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sHB5370 / File No. 144 1
General Assembly File No. 144
February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No. 5370
House of Representatives, March 24, 2026
The Committee on Housing reported through REP. FELIPE of
the 130th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the
House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
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
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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
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
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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:
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
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The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Social Services, Dept. GF - Cost at least
$215,500
at least
$215,500
State Comptroller - Fringe
Benefits1
GF - Cost 90,200 90,200
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill results in a cost to the state of at least $305,700 beginning in
FY 27 (through FY 31) associated with Department of Social Services
(DSS) staff to establish a five-year medical respite pilot for homeless
individuals by 10/1/26 . DSS must implement such program in four
cities and will incur additional programmatic costs to serve individuals
requiring recuperative medical care (but not hospitalization).
The bill requires a planning group to design the medical respite pilot
that includes two to four units to provide care for four weeks, 24/7
supervision, referrals, and case management services for at least 150
individuals. The cost to the state depends on how the program is
implemented. If DSS chooses to pursue an 1 115 Medicaid waiver, DSS
will incur additional costs of approximately $1 million in FY 27 for
associated contractual support.
1The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 41.82% of payroll in FY 27.
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To the extent the program diverts Medicaid clients from higher costs
of care, DSS will experience related savings. The bill requires the
planning group to report on the number of individuals served, projected
Medicaid savings related to reduced hospital admissions and other
health care costs, and recommendations on potential expansion and
funding sources.
The Out Years
The bill requires the pilot program to operate until July 1, 2031.
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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5370
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL RESPITE PILOT PROGRAM.
SUMMARY
The Office of Legislative Research does not analyze Special Acts.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Housing Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 18 Nay 0 (03/10/2026)