Connecticut Seal

General Assembly

 

Raised Bill No. 1088

January Session, 2015

 

LCO No. 4945

 

*04945_______PH_*

Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH

 

Introduced by:

 

(PH)

 

AN ACT CONCERNING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Developmental Services shall, in consultation with key stakeholders, develop and implement a plan to close all state-operated intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. In developing such plan, the commissioner shall consider the settlement agreement approved by the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in the case of Messier vs. Southbury Training School in furtherance of a strategic timeline to close such facilities.

(b) Not later than December 15, 2015, the commissioner shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and public health concerning the plan developed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) A timeline for closure of such facilities; (2) a description of the commissioner's plan to (A) transition residents of such facilities to community-based settings, (B) meet the needs of all persons receiving services from the Department of Developmental Services, (C) address any environmental issues relating to the properties on which such facilities are located, (D) utilize such facilities for a new purpose after the closure of such facilities, and (E) staff facilities and homes located in community-based settings; and (3) (A) a financial analysis of short-term and long-term costs and savings relating to the implementation of the plan, and (B) a description of resources needed to implement the plan. Not later than May 15, 2016, and December 15, 2016, the commissioner shall report to said committees concerning the progress made in implementing the plan developed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1

from passage

New section

Statement of Purpose:

To require the Commissioner of Developmental Services to develop a plan for the closure of intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]