| 4496 | + | ||
| 4354 | 4497 | (3) "Early intervention services" means early intervention services, as 3860 | |
| 4355 | 4498 | defined in 34 CFR Part 303.13, as from time to time amended. 3861 | |
| 4356 | 4499 | (4) "Eligible children" means children (A) (i) from birth to thirty-six 3862 | |
| 4357 | 4500 | months of age, who are not eligible for special education and related 3863 | |
| 4358 | 4501 | services pursuant to sections 10-76a to 10-76h, inclusive, and (ii) thirty-3864 | |
| 4359 | 4502 | six months of age or older, who are receiving early intervention services 3865 | |
| 4360 | 4503 | and are eligible or being evaluated for participation in preschool 3866 | |
| 4361 | 4504 | services pursuant to Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities 3867 | |
| 4362 | 4505 | Education Act, 20 USC 1411 et seq., until such children are enrolled in 3868 | |
| 4363 | 4506 | such preschool services, and (B) who need early intervention services 3869 | |
| 4364 | 4507 | because such children are: 3870 | |
| 4365 | 4508 | (i) Experiencing a significant developmental delay as measured by 3871 | |
| 4366 | 4509 | standardized diagnostic instruments and procedures, including 3872 | |
| 4367 | - | informed clinical opinion, in one or more of the following areas: 3873 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4368 | - | ||
| 4369 | - | ||
| 4370 | - | LCO 122 of 128 | |
| 4371 | - | ||
| 4510 | + | informed clinical opinion, in one or more of the following areas: 3873 | |
| 4372 | 4511 | Cognitive development; physical development, including vision or 3874 | |
| 4373 | 4512 | hearing; communication development; social or emotional 3875 | |
| 4374 | 4513 | development; or adaptive skills; or 3876 | |
| 4375 | 4514 | (ii) Diagnosed as having a physical or mental condition that has a 3877 | |
| 4376 | 4515 | high probability of resulting in developmental delay. 3878 | |
| 4377 | 4516 | (5) "Evaluation" means a multidisciplinary professional, objective 3879 | |
| 4378 | 4517 | assessment conducted by appropriately qualified personnel in order to 3880 | |
| 4379 | 4518 | determine a child's eligibility for early intervention services. 3881 | |
| 4380 | 4519 | (6) "Individualized family service plan" means a written plan for 3882 | |
| 4381 | 4520 | providing early intervention services to an eligible child and the child's 3883 | |
| 4382 | 4521 | family. 3884 | |
| 4383 | 4522 | (7) "Lead agency" means the Office of Early Childhood, the public 3885 | |
| 4384 | 4523 | agency responsible for the administration of the birth-to-three system in 3886 | |
| 4385 | 4524 | collaboration with the participating agencies. 3887 | |
| 4386 | 4525 | (8) "Parent" means (A) a biological, adoptive or foster parent of a 3888 | |
| 4387 | - | child; (B) a guardian, except for the Commissioner of Children and 3889 | |
| 4526 | + | child; (B) a guardian, except for the Commissioner of Children and 3889 T | |
| 4527 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4528 | + | ||
| 4529 | + | ||
| 4530 | + | LCO No. 4161 125 of 130 | |
| 4531 | + | ||
| 4388 | 4532 | Families; (C) an individual acting in the place of a biological or adoptive 3890 | |
| 4389 | 4533 | parent, including, but not limited to, a grandparent, stepparent, or other 3891 | |
| 4390 | 4534 | relative with whom the child lives; (D) an individual who is legally 3892 | |
| 4391 | 4535 | responsible for the child's welfare; or (E) an individual appointed to be 3893 | |
| 4392 | 4536 | a surrogate parent. 3894 | |
| 4393 | 4537 | (9) "Participating agencies" includes, but is not limited to, the 3895 | |
| 4394 | 4538 | Departments of Education, Social Services, Public Health, Children and 3896 | |
| 4395 | 4539 | Families and Developmental Services, the Office of Early Childhood, the 3897 | |
| 4396 | 4540 | Insurance Department and the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3898 | |
| 4397 | 4541 | Services. 3899 | |
| 4398 | 4542 | (10) "Qualified personnel" means persons who meet the standards 3900 | |
| 4399 | 4543 | specified in 34 CFR Part 303.31, as from time to time amended, and who 3901 | |
| 4400 | 4544 | are licensed physicians or psychologists or persons holding a state-3902 | |
| 4401 | - | approved or recognized license, certificate or registration in one or more 3903 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4402 | - | ||
| 4403 | - | ||
| 4404 | - | LCO 123 of 128 | |
| 4405 | - | ||
| 4545 | + | approved or recognized license, certificate or registration in one or more 3903 | |
| 4406 | 4546 | of the following fields: (A) Special education, including teaching of the 3904 | |
| 4407 | 4547 | blind and the deaf; (B) speech and language pathology and audiology; 3905 | |
| 4408 | 4548 | (C) occupational therapy; (D) physical therapy; (E) social work; (F) 3906 | |
| 4409 | 4549 | nursing; (G) dietary or nutritional counseling; and (H) other fields 3907 | |
| 4410 | 4550 | designated by the commissioner that meet requirements that apply to 3908 | |
| 4411 | 4551 | the area in which the person is providing early intervention services, 3909 | |
| 4412 | 4552 | provided there is no conflict with existing professional licensing, 3910 | |
| 4413 | 4553 | certification and registration requirements. 3911 | |
| 4414 | 4554 | (11) "Service coordinator" means a person carrying out service 3912 | |
| 4415 | 4555 | coordination services, as defined in 34 CFR Part 303.34, as from time to 3913 | |
| 4416 | 4556 | time amended. 3914 | |
| 4417 | 4557 | (12) "Primary care provider" means physicians and advanced practice 3915 | |
| 4418 | 4558 | registered nurses, licensed by the Department of Public Health, who are 3916 | |
| 4419 | 4559 | responsible for performing or directly supervising the primary care 3917 | |
| 4420 | 4560 | services for children enrolled in the birth-to-three program. 3918 | |
| 4421 | 4561 | Sec. 110. Subsection (e) of section 17a-451 of the general statutes is 3919 | |
| 4422 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3920 | |
| 4562 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3920 T | |
| 4563 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4564 | + | ||
| 4565 | + | ||
| 4566 | + | LCO No. 4161 126 of 130 | |
| 4567 | + | ||
| 4423 | 4568 | 2026): 3921 | |
| 4424 | 4569 | (e) The commissioner shall collaborate and cooperate with other state 3922 | |
| 4425 | 4570 | agencies providing services for children with mental disorders and 3923 | |
| 4426 | 4571 | adults with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use 3924 | |
| 4427 | 4572 | disorders, or both, and shall coordinate the activities of the Department 3925 | |
| 4428 | 4573 | of Mental Health and Addiction Services with the activities of said 3926 | |
| 4429 | 4574 | agencies. The commissioner shall maintain on the department's Internet 3927 | |
| 4430 | 4575 | web site information on services provided to persons with disabilities. 3928 | |
| 4431 | 4576 | The department's Internet web site shall include a link to the Internet 3929 | |
| 4432 | 4577 | web page maintained by the Department of [Aging and] Disability 3930 | |
| 4433 | 4578 | Services pursuant to section 46a-33a containing information about 3931 | |
| 4434 | 4579 | services for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing individuals. 3932 | |
| 4435 | 4580 | Sec. 111. Subsection (b) of section 17a-667 of the general statutes is 3933 | |
| 4436 | 4581 | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 3934 | |
| 4437 | - | 2026): 3935 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4438 | - | ||
| 4439 | - | ||
| 4440 | - | LCO 124 of 128 | |
| 4441 | - | ||
| 4582 | + | 2026): 3935 | |
| 4442 | 4583 | (b) The council shall consist of the following members: (1) The 3936 | |
| 4443 | 4584 | Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's 3937 | |
| 4444 | 4585 | designee; (2) the Commissioners of Children and Families, Consumer 3938 | |
| 4445 | 4586 | Protection, Correction, Education, Mental Health and Addiction 3939 | |
| 4446 | 4587 | Services, Public Health, Emergency Services and Public Protection, 3940 | |
| 4447 | 4588 | [Aging and] Disability Services and Social Services, the Commissioner 3941 | |
| 4448 | 4589 | on Aging and the Insurance Commissioner, or their designees; (3) the 3942 | |
| 4449 | 4590 | Chief Court Administrator, or the Chief Court Administrator's 3943 | |
| 4450 | 4591 | designee; (4) the chairperson of the Board of Regents for Higher 3944 | |
| 4451 | 4592 | Education, or the chairperson's designee; (5) the president of The 3945 | |
| 4452 | 4593 | University of Connecticut, or the president's designee; (6) the Chief 3946 | |
| 4453 | 4594 | State's Attorney, or the Chief State's Attorney's designee; (7) the Chief 3947 | |
| 4454 | 4595 | Public Defender, or the Chief Public Defender's designee; (8) the Child 3948 | |
| 4455 | 4596 | Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee; and (9) the cochairpersons 3949 | |
| 4456 | 4597 | and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General 3950 | |
| 4457 | 4598 | Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, 3951 | |
| 4458 | - | criminal justice and appropriations, or their designees. The 3952 | |
| 4599 | + | criminal justice and appropriations, or their designees. The 3952 T | |
| 4600 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4601 | + | ||
| 4602 | + | ||
| 4603 | + | LCO No. 4161 127 of 130 | |
| 4604 | + | ||
| 4459 | 4605 | Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the 3953 | |
| 4460 | 4606 | Commissioner of Children and Families shall be cochairpersons of the 3954 | |
| 4461 | 4607 | council and may jointly appoint up to seven individuals to the council 3955 | |
| 4462 | 4608 | as follows: (A) Two individuals in recovery from a substance use 3956 | |
| 4463 | 4609 | disorder or representing an advocacy group for individuals with a 3957 | |
| 4464 | 4610 | substance use disorder; (B) a provider of community-based substance 3958 | |
| 4465 | 4611 | abuse services for adults; (C) a provider of community-based substance 3959 | |
| 4466 | 4612 | abuse services for adolescents; (D) an addiction medicine physician; (E) 3960 | |
| 4467 | 4613 | a family member of an individual in recovery from a substance use 3961 | |
| 4468 | 4614 | disorder; and (F) an emergency medicine physician currently practicing 3962 | |
| 4469 | 4615 | in a Connecticut hospital. The cochairpersons of the council may 3963 | |
| 4470 | 4616 | establish subcommittees and working groups and may appoint 3964 | |
| 4471 | 4617 | individuals other than members of the council to serve as members of 3965 | |
| 4472 | 4618 | the subcommittees or working groups. Such individuals may include, 3966 | |
| 4473 | 4619 | but need not be limited to: (i) Licensed alcohol and drug counselors; (ii) 3967 | |
| 4474 | 4620 | pharmacists; (iii) municipal police chiefs; (iv) emergency medical 3968 | |
| 4475 | 4621 | services personnel; and (v) representatives of organizations that provide 3969 | |
| 4476 | - | education, prevention, intervention, referrals, rehabilitation or support 3970 Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4477 | - | ||
| 4478 | - | ||
| 4479 | - | LCO 125 of 128 | |
| 4480 | - | ||
| 4622 | + | education, prevention, intervention, referrals, rehabilitation or support 3970 | |
| 4481 | 4623 | services to individuals with substance use disorder or chemical 3971 | |
| 4482 | 4624 | dependency. 3972 | |
| 4483 | 4625 | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following | |
| 4484 | 4626 | sections: | |
| 4485 | 4627 | ||
| 4486 | 4628 | Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section | |
| 4487 | 4629 | Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 17a-780 | |
| 4488 | 4630 | Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 17a-782 | |
| 4489 | 4631 | Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 17a-783 | |
| 4490 | 4632 | Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 17a-784 | |
| 4491 | 4633 | Sec. 6 July 1, 2026 17a-785 | |
| 4492 | 4634 | Sec. 7 July 1, 2026 17a-786 | |
| 4493 | 4635 | Sec. 8 July 1, 2026 17a-787 | |
| 4494 | 4636 | Sec. 9 July 1, 2026 17a-788 | |
| 4495 | 4637 | Sec. 10 July 1, 2026 17a-791 | |
| 4496 | 4638 | Sec. 11 July 1, 2026 17a-791a | |
| 4497 | 4639 | Sec. 12 July 1, 2026 17a-793 | |
| 4498 | - | Sec. 13 July 1, 2026 17a-794 | |
| 4640 | + | Sec. 13 July 1, 2026 17a-794 T | |
| 4641 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4642 | + | ||
| 4643 | + | ||
| 4644 | + | LCO No. 4161 128 of 130 | |
| 4645 | + | ||
| 4499 | 4646 | Sec. 14 July 1, 2026 17a-795 | |
| 4500 | 4647 | Sec. 15 July 1, 2026 17a-797 | |
| 4501 | 4648 | Sec. 16 July 1, 2026 17a-798 | |
| 4502 | 4649 | Sec. 17 July 1, 2026 17a-799 | |
| 4503 | 4650 | Sec. 18 July 1, 2026 17a-810(b) | |
| 4504 | 4651 | Sec. 19 July 1, 2026 17a-812 | |
| 4505 | 4652 | Sec. 20 July 1, 2026 17a-813 | |
| 4506 | 4653 | Sec. 21 July 1, 2026 17a-814 | |
| 4507 | 4654 | Sec. 22 July 1, 2026 17a-815 | |
| 4508 | 4655 | Sec. 23 July 1, 2026 17a-816 | |
| 4509 | 4656 | Sec. 24 July 1, 2026 17a-818 | |
| 4510 | 4657 | Sec. 25 July 1, 2026 17a-819 | |
| 4511 | 4658 | Sec. 26 July 1, 2026 17a-820 | |
| 4512 | 4659 | Sec. 27 July 1, 2026 17a-821 | |
| 4513 | 4660 | Sec. 28 July 1, 2026 17a-822 | |
| 4514 | 4661 | Sec. 29 July 1, 2026 17a-823 | |
| 4515 | 4662 | Sec. 30 July 1, 2026 17a-824 | |
| 4516 | 4663 | Sec. 31 July 1, 2026 17a-825 | |
| 4517 | 4664 | Sec. 32 July 1, 2026 17a-835 | |
| 4518 | 4665 | Sec. 33 July 1, 2026 17a-835a | |
| 4519 | - | Sec. 34 July 1, 2026 17a-836(2) Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4520 | - | ||
| 4521 | - | ||
| 4522 | - | LCO 126 of 128 | |
| 4523 | - | ||
| 4666 | + | Sec. 34 July 1, 2026 17a-836(2) | |
| 4524 | 4667 | Sec. 35 July 1, 2026 17a-837(a) | |
| 4525 | 4668 | Sec. 36 July 1, 2026 17a-838 | |
| 4526 | 4669 | Sec. 37 July 1, 2026 17a-839 | |
| 4527 | 4670 | Sec. 38 July 1, 2026 17a-839a | |
| 4528 | 4671 | Sec. 39 July 1, 2026 17a-850 | |
| 4529 | 4672 | Sec. 40 July 1, 2026 17a-851 | |
| 4530 | 4673 | Sec. 41 July 1, 2026 17a-852(a) | |
| 4531 | 4674 | Sec. 42 July 1, 2026 17a-852a | |
| 4532 | 4675 | Sec. 43 July 1, 2026 17a-853 | |
| 4533 | 4676 | Sec. 44 July 1, 2026 17a-854 | |
| 4534 | 4677 | Sec. 45 July 1, 2026 17a-855 | |
| 4535 | 4678 | Sec. 46 July 1, 2026 17a-856 | |
| 4536 | 4679 | Sec. 47 July 1, 2026 17a-857 | |
| 4537 | 4680 | Sec. 48 July 1, 2026 17a-858(a) | |
| 4538 | 4681 | Sec. 49 July 1, 2026 17a-859 | |
| 4539 | 4682 | Sec. 50 July 1, 2026 17a-860(b) | |
| 4540 | 4683 | Sec. 51 July 1, 2026 17a-862 | |
| 4541 | 4684 | Sec. 52 July 1, 2026 17a-870 | |
| 4542 | - | Sec. 53 July 1, 2026 17a-872 | |
| 4685 | + | Sec. 53 July 1, 2026 17a-872 T | |
| 4686 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4687 | + | ||
| 4688 | + | ||
| 4689 | + | LCO No. 4161 129 of 130 | |
| 4690 | + | ||
| 4543 | 4691 | Sec. 54 July 1, 2026 17a-876(c) | |
| 4544 | 4692 | Sec. 55 July 1, 2026 17a-879 | |
| 4545 | 4693 | Sec. 56 July 1, 2026 17a-880 | |
| 4546 | 4694 | Sec. 57 July 1, 2026 17a-885(c) | |
| 4547 | 4695 | Sec. 58 July 1, 2026 17b-4(b) | |
| 4548 | 4696 | Sec. 59 July 1, 2026 17b-28(c) | |
| 4549 | 4697 | Sec. 60 July 1, 2026 17b-90(b) | |
| 4550 | 4698 | Sec. 61 July 1, 2026 17b-337(c) | |
| 4551 | 4699 | Sec. 62 July 1, 2026 17b-352 | |
| 4552 | 4700 | Sec. 63 July 1, 2026 17b-606 | |
| 4553 | 4701 | Sec. 64 July 1, 2026 21a-3a | |
| 4554 | 4702 | Sec. 65 July 1, 2026 23-15c | |
| 4555 | 4703 | Sec. 66 July 1, 2026 26-29 | |
| 4556 | 4704 | Sec. 67 July 1, 2026 31-3i(a) | |
| 4557 | 4705 | Sec. 68 July 1, 2026 31-280(d) | |
| 4558 | 4706 | Sec. 69 July 1, 2026 31-283a | |
| 4559 | 4707 | Sec. 70 July 1, 2026 31-296(a) | |
| 4560 | 4708 | Sec. 71 July 1, 2026 31-300 | |
| 4561 | 4709 | Sec. 72 July 1, 2026 31-345(b)(2) | |
| 4562 | 4710 | Sec. 73 July 1, 2026 31-349b(a) | |
| 4563 | - | Sec. 74 July 1, 2026 32-7t(c)(4) Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4564 | - | ||
| 4565 | - | ||
| 4566 | - | LCO 127 of 128 | |
| 4567 | - | ||
| 4711 | + | Sec. 74 July 1, 2026 32-7t(c)(4) | |
| 4568 | 4712 | Sec. 75 July 1, 2026 38a-47(a) | |
| 4569 | 4713 | Sec. 76 July 1, 2026 38a-48 | |
| 4570 | 4714 | Sec. 77 July 1, 2026 38a-475 | |
| 4571 | 4715 | Sec. 78 July 1, 2026 42-339 | |
| 4572 | 4716 | Sec. 79 July 1, 2026 3-123aa(c) | |
| 4573 | 4717 | Sec. 80 July 1, 2026 4-5 | |
| 4574 | 4718 | Sec. 81 July 1, 2026 4-38c | |
| 4575 | 4719 | Sec. 82 July 1, 2026 4-61aa(a) | |
| 4576 | 4720 | Sec. 83 July 1, 2026 4-67cc | |
| 4577 | 4721 | Sec. 84 July 1, 2026 4-89(g) | |
| 4578 | 4722 | Sec. 85 July 1, 2026 4-124xx | |
| 4579 | 4723 | Sec. 86 July 1, 2026 4a-82 | |
| 4580 | 4724 | Sec. 87 July 1, 2026 5-175a(a) | |
| 4581 | 4725 | Sec. 88 July 1, 2026 5-198 | |
| 4582 | 4726 | Sec. 89 July 1, 2026 5-259(e) | |
| 4583 | 4727 | Sec. 90 July 1, 2026 7-127b | |
| 4584 | 4728 | Sec. 91 July 1, 2026 8-119f | |
| 4585 | 4729 | Sec. 92 July 1, 2026 9-20(c) | |
| 4586 | - | Sec. 93 July 1, 2026 10-74m | |
| 4730 | + | Sec. 93 July 1, 2026 10-74m T | |
| 4731 | + | Committee Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4732 | + | ||
| 4733 | + | ||
| 4734 | + | LCO No. 4161 130 of 130 | |
| 4735 | + | ||
| 4587 | 4736 | Sec. 94 July 1, 2026 10-74n(a) | |
| 4588 | 4737 | Sec. 95 July 1, 2026 10-74q(a) | |
| 4589 | 4738 | Sec. 96 July 1, 2026 10-74t | |
| 4590 | 4739 | Sec. 97 July 1, 2026 10-76d(a)(9)(A) | |
| 4591 | 4740 | Sec. 98 July 1, 2026 10-76i(a) | |
| 4592 | 4741 | Sec. 99 July 1, 2026 10-76y(a) | |
| 4593 | 4742 | Sec. 100 July 1, 2026 11-1a(d) | |
| 4594 | 4743 | Sec. 101 July 1, 2026 12-217oo(a) | |
| 4595 | 4744 | Sec. 102 July 1, 2026 12-217pp | |
| 4596 | 4745 | Sec. 103 July 1, 2026 14-11b | |
| 4597 | 4746 | Sec. 104 July 1, 2026 14-44(b)(2) | |
| 4598 | 4747 | Sec. 105 July 1, 2026 14-253a(b) | |
| 4599 | 4748 | Sec. 106 July 1, 2026 14-253c(b) | |
| 4600 | 4749 | Sec. 107 July 1, 2026 17a-3(d) | |
| 4601 | 4750 | Sec. 108 July 1, 2026 17a-215j(a) | |
| 4602 | 4751 | Sec. 109 July 1, 2026 17a-248 | |
| 4603 | 4752 | Sec. 110 July 1, 2026 17a-451(e) | |
| 4604 | 4753 | Sec. 111 July 1, 2026 17a-667(b) | |
| 4605 | 4754 | ||
| 4606 | - | Statement of Legislative Commissioners: | |
| 4607 | - | In Section 76, the introductory language was updated for accuracy. | |
| 4608 | - | Substitute Bill No. 1158 | |
| 4609 | - | ||
| 4610 | - | ||
| 4611 | - | LCO 128 of 128 | |
| 4612 | - | ||
| 4613 | - | HS Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO | |
| 4755 | + | Statement of Purpose: | |
| 4756 | + | To align state agency functions and improve efficiency and service | |
| 4757 | + | delivery for seniors and persons with disabilities. | |
| 4758 | + | ||
| 4759 | + | [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except | |
| 4760 | + | that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not | |
| 4761 | + | underlined.] | |
| 4762 | + | ||
| 4763 | + | Co-Sponsors: SEN. LESSER, 9th Dist. | |
| 4764 | + | ||
| 4765 | + | S.B. 1158 | |
| 4614 | 4766 |