OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sSB-1394
AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES TO INMATES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Primary Analyst: NB 3/12/25
Contributing Analyst(s): TM, RP
Reviewer: JS
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $
Public Health, Dept. GF - Cost 294,200 344,100
State Comptroller - Fringe
Benefits
1
GF - Cost 106,500 132,000
Governmental Accountability,
Off.
GF - Cost 150,000-
500,000
None
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill, which addresses inmate health care services (including
mental health), results in a cost to the General Fund of between $550,700
and $900,700 in FY 26 and $476,100 in FY 27 (and annually thereafter).
Costs are primarily to the Department of Public Health (DPH), with an
FY 26 cost to the Office of Governmental Accountability related to the
Office of the Corrections Ombudsman needs, as described below.
Section 1 requires DPH, in collaboration with Department of
Correction (DOC), to evaluate and report annually on the provision of
health care and mental health care services to inmates in correctional
facilities. This results in a cost to DPH of approximately $294,200 in FY
1
The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 40.71% of payroll in FY 26. 2025SB-01394-R000090-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 3
26 and $344,100 in FY 27 (and annually thereafter), and an estimated
annual cost to the Office of State Comptroller for associated fringe
benefits of $106,500 in FY 26 and $132,000 in FY 27 (and annually
thereafter). It is anticipated that DPH will begin its work in September
2025
2
to meet the bill's reporting deadline of January 1, 2026.
The costs to DPH reflect the need for three new full-time positions
and one part-time position, at an annualized salary cost of $324,000: (1)
two Nurse Consultants to conduct evaluations across all 13 state
correctional institutions, at an annual salary of $98,950 each; (2) a
Supervising Nurse Consultant to coordinate and supervise the survey
team, at an annual salary of $109,000; and (3) an Epidemiologist (0.25
FTE) to provide counsel as to best practice in correctional settings as it
relates to testing, vaccination and treatment of infectious diseases, at a
part-time annual salary of $17,100. Annualized fringe benefits costs for
these positions are $80,600 (in total), $44,400, and $7,000, respectively.
3
Additional costs to DPH are anticipated to total $32,420 in FY 26 and
$20,100 in FY 27 (and annually thereafter). Startup costs in FY 26 include
staff equipment costs of $13,500, as well as 40 hours of contracted
outside professional services from a Correctional Health Consultant
($2,000). Ongoing costs for both FY 26 and FY 27 (which continue with
inflation into the out years), reflect: (1) vehicle-related costs for the
Nurse Consultants' travel to correctional facilities ($17,500); (2) ongoing
equipment costs of $2,400; and (3) subscription to the National
Commission on Correctional Health Care Standards ($200).
4
Section 2 requires the Office of the Correction Ombudsman (within
the Office of Governmental Accountability) to complete a report to the
General Assembly on the number of personnel required at correctional
institutions, resulting in a cost of between $150,000 and $500,000 in FY
26. This cost is associated with the hiring of a consultant with the
2
FY 26 salary costs reflect a 10-month period rather than a full fiscal year.
3
Expected FY 26 total salary costs are projected to be approximately $261,700 with
$106,500 in associated fringe benefits.
4
Expected FY 26 costs for vehicles and equipment will be slightly lower due to the 10-
month period ($14,600 and $2,200, respectively). 2025SB-01394-R000090-FN.DOCX Page 3 of 3
expertise to complete the study. The exact cost will depend on the
results of a request for proposals.
Section 3 creates a task force to study and report on
recommendations regarding recruitment and retention of DOC health
personnel. This has no fiscal impact as the participating agencies have
sufficient expertise to complete the task force's responsibilities.
Section 4 requires DOC to report on its policies on: (1) the provision
of health care and mental health care services to inmates, (2)
communication with outside providers about an inmate's medical
history, including obtaining and disclosing medical and mental health
records when appropriate, and (3) a primary care provider's ability to
obtain a former inmate's medical and mental health history and records
from DOC after an inmate's discharge. This does not result a fiscal
impact to the state because DOC has the expertise to meet the
requirements of the section.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation.