Connecticut SB 501: AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMPLEX REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY AND WHEELCHAIR REPAIR ADVISORY COUNCIL.

Bill Text

LCO 1 of 5

General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 501
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMPLEX REHABILITATION
TECHNOLOGY AND WHEELCHAIR REPAIR ADVISORY COUNCIL.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 42-339 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2
(a) There is established a complex rehabilitation technology and 3
wheelchair repair advisory council to monitor repairs of wheelchairs, 4
including complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs, as defined in 5
section 42-337, and to make recommendations concerning improving 6
repair times. 7
(b) The advisory council shall consist of the following members: 8
(1) [Two] Three appointed by the House and Senate chairpersons of 9
the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 10
cognizance of matters relating to human services, [one of whom is a 11
consumer who uses] two of whom are consumers who use a complex 12
rehabilitation technology wheelchair purchased, leased or repaired 13
under the Medicaid program, and one of whom is a representative of 14
the state advocacy system for persons with disabilities, established 15
pursuant to section 46a-10b; 16
(2) Two appointed by the House and Senate ranking members of the 17

Substitute Bill No. 501

LCO 2 of 5

joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 18
matters relating to human services, one of whom is a consumer who 19
uses a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair purchased, leased 20
or repaired under a private health insurance policy, and one of whom is 21
an authorized wheelchair dealer, as defined in section 42-337; 22
(3) Two appointed by the House and Senate chairpersons of the joint 23
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 24
matters relating to general law, each of whom is a representative of an 25
organization that represents persons with physical disabilities; 26
(4) Two appointed by the House and Senate ranking members of the 27
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 28
matters relating to general law, [each] one of whom is a consumer who 29
privately pays for complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs and 30
one of whom is an authorized wheelchair dealer, as defined in section 31
42-337; 32
(5) The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services, or the 33
commissioner's designee; 34
(6) The Insurance Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; 35
(7) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 36
designee; 37
(8) The Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's designee; 38
and 39
(9) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's 40
designee. 41
(c) Any member of the advisory council appointed under subdivision 42
(1), (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the 43
General Assembly and shall serve two-year terms at the pleasure of the 44
appointing authority. 45
(d) All initial appointments to the advisory council shall be made not 46

Substitute Bill No. 501

LCO 3 of 5

later than August 1, 2024. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing 47
authority. The advisory council shall meet at least monthly. 48
(e) The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services, or the 49
commissioner's designee, and a member of the advisory council chosen 50
by a majority of members of the advisory council, shall serve as 51
chairpersons. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the 52
advisory council not later than September 1, 2024. 53
(f) The administrative staff of the [joint standing committee of the 54
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human 55
services] Office of the Healthcare Advocate shall serve as administrative 56
staff of the advisory council. 57
(g) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 58
advisory council shall submit a report on its findings and 59
recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 60
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, general law, 61
human services and insurance, in accordance with the provisions of 62
section 11-4a. 63
Sec. 2. Section 42-338 of the general statutes is repealed and the 64
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 65
(a) An authorized wheelchair dealer shall timely repair a wheelchair, 66
including a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair, sold or 67
leased by such dealer in the state. An authorized wheelchair dealer who 68
sells or leases a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair in the 69
state shall provide timely repair of such wheelchair at a consumer's 70
home upon request. 71
(b) An authorized wheelchair dealer shall maintain an electronic mail 72
address and a phone line for consumer repair requests that are 73
accessible each business day and capable of receiving and recording 74
messages. The authorized wheelcha