CHAPTER 319a CHILD WELFARE

      Sec. 17a-101. (Formerly Sec. 17-38a). Protection of children from abuse. Mandated reporters. Educational and training programs. (a) The public policy of this state is: To protect children whose health and welfare may be adversely affected through injury and neglect; to strengthen the family and to make the home safe for children by enhancing the parental capacity for good child care; to provide a temporary or permanent nurturing and safe environment for children when necessary; and for these purposes to require the reporting of suspected child abuse, investigation of such reports by a social agency, and provision of services, where needed, to such child and family.

      (b) The following persons shall be mandated reporters: Any physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 370, any resident physician or intern in any hospital in this state, whether or not so licensed, any registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, medical examiner, dentist, dental hygienist, psychologist, coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics, school superintendent, school teacher, school principal, school guidance counselor, school paraprofessional, school coach, social worker, police officer, juvenile or adult probation officer, juvenile or adult parole officer, member of the clergy, pharmacist, physical therapist, optometrist, chiropractor, podiatrist, mental health professional or physician assistant, any person who is a licensed or certified emergency medical services provider, any person who is a licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor, any person who is a licensed marital and family therapist, any person who is a sexual assault counselor or a battered women's counselor as defined in section 52-146k, any person who is a licensed professional counselor, any person who is a licensed foster parent, any person paid to care for a child in any public or private facility, child day care center, group day care home or family day care home licensed by the state, any employee of the Department of Children and Families, any employee of the Department of Public Health who is responsible for the licensing of child day care centers, group day care homes, family day care homes or youth camps, the Child Advocate and any employee of the Office of the Child Advocate.

      (c) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall develop an educational training program for the accurate and prompt identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect. Such training program shall be made available to all persons mandated to report child abuse and neglect at various times and locations throughout the state as determined by the Commissioner of Children and Families.

      (d) Any mandated reporter, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, who fails to report to the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to section 17a-101a shall be required to participate in an educational and training program established by the commissioner. The program may be provided by one or more private organizations approved by the commissioner, provided the entire costs of the program shall be paid from fees charged to the participants, the amount of which shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner.

      (February, 1965, P.A. 580, S. 1-3; 1967, P.A. 317; 1969, P.A. 25; 1971, P.A. 216; P.A. 73-205, S. 1; P.A. 74-293, S. 1-3; P.A. 75-270; 75-384, S. 1-6, 9; 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 76-27, S. 1, 2; 76-436, S. 586, 681; P.A. 77-308, S. 1, 4; 77-614, S. 486, 521, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-631, S. 60, 111; P.A. 80-190, S. 4; P.A. 81-91, S. 2; 81-472, S. 29, 159; P.A. 82-203; P.A. 86-337, S. 6; P.A. 88-218; 88-333; P.A. 89-160, S. 1, 2; 89-168, S. 1; P.A. 92-76, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 4, 19; P.A. 94-221, S. 21; P.A. 95-103; 95-289, S. 7; P.A. 96-246, S. 1; P.A. 99-102, S. 13; P.A. 00-49, S. 6, 7; P.A. 02-106, S. 3; 02-138, S. 12; P.A. 09-185, S. 8; 09-242, S. 2.)

      History: 1967 act added nurses, teachers, principals and social workers; 1969 act included licensed practical nurses in Subsec. (a); 1971 act inserted new Subsec. (a) stating policy of state, relettered former Subsecs. (a) and (b) as (b) and (c), included medical examiners, police officers and clergymen in Subsec. (b), formerly (a), clarified and expanded provisions re circumstances requiring report, clarified to whom oral and written reports to be made in Subsec. (c), added Subsecs. (d) to (g) and designated former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (h), making minor changes to reach conformity with rest of section as amended; P.A. 73-205 included dentists, psychologists and school guidance counselors in Subsec. (b) and added provision imposing fine for failure to report as required, amended Subsec. (c) to delete reports to health commissioner and impose 72-hour deadline for written report, amended Subsec. (d) to refer to examination rather than treatment of child, to require physician to advise parents, guardians etc. and to extend hospital custody period from 72 to 96 hours, amended Subsec. (f) to describe qualities appointed counsel must possess and to require court rather than welfare commissioner to pay fee and amended Subsec. (g) to make welfare commissioner rather than health commissioner responsible for registry; P.A. 74-293 included coroners, osteopaths, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, day care center employees and mental health professionals in Subsec. (b), substituted "shall" for "may" in Subsec. (f)(2) thereby making representation by counsel mandatory and imposed deadline for adoption of regulations in Subsec. (g); P.A. 75-270 replaced welfare commissioner and department with commissioner and department of children and youth services and added provisions in Subsec. (e) for temporary custody of child; P.A. 75-384 returned duties to welfare department and commissioner, included emotional maltreatment in Subsec. (b), added provision re counsel as guardian ad litem in Subsec. (f), clarified confidentiality provision in Subsec. (g) and added provision re penalty for violation of section; P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner and department with commissioner and department of social services; P.A. 76-27 included action by commissioner of children and youth services in Subsec. (e); P.A. 76-436 replaced juvenile court with superior court in Subsecs. (d) to (f), effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-308 amended Subsec. (b) to refer to abuse of child by person responsible for his health, welfare or care or by person given access to child by responsible person and added reference to children neglected as defined in Sec. 17-53; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced social services commissioner and department with commissioner and department of human resources and made state police department a division within the department of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-631 replaced commissioner and department of human resources with commissioner and department of children and youth services; P.A. 80-190 deleted coroners in Subsec. (b); P.A. 81-91 substituted commissioner of children and youth services for commissioner of human resources in Subsec. (c); P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; P.A. 82-203 amended Subsec. (b) by substituting sexual abuse and sexual exploitation for sexual molestation in the list of examples of conditions that are the result of maltreatment; P.A. 86-337 added requirement that commissioner of children and youth services immediately notify appropriate law enforcement agency of reports of child abuse; P.A. 88-218 added physician assistants, Connecticut certified substance abuse counselors and Connecticut certified marital and family therapists to the list of persons required to report child abuse in Subsec. (b) and made a technical change in Subsec. (g); P.A. 88-333 in Subsec. (b) added a school employee as a person who has inflicted injuries, in Subsecs. (b) and (c) added reporting requirements when it is suspected or believed that the injuries were inflicted by a school employee, in Subsec. (e) specified who is to investigate when a report concerns suspected or believed injuries by a school employee and added Subdiv. (3) re reporting and suspension when an investigation produces evidence that a child has been abused by a school employee, in Subsec. (f) specified what happens if a school employee is convicted of a crime involving an act of child abuse and added Subsec. (i) re the assignment of designees by a school superintendent; P.A. 89-160 amended Subsec. (c) to require the commissioner of children and youth services and the local police department or state police to notify each other when either receives an oral report alleging serious physical abuse or sexual abuse of a child, amended Subsec. (d) to allow physicians examining a child with respect to whom abuse is suspected to perform diagnostic tests and procedures necessary for the detection of child abuse, the expenses for such tests and procedures paid for by the parents or if they are unable to pay, by the commissioner, amended Subsec. (d) to allow the commissioner during the period of temporary custody, to provide the child with all necessary care including medical care consisting of an examination, with or without parental consent and diagnostic tests and procedures necessary to detect child abuse and amended Subsec. (g) to require the commissioner to disclose the information in the registry of child abuse reports received to the legislative program review and investigations committee when requested and under certain conditions protecting confidentiality; P.A. 89-168 added a new Subsec. (j) which requires each local and regional board of education to adopt a written policy regarding the reporting, by school employees, of suspected child abuse; Sec. 17-38a transferred to Sec. 17a-101 in 1991; P.A. 92-76 included school paraprofessionals in Subsec. (b), amended Subsec. (c) to require report to commissioner of education in cases involving certified school employees, amended Subsec. (e) to require notification of commissioner of education in investigations involving certified school employees and to add language concerning certification revocation proceedings and made technical changes in Subsec. (f); P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-340 amended Subsec. (b) to add dental hygienists, pharmacists, physical therapists, sexual assault counselors and battered women's counselors to list of persons required to report suspected child abuse and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-221 amended Subsec. (f) to add notice by the state's attorney of persons holding certificates issued by the State Board of Education, expanded the reasons for the notice to include violations of Secs. 53a-71 and 53a-73a, substituted notice to the commissioner of education for notice to the State Board of Education and deleted provision for the commencement of certification revocation proceedings; P.A. 95-103 amended Subsec. (f) by adding provision that separate guardian ad litem not required to be attorney; P.A. 95-289 changed marital and family therapists from "Connecticut certified" to "licensed"; P.A. 96-246 amended Subsec. (b) by listing mandated reporters and deleting rest of subsection and deleted former Subsecs. (c) to (j), inclusive, and added new Subsec. (c) re development of educational training program for prompt identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect; P.A. 99-102 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting obsolete references to chapter 371 and osteopaths and making a technical change; P.A. 00-49 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes and adding the Child Advocate and any employee of the Office of Child Advocate as mandated reporters, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 02-106 amended Subsec. (b) to add a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics as a mandated reporter; P.A. 02-138 amended Subsec. (b) to replace "clergyman" with "member of the clergy", replace "licensed substance abuse counselor" with "licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor", replace "day care center" with "child day care center" and add as mandated reporters a school coach, juvenile or adult probation officer, juvenile or adult parole officer, any person who is a licensed or certified emergency medical services provider, any person who is a licensed professional counselor, any person paid to care for a child in any group day care home licensed by the state, any employee of the Department of Children and Families and any employee of the Department of Public Health who is responsible for the licensing of child day care centers, group day care homes, family day care homes or youth camps and added new Subsec. (d) re participation of mandated reporters who fail to report in an educational and training program established by the commissioner; P.A. 09-185 amended Subsec. (b) by expanding mandated reporters to include any person licensed as a foster parent, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 09-242 amended Subsec. (b) to include school superintendent as a mandated reporter and make a technical change.

      Sec. 17a-101i. Abuse of child by school employee or staff member of public or private institution or facility providing care for children. Suspension. Notification of state's attorney re conviction. Boards of education to adopt written policy re reporting of child abuse by school employee. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, after an investigation has been completed and the Commissioner of Children and Families, based upon the results of the investigation, has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused by a school employee who holds a certificate, permit or authorization issued by the State Board of Education, and the commissioner has recommended that such employee be placed on the child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k, the commissioner shall, not later than five working days after such finding, notify the employing superintendent of such finding and shall provide records, whether or not created by the department, concerning such investigation to the superintendent who shall suspend such school employee. The commissioner shall provide such notice whether or not the child was a student in the employing school or school district. Such suspension shall be with pay and shall not result in the diminution or termination of benefits to such employee. Within seventy-two hours after such suspension the superintendent shall notify the local or regional board of education and the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's representative, of the reasons for and conditions of the suspension. The superintendent shall disclose such records to the Commissioner of Education and the local or regional board of education or its attorney for purposes of review of employment status or the status of such employee's certificate, permit or authorization. The suspension of a school employee employed in a position requiring a certificate shall remain in effect until the board of education acts pursuant to the provisions of section 10-151. If the contract of employment of such certified school employee is terminated, the superintendent shall notify the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's representative, within seventy-two hours after such termination. Upon receipt of such notice from the superintendent, the Commissioner of Education may commence certification revocation proceedings pursuant to the provisions of subsection (j) of section 10-145b. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, information received by the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's representative, pursuant to this section shall be confidential subject to regulations adopted by the State Board of Education under section 10-145g.

      (b) After an investigation has been completed and the Commissioner of Children and Families, based upon the results of the investigation, has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused by a staff member of a public or private institution or facility providing care for children or private school, the commissioner shall notify the executive director of such institution, school or facility and shall provide records, whether or not created by the department concerning such investigation to such executive director. Such institution, school or facility may suspend such staff person. Such suspension shall be with pay and shall not result in diminution or termination of benefits to such employee. Such suspension shall remain in effect until the incident of abuse has been satisfactorily resolved by the employer of the staff person. If such staff member has a professional license or certificate issued by the state or a permit or authorization issued by the State Board of Education, the commissioner shall forthwith notify the state agency responsible for issuing such license, certificate, permit or authorization to the staff member and provide records, whether or not created by the department, concerning such investigation.

      (c) If a school employee or any person holding a certificate, permit or authorization issued by the State Board of Education under the provisions of sections 10-144o to 10-149, inclusive, is convicted of a crime involving an act of child abuse or neglect as described in section 46b-120 or a violation of section 53-21, 53a-71 or 53a-73a, the state's attorney for the judicial district in which the conviction occurred shall in writing notify the superintendent of the school district or the supervisory agent of the nonpublic school in which the person is employed and the Commissioner of Education of such conviction.

      (d) For the purposes of receiving and making reports, notifying and receiving notification, or investigating, pursuant to the provisions of sections 17a-101a to 17a-101h, inclusive, and 17a-103, a superintendent of a school district or a supervisory agent of a nonpublic school may assign a designee to act on such superintendent's or agent's behalf.

      (e) On or before February 1, 1997, each local and regional board of education shall adopt a written policy regarding the reporting by school employees of suspected child abuse in accordance with sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, and 17a-103.

      (P.A. 96-246, S. 11; P.A. 97-319, S. 14, 22; P.A. 00-220, S. 30, 43; P.A. 01-142, S. 5; 01-173, S. 43, 44, 67; P.A. 03-168, S. 7; P.A. 05-246, S. 17; 05-257, S. 2; June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1, S. 17.)

      History: P.A. 97-319 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding provisions re notification by the commissioner to the superintendent or executive director of finding of abuse by employee and by adding provisions re disclosure of records, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 00-220 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to expand the applicability of section to include school employees who hold permits or authorizations, made conforming and technical changes in Subsec. (a) and added reference re violation of Sec. 53-21 in Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-142 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re notification by commissioner of state agency issuing professional license to any staff member of investigation of such staff member re abuse of child; P.A. 01-173 amended Subsecs. (a) and (d) to make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-168 amended Subsec. (b) to expand references to certification to include permits and authorizations issued by the State Board of Education, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 05-246 added provision re commissioner's recommending that school employee be placed on child abuse and neglect registry in Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 2006; P.A. 05-257 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical change, by limiting time for notification to not later than five working days after finding and by requiring commissioner to provide notice regardless of whether child was a student in employing school or district, effective January 1, 2006; June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2009.

      Sec. 17a-101m. Identification of relatives when child removed from parent's or guardian's custody. Notification of relatives. Immediately upon the removal of a child from the custody of the child's parent or guardian pursuant to subsection (e) of section 17a-101g or section 46b-129, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall exercise due diligence to identify all adult grandparents and other adult relatives of the child, including any adult relatives suggested by the parents, subject to exceptions due to family or domestic violence. Not later than thirty days after the removal, the commissioner shall provide such grandparents and other relatives with notice that (1) the child has been or is being removed from the custody of the child's parent or guardian; (2) explains the options that the relative has under federal, state and local law to participate in the care and placement of the child, including any options that may be lost by failing to respond to the notice; (3) describes the requirements (A) to obtain a foster care license pursuant to section 17a-114, and (B) for additional services and supports that are available for children placed in such a home; and (4) describes the subsidized guardianship program under section 17a-126, including (A) eligibility requirements, (B) the process for applying to the program, and (C) financial assistance available under the program.

      (P.A. 09-185, S. 9.)

      History: P.A. 09-185 effective July 1, 2009.

      Sec. 17a-101n. Collection and analysis of data re percentage of abuse and neglect cases involving substance abuse. Reduction strategies. The Department of Children and Families shall collect and analyze data to determine the percentage of the department's cases of child abuse and neglect that involve a parent or guardian with a substance abuse problem and utilize such data to develop strategies to reduce the number of such cases in the future.

      (P.A. 09-205, S. 10.)

      History: P.A. 09-205 effective July 1, 2009.

      Sec. 17a-115a. Emergency placement of children. Criminal history records checks. (a) For purposes of this section, "emergency placement" means the placement of a child by the Department of Children and Families in the home of a private individual, including a neighbor, friend or relative of a child, as a result of the sudden unavailability of the child's primary caretaker.

      (b) When the Department of Children and Families makes an emergency placement, the department may request a criminal justice agency to perform a federal name-based criminal history search of any person residing in the home. The results of such name-based search shall be provided to the department.

      (c) No later than fifteen calendar days after the date such name-based search is performed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the department shall request the State Police Bureau of Identification to perform a state and national criminal history records check in accordance with section 29-17a of any person residing in the home. Such criminal history records checks shall be deemed as required by this section for purposes of said section 29-17a and the department may request that such records checks be performed in accordance with subsection (c) of section 29-17a. The results of such criminal history records checks shall be provided to the department. If any person refuses to provide fingerprints or other positive identifying information for purposes of such checks when requested, the department shall immediately remove the child from the home.

      (d) If the department denies emergency placement or removes a child from a home based on the results of a federal name-based criminal history search performed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the person whose name-based search was the basis for such denial or removal may contest such denial or removal by requesting that a full criminal history records check be performed in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

      (Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5, S. 68.)

      History: Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5 effective October 5, 2009.

Sec. 17a-116b. Advisory committee promoting adoption and provision of services to minority and difficult to place children. Members, appointment, duties, reports. Section 17a-116b is repealed, effective July 1, 2009.

(P.A. 99-166, S. 15; P.A. 09-205, S. 12.)

      Sec. 17a-126. Subsidized guardianship program. (a) As used in this section, (1) "relative caregiver" means a person who is caring for a child related to such person because the parent of the child has died or become otherwise unable to care for the child for reasons that make reunification with the parent and adoption not viable options within the foreseeable future, and (2) "commissioner" means the Commissioner of Children and Families.

      (b) The commissioner, shall establish a program of subsidized guardianship for the benefit of children in foster care who have been living with relative caregivers, who are licensed foster care providers pursuant to section 17a-114, and who have been in foster care or certified relative care for not less than six consecutive months. A relative caregiver may request a guardianship subsidy from the commissioner.

      (c) If a relative caregiver who is receiving a guardianship subsidy for a related child is also caring for the child's sibling who is not related to the caregiver, the commissioner shall provide a guardianship subsidy to such relative caregiver if the sibling has been in foster care for not less than eighteen months, and the commissioner shall, within available appropriations, provide a guardianship subsidy to such relative caregiver in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. For purposes of this subsection, "child's sibling" includes a stepbrother, stepsister, a half-brother or a half-sister.

      (d) The commissioner shall provide the following subsidies under the subsidized guardianship program in accordance with this section and the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (e) of this section: (1) A special-need subsidy, which shall be a lump sum payment for one-time expenses resulting from the assumption of care of the child and shall not exceed two thousand dollars; (2) a medical subsidy comparable to the medical subsidy to children in the subsidized adoption program if the child lacks private health insurance. The subsidized guardianship program shall also provide a monthly subsidy on behalf of the child payable to the relative caregiver that is based on the circumstances of the relative caregiver and the needs of the child and shall not exceed the foster care maintenance payment that would have been paid on behalf of the child if the child had remained in licensed foster care.

      (e) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, implementing the subsidized guardianship program established under this section. Such regulations shall include all federal requirements necessary to maximize federal reimbursement available to the state, including, but not limited to, (1) eligibility for the program, (2) the maximum age at which a child is no longer eligible for a guardianship subsidy, including the maximum age, for purposes of claiming federal reimbursement under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, at which a child is no longer eligible for a guardianship subsidy, and (3) a procedure for determining the types and amounts of the subsidies.

      (f) At a minimum, the guardianship subsidy provided under this section shall continue until the child reaches the age of eighteen or the age of twenty-one if such child is in full time attendance at a secondary school, technical school or college or is in a state accredited job training program. Annually, the subsidized guardian shall submit to the commissioner a sworn statement that the child is still living with and receiving support from the guardian. The parent of any child receiving assistance through the subsidized guardianship program shall remain liable for the support of the child as required by the general statutes.

      (g) A guardianship subsidy shall not be included in the calculation of household income in determining eligibility for benefits of the relative caregiver of the subsidized child or other persons living within the household of the relative caregiver.

      (h) Payments for guardianship subsidies shall be made from moneys available from any source to the commissioner for child welfare purposes. The commissioner shall develop and implement a plan that: (1) Maximizes use of the subsidized guardianship program to decrease the number of children in the legal custody of the commissioner and to reduce the number of children who would otherwise be placed into nonrelative foster care when there is a family member willing to provide care; (2) maximizes federal reimbursement for the costs of the subsidized guardianship program, provided whatever federal maximization method is employed shall not result in the relative caregiver of a child being subject to work requirements as a condition of receipt of benefits for the child or the benefits restricted in time or scope other than as specified in subsection (c) of this section; and (3) ensures necessary transfers of funds between agencies and interagency coordination in program implementation. The commissioner shall seek all federal waivers and reimbursement as are necessary and appropriate to implement this plan.

      (i) In the case of the death, severe disability or serious illness of a relative caregiver who is receiving a guardianship subsidy, the commissioner may transfer the guardianship subsidy to a new relative caregiver who meets the Department of Children and Families foster care safety requirements and is appointed as legal guardian by a court of competent jurisdiction.

      (j) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the commissioner from continuing to pay guardianship subsidies to those relative caregivers who entered into written subsidy agreements with the Department of Children and Families prior to October 5, 2009.

      (P.A. 97-272, S. 7, 9; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 90, 121; P.A. 99-251, S. 1, 2; P.A. 05-254, S. 1; P.A. 07-174, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5, S. 38; P.A. 09-185, S. 7; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5, S. 69.)

      History: P.A. 97-272, S. 7 effective July 1, 1997 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (e) the nonexistent word "chid" was replaced editorially by the Revisors with "child" to correct a typographical error); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-251 amended Subsec. (b) by making children living with relatives who have been in foster or certified relative care for less than 18 months eligible for a subsidy and amended Subsec. (d) by deleting an obsolete reference to the date by which regulations have to be adopted, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 05-254 lowered threshold from not less than twelve to not less than 6 months for children living with relative caregivers and who have been in foster care or certified relative care in Subsec. (b); P.A. 07-174 amended Subsec. (b) by making subsidized guardianship program mandatory rather than permissive for children who have been in foster care or certified relative care for not less than six but not more than eighteen months, added new Subsec. (c) making siblings of children living with relative caregivers eligible for subsidy, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (g) as Subsecs. (d) to (h), substituted "commissioner" for "subsidized guardianship program" and replaced "for the benefit of any child in the care of a relative caregiver who has been appointed the guardian or coguardian of the child by any court of competent jurisdiction" with "under the subsidized guardianship program in accordance with this section and the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (e) of this section" in Subsec. (d), and substituted "not later than fifteen days after the date of the request" for "within fifteen days of the request" in Subsec. (e); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5 made technical changes in Subsec. (e); P.A. 09-185 added Subsec. (i) re transfer of guardianship subsidy to new relative caregiver, effective July 1, 2009; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to adoption in definition of relative caregiver, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing care and custody of commissioner with foster care, inserting reference to licensing under Sec. 17a-114, replacing 18 months with 6 consecutive months and deleting provisions re establishment of subsidized guardianship program and counseling of caregivers, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing provision re commissioner to provide relative caregiver caring for a child and the child's sibling with guardianship subsidy if the sibling is in foster care between 6 and 18 months with provision re guardianship subsidy being given in accordance with regulations, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting provision re special-need subsidy given when no other resource is available, adding provision re subsidy not to exceed $2000, replacing provision requiring commissioner to establish asset test for eligibility with provision re monthly subsidy based on circumstances and needs of child and not in excess of foster care maintenance payment, amended Subsec. (e) by replacing former regulation requirements with requirements to maximize federal reimbursement, amended Subsec. (f) by specifying that guardianship subsidy is the minimum required, amended Subsec. (h)(1) by inserting reference to nonrelative foster care, amended Subsec. (h)(3) by adding requirement that commissioner seek all necessary and appropriate reimbursement, added Subsec. (i) re transfer of guardianship subsidy to new relative caregiver, added Subsec. (j) re honoring terms of existing subsidy agreements, and made conforming and technical changes, effective October 5, 2009 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (c), the Subdiv. (2) designator was deleted editorially by the Revisors to conform with the deletion of the Subdiv. (1) designator by Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5).

PART II
CHILD-CARE FACILITIES AND CHILD-PLACING AGENCIES

      Sec. 17a-145. (Formerly Sec. 17-48). Licensing of child care facilities. Exemptions. No person or entity shall care for or board a child without a license obtained from the Commissioner of Children and Families, except: (1) When a child has been placed by a person or entity holding a license from the commissioner; (2) any residential educational institution exempted by the State Board of Education under the provisions of section 17a-152; (3) residential facilities licensed by the Department of Developmental Services pursuant to section 17a-227; (4) facilities providing child day care services, as defined in section 19a-77; or (5) any home that houses students participating in a program described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (8) of section 10a-29. The person or entity seeking a child care facility license shall file with the commissioner an application for a license, in such form as the commissioner furnishes, stating the location where it is proposed to care for such child, the number of children to be cared for, in the case of a corporation, the purpose of the corporation and the names of its chief officers and of the actual person responsible for the child. The Commissioner of Children and Families is authorized to fix the maximum number of children to be boarded and cared for in any such home or institution or by any person or entity licensed by the commissioner. If the population served at any facility, institution or home operated by any person or entity licensed under this section changes after such license is issued, such person or entity shall file a new license application with the commissioner, and the commissioner shall notify the chief executive officer of the municipality in which the facility is located of such new license application, except that no confidential client information may be disclosed.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2638; 1961, P.A. 601, S. 1; P.A. 73-62, S. 1, 3; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 521, 610; P.A. 78-108, S. 1, 4; P.A. 79-631, S. 71, 111; P.A. 82-261, S. 1, 6; P.A. 85-56; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 96-194, S. 8; P.A. 05-71, S. 1; 05-246, S. 13; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a); 07-252, S. 62; P.A. 09-205, S. 7.)

      History: 1961 act deleted requirement that annual report be filed, but see Sec. 17-50; P.A. 73-62 included commissioner of children and youth services in licensing authority, added provisions re annual report and clarified powers of children and youth services commissioner; P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services; P.A. 77-614 replaced social services commissioner with commissioner of human resources, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-108 required license for nonexempt residential educational institutions; P.A. 79-631 deleted reference to commissioner of human resources and obsolete limitation on powers of children and youth services commissioner; P.A. 82-261 provided the exemption for family day care homes; P.A. 85-56 replaced an exception for family day care homes with the exception for facilities providing child day care services; Sec. 17-48 transferred to Sec. 17a-145 in 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 96-194 replaced obsolete language categorizing entities which may care for or board a child with new provisions and made technical corrections; P.A. 05-71 made a technical change and added requirements that new license application be filed with commissioner if population at facility, institution or home changes and that commissioner notify chief executive officer of municipality in which facility located of such application; P.A. 05-246 added new Subdiv. (3) re exception for residential facilities licensed by Department of Mental Retardation pursuant to Sec. 17a-227, redesignated existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4) and made a technical change; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Department of Mental Retardation" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 07-252 added Subdiv. (5) re exemption for homes that house students participating in the "A Better Chance" program or similar programs, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 09-205 eliminated annual report requirement, effective July 1, 2009.