Connecticut SB 155: AN ACT INCREASING THE PERSONAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY RESIDENTS.

Bill Text

Substitute Senate Bill No. 155

Public Act No. 26-48

AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THE DATA LINK
CONNECTICUT SYSTEM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) Not later than October 15,
2027, and annually thereafter, the Department of Children and Families
shall submit a 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 children and
appropriations concerning the business of the department during the
preceding fiscal year. Such report shall not contain personally
identifying information and shall include, but need not be limited to:
(1) Data illustrating the utilization of the department's services by
race and ethnicity, an assessment of any trends in such utilization and
recommendations for results-based accountability measures to ensure
parity in access to such services;
(2) Data sufficient to demonstrate the Commissioner of Children and
Families' compliance with the provisions of subsections (a), (c) and (e)
of section 17a-10a of the general statutes, as amended by this act,
including the (A) total number of children who have one or more

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siblings and are in the care and custody of the commissioner pursuant
to temporary placements or orders of commitment, (B) total number of
such children who have had documented sibling visitation, and (C)
number of sibling pairs involved in each placement;
(3) Information regarding the facilities enumerated in section 17a-32
of the general statutes, including (A) aggregate profiles of the residents
of such facilities, (B) descriptions of and updates concerning major
initiatives affecting such facilities, (C) the outcomes and benefits derived
from such initiatives, (D) costs associated with operating each such
facility, and (E) descriptions of educational, vocational and literacy
programs and behavioral, treatment and other services available to
residents of such facilities and the outcomes associated with such
programs and services;
(4) The number of written reports concerning suspected animal harm,
neglect or cruelty (A) made by employees of the department pursuant
to section 17a-100a of the general statutes, and (B) indicated in reports
received by the commissioner pursuant to section 22-329b of the general
statutes;
(5) Information regarding the department's family assessment
response program established pursuant to section 17a-101g of the
general statutes, as amended by this act, including (A) the number of
accepted reports of child abuse or neglect and the percentage of such
reports assigned to such program, (B) the disposition of families
assigned to such program, (C) the number of each type of reporter who
made reports that were assigned to such program, (D) the number and
percentage of reports assigned to such program that resulted in an
investigation, (E) an analysis of the department's prior or subsequent
involvement with each family that was the subject of a report assigned
to such program, as applicable, (F) an analysis of the department's prior
or subsequent involvement with each family assigned to a community
partner agency, (G) a description of services commonly provided to

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families referred to the department's community support for families
program, (H) a description of the department's staff development and
training practices concerning report intake, (I) the number and
percentage of families referred to the family assessment response
program who were enrolled in the community support for families
program, (J) the reasons identified by community providers for families'
discharge from services pursuant to subdivision (7) of subsection (g) of
section 17a-101g of the general statutes, as amended by this act,
categorized by race and ethnicity, (K) a comparison of the family needs
identified and addressed by the department's community support for
families program, and (L) an analysis of the efficacy of the department's
risk and safety assessment practices, including information concerning
the (i) methodology used to determine the reliability of such practices,
(ii) utilization of evidence-based practices and tools, and (iii)
effectiveness of such practices for identifying children at risk for abuse
or neglect;
(6) Information regarding private providers that contract with the
department, including the (A) number of service types provided
pursuant to each provider's contract with the department and
measurable outcomes for each such type, (B) incorporation of such
outcomes into contracts, (C) achievement of such outcomes and other
quality indicators as noted in annual evaluations of each provider, and
(D) application of outcome information into quality improvement
eff