Connecticut HB 5370: AN ACT CONCERNING CRUMBLING CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5370
February Session, 2026

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL RESPITE PILOT PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than October 1, 2026, the 1
Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Commissioner 2
of Public Health, shall establish a five-year medical respite pilot 3
program for homeless persons in the state. The commissioner shall 4
select four cities in which to implement the pilot program based on 5
community need, existing infrastructure and community interest in 6
participation. 7
(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall convene a pilot 8
program planning group that includes, but is not limited to, a 9
representative from a local hospital providing services to homeless 10
individuals in each of the four selected cities and a nonprofit 11
organization dedicated to serving individuals experiencing 12
homelessness in each of the four selected cities. 13
(c) The planning group shall design a medical respite pilot program 14
that serves not less than one hundred fifty persons who require 15
recuperative medical care but whose medical needs do not require 16
hospitalization. The planning group shall pursue public and private 17
funding sources for the medical respite pilot program. 18
(d) The medical respite pilot program shall operate until July 1, 2031, 19

Substitute Bill No. 5370

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and shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) At least two, but up to 20
four, units equipped to provide care to persons with a projected average 21
length of stay of four weeks, (2) twenty-four-hour supervision of 22
persons in the pilot program, (3) referrals to health care providers, and 23
(4) case management services, including the provision of housing and 24
support opportunities to help such persons avert homelessness. 25
(e) Not later than October 1, 2027, the planning group established 26
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall submit a report, in 27
accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 28
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 29
matters relating to housing, human services, public health and 30
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. The report shall 31
include, but need not be limited to: (1) The number of persons served 32
since the start of the medical respite pilot program, (2) a fiscal analysis 33
of projected Medicaid cost savings related to a decrease in hospital 34
admissions and other health care costs for persons served by the pilot 35
program, (3) recommendations on whether the pilot program should be 36
expanded, and (4) potential funding sources to expand the pilot 37
program. 38
(f) Not later than October 1, 2031, the Commissioner of Social Services 39
shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general 40
statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 41
having cognizance of matters relating to housing, human services, 42
public health and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. The 43
report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The number of 44
persons served over the course of the program, (2) a fiscal analysis of 45
overall Medicaid cost savings related to a decrease in hospital 46
admissions and other health care costs for persons served by the pilot 47
program, and (3) any recommendations concerning whether the 48
program should be extended or made permanent. 49
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Substitute Bill No. 5370

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Section 1 from passage New section

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Subsec. (f), "Department" was changed to "Commissioner" and
Subsec. (f)(3) was reworded for consistency with standard drafting
conventions.

HSG Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO