AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING RECOVERY-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE AND VARIOUS REVISIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION STATUTES.

House of Representatives
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General Assembly File No. 529
February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No. 5517

House of Representatives, April 9, 2026

The Committee on Public Health reported through REP.
MCCARTHY VAHEY of the 133rd Dist., Chairperson of the
Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill
ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING
RECOVERY-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE AND VARIOUS REVISIONS TO
MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 4 -67s of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
As used in sections 4-67s to 4-67x, inclusive, as amended by this act: 3
(1) "Prevention" means policies and programs that promote healthy, 4
safe and productive lives and reduce the likelihood of crime, violence, 5
substance [abuse] use, illness, academic failure and other socially 6
destructive behaviors. 7
(2) "Research-based prevention" means those prevention programs as 8
defined in this section that have been rigorously evaluated and are 9
found to be effective or represent best practices. 10
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Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 4 -67x of the general statutes is 11
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 12
1, 2026): 13
(b) The ten-year plan shall contain: (1) An identification and analysis 14
of the occurrence of child poverty in the state, (2) an analysis of the long-15
term effects of child poverty on children, their families and their 16
communities, (3) an analysis of costs of child poverty to municipalities 17
and the state, (4) an inventory of state-wide public and private programs 18
that address child poverty, (5) the percentage of the target population 19
served by such programs and the current state funding levels, if any, for 20
such programs, (6) an identification and analysis of any deficiencies or 21
inefficiencies of such programs, and (7) procedures and priorities for 22
implementing strategies to achieve a fifty per cent reduction in child 23
poverty in the state by June 30, 2014. Such procedures and priorities 24
shall include, but not be limited to, (A) vocational training and 25
placement to promote career progression for parents of children living 26
in poverty, (B) educational opportunities, including higher education 27
opportunities, and advancement for such parents and children, 28
including, but not limited to, preliteracy, literacy and family literacy 29
programs, (C) housing for such parents and children, (D) child care 30
services, as described in section 19a -77, after-school programs and 31
mentoring programs for such children and for single parents, (E) health 32
care access for such parents and children, including access to mental 33
health services and family planning, (F) treatment programs and 34
services, including substance [abuse] use treatment programs and 35
services, for such parents and children, and (G) accessible childhood 36
nutrition programs. 37
Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 10 -16b of the general statutes is 38
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 39
1, 2026): 40
(a) In the public schools the program of instruction offered shall 41
include at least the following subject matter, as taught by legally 42
qualified teachers, the arts; career education; consumer education; 43
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personal financial management and financial literacy; health and safety, 44
including, but not limited to, human growth and development, 45
nutrition, first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in 46
accordance with the provisions of section 10 -16qq, disease prevention 47
and cancer awareness, including, but not limited to, age and 48
developmentally appropriate instruction in performing self -49
examinations for the purposes of screening for breast cancer and 50
testicular cancer, community and consumer health, physical, mental 51
and emotional health, including youth suicide prevention, substance 52
[abuse] use prevention, including instruction relating to opioid use and 53
related disorders, safety, which shall include the safe use of social 54
media, as defined in section 9-601, and may include the dangers of gang 55
membership, and accident prevention; language arts, including reading, 56
writing, grammar, speaking and spelling; mathematics; physical 57
education; science, which may include the climate change curriculum 58
described in subsection (d) of this section; social studies, including, but 59
not limited to, civics and media literacy, citizenship, economics, 60
geography, government, history and Holocaust and genocide education 61
and awareness in accordance with the provisions of section 10 -18f; 62
African-American and black studies in accordance with the provisions 63
of section 10-16ss; Puerto Rican and Latino studies in accordance with 64
the provisions of section 10 -16ss; Native American studies, in 65
accordance with the provisions of section 10-16vv; Asian American and 66
Pacific Islander studies, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-67
66ww; computer programming instruction; and in addition, on at least 68
the secondary level, one or more world languages; vocational education; 69
and the black and Latino studies course in accordance with the 70
provisions of sections 10 -16tt and 10 -16uu. For purposes of this 71
subsection, world languages shall include American Sign Language, 72
provided such subject matter is taught by a qualified instructor under 73
the supervision of a teacher who holds a certificate issued by the State 74
Board of Education. For purposes of this subsection, the "arts" means 75
any form of visual or performing arts, which may include, but not be 76
limited to, dance, music, art and theatre; and "reading" means evidence-77
based instruction that focuses on competency in oral language, 78
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phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, rapid automatic 79
name or letter name fluency and reading comprehension. 80
Sec. 4. Section 10 -19b of the general statutes is repealed and the 81
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 82
Advisory councils on [drug abuse ] substance use education and 83
prevention established by municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of 84
Section 4126 of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986 may 85
serve as a resource for public schools in the field of substance [abuse] 86
use prevention and education and may assist in the development of out-87
of-school activity for students. 88
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 10 -220a of the general statutes is 89
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 90
1, 2026): 91
(a) Each local or regional board of education shall provide an in -92
service training program for its teachers, administrators and pupil 93
personnel who hold the initial educator, provisional educator or 94
professional educator certificate. Such program shall provide such 95
teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) 96
the nature and the relationship of alcohol and drugs, as defined in 97
section 21a-240, to health and personality development, and procedures 98
for discouraging their abuse, (2) health and mental health risk reduction 99
education that includes, but need not be limited to, the prevention of 100
risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such behavior 101
to substance [abuse] use, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, 102
including HIV -infection and AIDS, as defined in section 19a -581, as 103
amended by this act , violence, teen dating violence, domestic violence 104
and child abuse, (3) school violence prevention, conflict resolution and 105
the prevention of and response to youth suicide, provided such school 106
violence prevention training shall be in a manner prescribed in a school 107
security and safety plan, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-108
222n, (4) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency life 109
saving procedures, (5) the requirements and obligations of a mandated 110
reporter, (6) the detection and recognition of, and evidence -based 111
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structured literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia, as defined 112
in section 10-3d, (7) the laws governing the implementation of planning 113
and placement team meetings and concerning plans pursuant to Section 114
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, (8) 115
an annual update of the new state and federal policies concerning 116
special education, recommendations and best practices, and (9) 117
emergency response to students who experience a seizure in a school, 118
including, but not limited to, the recognition of the signs and symptoms 119
of seizures, the appropriate steps for seizure first aid, information about 120
seizure action plans for students and, for those authorized to administer 121
medication under section 10 -212a, the administration of seizure rescue 122
medication or prescribed electrical stimulation using a Vagus Nerve 123
Stimulator magnet. The manner and frequency of the provision of the 124
information described in subdivisions (1) to (9), inclusive, of this 125
subsection shall be determined by the professional development and 126
evaluation committee, established pursuant to subsection (b) of this 127
section, provided such information is provided at least once every five 128
years. Each local or regional board of education may allow any 129
paraeducator or noncertified employee to participate, on a voluntary 130
basis, in any in -service training program provided pursuant to this 131
section. 132
Sec. 6. Subsection (h) of section 14 -44k of the general statutes is 133
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 134
1, 2026): 135
(h) A person is disqualified for life if such person commits two or 136
more of the offenses specified in subsection (b) of this section, or if such 137
person is the subject of two or more findings by the commissioner under 138
subsection (c) of this section, or any combination of those offenses or 139
findings, arising from two or more separate incidents. A person is 140
disqualified for life if the commissioner takes suspension actions against 141
such person for two or more alcohol test refusals or test failures, or any 142
combination of such actions, arising from two or more separate 143
incidents. Any person disqualified for life, except a person disqualified 144
under subsection (g) of this section, who has both voluntarily enrolled 145
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in and successfully completed an appropriate rehabilitation program, as 146
determined by the commissioner, may apply for reinstatement of such 147
person's commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit, 148
provided any such applicant shall not be eligible for reinstatement until 149
such time as such person has served a minimum disqualification period 150
of ten years. An application for reinstatement shall be accompanied by 151
documentation satisfactory to the commissioner that such person has 152
both voluntarily enrolled in and successfully completed a program 153
established and operated by the Department of Mental Health and 154
Addiction Services pursuant to chapter 319j, a program operated 155
through a substance [abuse] use treatment facility licensed in 156
accordance with section 19a -491, as amended by this act, or the 157
equivalent of either program offered in another state. The commissioner 158
shall not reinstate a commercial driver's license or commercial learner's 159
permit that was disqualified for life unless an applicant for 160
reinstatement requests an administrative hearing in accordance with 161
chapter 54, and offers evidence that the reinstatement of such applicant's 162
commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit does not 163
endanger the public safety or welfare. Such evidence shall include, but 164
not be limited to, proof that such applicant has not been convicted of 165
any offense involving alcohol, a controlled substance or a drug during 166
a period of ten years following the date of such applicant's most recent 167
lifetime disqualification. If a person whose commercial driver's license 168
or commercial learner's permit is reinstated under this subsection is 169
subsequently convicted of another disqualifying offense, such person 170
shall be permanently disqualified for life and shall be ineligible to 171
reapply for a reduction of the lifetime disqualification. The following 172
shall remain on the driving history record of a commercial motor vehicle 173
operator or commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit 174
holder for a period of fifty-five years, as required by 49 CFR Part 384, as 175
amended from time to time: (1) Any offense specified in subsection (b) 176
or (c) of this section, provided such offense occurred on or after 177
December 29, 2006; (2) each of two or more offenses specified in 178
subsection (b) or (c) of this section that occur within ten years of each 179
other and result in a lifetime disqualification, regardless of when such 180
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offenses occur; (3) any conviction under subsection (g) of this section for 181
using a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving the 182
manufacture, distribution or dispensing of a controlled substance, 183
committed on or after January 1, 2005. 184
Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 17a -4 of the 2026 supplement to the 185
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 186
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 187
(a) There shall be a State Advisory Council on Children and Families 188
which shall consist of the following members: (1) Nineteen members 189
appointed by the Governor, including two persons who are child care 190
professionals, two persons eighteen to twenty -five years of age, 191
inclusive, served by the Department of Children and Families, one child 192
psychiatrist licensed to practice medicine in this state, one health care 193
professional who has expertise in children's health and is licensed in the 194
state, one attorney who has expertise in legal issues related to children 195
and youth, three members of one or more Youth Advisory Boards, as 196
defined in section 17a -10c, one member of an organization that 197
advocates for the protection and advancement of the legal rights of 198
children, one member of an organization that advocates for policies to 199
promote child welfare and seven persons who shall be representative of 200
young persons, parents and others interested in the delivery of services 201
to children and youths, including child protection, behavioral health 202
and prevention services, at least four of whom shall be parents, foster 203
parents or family members of children who have received, or are 204
receiving, behavioral health services or child welfare services; and (2) 205
six members representing the regional advisory councils established 206
pursuant to section 17a-30, appointed one each by the members of each 207
council. Not more than half the members of the council shall be persons 208
who receive income from a private practice or any public or private 209
agency that delivers mental health, substance [abuse] use, child abuse 210
prevention and treatment or child welfare services. Members of the 211
council shall serve without compensation, except for necessary expenses 212
incurred in the performance of their duties. The Department of Children 213
and Families shall provide the council with funding to facilitate the 214
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participation of those members representing families and youth, as well 215
as for other administrative support services. Members shall serve on the 216
council for terms of two years each and no member shall serve for more 217
than three consecutive terms. The commissioner shall be an ex -officio 218
member of the council without vote and shall attend its meetings. Any 219
member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or fifty per cent 220
of all meetings during any calendar year shall be deemed to have 221
resigned. The council shall elect a chairperson and vice -chairperson to 222
act in the chairperson's absence. 223
Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 17a -22g of the general statutes is 224
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 225
1, 2026): 226
(a) The Judicial Branch and each state agency, community -based 227
program, organization or individual that provides behavioral health or 228
substance [abuse] use prevention and treatment programs that are 229
operated, funded or licensed by the Department of Children and 230
Families pursuant to sections 17a-20, 17a-114, 17a-145, 17a-147, 17a-149, 231
17a-151 and 17a -152 shall provide case specific information to the 232
department for purposes directly connected with the administration of 233
Connecticut Community KidCare in such form and manner as the 234
department requests. The provisions of this section shall be subject to 235
the confidentiality requirements as set forth in applicable federal law. 236
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 17a -22dd of the general statutes is 237
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 238
1, 2026): 239
(a) Not later than December 1, 2014, the Office of Early Childhood, 240
through the Early Childhood Education Cabinet, shall provide 241
recommendations for implementing the coordination of home visitation 242
programs within the early childhood system that offer a continuum of 243
services to vulnerable families with young children, including 244
prevention, early intervention and intensive intervention, to the joint 245
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 246
matters relating to appropriations, human services, education and 247
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children. Vulnerable families with young children may include, but are 248
not limited to, those facing poverty, trauma, violence, special health care 249
needs, mental, emotional or behavioral health care needs, substance 250
[abuse] use challenges and teen parenthood. The recommendations 251
shall address, at a minimum: 252
(1) A common referral process for families requesting home visitation 253
programs; 254
(2) A core set of competencies and required training for all home 255
visitation program staff; 256
(3) A core set of standards and outcomes for all programs, including 257
requirements for a monitoring framework; 258
(4) Coordinated training for home visitation and early care providers, 259
to the extent that training is currently provided, on cultural competency, 260
mental health awareness and issues such as child trauma, poverty, 261
literacy and language acquisition; 262
(5) Development of common outcomes; 263
(6) Shared reporting of outcomes, including information on any 264
existing gaps in services, disaggregated by agency and program, which 265
shall be reported annually, pursuant to section 11 -4a, to the joint 266
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 267
matters relating to appropriations, human services and children; 268
(7) Home-based treatment options for parents of young children who 269
are suffering from severe depression; and 270
(8) Intensive intervention services for children experiencing mental, 271
emotional or behavioral health issues, including, but not limited to, 272
relationship-focused intervention services for young children. 273
Sec. 10. Subsection (b) of section 17a -62a of the general statutes is 274
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 275
1, 2026): 276
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(b) The Department of Housing, in collaboration with the 277
Department of Children and Families, within available appropriations, 278
shall establish a program that provides one or more of the following 279
services for homeless youth: Public outreach, respite housing, and 280
transitional living services for homeless youth and youth at risk of 281
homelessness. The Department of Housing may enter into a contract 282
with nonprofit organizations or municipalities to implement this 283
section. Such program may have the following components: 284
(1) A public outreach and drop -in component that provides youth 285
drop-in centers with walk -in access to crisis intervention and ongoing 286
supportive services, including one-to-one case management services on 287
a self -referral basis and public outreach that locates, contacts and 288
provides information, referrals and services to homeless youth and 289
youth at risk of homelessness. Such component may include, but need 290
not be limited to, information, referrals and services for (A) family 291
reunification services, conflict resolution or mediation counseling; (B) 292
respite housing, case management aimed at obtaining food, clothing, 293
medical care or mental health counseling, counseling regarding 294
violence, prostitution, substance [abuse] use, sexually transmitted 295
diseases, HIV and pregnancy, and referrals to agencies that provide 296
support services to homeless youth and youth at risk of homelessness; 297
(C) education, employment and independent living skills; (D) aftercare 298
services; and (E) specialized services for highly vulnerable homeless 299
youth, including teen parents, sexually exploited youth and youth with 300
mental illness or developmental disabilities; 301
(2) A respite housing component that provides homeless youth with 302
referrals and walk-in access to respite care on an emergency basis that 303
includes voluntary housing, with private shower facilities, beds and at 304
least one meal each day, and assistance with reunification with family 305
or a legal guardian when required or appropriate. Services provided at 306
respite housing may include, but need not be limited to, (A) family 307
reunification services or referral to safe housing; (B) individual, family 308
and group counseling; (C) assistance in obtaining clothing; (D) access to 309
medical and dental care and mental health counseling; (E) education 310
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and employment services; (F) recreational activities; (G) case 311
management, advocacy and referral services; (H) independent living 312
skills training; and (I) aftercare services and transportation; and 313
(3) A transitional living component that (A) assists homeless youth in 314
finding and maintaining safe housing, and (B) includes rental assistance 315
and related supportive services. Such component may include, but need 316
not be limited to, (i) educational assessment and referral to educational 317
programs; (ii) career planning, employment, job skills training and 318
independent living skills training; (iii) job placement; (iv) budgeting and 319
money management; (v) assistance in securing housing appropriate to 320
needs and income; (vi) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, 321
substance [abuse] use, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, 322
referral for medical services or chemical dependency treatment; and 323
(vii) parenting skills, self -sufficiency support services or life skills 324
training and aftercare services. 325
Sec. 11. Subsection (e) of section 17a -101j of the general statutes is 326
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 327
1, 2026): 328
(e) If, after the investigation is completed, the commissioner 329
determines that a parent or guardian inflicting abuse or neglecting a 330
child is in need of treatment for substance [abuse] use, the commissioner 331
shall refer such person to appropriate treatment services. 332
Sec. 12. Section 17a-101n of the general statutes is repealed and the 333
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 334
The Department of Children and Families shall collect and analyze 335
data to determine the percentage of the department's cases of child 336
abuse and neglect that involve a parent or guardian with a substance 337
[abuse problem] use disorder and utilize such data to develop strategies 338
to reduce the number of such cases in the future. 339
Sec. 13. Subsection (b) of section 17a -450 of the general statutes is 340
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 341
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1, 2026): 342
(b) For the purposes of chapter 48, the Department of Mental Health 343
and Addiction Services shall be organized to promote comprehensive, 344
client-based services in the areas of mental health treatment and 345
substance [abuse] use treatment and to ensure the programmatic 346
integrity and clinical identity of services in each area. The department 347
shall perform the functions of: Centralized administration, planning 348
and program development; prevention and treatment programs and 349
facilities, both inpatient and outpatient, for persons with psychiatric 350
disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, or both; community 351
mental health centers and community or regional programs and 352
facilities providing services for persons with psychiatric disabilities or 353
persons with substance use disorders, or both; training and education; 354
and research and evaluation of programs and facilities providing 355
services for persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with 356
substance use disorders, or both. The department shall include, but not 357
be limited to, the following divisions and facilities or their successor 358
facilities: The office of the Commissioner of Mental Health and 359
Addiction Services; Capitol Region Mental Health Center; Connecticut 360
Valley Hospital, including the Addictions Division and the General 361
Psychiatric Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital; the Whiting 362
Forensic Hospital; the Connecticut Mental Health Center; Ribicoff 363
Research Center; the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System, 364
including the Franklin S. DuBois Center and the Greater Bridgeport 365
Community Mental Health Center; the Southeastern Mental Health 366
Authority; River Valley Services; the Western Connecticut Mental 367
Health Network; and any other state-operated facility for the treatment 368
of persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use 369
disorders, or both, but shall not include those portions of such facilities 370
transferred to the Department of Children and Families for the purpose 371
of consolidation of children's services. All department divisions and 372
facilities shall provide their patient records to the electronic health 373
record system established pursuant to subdivision (7) of subsection (c) 374
of this section. Disclosures of patient information from the electronic 375
health record system outside of the department shall be in accordance 376
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with applicable federal and state law. 377
Sec. 14. Subsection (d) of section 17a -450 of the general statutes is 378
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 379
1, 2026): 380
(d) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is 381
designated as the lead state agency for substance [abuse] use prevention 382
and treatment in this state, and as such is designated as the state 383
[methadone] opioid treatment authority. As the designated state 384
[methadone] opioid treatment authority, the department is authorized 385
by the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment of the Substance 386
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the United 387
States Department of Health and Human Services to exercise 388
responsibility and authority for the treatment of [opiate addiction ] 389
opioid use disorder with an opioid medication, and specifically for: (1) 390
Approval of exceptions to federal opioid treatment protocols in 391
accordance with the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, (2) 392
monitoring all opioid treatment programs in the state, and (3) approval 393
of Center for Substance Abuse Treatment certification of all opioid 394
treatment programs in the state. The Commissioner of Mental Health 395
and Addiction Services may adopt regulations in accordance with 396
chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of this subsection. 397
Sec. 15. Subsection (a) of section 17a -451 of the general statutes is 398
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 399
1, 2026): 400
(a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall 401
be a qualified person with a master's degree or higher in a health-related 402
field and at least ten years' experience in hospital, health, mental health 403
or substance [abuse] use administration. 404
Sec. 16. Section 17a -453c of the general statutes is repealed and the 405
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 406
There shall be an interagency collaboration, to be known as "Project 407
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Safe", between the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services 408
and the Department of Children and Families, for the evaluation of and 409
service delivery to families identified by the Department of Children 410
and Families as requiring substance [abuse] use and other behavioral 411
health services. Such collaboration shall include, but not be limited to, 412
evaluations, service needs, service delivery, housing, medical coverage, 413
vocation and employment support and other related recovery support 414
services. The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services 415
and the Commissioner of Children and Families shall enter into a 416
written memorandum of understanding to carry out the interagency 417
collaboration required under this section. The Department of Social 418
Services and the Labor Department may participate in such 419
collaboration as necessary on a case-by-case basis. 420
Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 17a -456 of the general statutes is 421
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 422
1, 2026): 423
(a) On and before October 1, 2022, there shall be a Board of Mental 424
Health and Addiction Services that shall consist of: (1) Nineteen 425
members appointed by the Governor, subject to the provisions of section 426
4-9a, five of whom shall have had experience in the field of substance 427
use disorders, five of whom shall be from the mental health community, 428
three of whom shall be physicians licensed to practice medicine in this 429
state who have had experience in the field of psychiatry, two of whom 430
shall be psychologists licensed to practice in this state, two of whom 431
shall be persons representing families of individuals with behavioral 432
health disorders, and two of whom shall be persons representing 433
families of individuals recovering from substance use disorders; (2) the 434
chairmen of the regional mental health boards; (3) one designee of each 435
such board; (4) two designees from each of the five subregions 436
represented by the substance abuse subregional planning and action 437
councils; (5) one designee from each mental health region established 438
pursuant to section 17a-478, as amended by this act, each of whom shall 439
represent individuals with psychiatric disabilities, selected by such 440
regional mental health boards in collaboration with advocacy groups; 441
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and (6) one designee from each of the five subregions represented by 442
such substance abuse subregional planning and action councils, each of 443
whom shall represent individuals recovering from substance use 444
disorders, selected by such substance [abuse] use subregional planning 445
and action councils in collaboration with advocacy groups. The 446
members of the board shall serve without compensation except for 447
necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties. The members 448
of the board may include representatives of nongovernment 449
organizations or groups, and of state agencies, concerned with 450
planning, operation or utilization of facilities providing mental health 451
and substance use disorder services, including consumers and 452
providers of such services who are familiar with the need for such 453
services, except that no more than half of the members of the board shall 454
be providers of such services. Appointed members shall serve on the 455
board for terms of four years each and members who are designees shall 456
serve on the board at the pleasure of the designating authority. No 457
appointed member of the board shall be employed by the state or be a 458
member of the staff of any institution for which such member's 459
compensation is paid wholly by the state. A majority of the board shall 460
constitute a quorum. 461
Sec. 18. Subsections (f) and (g) of section 17a -457 of the general 462
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 463
(Effective October 1, 2026): 464
(f) The board shall advise and assist the Commissioner of Mental 465
Health and Addiction Services on program development and 466
community mental health or substance [abuse] use center construction 467
planning. 468
(g) The board is designated and shall serve as the state advisory 469
council to consult with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction 470
Services in administering the state's mental health and substance 471
[abuse] use programs. 472
Sec. 19. Section 17a -464 of the general statutes is repealed and the 473
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 474
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The Ribicoff Research Center is established and shall be operated by 475
the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as a facility 476
with state-wide responsibility for research in mental health or substance 477
[abuse] use, or both, to include, but not be limited to, the following 478
areas: Neurochemistry, neurophysiology, clinical behavior and clinical 479
evaluation. 480
Sec. 20. Section 17a -484c of the general statutes is repealed and the 481
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 482
Any licensed residential treatment facility that provides adult mental 483
health or substance [abuse] use treatment services, or both, and receives 484
state funds for the provision of such services shall prepare a discharge 485
plan, including housing referrals, for each client receiving such services 486
prior to such client's release from such residential treatment facility. The 487
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services may adopt 488
regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the provisions 489
of this section. 490
Sec. 21. Subsection (b) of section 17a -484f of the general statutes is 491
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 492
1, 2026): 493
(b) The duties of each regional behavioral health action organization, 494
within its mental health region, shall include, but need not be limited to: 495
(1) Assessing the behavioral health needs of children, adolescents and 496
adults across the region and engaging with stakeholders to identify 497
needs, problems, barriers and gaps in the behavioral health service 498
continuum, (2) enhancing the capacity of local communities to 499
understand and address problem gambling, (3) raising awareness and 500
advocating for the general public for mental health promotion and 501
substance [abuse] use prevention, treatment and recovery, (4) receiving 502
and expanding federal, state and local funds and leveraging funds to 503
support behavioral health promotion, prevention, treatment and 504
recovery activities, (5) serving on local, regional and state advisory and 505
planning bodies, (6) within available appropriations, providing training 506
in the administration of an opioid antagonist, as defined in section 17a-507
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714a, and distributing supplies of opioid antagonists to communities, 508
(7) reporting community needs, program review findings and 509
conclusions annually to the relevant local, regional and state 510
stakeholders with recommendations for the establishment, modification 511
or expansion of behavioral health services within the mental health 512
region, and (8) serving as the regional partner responsible for 513
coordinating and aligning federal, state, regional and local behavioral 514
health initiatives. 515
Sec. 22. Subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of section 17a -485d of the 516
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 517
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 518
(c) The Commissioner of Social Services shall take such action as may 519
be necessary to amend the Medicaid state plan to provide for coverage 520
of optional adult rehabilitation services supplied by providers of mental 521
health services or substance [abuse] use rehabilitation services for adults 522
with serious and persistent mental illness or who have alcoholism or 523
other substance use disorders, that are certified by the Department of 524
Mental Health and Addiction Services. The Commissioner of Social 525
Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of 526
chapter 54, to implement optional rehabilitation services under the 527
Medicaid program. The commissioner shall implement policies and 528
procedures to administer such services while in the process of adopting 529
such policies or procedures in regulation form, provided notice of 530
intention to adopt the regulations is printed in the Connecticut Law 531
Journal within forty-five days of implementation, and any such policies 532
or procedures shall be valid until the time final regulations are effective. 533
(d) Not later than February 1, 2006, the Commissioner of Mental 534
Health and Addiction Services, in consultation with the Commissioners 535
of Children and Families and Social Services shall report, in accordance 536
with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of 537
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public 538
health, human services and appropriations and the budgets of state 539
agencies, on any moneys received by the state as federal Medicaid 540
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reimbursement for providing coverage of optional rehabilitation 541
services for children and adults. 542
(e) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall 543
have the authority to certify providers of mental health or substance 544
[abuse] use rehabilitation services for adults with serious and persistent 545
mental illness or who have alcoholism or other substance use disorders 546
for the purpose of coverage of optional rehabilitation services. The 547
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall adopt 548
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, for 549
purposes of certification of such providers. The commissioner shall 550
implement policies and procedures for purposes of such certification 551
while in the process of adopting such policies or procedures in 552
regulation form, provided notice of intention to adopt the regulations is 553
printed in the Connecticut Law Journal no later than twenty days after 554
implementation and any such policies and procedures shall be valid 555
until the time the regulations are effective. 556
Sec. 23. Subsection (a) of section 17a -485i of the general statutes is 557
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 558
1, 2026): 559
(a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall, 560
within available appropriations, operate a behavioral health recovery 561
program to provide clinical substance [abuse] use treatment, psychiatric 562
treatment and nonclinical recovery support services, which are not 563
covered under the Medicaid program, for individuals with substance 564
use disorders or psychiatric disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid 565
pursuant to Sections 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) and 1902(k)(2) of the Social 566
Security Act. Services provided under the program may include, but 567
shall not be limited to, residential substance [abuse] use treatment, 568
recovery support services, peer supports, housing assistance, 569
transportation, food, clothing and personal care items. The Department 570
of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall be responsible for all 571
services and payments related to the provision of the behavioral health 572
recovery support services for eligible recipients. 573
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Sec. 24. Subsections (b) and (c) of section 17a -667 of the general 574
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 575
(Effective October 1, 2026): 576
(b) The council shall consist of the following members: (1) The 577
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's 578
designee; (2) the Commissioners of Children and Families, Consumer 579
Protection, Correction, Education, Mental Health and Addiction 580
Services, Public Health, Emergency Services and Public Protection, 581
Aging and Disability Services and Social Services, and the Insurance 582
Commissioner, or their designees; (3) the Chief Court Administrator, or 583
the Chief Court Administrator's designee; (4) the chairperson of the 584
Board of Regents for Higher Education , or the chairperson's designee; 585
(5) the president of The University of Connecticut, or the president's 586
designee; (6) the Chief State's Attorney, or the Chief State's Attorney's 587
designee; (7) the Chief Public Defender, or the Chief Public Defender's 588
designee; (8) the Child Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee; and 589
(9) the cochairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing 590
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 591
relating to public health, criminal justice and appropriations, or their 592
designees. The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services 593
and the Commissioner of Children and Families shall be cochairpersons 594
of the council and may jointly appoint up to seven individuals to the 595
council as follows: (A) Two individuals in recovery from a substance use 596
disorder or representing an advocacy group for individuals with a 597
substance use disorder; (B) a provider of community -based substance 598
[abuse] use services for adults; (C) a provider of community -based 599
substance [abuse] use services for adolescents; (D) an addiction 600
medicine physician; (E) a family member of an individual in recovery 601
from a substance use disorder; and (F) an emergency medicine 602
physician currently practicing in a Connecticut hospital. The 603
cochairpersons of the council may establish subcommittees and 604
working groups and may appoint individuals other than members of 605
the council to serve as members of the subcommittees or working 606
groups. Such individuals may include, but need not be limited to: (i) 607
Licensed alcohol and drug counselors; (ii) pharmacists; (iii) municipal 608
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police chiefs; (iv) emergency medical services personnel; and (v) 609
representatives of organizations that provide education, prevention, 610
intervention, referrals, rehabilitation or support services to individuals 611
with substance use disorder or chemical dependency. 612
(c) The council shall review policies and practices of state agencies 613
and the Judicial Department concerning substance [abuse] use 614
treatment programs, substance [abuse] use prevention services, the 615
referral of persons to such programs and services, and criminal justice 616
sanctions and programs and shall develop and coordinate a state-wide, 617
interagency, integrated plan for such programs and services and 618
criminal sanctions. 619
Sec. 25. Subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of 620
section 17a -667a of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is 621
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 622
1, 2026): 623
(B) Establishing a publicly accessible electronic information portal, in 624
the form of an Internet web site or application, as a single point of entry 625
for information regarding the availability of (i) beds at a facility in the 626
state for persons in need of medical treatment for (I) [detoxification] 627
withdrawal management for potentially life -threatening symptoms of 628
withdrawal from alcohol or drugs, and (II) rehabilitation or treatment 629
for alcohol dependency, drug dependency or intoxication, and (ii) slots 630
for outpatient treatment using opioid medication that is used to treat 631
opioid use disorder, including methadone and buprenorphine. Such 632
examination shall include the ability of the portal to (I) provide real-time 633
data on the availability of beds and slots, including, but not limited to, 634
the types of beds and slots available, the location of such beds and slots 635
and the wait times, if available, for such beds and slots, and (II) be 636
accessible to the public. 637
Sec. 26. Subsection (e) of section 17a -667a of the 2026 supplement to 638
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 639
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 640
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 21

(e) The Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council shall convene 641
a working group to study substance [abuse] use treatment referral 642
programs that have been established by municipal police departments 643
to refer persons with an opioid use disorder or seeking recovery from 644
drug addiction to substance [abuse] use treatment facilities. The 645
working group shall (1) examine such referral programs, (2) identify any 646
barriers faced by such referral programs, and (3) determine the 647
feasibility of implementing such programs on a state -wide basis. Not 648
later than February 1, 2018, the council shall report, in accordance with 649
the provisions of section 11 -4a, to the joint standing committees of the 650
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public 651
health and public safety and security regarding the findings of the 652
working group. 653
Sec. 27. Section 17a -670 of the general statutes is repealed and the 654
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 655
(a) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall 656
designate substance [abuse] use planning regions within the state. Such 657
regions and the boundaries of such regions may be redesignated by said 658
department as it deems necessary. 659
(b) The department shall designate subregions within each region 660
established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The boundaries of 661
such subregions may be redesignated by said department as it deems 662
necessary. Each subregion shall be located entirely within the 663
boundaries of a substance [abuse] use planning region. 664
Sec. 28. Subsection (b) of section 17a -673a of the general statutes is 665
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 666
1, 2026): 667
(b) A treatment program that provides treatment or [detoxification] 668
withdrawal management services to any person with an opioid use 669
disorder shall (1) educate such person regarding opioid antagonists and 670
the administration thereof at the time such person is admitted to or first 671
receives services from such program, (2) offer education regarding 672
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 22

opioid antagonists and the administration thereof to the relatives and 673
significant other of such person if the relatives and significant other have 674
been identified by such person, and (3) if there is a prescribing 675
practitioner affiliated with such program who determines that such 676
person would benefit from access to an opioid antagonist, issue a 677
prescription for or deliver to such person at least one dose of an opioid 678
antagonist at the time such person is admitted to or first receives 679
treatment services from such program. 680
Sec. 29. Subsection (b) of section 17a -683 of the general statutes is 681
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 682
1, 2026): 683
(b) Any police officer finding a person who appears to be 684
incapacitated by alcohol shall take him into protective custody and have 685
him brought forthwith to a treatment facility which provides medical 686
triage in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a -687
495, as amended by this act, or to a hospital. The police, in detaining the 688
person and in having him brought forthwith to such a treatment facility 689
or a hospital, shall be taking him into protective custody and shall make 690
every reasonable effort to protect his health and safety. In taking the 691
person into protective custody, the detaining officer may take 692
reasonable steps to protect himself. A taking into protective custody 693
under this section is not an arrest. No entry or other record shall be made 694
to indicate that the person has been arrested or charged with a crime. 695
For purposes of this section "medical triage" means a service which 696
provides immediate assessment of symptoms of substance [abuse] use 697
disorder, the immediate care and treatment of these symptoms as 698
necessary, a determination of need for treatment, and assistance in 699
attaining appropriate continued treatment. 700
Sec. 30. Subsection (d) of section 17a -683 of the general statutes is 701
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 702
1, 2026): 703
(d) If the medical officer determines that the person requires inpatient 704
treatment, the person shall be (1) admitted to, referred to or detained at 705
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 23

a treatment facility that provides medical treatment for [detoxification] 706
withdrawal management or a hospital, or (2) committed to a treatment 707
facility operated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction 708
Services for emergency treatment pursuant to the provisions of section 709
17a-684, as amended by this act. A person treated under subdivision (1) 710
of this subsection shall be admitted as a voluntary patient, or, if 711
necessary, detained for necessary treatment. If such person is referred 712
to another treatment facility or another hospital, the referring facility or 713
hospital shall arrange for his transportation. 714
Sec. 31. Subsection (a) of section 17a -684 of the general statutes is 715
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 716
1, 2026): 717
(a) A person who is intoxicated at the time of application for 718
commitment pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and who (1) is 719
dangerous to himself or dangerous to others unless committed, (2) 720
needs medical treatment for [detoxification] withdrawal management 721
for potentially life-threatening symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol or 722
drugs or (3) is incapacitated by alcohol, may be committed for 723
emergency treatment to a treatment facility operated by the Department 724
of Mental Health and Addiction Services or a private treatment facility 725
approved by the department to provide emergency treatment. The 726
requirement that a person be intoxicated at the time of application may 727
be waived if a licensed physician determines that the person is in 728
immediate need of medical treatment for [detoxification] withdrawal 729
management for potentially life -threatening withdrawal symptoms. A 730
refusal to undergo treatment shall not constitute evidence of lack of 731
judgment as to the need for treatment. 732
Sec. 32. Subsection (a) of section 17a -710 of the general statutes is 733
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 734
1, 2026): 735
(a) It shall be the policy of the Department of Mental Health and 736
Addiction Services to develop and implement treatment programs for 737
pregnant women of any age with substance use disorders and their 738
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 24

children. The department shall seek private and public funds for such 739
programs. Each program shall, to the extent possible and within 740
available appropriations, offer comprehensive services, including (1) 741
education and prevention programs in high schools and family 742
planning clinics; (2) outreach services to identify pregnant women with 743
substance use disorders early and enroll them in prenatal care and 744
substance [abuse] use treatment programs; (3) case management 745
services; (4) hospital care with substance [abuse] use treatment available 746
in coordination with obstetric services; (5) pediatric care, including 747
therapeutic care for neurologically, behaviorally or developmentally 748
impaired infants; (6) child care for other siblings; (7) classes on parenting 749
skills; (8) home visitation for those who need additional support or who 750
are reluctant to enter a treatment program; (9) access to WIC and other 751
entitlement programs; (10) vocational training for mothers seeking entry 752
to the job market; and (11) a housing component. To the extent possible 753
all services shall be coordinated to be delivered from a centralized 754
location, utilizing medical vans where available and providing 755
transportation assistance when needed. 756
Sec. 33. Subdivision (2) of section 17a -750 of the general statutes is 757
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 758
1, 2026): 759
(2) "Human services" means services provided to persons or families 760
experiencing difficulty in meeting their basic human needs for (A) 761
physical survival, including their need for food, shelter, clothing and 762
maintenance of minimum income, (B) preparing for and sustaining 763
employment, (C) job readiness, including employment and training 764
programs and child care programs, (D) social support and interaction, 765
especially in time of personal or family crisis, (E) assistance in 766
addressing specific pathologies, such as health, mental health and 767
substance [abuse] use, and (F) access to available appropriate services, 768
such as education, transportation, information and referral services and 769
includes remedial and preventative services targeted to low and 770
moderate income individuals and families, by age group or by specific 771
need; 772
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Sec. 34. Subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of section 17a-838 of the 2026 773
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 774
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 775
(8) "Medical setting" means gatherings or gathering places where 776
physical health, mental health, or both are addressed, including, but not 777
limited to, hospitals, clinics, assisted living and rehabilitation facilities, 778
mental health treatment sessions, psychological evaluations, substance 779
[abuse] use treatment sessions, crisis intervention and appointments or 780
other treatment requiring the presence of a doctor, nurse, medical staff 781
or other health care professional; and 782
Sec. 35. Subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of section 17b-28 of the 2026 783
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 784
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 785
(4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of 786
Representatives, one of whom shall be an advocate for persons with 787
substance [abuse disabilities ] use disorders , one of whom shall be a 788
Medicaid dental provider and one of whom shall be a representative of 789
the for-profit nursing home industry; 790
Sec. 36. Subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 17b -59d of the 791
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 792
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 793
(2) Such request for proposals may require an eligible organization 794
responding to the request to: (A) Have not less than three years of 795
experience operating either a state-wide health information exchange in 796
any state or a regional exchange serving a population of not less than 797
one million that (i) enables the exchange of patient health information 798
among health care providers, patients and other authorized users 799
without regard to location, source of payment or technology, (ii) 800
includes, with proper consent, behavioral health and substance [abuse] 801
use treatment information, (iii) supports transitions of care and care 802
coordination through real-time health care provider alerts and access to 803
clinical information, (iv) allows health information to follow each 804
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 26

patient, (v) allows patients to access and manage their health data, and 805
(vi) has demonstrated success in reducing costs associated with 806
preventable readmissions, duplicative testing or medical errors; (B) be 807
committed to, and demonstrate, a high level of transparency in its 808
governance, decision -making and operations; (C) be capable of 809
providing consulting to ensure effective governance; (D) be regulated or 810
administratively overseen by a state government agency; and (E) have 811
sufficient staff and appropriate expertise and experience to carry out the 812
administrative, operational and financial responsibilities of the State -813
wide Health Information Exchange. 814
Sec. 37. Subsection (c) of section 17b -112 of the 2026 supplement to 815
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 816
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 817
(c) A family who is subject to time -limited benefits may petition the 818
Commissioner of Social Services for six -month extensions of such 819
benefits. The commissioner shall grant not more than two extensions to 820
such family who has made a good faith effort to comply with the 821
requirements of the program and despite such effort has a total family 822
income below one hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, or has 823
encountered circumstances preventing employment including, but not 824
limited to: (1) Domestic violence or physical harm to such family's 825
children; or (2) other circumstances beyond such family's control. The 826
commissioner shall disregard ninety dollars of earned income in 827
determining applicable family income. The commissioner may grant a 828
subsequent six-month extension if each adult in the family meets one or 829
more of the following criteria: (A) The adult is precluded from engaging 830
in employment activities due to domestic violence or another reason 831
beyond the adult's control; (B) the adult has two or more substantiated 832
barriers to employment including, but not limited to, the lack of 833
available child care, substance [abuse or addiction] use disorder, severe 834
mental or physical health problems, one or more severe learning 835
disabilities, domestic violence or a child who has a serious physical or 836
behavioral health problem; or (C) the adult is employed and works less 837
than thirty -five hours per week due to (i) a documented medical 838
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 27

impairment that limits the adult's hours of employment, provided the 839
adult works the maximum number of hours that the medical condition 840
permits, or (ii) the need to care for a disabled member of the adult's 841
household, provided the adult works the maximum number of hours 842
the adult's caregiving responsibilities permit. Families receiving 843
temporary family assistance shall be notified by the department of the 844
right to petition for such extensions. Notwithstanding the provisions of 845
this section, the commissioner shall not provide benefits under the 846
state's temporary family assistance program to a family that is subject to 847
the thirty-six-month benefit limit and has received benefits beginning 848
on or after October 1, 1996, if such benefits result in that family's 849
receiving more than sixty months of time -limited benefits unless that 850
family experiences domestic violence, as defined in Section 402(a)(7)(B), 851
P.L. 104-193. For the purpose of calculating said sixty-month limit: (I) A 852
month shall count toward the limit if the family receives assistance for 853
any day of the month, provided any months of temporary family 854
assistance received during the public health emergency declared by 855
Governor Ned Lamont related to the COVID -19 pandemic shall not be 856
included, and (II) a month in which a family receives temporary 857
assistance for needy families benefits that are issued from a jurisdiction 858
other than Connecticut shall count toward the limit. 859
Sec. 38. Section 17b -112d of the general statutes is repealed and the 860
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 861
A person convicted of any offense under federal or state law, on or 862
after August 22, 1996, which (1) is classified as a felony, and (2) has as 863
an element the possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance, 864
as defined in Subsection (6) of 21 USC 802, shall be eligible for benefits 865
pursuant to the temporary assistance for needy families program or the 866
supplemental nutrition assistance program pursuant to the Food and 867
Nutrition Act of 2008, if such person has completed a sentence imposed 868
by a court. A person shall also be eligible for said benefits if such person 869
is satisfactorily serving a sentence of a period of probation or is in the 870
process of completing or has completed a sentence imposed by the court 871
of mandatory participation in a substance [abuse] use treatment 872
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 28

program or mandatory participation in a substance [abuse] use testing 873
program. 874
Sec. 39. Subsection (c) of section 17b -191 of the 2026 supplement to 875
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 876
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 877
(c) To be eligible for cash assistance under the program, a person shall 878
(1) be (A) eighteen years of age or older; (B) a minor found by a court to 879
be emancipated pursuant to section 46b-150; or (C) under eighteen years 880
of age and the commissioner determines good cause for such person's 881
eligibility, and (2) not have assets exceeding five hundred dollars or, if 882
such person is married, such person and his or her spouse shall not have 883
assets exceeding one thousand dollars. In determining eligibility, the 884
commissioner shall disregard from income (A) all United States 885
Department of Veterans Affairs -administered non -service-connected 886
pension benefits, Aid and Attendance pension benefits and 887
Housebound pension benefits that are granted to a veteran, as defined 888
in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran; and (B) any 889
tax refund or advance payment with respect to a refundable credit to 890
the same extent such refund or advance payment would be disregarded 891
under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or state or local program 892
financed in whole or in part with federal funds. No person who [is] has 893
a substance [abuser] use disorder and refuses or fails to enter available, 894
appropriate treatment shall be eligible for cash assistance under the 895
program until such person enters treatment. No person whose benefits 896
from the temporary family assistance program have terminated as a 897
result of time-limited benefits or for failure to comply with a program 898
requirement shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program. 899
Sec. 40. Subsection (a) of section 17b -194 of the general statutes is 900
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 901
1, 2026): 902
(a) For the purposes of this section and sections 17b -131, 17b-191 to 903
17b-193, inclusive, as amended by this act, 17b-195, as amended by this 904
act, 17b-197 and 17b-198, (1) an "employable person" means one (A) who 905
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 29

is sixteen years of age or older but less than sixty -five years of age; and 906
(B) who has no documented physical or mental impairment prohibiting 907
such person from working or participating in an education, training or 908
other work-readiness program, or who has such an impairment which 909
is expected to last less than two months, as determined by the 910
commissioner; (2) an "unemployable person" means a person who (A) is 911
under sixteen years of age or sixty-five years of age or older or fifty-five 912
years of age or older with a history of chronic unemployment; (B) has a 913
physical or mental impairment prohibiting such person from working 914
or participating in an education, training or other work -readiness 915
program, which is expected to last at least six months, as determined by 916
the commissioner; (C) is pending receipt of supplemental security 917
income, Social Security income or financial assistance through another 918
program administered by the Department of Social Services; (D) is 919
needed to care for a child under two years of age or to care for an 920
incapacitated child or spouse; (E) is a full -time high school student in 921
good standing; or (F) is a VISTA volunteer; and (3) a "transitional 922
person" means one (A) who has a documented physical or mental 923
impairment which prevents employment and is expected to last at least 924
two months, but less than six months, as determined by the 925
commissioner, and who has a recent connection to the labor market, 926
unless circumstances precluded participation in the labor force, as 927
determined by the commissioner; or (B) whose determination of 928
unemployability or disability, as defined by the commissioner, is 929
pending and who provides medical documentation of a severe physical 930
or mental impairment which is expected to last at least six months. A 931
person who [is a substance abuser] has a substance use disorder shall be 932
required to participate in treatment, including counseling, and shall be 933
eligible for assistance while waiting for treatment. 934
Sec. 41. Section 17b -195 of the general statutes is repealed and the 935
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 936
Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, when a 937
person who is ineligible for financial assistance due to his or her 938
employability status is currently in or enters a residential substance 939
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 30

[abuse] use treatment facility, the Department of Social Services or the 940
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall pay his or 941
her room and board while at such facility, provided the person is eligible 942
to receive medical assistance. Such assistance shall be paid directly to 943
the treatment facility at a rate established by the Department of Social 944
Services or negotiated by the Department of Mental Health and 945
Addiction Services. 946
Sec. 42. Section 17b -241 of the general statutes is repealed and the 947
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 948
(a) Any rates established by the Commissioner of Social Services in 949
effect February 1, 1991, for mental health and substance [abuse] use 950
residential facilities shall remain in effect through June 30, 1992, except 951
those which would have been decreased effective July 1, 1991, shall be 952
decreased. Any rate increases made during the fiscal year ending June 953
30, 1993, shall not exceed the most recent annual increase in the 954
consumer price index for urban consumers. 955
(b) Any rates established by the Commissioner of Social Services in 956
effect February 1, 1991, for freestanding [detoxification] withdrawal 957
management centers shall remain in effect through June 30, 1992, except 958
those which would have been decreased effective July 1, 1991, shall be 959
decreased. Any rate increases made during the fiscal years ending June 960
30, 1993, June 30, 1994, and June 30, 1995, shall not exceed the most 961
recent annual increase in the consumer price index for urban consumers. 962
Any freestanding [detoxification] withdrawal management center 963
which has an established rate below the average and, due to a material 964
change in circumstances resulting in financial hardship, is aggrieved by 965
a rate determined pursuant to this subsection may, within ten days of 966
receipt of written notice of such rate from the commissioner, request in 967
writing a hearing on such rate. The commissioner shall, upon the receipt 968
of all documentation necessary to evaluate the request, determine 969
whether there has been such a change in circumstances and shall 970
conduct a hearing if appropriate. 971
Sec. 43. Section 17b -241a of the general statutes is repealed and the 972
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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 973
Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the 974
Commissioner of Social Services may reimburse the Department of 975
Mental Health and Addiction Services for targeted case management 976
services that it provides to its target population, which, for purposes of 977
this section, shall include individuals with severe and persistent 978
psychiatric illness and individuals with [persistent substance 979
dependence] substance use disorder . The Commissioners of Social 980
Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services, in consultation 981
with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, shall ensure 982
that all expenditures for intensive care management eligible for 983
Medicaid reimbursement are submitted to the Centers for Medicare and 984
Medicaid Services. 985
Sec. 44. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 17b -689c of the 986
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 987
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 988
(1) The Department of Social Services shall perform an initial 989
assessment in the following areas: Education, employment and training 990
history, basic educational needs and other social service needs, 991
including transportation, child care, child support, domestic violence, 992
substance [abuse] use and mental health. 993
Sec. 45. Subsection (a) of section 17b -694 of the general statutes is 994
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 995
1, 2026): 996
(a) The Labor Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner 997
of Social Services and the Commissioner of Mental Health and 998
Addiction Services, shall administer a grant program, within available 999
appropriations, to fund employment placement projects for recipients 1000
of state-administered general assistance or recipients of Medicaid who 1001
are eighteen to twenty years of age. A grant may be awarded to (1) a 1002
municipality or group of towns which form a region based on a project 1003
plan providing education, training or other assistance in securing 1004
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employment, (2) a private substance [abuse] use or mental health 1005
services provider based on a project plan incorporating job placement 1006
in the treatment process, or (3) a nonprofit organization providing 1007
employment services when no municipality or group of towns elect to 1008
apply for such a grant for a given geographic area. A plan may include 1009
cash incentives as a supplement to wages for recipients who work. 1010
Sec. 46. Section 18 -69b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1011
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1012
The Department of Correction shall establish rehabilitative 1013
programs, including, but not limited to, substance [abuse] use, academic 1014
and vocational education services and work-release and job training, for 1015
women incarcerated at the York Correctional Institution. 1016
Sec. 47. Subsection (a) of section 18 -69c of the general statutes is 1017
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1018
1, 2026): 1019
(a) The Commissioner of Correction shall ensure that at least one 1020
departmental or contracted, licensed health care provider who is 1021
employed at the York Correctional Institution (1) has been trained in 1022
prenatal and postpartum medical care, and (2) has knowledge of and 1023
the ability to educate any inmate who is pregnant concerning prenatal 1024
nutrition, high -risk pregnancy and [addiction and substance abuse ] 1025
substance use during pregnancy and childbirth. 1026
Sec. 48. Subsection (g) of section 18 -69c of the general statutes is 1027
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1028
1, 2026): 1029
(g) The York Correctional Institution shall provide a pregnant inmate, 1030
prior to the inmate's release, with counseling and discharge planning to 1031
ensure, to the extent feasible, the continuity of prenatal and pregnancy-1032
related care, including substance [abuse] use programs and treatment 1033
referrals when deemed appropriate. 1034
Sec. 49. Subsection (a) of section 18 -87k of the general statutes is 1035
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 33

repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1036
1, 2026): 1037
(a) The Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission shall: (1) 1038
Develop and recommend policies for preventing prison and jail 1039
overcrowding; (2) examine the impact of statutory provisions and 1040
current administrative policies on prison and jail overcrowding and 1041
recommend legislation to the Governor and the General Assembly; (3) 1042
research and gather relevant statistical data and other information 1043
concerning the impact of efforts to prevent prison and jail overcrowding 1044
and make such information available to criminal justice agencies and 1045
members of the General Assembly; (4) advise the undersecretary of the 1046
Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division on policies and 1047
procedures to promote more effective and cohesive state criminal justice 1048
and juvenile justice systems and to develop and implement the offender 1049
reentry strategy as provided in section 18 -81w; (5) monitor 1050
developments throughout the state's criminal justice system; (6) identify 1051
specific needs for reentry services in geographic areas throughout the 1052
state; (7) identify institution-based and community-based programs and 1053
services that effectively address offender needs and reduce recidivism 1054
including, but not limited to, education and training, employment 1055
preparation and job bank, transitional health care, family support, 1056
substance [abuse] use, domestic violence and sexual offender programs 1057
and services; and (8) assist the undersecretary of the Criminal Justice 1058
Policy and Planning Division in developing the recommendations 1059
included in the report and presentation made by the division pursuant 1060
to section 4-68p. 1061
Sec. 50. Section 18 -100f of the general statutes is repealed and the 1062
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1063
Unless otherwise ordered by the court, whenever an arrested person 1064
charged with the commission of no crime other than a class D or E felony 1065
or a misdemeanor, except a violation of section 53a -60a, 53a-60b, 53a-1066
60c, 53a-60d, 53a-72a, 53a-73a or 53a-181c, is committed by the court to 1067
the custody of the Commissioner of Correction pursuant to section 54 -1068
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64a, the commissioner may release such person to a residence approved 1069
by the Department of Correction subject to such conditions as the 1070
commissioner may impose including, but not limited to, participation in 1071
a substance [abuse] use treatment program and being subject to 1072
electronic monitoring or any other monitoring technology or services. 1073
Any person released pursuant to this section shall remain in the custody 1074
of the commissioner and shall be supervised by employees of the 1075
department during the period of such release. Upon the violation by 1076
such person of any condition of such release, the commissioner may 1077
revoke such release and return such person to confinement in a 1078
correctional facility. 1079
Sec. 51. Section 19a -6d of the general statutes is repealed and the 1080
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1081
The Commissioner of Public Health and the Commissioner of Mental 1082
Health and Addiction Services shall, within available appropriations, 1083
develop a tobacco [abuse] use reduction and health plan and shall 1084
submit such plan to the joint standing committees of the General 1085
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and 1086
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, not later than April 1, 1087
2001. The plan shall consider and recommend actions to (1) reduce 1088
tobacco and substance [abuse] use, and (2) address the unmet physical 1089
and mental health needs of the state, taking into account the most recent 1090
version of the state health plan prepared by the Department of Public 1091
Health pursuant to section 19a-7. 1092
Sec. 52. Subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 19a -6h of the 1093
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1094
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1095
(2) Inventory the state's existing primary care infrastructure, 1096
including, but not limited to, (A) the number of primary care providers 1097
practicing in the state, (B) the total amount of money expended on 1098
public and private primary care services during the last fiscal year, (C) 1099
the number of public and private buildings or offices used primarily for 1100
the rendering of primary care services, including, but not limited to, 1101
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hospitals, mental health facilities, dental offices, school -based health 1102
clinics, community-based health centers and academic health centers. 1103
For the purposes of this subdivision, "primary care provider" means any 1104
physician, dentist, nurse, provider of services for persons with 1105
psychiatric disabilities or persons with intellectual disability , or other 1106
person involved in providing primary medical, nursing, counseling, or 1107
other health care, substance [abuse] use or mental health service, 1108
including such services associated with, or under contract to, a health 1109
maintenance organization or medical services plan. 1110
Sec. 53. Subsection (b) of section 19a -7c of the general statutes is 1111
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1112
1, 2026): 1113
(b) The contract for pregnant women shall include coverage for: (1) 1114
Physician visits for diagnosis and treatment; (2) prenatal and postnatal 1115
care; and (3) outpatient hospital care; and may include coverage for: (A) 1116
Labor and delivery; (B) laboratory and diagnostic tests; (C) prescription 1117
drugs; (D) physical therapy; (E) mental health and substance [abuse] use 1118
visits; and (F) inpatient care, including mental health and substance 1119
[abuse] use treatment, subject to eighty per cent coinsurance on the first 1120
two thousand five hundred dollars of expenses. 1121
Sec. 54. Section 19a -7e of the general statutes is repealed and the 1122
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1123
The Department of Public Health, in consultation with the 1124
Department of Social Services, shall establish a three -year 1125
demonstration program to improve access to health care for uninsured 1126
pregnant women under two hundred fifty per cent of the poverty level. 1127
Services to be covered by the program shall include, but not be limited 1128
to, the professional services of obstetricians, dental care providers, 1129
physician assistants or midwives on the staff of the sponsoring hospital 1130
and community-based providers; services of pediatricians for purposes 1131
of assistance in delivery and postnatal care; dietary counseling; dental 1132
care; substance [abuse] use counseling, and other ancillary services 1133
which may include substance [abuse] use treatment and mental health 1134
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services, as required by the patient's condition, history or circumstances; 1135
necessary pharmaceutical and other durable medical equipment during 1136
the prenatal period; and postnatal care, as well as preventative and 1137
primary care for children up to age six in families in the eligible income 1138
level. The program shall encourage the acquisition, sponsorship and 1139
extension of existing outreach activities and the activities of mobile, 1140
satellite and other outreach units. The Commissioner of Public Health 1141
shall issue a request for proposals to Connecticut hospitals. Such request 1142
shall require: (1) An interactive relationship between the hospital, 1143
community health centers, community-based providers and the healthy 1144
start program; (2) provisions for case management; (3) provisions for 1145
financial eligibility screening, referrals and enrollment assistance where 1146
appropriate to the medical assistance program, the healthy start 1147
program or private insurance; and (4) provisions for a formal liaison 1148
function between hospitals, community health centers and other health 1149
care providers. Hospitals participating in the program shall report 1150
monthly to the Departments of Public Health and Social Services or their 1151
designees and annually to the joint standing committees of the General 1152
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and 1153
human services such information as the departments and the 1154
committees deem necessary. 1155
Sec. 55. Subsection (b) of section 19a -124 of the general statutes is 1156
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1157
1, 2026): 1158
(b) The programs shall: (1) Be incorporated into existing human 1159
immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C outreach and prevention 1160
programs in the selected communities; (2) provide access to free and 1161
confidential exchanges of syringes; (3) provide for safe disposal or 1162
exchange of syringes; (4) provide that first -time applicants to the 1163
program receive an initial packet of syringes, educational material and 1164
a list of drug counseling services; (5) offer education on the human 1165
immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C, reduction in harm caused by such 1166
viruses, and drug overdose prevention measures and assist program 1167
participants in obtaining drug treatment services; (6) provide referrals 1168
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for substance [abuse] use counseling or treatment; and (7) provide 1169
referrals for medical or mental health care. 1170
Sec. 56. Subsection (a) of section 19a -490 of the general statutes is 1171
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1172
1, 2026): 1173
(a) "Institution" means a hospital, short-term hospital special hospice, 1174
hospice inpatient facility, residential care home, nursing home facility, 1175
home health care agency, home health aide agency, behavioral health 1176
facility, assisted living services agency, substance [abuse] use treatment 1177
facility, outpatient surgical facility, outpatient clinic, clinical laboratory, 1178
blood collection facility, source plasma donation center, birth center, an 1179
infirmary operated by an educational institution for the care of students 1180
enrolled in, and faculty and employees of, such institution; a facility 1181
engaged in providing services for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment 1182
or care of human health conditions, including facilities operated and 1183
maintained by any state agency; and a residential facility for persons 1184
with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a -227 and 1185
certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid program as an 1186
intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disability. 1187
"Institution" does not include any facility for the care and treatment of 1188
persons with mental illness or substance use disorder operated or 1189
maintained by any state agency, except Whiting Forensic Hospital and 1190
the hospital and psychiatric residential treatment facility units of the 1191
Albert J. Solnit Children's Center; 1192
Sec. 57. Section 19a -490h of the general statutes is repealed and the 1193
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1194
(a) Each hospital licensed by the Department of Public Health as a 1195
short-term general hospital, outpatient surgical facility or outpatient 1196
clinic shall include in the record of each trauma patient a notation 1197
indicating the extent and outcome of screening for alcohol and 1198
substance [abuse] use disorder . For purposes of this section, "trauma 1199
patient" means a patient of sufficient age to be at risk of alcohol and 1200
substance [abuse] use disorder with a traumatic injury, as defined in the 1201
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 38

most recent edition of the International Classification of Disease, who is 1202
admitted to the hospital on an inpatient basis, is transferred to or from 1203
an acute care setting, dies or requires emergent trauma team activation. 1204
(b) Each such hospital shall establish protocols for screening patients 1205
for alcohol and substance [abuse] use disorder. 1206
(c) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, after 1207
consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall assist each 1208
hospital required to conduct alcohol and substance [abuse] use disorder 1209
screening pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section with the 1210
development and implementation of alcohol and substance [abuse] use 1211
disorder screening protocols. 1212
Sec. 58. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 19a -490q of the 1213
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1214
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1215
(1) "Health care employer" means any institution, as defined in 1216
section 19a-490, as amended by this act , with fifty or more full or part -1217
time employees. "Health care employer" includes a facility for the care 1218
or treatment of mentally ill persons or persons with substance [abuse 1219
issues] use disorder, a residential facility for persons with intellectual 1220
disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-227, and a community health 1221
center, as defined in section 19a-490a; and 1222
Sec. 59. Subsection (a) of section 19a -491 of the general statutes is 1223
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1224
1, 2026): 1225
(a) No person acting individually or jointly with any other person 1226
shall establish, conduct, operate or maintain an institution in this state 1227
without a license as required by this chapter, except for persons issued 1228
a license by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to 1229
section 17a-145 for the operation of (1) a substance [abuse] use treatment 1230
facility, or (2) a facility for the purpose of caring for women during 1231
pregnancies and for women and their infants following such 1232
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 39

pregnancies, provided such exception shall not apply to the hospital and 1233
psychiatric residential treatment facility units of the Albert J. Solnit 1234
Children's Center. Application for such license shall (A) be made to the 1235
Department of Public Health upon forms provided by it, (B) be 1236
accompanied by the fee required under subsection (c), (d) or (e) of this 1237
section, (C) contain such information as the department requires, which 1238
may include affirmative evidence of ability to comply with reasonable 1239
standards and regulations prescribed under the provisions of this 1240
chapter, and (D) not be required to be notarized. The commissioner may 1241
require as a condition of licensure that an applicant sign a consent order 1242
providing reasonable assurances of compliance with the Public Health 1243
Code. The commissioner may issue more than one chronic disease 1244
hospital license to a single institution until such time as the state offers 1245
a rehabilitation hospital license. 1246
Sec. 60. Subsection (d) of section 19a -495 of the general statutes is 1247
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1248
1, 2026): 1249
(d) The Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with the 1250
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, may 1251
implement policies and procedures, in compliance with federal law, 1252
permitting licensed health care providers with prescriptive authority to 1253
prescribe medications to treat persons [dependent on opiates ] with 1254
opioid use disorder in freestanding substance [abuse] use treatment 1255
facilities, licensed under section 19a -490, as amended by this act , while 1256
in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in regulation 1257
form, provided the commissioner prints notice of the intent to adopt 1258
regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than thirty days 1259
after the date of implementation of such policies and procedures. 1260
Policies and procedures implemented pursuant to this subsection shall 1261
be valid until the time final regulations are adopted. 1262
Sec. 61. Section 19a -495c of the general statutes is repealed and the 1263
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1264
A substance [abuse] use treatment facility licensed as an institution 1265
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 40

pursuant to section 19a -490, as amended by this act, and providing 1266
medication-assisted treatment for opioid [addiction] use disorder shall 1267
be permitted to provide methadone delivery and related substance use 1268
treatment services to persons in a nursing home facility licensed 1269
pursuant to section 19a -493. The Department of Public Health may 1270
allow the delivery of methadone and related substance use treatment 1271
services to a nursing home facility if the Commissioner of Public Health 1272
determines that such delivery would not endanger the health, safety or 1273
welfare of any patient. No such delivery shall be conducted unless a 1274
substance [abuse] use treatment facility proposing the delivery of 1275
methadone and related substance use treatment services has made a 1276
request for such delivery in a form and manner prescribed by the 1277
commissioner and the commissioner has approved such request. Upon 1278
approving a request, the commissioner may impose conditions that 1279
assure the health, safety or welfare of any patient. The commissioner 1280
may revoke the approval of a request upon a finding that the health, 1281
safety or welfare of any patient has been jeopardized. 1282
Sec. 62. Section 19a -509e of the general statutes is repealed and the 1283
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1284
Each hospital shall establish and implement, on or before October 1, 1285
1992, a protocol whereby each patient who shows symptoms of 1286
substance [abuse] use disorder , shall be provided with informational 1287
referrals to (1) entitlement programs for which the patient may be 1288
eligible; (2) area substance [abuse] use treatment programs; and (3) 1289
appropriate community-based support services. 1290
Sec. 63. Subdivisions (11) and (12) of section 19a -581 of the general 1291
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1292
(Effective October 1, 2026): 1293
(11) "Health facility" means an institution, as defined in section 19a -1294
490, as amended by this act , blood bank, blood center, sperm bank, 1295
organ or tissue bank, clinical laboratory or facility providing care or 1296
treatment to persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with 1297
intellectual disability or a facility for the treatment of substance [abuse] 1298
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 41

use disorder; 1299
(12) "Health care provider" means any physician, physician assistant, 1300
dentist, nurse, provider of services for persons with psychiatric 1301
disabilities or persons with intellectual disability or other person 1302
involved in providing medical, nursing, counseling, or other health 1303
care, substance [abuse] use or mental health service, including such 1304
services associated with, or under contract to, a health maintenance 1305
organization or medical services plan; 1306
Sec. 64. Subdivision (10) of section 19a-630 of the 2026 supplement to 1307
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1308
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1309
(10) "Health care facility" means (A) hospitals licensed by the 1310
Department of Public Health under chapter 368v; (B) specialty hospitals; 1311
(C) freestanding emergency departments; (D) outpatient surgical 1312
facilities, as defined in section 19a -493b and licensed under chapter 1313
368v; (E) a hospital or other facility or institution operated by the state 1314
that provides services that are eligible for reimbursement under Title 1315
XVIII or XIX of the federal Social Security Act, 42 USC 301, as amended; 1316
(F) a central service facility; (G) mental health facilities; (H) substance 1317
[abuse] use treatment facilities; and (I) any other facility requiring 1318
certificate of need review pursuant to subsection (a) of section 19a -638, 1319
as amended by this act . "Health care facility" includes any parent 1320
company, subsidiary, affiliate or joint venture, or any combination 1321
thereof, of any such facility. 1322
Sec. 65. Subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 19a -638 of the 1323
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1324
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1325
(5) The termination of inpatient or outpatient services offered by a 1326
hospital, including, but not limited to, the termination by a short -term 1327
acute care general hospital or children's hospital of inpatient and 1328
outpatient mental health and substance [abuse] use services; 1329
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Sec. 66. Section 19a -902 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1330
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1331
On or before January 1, 2011, the Department of Public Health, in 1332
consultation with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction 1333
Services, may (1) amend the department's substance [abuse] use 1334
treatment regulations; (2) implement a dual licensure program for 1335
behavioral health care providers who provide both mental health 1336
services and substance [abuse] use services; or (3) permit the use of 1337
saliva-based drug screening or urinalysis when conducting initial and 1338
subsequent drug screenings of persons who [abuse] use substances 1339
other than alcohol at facilities which are licensed by the Department of 1340
Public Health. 1341
Sec. 67. Section 20-14i of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes 1342
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 1343
October 1, 2026): 1344
Notwithstanding any provisions of chapter 378, said chapter shall not 1345
prohibit the administration of medication to persons (1) attending day 1346
programs, residing in residential facilities or receiving individual and 1347
family support, under the jurisdiction of the Departments of Children 1348
and Families, Correction, Developmental Services and Mental Health 1349
and Addiction Services, (2) being detained in juvenile residential centers 1350
or residing in residential facilities dually licensed by the Department of 1351
Children and Families and the Department of Public Health, (3) residing 1352
in substance [abuse] use treatment facilities licensed by the Department 1353
of Children and Families pursuant to section 17a -145 when such 1354
medication is administered by trained persons, pursuant to the written 1355
order of a physician licensed under this chapter, a dentist licensed under 1356
chapter 379, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to prescribe 1357
in accordance with section 20 -94a or a physician assistant licensed to 1358
prescribe in accordance with section 20 -12d, authorized to prescribe 1359
such medication, or (4) residing in facilities licensed or certified by the 1360
Department of Developmental Services, provided (A) such 1361
administration of medication is performed using an auto injector and 1362
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 43

limited to the administration of epinephrine or insulin to treat an acute 1363
allergic reaction or diabetes, and (B) such administration of medication 1364
is performed by a trained person who has received specialized training 1365
in the administration of medication by auto injector, as prescribed by 1366
the Commissioner of Developmental Services. The provisions of this 1367
section shall not apply to institutions, facilities or programs licensed 1368
pursuant to chapter 368v. 1369
Sec. 68. Subdivisions (4) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (a) of section 1370
20-74s of the general statutes are repealed and the following is 1371
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1372
(4) "Practice of alcohol and drug counseling" means (A) the clinical 1373
evaluation by a licensed alcohol and drug counselor of substance use 1374
disorders and co -occurring disorders, including screening, assessment 1375
and diagnosis, treatment planning, counseling, therapy, trauma -1376
informed care and psychoeducation with individuals, families and 1377
groups in the areas of substance use disorders and co -occurring 1378
disorders, and may include, as appropriate, (i) conducting a substance 1379
use disorder screening or psychosocial history evaluation of an 1380
individual to document the individual's use of drugs prescribed for 1381
pain, other prescribed drugs, illegal drugs and alcohol to determine the 1382
individual's risk for substance [abuse] use disorder , (ii) developing a 1383
preliminary diagnosis for the individual based on such screening or 1384
evaluation, (iii) determining the individual's risk for [abuse] misuse of 1385
drugs prescribed for pain [,] and other prescribed drugs, or use of illegal 1386
drugs and alcohol, (iv) developing a treatment plan and referral options 1387
for the individual to ensure the individual's recovery support needs are 1388
met, and (v) developing and submitting an opioid use consultation 1389
report to an individual's primary care provider to be reviewed by the 1390
primary care provider and included in the individual's medical record, 1391
or (B) the professional application by a certified alcohol and drug 1392
counselor of methods that assist an individual or group to develop an 1393
understanding of alcohol and drug dependency problems, define goals 1394
and plan action reflecting the individual's or group's interest, abilities 1395
and needs as affected by alcohol and drug dependency problems; 1396
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 44

(5) "Private practice of alcohol and drug counseling" means the 1397
independent practice of alcohol and drug counseling by a licensed or 1398
certified alcohol and drug counselor who is self-employed on a full-time 1399
or part-time basis and who is responsible for that independent practice; 1400
(6) "Self-help group" means a voluntary group of persons who offer 1401
peer support to each other in recovering from [an addiction] a substance 1402
use disorder; 1403
Sec. 69. Section 20 -74ss of the general statutes is repealed and the 1404
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1405
The Commissioner of Public Health may take any disciplinary action 1406
set forth in section 19a -17 against a radiologist assistant for any of the 1407
following reasons: (1) Failure to conform to the accepted standards of 1408
the profession; (2) conviction of a felony; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining 1409
or seeking reinstatement of a license to practice as a radiologist assistant; 1410
(4) fraud or deceit in the practice of the profession; (5) negligent, 1411
incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, 1412
mental or emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to 1413
conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or 1414
substance [abuse] use; (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, 1415
patient or other record pertaining to the profession; or (9) violation of 1416
any provision of sections 20 -74nn to 20 -74tt, inclusive, and subsection 1417
(c) of section 19a -14. The commissioner may order a license holder to 1418
submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if the physical or 1419
mental capacity of the license holder to practice safely is the subject of 1420
an investigation. The commissioner may petition the superior court for 1421
the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken 1422
pursuant to said section 19a-17. The commissioner shall give notice and 1423
an opportunity to be heard on any contemplated action under said 1424
section 19a-17. 1425
Sec. 70. Subsection (b) of section 20 -94d of the general statutes is 1426
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1427
1, 2026): 1428
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 45

(b) Except as provided in this section, for registration periods 1429
beginning on and after October 1, 2014, a licensee applying for license 1430
renewal shall earn a minimum of fifty contact hours of continuing 1431
education within the preceding twenty -four-month period. Such 1432
continuing education shall: (1) Be in an area of the advanced practice 1433
registered nurse's practice; (2) reflect the professional needs of the 1434
licensee in order to meet the health care needs of the public; (3) include 1435
at least five contact hours of training or education in 1436
pharmacotherapeutics; (4) include at least one contact hour of training 1437
or education in each of the following topics: (A) Infectious diseases, 1438
including, but not limited to, acquired immune deficiency syndrome 1439
and human immunodeficiency virus, (B) risk management, (C) sexual 1440
assault, (D) domestic violence, (E) cultural competency, and (F) 1441
substance [abuse] use disorders , including, but not limited to, 1442
prescribing controlled substances and pain management; (5) on and 1443
after January 1, 2016, include not less than two contact hours of training 1444
or education during the first renewal period in which continuing 1445
education is required and not less than once every six years thereafter 1446
on the topic of mental health conditions common to veterans and family 1447
members of veterans, including (A) determining whether a patient is a 1448
veteran or family member of a veteran, (B) screening for conditions such 1449
as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, 1450
and (C) suicide prevention training; and (6) on and after January 1, 2020, 1451
may include not less than two contact hours of training or education 1452
during the first renewal period in which continuing education is 1453
required and not less than once every six years thereafter in diagnosing 1454
and treating cognitive or mental health conditions, including, but not 1455
limited to, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, delirium, related cognitive 1456
impairments and geriatric depression. For purposes of this section, 1457
qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not limited 1458
to, courses, including on -line courses, offered or approved by the 1459
American Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital Association, 1460
Connecticut Nurses Association, Connecticut League for Nursing, a 1461
specialty nursing society or an equivalent organization in another 1462
jurisdiction, an educational offering sponsored by a hospital or other 1463
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 46

health care institution or a course offered by a regionally accredited 1464
academic institution or a state or local health department. The 1465
commissioner may grant a waiver of not more than ten contact hours of 1466
continuing education for an advanced practice registered nurse who: 1467
(A) Engages in activities related to the advanced practice registered 1468
nurse's service as a member of the Connecticut State Board of Examiners 1469
for Nursing, established pursuant to section 20 -88; or (B) assists the 1470
department with its duties to boards and commissions as described in 1471
section 19a-14. 1472
Sec. 71. Section 20 -162cc of the general statutes is repealed and the 1473
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1474
The Commissioner of Public Health may take any disciplinary action 1475
set forth in section 19a-17 against a perfusionist for any of the following 1476
reasons: (1) Failure to conform to the accepted standards of the 1477
profession; (2) conviction of a felony; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining or 1478
seeking reinstatement of a license to practice perfusion; (4) fraud or 1479
deceit in the practice of the profession; (5) negligent, incompetent or 1480
wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, mental or 1481
emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to conform to the 1482
accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or substance [abuse] 1483
use; (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, patient or other 1484
record pertaining to the profession; or (9) violation of any provision of 1485
sections 20 -162aa to 20 -162cc, inclusive , as amended by this act . The 1486
commissioner may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable 1487
physical or mental examination if the physical or mental capacity of the 1488
license holder to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. The 1489
commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of 1490
Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to said 1491
section 19a-17. The commissioner shall give notice and an opportunity 1492
to be heard on any contemplated action under said section 19a-17. 1493
Sec. 72. Section 20 -185m of the general statutes is repealed and the 1494
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1495
The Commissioner of Public Health may take any disciplinary action 1496
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 47

set forth in section 19a -17 against a behavior analyst for any of the 1497
following reasons: (1) Failure to conform to the accepted standards of 1498
the profession; (2) conviction of a felony; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining 1499
or seeking reinstatement of a license to practice behavior analysis; (4) 1500
fraud or deceit in the practice of behavior analysis; (5) negligent, 1501
incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, 1502
mental or emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to 1503
conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or 1504
substance [abuse] use; or (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, 1505
patient or other record pertaining to behavior analysis. The 1506
commissioner may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable 1507
physical or mental examination if his or her physical or mental capacity 1508
to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. The commissioner 1509
may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to 1510
enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a -17. The 1511
commissioner shall give notice and an opportunity to be heard on any 1512
contemplated action under section 19a-17. 1513
Sec. 73. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 20 -195dd of the general 1514
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1515
(Effective October 1, 2026): 1516
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this 1517
section, an applicant for a license as a professional counselor shall 1518
submit evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of having: (1) (A) 1519
Earned a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling as part of 1520
a program of higher learning accredited by the Council for 1521
Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, or a 1522
successor organization, or (B) (i) completed at least sixty graduate 1523
semester hours in counseling or a related mental health field at a 1524
regionally accredited institution of higher education that included 1525
coursework in each of the following areas: (I) Human growth and 1526
development; (II) social and cultural foundations; (III) counseling 1527
theories; (IV) counseling techniques; (V) group counseling; (VI) career 1528
counseling; (VII) appraisals or tests and measurements to individuals 1529
and groups; (VIII) research and evaluation; (IX) professional orientation 1530
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 48

to mental health counseling; (X) addiction and substance [abuse] use 1531
counseling; (XI) trauma and crisis counseling; and (XII) diagnosis and 1532
treatment of mental and emotional disorders, (ii) earned from a 1533
regionally accredited institution of higher education a graduate degree 1534
in counseling or a related mental health field, (iii) completed a one -1535
hundred-hour practicum in counseling taught by a faculty member 1536
licensed or certified as a professional counselor or its equivalent in 1537
another state, and (iv) completed a six -hundred-hour clinical mental 1538
health counseling internship taught by a faculty member licensed or 1539
certified as a professional counselor or its equivalent in another state; (2) 1540
acquired three thousand hours of postgraduate experience under 1541
professional supervision, including a minimum of one hundred hours 1542
of direct professional supervision, in the practice of professional 1543
counseling, performed over a period of not less than two years; and (3) 1544
passed an examination prescribed by the commissioner. The provisions 1545
of subparagraphs (B)(i)(X) to (B)(i)(XII), inclusive, (B)(iii) and (B)(iv) of 1546
this subsection shall not apply to any applicant who, on or before July 1547
1, 2017, was a matriculating student in good standing in a graduate 1548
degree program at a regionally accredited institution of higher 1549
education in one of the fields required under subparagraph (B) of this 1550
subsection. 1551
(b) An applicant for a license as a professional counselor associate 1552
shall submit to the Commissioner of Public Health evidence satisfactory 1553
to the commissioner of having (1) earned a graduate degree in clinical 1554
mental health counseling as part of a program of higher learning 1555
accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related 1556
Educational Programs, or a successor organization, or (2) (A) completed 1557
at least sixty graduate semester hours in counseling or a related mental 1558
health field at a regionally accredited institution of higher education 1559
that included coursework in each of the following areas: Human growth 1560
and development; social and cultural foundations; counseling theories; 1561
counseling techniques; group counseling; career counseling; appraisals 1562
or tests and measurements to individuals and groups; research and 1563
evaluation; professional orientation to mental health counseling; 1564
addiction and substance [abuse] use counseling; trauma and crisis 1565
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 49

counseling; and diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional 1566
disorders, (B) completed a one -hundred-hour practicum in counseling 1567
taught by a faculty member licensed or certified as a professional 1568
counselor or its equivalent in another state, (C) completed a six -1569
hundred-hour clinical mental health counseling internship taught by a 1570
faculty member licensed or certified as a professional counselor or its 1571
equivalent in another state, and (D) earned from a regionally accredited 1572
institution of higher education a graduate degree in counseling or a 1573
related mental health field. The provisions of subparagraphs (A) to (C), 1574
inclusive, of subdivision (2) of this subsection shall not apply to any 1575
applicant who, on or before July 1, 2022, earned a graduate degree at a 1576
regionally accredited institution of higher education in counseling or a 1577
related mental health field and has accumulated at least three thousand 1578
hours of experience under professional supervision, as defined in 1579
section 20-195aa. 1580
Sec. 74. Section 20 -195ee of the general statutes is repealed and the 1581
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1582
The Commissioner of Public Health ma y deny an application of an 1583
individual or take any disciplinary action set forth in section 19a -17 1584
against a professional counselor or professional counselor associate for 1585
any of the following reasons: (1) Failure to conform to the accepted 1586
standards of the profession; (2) conviction of a felony, provided any 1587
action taken is based upon (A) the nature of the conviction and its 1588
relationship to the license holder's ability to safely or competently 1589
practice professional counseling, (B) information pertaining to the 1590
degree of rehabilitation of the license holder, and (C) the time elapsed 1591
since the conviction or release; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining or seeking 1592
reinstatement of a license to practice professional counseling; (4) fraud 1593
or deceit in the practice of professional counseling; (5) negligent, 1594
incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, 1595
mental or emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to 1596
conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or 1597
substance [abuse] use; (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, 1598
patient or other record pertaining to professional counseling; or (9) 1599
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 50

violation of any provision of sections 20-195aa to 20-195dd, inclusive, as 1600
amended by this act, or any regulation adopted pursuant to section 20 -1601
195ff. The commissioner may order a license holder to submit to a 1602
reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental 1603
capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. The 1604
commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of 1605
Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to said 1606
section 19a-17. The commissioner shall give notice and an opportunity 1607
to be heard on any contemplated action under said section 19a-17. 1608
Sec. 75. Section 20 -195tt of the general statutes is repealed and the 1609
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1610
The Commissioner of Public Health may take any disciplinary action 1611
set forth in section 19a -17 against a genetic counselor for any of the 1612
following reasons: (1) Failure to conform to the accepted standards of 1613
the profession; (2) conviction of a felony; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining 1614
or seeking reinstatement of a license to practice genetic counseling; (4) 1615
fraud or deceit in the practice of genetic counseling; (5) negligent, 1616
incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, 1617
mental or emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to 1618
conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or 1619
substance [abuse] use; or (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, 1620
patient or other record pertaining to genetic counseling. The 1621
commissioner may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable 1622
physical or mental examination if his or her physical or mental capacity 1623
to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. The commissioner 1624
may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to 1625
enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a -17. The 1626
commissioner shall give notice and an opportunity to be heard on any 1627
contemplated action under section 19a-17. 1628
Sec. 76. Section 20-195kkk of the general statutes is repealed and the 1629
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1630
The Commissioner of Public Health may deny an application of an 1631
individual or take any disciplinary action set forth in section 19a -17 1632
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 51

against a music therapist for any of the following reasons: (1) Failure to 1633
conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (2) conviction of a 1634
felony, provided any action taken is based upon (A) the nature of the 1635
conviction and its relationship to the license holder's ability to safely or 1636
competently practice as a music therapist, (B) information pertaining to 1637
the degree of rehabilitation of the license holder, and (C) the time 1638
elapsed since the conviction or release; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining 1639
or seeking reinstatement of a license to practice music therapy; (4) fraud 1640
or deceit in the practice of music therapy; (5) negligent, incompetent or 1641
wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, mental or 1642
emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to conform to the 1643
accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or substance [abuse] 1644
use; or (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, patient or other 1645
record pertaining to music therapy. The commissioner may order a 1646
license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination 1647
if such license holder's physical or mental capacity to practice safely is 1648
the subject of an investigation. The commissioner may petition the 1649
superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order 1650
or any action taken pursuant to section 19a -17. The commissioner shall 1651
give notice and an opportunity to be heard on any contemplated action 1652
under section 19a-17. 1653
Sec. 77. Section 20-195qqq of the general statutes is repealed and the 1654
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1655
The Commissioner of Public Health may deny an application of an 1656
individual or take any disciplinary action set forth in section 19a -17 1657
against an art therapist for any of the following reasons: (1) Failure to 1658
conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (2) conviction of a 1659
felony, provided any action taken is based upon (A) the nature of the 1660
conviction and its relationship to the license holder's ability to safely or 1661
competently practice as an art therapist, (B) information pertaining to 1662
the degree of rehabilitation of the license holder, and (C) the time 1663
elapsed since the conviction or release; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining 1664
or seeking reinstatement of a license to practice art therapy; (4) fraud or 1665
deceit in the practice of art therapy; (5) negligent, incompetent or 1666
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 52

wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, mental or 1667
emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to conform to the 1668
accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or substance [abuse] 1669
use; or (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, patient or other 1670
record pertaining to art therapy. The commissioner may order a license 1671
holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his 1672
or her physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an 1673
investigation. The commissioner may petition the superior court for the 1674
judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken 1675
pursuant to section 19a -17. The commissioner shall give notice and an 1676
opportunity to be heard on any contemplated action under section 19a-1677
17. 1678
Sec. 78. Subsection (h) of section 20 -206bb of the general statutes is 1679
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1680
1, 2026): 1681
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 1682
any person who maintains certification with the National Acupuncture 1683
Detoxification Association may practice the five -point auricular 1684
acupuncture protocol specified as part of such certification program as 1685
an adjunct therapy for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse and 1686
other behavioral interventions for which the protocol is indicated, 1687
provided the treatment is performed under the supervision of a 1688
physician licensed under chapter 370, a physician assistant licensed 1689
under chapter 370, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under 1690
chapter 378 or an acupuncturist licensed under chapter 384c and is 1691
performed in (1) a private freestanding facility licensed by the 1692
Department of Public Health that provides care or treatment for 1693
[substance abusive or dependent persons ] persons with substance use 1694
disorder, (2) a setting operated by the Department of Mental Health and 1695
Addiction Services, or (3) any other setting where such protocol is an 1696
appropriate adjunct therapy to a substance [abuse] use or behavioral 1697
health treatment program. The Commissioner of Public Health may 1698
adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 1699
implement the provisions of this section. 1700
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 53

Sec. 79. Section 20 -206nn of the general statutes is repealed and the 1701
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1702
The Commissioner of Public Health may take any disciplinary action 1703
set forth in section 19a -17 against a paramedic, emergency medical 1704
technician, emergency medical responder, advanced emergency 1705
medical technician or emergency medical services instructor for any of 1706
the following reasons: (1) Failure to conform to the accepted standards 1707
of the profession; (2) conviction of a felony, in accordance with the 1708
provisions of section 46a -80; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining or seeking 1709
reinstatement of a license to practice paramedicine or a certificate to 1710
practice as an emergency medical technician, emergency medical 1711
responder, advanced emergency medical technician or emergency 1712
medical services instructor; (4) fraud or deceit in the practice of 1713
paramedicine, the provision of emergency medical services or the 1714
provision of emergency medical services education; (5) negligent, 1715
incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, 1716
mental or emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to 1717
conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or 1718
substance [abuse] use; or (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, 1719
patient or other health record. The commissioner may take any such 1720
disciplinary action against emergency medical services personnel for 1721
violation of any provision of section 20-206mm or any regulations 1722
adopted pursuant to section 20 -206oo. The commissioner may order a 1723
license or certificate holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental 1724
examination if his or her physical or mental capacity to practice safely is 1725
the subject of an investigation. The commissioner may petition the 1726
superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order 1727
or any action taken pursuant to section 19a -17. The commissioner shall 1728
give notice and an opportunity to be heard on any contemplated action 1729
under said section 19a-17. 1730
Sec. 80. Subsection (h) of section 20 -660 of the general statutes is 1731
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1732
1, 2026): 1733
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 54

(h) The provisions of this section do not apply to any person licensed 1734
in this state to provide medical, dental, nursing, counseling or other 1735
health care, substance [abuse] use or mental health services. 1736
Sec. 81. Subsection (a) of section 21a -252 of the general statutes is 1737
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1738
1, 2026): 1739
(a) A physician, in good faith and in the course of the physician's 1740
professional practice only, may prescribe, administer and dispense 1741
controlled substances, or may cause the same to be administered by a 1742
physician assistant, nurse or intern under the physician's direction and 1743
supervision, for demonstrable physical or mental disorders but not for 1744
drug dependence except in accordance with state and federal laws and 1745
regulations adopted thereunder. Notwithstanding the provisions of this 1746
subsection the Department of Consumer Protection may approve 1747
protocols allowing the dispensing of take-home doses of methadone, by 1748
a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, to outpatients in duly 1749
licensed substance [abuse] use treatment facilities. Such dispensing shall 1750
be done pursuant to the order of a licensed prescribing practitioner and 1751
using computerized dispensing equipment into which bulk supplies of 1752
methadone are dispensed by a pharmacist. The quantity of methadone 1753
dispensed by such nurse shall not exceed at any one time that amount 1754
allowed under federal or state statutes or regulations governing the 1755
treatment of drug dependent patients. The Department of Consumer 1756
Protection shall conduct inspections of such treatment facilities to 1757
ensure that the computerized dispensing equipment and related 1758
dispensing procedures documented in the approved protocols are 1759
adhered to. 1760
Sec. 82. Subsection (a) of section 21a -274a of the general statutes is 1761
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1762
1, 2026): 1763
(a) There is established a drug enforcement grant program which 1764
shall be administered by the Office of Policy and Management. Grants 1765
may be made to municipalities, the Department of Emergency Services 1766
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 55

and Public Protection and the Division of Criminal Justice for the 1767
purpose of enforcing federal and state laws concerning controlled 1768
substances, undertaking crime prevention activities related to the 1769
enforcement of such laws, substance [abuse] use prevention education 1770
or training related to such enforcement or education activities. The 1771
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall adopt 1772
regulations in accordance with chapter 54 for the administration of this 1773
subsection, including the establishment of priorities, program 1774
categories, eligibility requirements, funding limitations and the 1775
application process. Such regulations shall provide that the costs of a 1776
community-based police program, as defined in the regulations, may be 1777
paid from a grant made under this section. 1778
Sec. 83. Subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 21a -279 of the 1779
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1780
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1781
(2) For a second offense of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the court 1782
shall evaluate such person and, if the court determines such person is a 1783
drug-dependent person, the court may suspend prosecution of such 1784
person and order such person to undergo a substance [abuse] use 1785
treatment program. 1786
Sec. 84. Subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 21a -279a of the 1787
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1788
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1789
(2) For an offense under subdivision (1) of this subsection, the court 1790
shall evaluate such person and, if the court determines such person is a 1791
drug-dependent person, the court may suspend prosecution of such 1792
person and order such person to undergo a substance [abuse] use 1793
treatment program. 1794
Sec. 85. Subsection (b) of section 21a -322 of the general statutes is 1795
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1796
1, 2026): 1797
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 56

(b) If a practitioner dispenses, administers or prescribes any 1798
controlled substance to a patient, the practitioner shall make available 1799
to the Department of Consumer Protection, for inspection by the 1800
department, records of medical evaluations associated with dispensing, 1801
administering or prescribing such controlled substance. Such records 1802
shall be confidential and not be subject to disclosure under the Freedom 1803
of Information Act, as defined in section 1 -200. The department may 1804
inspect such records solely for the purpose of investigating any violation 1805
or suspected violation, or enforcing any provision, of this chapter or any 1806
regulation promulgated under this chapter. Nothing in this subsection 1807
shall be construed to require disclosure of any substance [abuse] use 1808
treatment record that is protected from disclosure under 42 USC 290dd-1809
2, as amended from time to time, or other applicable federal law. 1810
Sec. 86. Subsection (b) of section 21a -420f of the 2026 supplement to 1811
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1812
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1813
(b) On and after July 1, 2022, there is established a fund to be known 1814
as the "Cannabis Prevention and Recovery Services Fund". The fund 1815
shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund 1816
and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other 1817
moneys, funds and accounts. Amounts in the fund may be expended 1818
only pursuant to appropriation by the General Assembly. Any balance 1819
remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried 1820
forward in the fund for the fiscal year next succeeding. Moneys in the 1821
fund shall be appropriated for the purposes of (1) substance [abuse] use 1822
prevention, treatment and recovery services, which may include, but 1823
need not be limited to, the (A) provision of youth cannabis use 1824
prevention services by the local advisory councils on drug use and 1825
prevention established by municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of 1826
Section 4126 of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986, as 1827
amended from time to time, regional behavioral health action 1828
organizations described in section 17a -484f, as amended by this act , or 1829
youth service bureaus established pursuant to section 10 -19m, and (B) 1830
development of a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the 1831
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 57

mental and physical health risks of youth cannabis use and cannabis use 1832
by pregnant persons, and (2) collection and analysis of data regarding 1833
substance use. The Social Equity Council may make recommendations 1834
to any relevant state agency regarding expenditures to be made for the 1835
purposes set forth in this subsection. 1836
Sec. 87. Subsection (b) of section 31 -40v of the general statutes is 1837
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1838
1, 2026): 1839
(b) The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission, in 1840
consultation with the Labor Commissioner and in accordance with the 1841
provisions of chapter 54, shall adopt regulations to carry out the 1842
provisions of this section. The regulations shall (1) prescribe the 1843
membership of safety and health committees to ensure representation 1844
of employees and employers; (2) specify the frequency of committee 1845
meetings; (3) require employers to make, file and maintain adequate 1846
written records of each committee meeting subject to inspection by the 1847
chairman or his authorized designee; (4) require employers to 1848
compensate employee representatives at their regular hourly wage 1849
while the employee representatives are engaged in safety and health 1850
committee training or are attending committee meetings; (5) prescribe 1851
the duties and functions of safety and health committees, which shall 1852
include (A) establishing procedures for workplace safety inspections by 1853
the committee, (B) establishing procedures for investigating all safety 1854
incidents, accidents, illnesses and deaths, (C) evaluating accident and 1855
illness prevention programs, (D) establishing training programs for the 1856
identification and reduction of hazards in the workplace which damage 1857
the reproductive systems of employees, and (E) establishing training 1858
programs to assist committee members in understanding and 1859
identifying the effects of employee substance [abuse] use on workplace 1860
accidents and safety; and (6) prescribe guidelines for the training of 1861
safety and health committee members. 1862
Sec. 88. Subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 38a -479qq of the 1863
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1864
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thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1865
(6) "Health care services" means any care, service or treatment of an 1866
illness or dysfunction of, or injury to, the human body. "Health care 1867
services" includes physician care, inpatient care, hospital surgical 1868
services, emergency medical services, ambulance services, dental care 1869
services, vision care services, mental health care services, substance 1870
[abuse] use disorder services, chiropractic services, podiatric services, 1871
laboratory test services and the provision of medical equipment or 1872
supplies. "Health care services" does not include pharmaceutical 1873
supplies or prescriptions; 1874
Sec. 89. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 38a -488a of the general 1875
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1876
(Effective October 1, 2026): 1877
(a) For the purposes of this section: 1878
(1) (A) "Mental or nervous conditions" means mental disorders, as 1879
defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric 1880
Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". 1881
(B) "Mental or nervous conditions" does not include (i) intellectual 1882
disability, (ii) specific learning disorders, (iii) motor disorders, (iv) 1883
communication disorders, (v) caffeine-related disorders, (vi) relational 1884
problems, and (vii) other conditions that may be a focus of clinical 1885
attention, that are not otherwise defined as mental disorders in the most 1886
recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and 1887
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". 1888
(2) "Benefits payable" means the usual, customary and reasonable 1889
charges for treatment deemed necessary under generally accepted 1890
medical standards, except that in the case of a managed care plan, as 1891
defined in section 38a -478, "benefits payable" means the payments 1892
agreed upon in the contract between a managed care organization, as 1893
defined in section 38a-478, and a provider, as defined in section 38a-478. 1894
(3) "Acute treatment services" means twenty -four-hour medically 1895
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supervised treatment for a substance use disorder, that is provided in a 1896
medically managed or medically monitored inpatient facility. 1897
(4) "Clinical stabilization services" means twenty-four-hour clinically 1898
managed [postdetoxification] post-withdrawal management treatment, 1899
including, but not limited to, relapse prevention, family outreach, 1900
aftercare planning and addiction education and counseling. 1901
(b) Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the 1902
type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 1903
delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this 1904
state shall provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of mental or 1905
nervous conditions. Benefits payable include, but need not be limited to: 1906
(1) General inpatient hospitalization, including in state -operated 1907
facilities; 1908
(2) Medically necessary acute treatment services and medically 1909
necessary clinical stabilization services; 1910
(3) General hospital outpatient services, including at state -operated 1911
facilities; 1912
(4) Psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, including in state -operated 1913
facilities; 1914
(5) Psychiatric outpatient hospital services, including at state -1915
operated facilities; 1916
(6) Intensive outpatient services, including at state-operated facilities; 1917
(7) Partial hospitalization, including at state-operated facilities; 1918
(8) Intensive, home -based or evidence -based services designed to 1919
address specific mental or nervous conditions in a child or adolescent; 1920
(9) Evidence-based family -focused therapy that specializes in the 1921
treatment of juvenile substance use disorders; 1922
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(10) Short-term family therapy intervention; 1923
(11) Nonhospital inpatient [detoxification] withdrawal management; 1924
(12) Medically monitored [detoxification] withdrawal management; 1925
(13) Ambulatory [detoxification] withdrawal management; 1926
(14) Inpatient services at psychiatric residential treatment facilities; 1927
(15) Rehabilitation services provided in residential treatment 1928
facilities, general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric facilities; 1929
(16) Observation beds in acute hospital settings; 1930
(17) Psychological and neuropsychological testing conducted by an 1931
appropriately licensed health care provider; 1932
(18) Trauma screening conducted by a licensed behavioral health 1933
professional; 1934
(19) Depression screening, including maternal depression screening, 1935
conducted by a licensed behavioral health professional; and 1936
(20) Substance use screening conducted by a licensed behavioral 1937
health professional. 1938
Sec. 90. Section 38a -488d of the general statutes is repealed and the 1939
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1940
No individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type 1941
specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 that 1942
is delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this 1943
state on or after January 1, 2020, shall deny coverage for covered 1944
substance [abuse] use disorder services solely because such substance 1945
[abuse] use disorder services were provided pursuant to an order issued 1946
by a court of competent jurisdiction. 1947
Sec. 91. Section 38a -492p of the general statutes is repealed and the 1948
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 1949
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Each insurance company, hospital service corporation, medical 1950
service corporation, health care center, fraternal benefit society or other 1951
entity that delivers, issues for delivery, renews, amends or continues in 1952
this state an individual health insurance policy providing coverage of 1953
the type specified in subdivision (1), (2), (4), (11) or (12) of section 38a -1954
469 that provides coverage to an insured or enrollee who has been 1955
diagnosed with a substance use disorder, as described in section 17a -1956
458, shall cover medically necessary, medically monitored inpatient 1957
[detoxification] withdrawal management services and medically 1958
necessary, medically managed intensive inpatient [detoxification] 1959
withdrawal management services provided to the insured or enrollee. 1960
For purposes of this section, ["medically monitored inpatient 1961
detoxification" and "medically managed intensive inpatient 1962
detoxification"] "medically monitored inpatient withdrawal 1963
management" and "medically managed intensive inpatient withdrawal 1964
management" have the same meanings as described in the most recent 1965
edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Treatment 1966
Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related and Co-Occurring Conditions. 1967
Sec. 92. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 38a -514 of the general 1968
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1969
(Effective October 1, 2026): 1970
(a) For the purposes of this section: 1971
(1) (A) "Mental or nervous conditions" means mental disorders, as 1972
defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric 1973
Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". 1974
(B) "Mental or nervous conditions" does not include (i) intellectual 1975
disability, (ii) specific learning disorders, (iii) motor disorders, (iv) 1976
communication disorders, (v) caffeine-related disorders, (vi) relational 1977
problems, and (vii) other conditions that may be a focus of clinical 1978
attention, that are not otherwise defined as mental disorders in the most 1979
recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and 1980
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". 1981
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(2) "Benefits payable" means the usual, customary and reasonable 1982
charges for treatment deemed necessary under generally accepted 1983
medical standards, except that in the case of a managed care plan, as 1984
defined in section 38a -478, "benefits payable" means the payments 1985
agreed upon in the contract between a managed care organization, as 1986
defined in section 38a-478, and a provider, as defined in section 38a-478. 1987
(3) "Acute treatment services" means twenty -four-hour medically 1988
supervised treatment for a substance use disorder, that is provided in a 1989
medically managed or medically monitored inpatient facility. 1990
(4) "Clinical stabilization services" means twenty-four-hour clinically 1991
managed [postdetoxification] post-withdrawal management treatment, 1992
including, but not limited to, relapse prevention, family outreach, 1993
aftercare planning and addiction education and counseling. 1994
(b) Except as provided in subsection (j) of this section, each group 1995
health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in 1996
subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a -469 delivered, 1997
issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall 1998
provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of mental or nervous 1999
conditions. Benefits payable include, but need not be limited to: 2000
(1) General inpatient hospitalization, including in state -operated 2001
facilities; 2002
(2) Medically necessary acute treatment services and medically 2003
necessary clinical stabilization services; 2004
(3) General hospital outpatient services, including at state -operated 2005
facilities; 2006
(4) Psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, including in state -operated 2007
facilities; 2008
(5) Psychiatric outpatient hospital services, including at state -2009
operated facilities; 2010
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(6) Intensive outpatient services, including at state-operated facilities; 2011
(7) Partial hospitalization, including at state-operated facilities; 2012
(8) Intensive, home -based or evidence -based services designed to 2013
address specific mental or nervous conditions in a child or adolescent; 2014
(9) Evidence-based family -focused therapy that specializes in the 2015
treatment of juvenile substance use disorders; 2016
(10) Short-term family therapy intervention; 2017
(11) Nonhospital inpatient [detoxification] withdrawal management; 2018
(12) Medically monitored [detoxification] withdrawal management; 2019
(13) Ambulatory [detoxification] withdrawal management; 2020
(14) Inpatient services at psychiatric residential treatment facilities; 2021
(15) Rehabilitation services provided in residential treatment 2022
facilities, general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric facilities; 2023
(16) Observation beds in acute hospital settings; 2024
(17) Psychological and neuropsychological testing conducted by an 2025
appropriately licensed health care provider; 2026
(18) Trauma screening conducted by a licensed behavioral health 2027
professional; 2028
(19) Depression screening, including maternal depression screening, 2029
conducted by a licensed behavioral health professional; and 2030
(20) Substance use screening conducted by a licensed behavioral 2031
health professional. 2032
Sec. 93. Section 38a -514d of the general statutes is repealed and the 2033
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2034
No group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type 2035
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 64

specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 that 2036
is delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this 2037
state on or after January 1, 2020, shall deny coverage for covered 2038
substance [abuse] use disorder services solely because such substance 2039
[abuse] use disorder services were provided pursuant to an order issued 2040
by a court of competent jurisdiction. 2041
Sec. 94. Section 38a -518p of the general statutes is repealed and the 2042
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2043
Each insurance company, hospital service corporation, medical 2044
service corporation, health care center, fraternal benefit society or other 2045
entity that delivers, issues for delivery, renews, amends or continues in 2046
this state a group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type 2047
specified in subdivision (1), (2), (4), (11) or (12) of section 38a -469 that 2048
provides coverage to an insured or enrollee who has been diagnosed 2049
with a substance use disorder, as described in section 17a -458, shall 2050
cover medically necessary, medically monitored inpatient 2051
[detoxification] withdrawal management services and medically 2052
necessary, medically managed intensive inpatient [detoxification] 2053
withdrawal management services provided to the insured or enrollee. 2054
For purposes of this section, ["medically monitored inpatient 2055
detoxification" and "medically managed intensive inpatient 2056
detoxification"] "medically monitored inpatient withdrawal 2057
management" and "medically managed intensive inpatient withdrawal 2058
management" have the same meanings as described in the most recent 2059
edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Treatment 2060
Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related and Co-Occurring Conditions. 2061
Sec. 95. Subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of section 38a -999 of the 2062
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2063
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2064
(8) Additional protection against unauthorized disclosure of sensitive 2065
health information, which shall include information regarding: Sexually 2066
transmitted diseases; mental health; substance [abuse] use disorder; the 2067
human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency 2068
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 65

syndrome; and genetic testing, including the fact that an individual has 2069
undergone a genetic test. 2070
Sec. 96. Subsection (a) of section 46a -11b of the general statutes is 2071
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2072
1, 2026): 2073
(a) Any physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 2074
370, any resident physician or intern in any hospital in this state, 2075
whether or not so licensed, any registered nurse, any person paid for 2076
caring for persons in any facility and any licensed practical nurse, 2077
medical examiner, dental hygienist, dentist, occupational therapist, 2078
optometrist, chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, social worker, school 2079
teacher, school principal, school guidance counselor, school counselor, 2080
paraeducator, licensed behavior analyst, mental health professional, 2081
physician assistant, licensed or certified [substance abuse] alcohol and 2082
drug counselor, licensed marital and family therapist, speech and 2083
language pathologist, clergyman, police officer, pharmacist, physical 2084
therapist, licensed professional counselor or sexual assault counselor or 2085
domestic violence counselor, as defined in section 52 -146k, who has 2086
reasonable cause to suspect or believe that any person with intellectual 2087
disability or any person who receives services from the Department of 2088
Social Services' Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services has been 2089
abused or neglected shall, as soon as practicable but not later than forty-2090
eight hours after such person has reasonable cause to suspect or believe 2091
that a person with intellectual disability or any person who receives 2092
services from the Department of Social Services' Division of Autism 2093
Spectrum Disorder Services has been abused or neglected, report such 2094
information or cause a report to be made in any reasonable manner to 2095
the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee. An unsuccessful 2096
attempt to make an initial report to the commissioner, or the 2097
commissioner's designee, on a weekend, holiday or after normal 2098
business hours shall not be construed as a violation of this section if 2099
reasonable attempts are made by a person required to report under this 2100
subsection to reach the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, 2101
as soon as practicable after the initial attempt. The initial report shall be 2102
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 66

followed up by a written report not later than five calendar days after 2103
the initial report was made. Any person required to report under this 2104
subsection who fails to make such report shall be fined not more than 2105
five hundred dollars. For purposes of this subsection, "reasonable 2106
manner" and "reasonable attempts" mean efforts that include, but are 2107
not limited to, efforts to reach the commissioner, or the commissioner's 2108
designee, by phone, in person or by electronic mail. 2109
Sec. 97. Subparagraph (E) of subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of 2110
section 46a -170 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is 2111
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2112
1, 2026): 2113
(E) Develop a plan for mental health, support and substance [abuse] 2114
use programs for individuals identified as victims of trafficking and 2115
those arrested for prostitution in violation of section 53a -82. The plan 2116
shall provide for (i) the diversion of victims of trafficking and 2117
prostitution offenders into community -based treatment and support 2118
services, including, but not limited to, substance [abuse] use recovery, 2119
housing, healthcare, job training, treatment and mental health support, 2120
and (ii) after the successful completion of the program, the dismissal of 2121
any related criminal charges against the accused. 2122
Sec. 98. Subsection (c) of section 46b -38d of the general statutes is 2123
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2124
1, 2026): 2125
(c) For the purpose of establishing accurate data on the extent and 2126
severity of family violence in the state and on the degree of compliance 2127
with the requirements of sections 46b -38a to 46b -38f, inclusive, the 2128
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall 2129
prescribe a form for making family violence offense reports. The form 2130
shall include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Name of the parties; 2131
(2) relationship of the parties; (3) sex of the parties; (4) date of birth of 2132
the parties; (5) time and date of the incident; (6) whether children were 2133
involved or whether the alleged act of family violence was committed 2134
in the presence of children; (7) type and extent of the alleged abuse; (8) 2135
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existence of substance [abuse] use; (9) number and types of weapons 2136
involved; (10) existence of any prior court orders; (11) any other data 2137
that may be necessary for a complete analysis of all circumstances 2138
leading to the arrest. 2139
Sec. 99. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of section 46b-129a of the 2140
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2141
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2142
(2) (A) A child shall be represented by counsel knowledgeable about 2143
representing such children who shall be assigned to represent the child 2144
by the office of Chief Public Defender, or appointed by the court if there 2145
is an immediate need for the appointment of counsel during a court 2146
proceeding. Such assignment or appointment shall continue for the 2147
duration of any such proceeding under section 46b -129, 2148
notwithstanding such child's attainment of eighteen years of age. If the 2149
child's parent or guardian has been accused by a competent witness of 2150
abusing the child, or of causing the child to be neglected or uncared for, 2151
upon the assignment or appointment of counsel, such counsel shall be 2152
granted immediate access to (i) records relating to the child, including, 2153
but not limited to, Department of Social Services records and medical, 2154
mental health and substance [abuse] use treatment, law enforcement 2155
and educational records, without the necessity of securing further 2156
releases, and (ii) the child, for the purpose of consulting with the child 2157
privately. The court shall give the parties prior notice of such 2158
assignment or appointment. Counsel for the child shall act solely as 2159
attorney for the child. 2160
Sec. 100. Subsection (a) of section 51 -81d of the general statutes is 2161
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2162
1, 2026): 2163
(a) The Superior Court, in accordance with rules established by the 2164
judges of the Superior Court, may (1) establish a Client Security Fund to 2165
(A) reimburse claims for losses caused by the dishonest conduct of 2166
attorneys admitted to the practice of law in this state and incurred in the 2167
course of an attorney -client relationship, (B) provide for crisis 2168
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intervention and referral assistance to attorneys admitted to the practice 2169
of law in this state who [suffer from alcohol or other substance abuse 2170
problems or gambling problems, or who have behavioral health 2171
problems] have a mental health or substance use disorder or identified 2172
behavioral health needs, and (C) make grants-in-aid to the organization 2173
administering the program for the use of interest earned on lawyers' 2174
clients' funds accounts pursuant to section 51 -81c, for the purpose of 2175
funding the delivery of legal services to the poor, and (2) assess any 2176
person admitted as an attorney by the Superior Court, in accordance 2177
with section 51-80, an annual fee to be deposited in the Client Security 2178
Fund for the purposes described in this subsection. Such crisis 2179
intervention and referral assistance (i) shall be provided with the 2180
assistance of an advisory committee, to be appointed by the Chief Court 2181
Administrator, that includes one or more behavioral health 2182
professionals, and (ii) shall not be deemed to constitute the practice of 2183
medicine or mental health care. 2184
Sec. 101. Section 51 -181b of the general statutes is repealed and the 2185
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2186
(a) The Chief Court Administrator may establish in any court location 2187
or juvenile matters court location a docket separate from other criminal 2188
or juvenile matters for the hearing of criminal or juvenile matters in 2189
which a defendant is a drug -dependent person, as defined in section 2190
21a-240. The docket shall be available to offenders who could benefit 2191
from placement in a substance [abuse] use treatment program. 2192
(b) The Chief Court Administrator shall establish, within the 2193
appropriations designated in public act 03 -1 of the June 30 special 2194
session* for said purpose, one or more drug courts for the hearing of 2195
criminal or juvenile matters in which a defendant is a drug -dependent 2196
person, as defined in section 21a-240, who could benefit from placement 2197
in a substance [abuse] use treatment program. 2198
Sec. 102. Subdivision (9) of section 53a -65 of the general statutes is 2199
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2200
1, 2026): 2201
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 69

(9) "Psychotherapist" means a physician, psychologist, nurse, 2202
[substance abuse ] alcohol and drug counselor, social worker, 2203
clergyman, marital and family therapist, mental health service provider, 2204
hypnotist or other person, whether or not licensed or certified by the 2205
state, who performs or purports to perform psychotherapy. 2206
Sec. 103. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 54 -36i of the 2207
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2208
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2209
(a) There is established and created an account of the General Fund 2210
to be known as the "drug assets forfeiture revolving account" for the 2211
purpose of providing funds for substance [abuse] use treatment and 2212
education programs and for use in the detection, investigation, 2213
apprehension and prosecution of persons for the violation of the laws 2214
pertaining to the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution or possession of 2215
controlled substances. 2216
(b) The account shall consist of the proceeds from the sale of property 2217
and moneys received and deposited pursuant to section 54-36h. 2218
(c) Moneys in such account shall be distributed as follows: (1) Seventy 2219
per cent shall be allocated to the Department of Emergency Services and 2220
Public Protection and local police departments pursuant to subsection 2221
(d) of this section, fifteen per cent of which shall be used for purposes of 2222
drug education and eighty -five per cent of which shall be used for the 2223
detection, investigation, apprehension and prosecution of persons for 2224
the violation of laws pertaining to the illegal manufacture, sale, 2225
distribution or possession of controlled substances and for the purposes 2226
of police training on gang-related violence as required by section 7-294l, 2227
(2) twenty per cent shall be allocated to the Department of Mental 2228
Health and Addiction Services for substance [abuse] use treatment and 2229
education programs and tobacco prevention and enforcement positions 2230
engaged in compliance activities as required by the federal government 2231
as a condition of receipt of substance [abuse] use prevention and 2232
treatment block grant funds, and (3) ten per cent shall be allocated to the 2233
Division of Criminal Justice for use in the prosecution of persons for the 2234
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 70

violation of laws pertaining to the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution 2235
or possession of controlled substances. 2236
Sec. 104. Subsections (b) to (f), inclusive, of section 54 -56g of the 2237
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2238
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2239
(b) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's 2240
attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in 2241
charge of the case, may, in its discretion, grant such application. If the 2242
court grants such application, the court shall refer such person to the 2243
Court Support Services Division for assessment and confirmation of the 2244
eligibility of the applicant and to the Department of Mental Health and 2245
Addiction Services for evaluation. The Court Support Services Division, 2246
in making its assessment and confirmation, may rely on the 2247
representations made by the applicant under oath in open court with 2248
respect to convictions in other states of offenses specified in subsection 2249
(a) of this section. Upon confirmation of eligibility and receipt of the 2250
evaluation report, the defendant shall be referred to the Department of 2251
Mental Health and Addiction Services by the Court Support Services 2252
Division for placement in an appropriate alcohol intervention program 2253
for one year, or be placed in a state -licensed substance [abuse] use 2254
treatment program. The alcohol intervention program shall include a 2255
ten-session intervention program and a fifteen -session intervention 2256
program. Any person who enters the pretrial alcohol education 2257
program shall agree: (1) To the tolling of the statute of limitations with 2258
respect to such crime, (2) to a waiver of such person's right to a speedy 2259
trial, (3) to complete ten or fifteen counseling sessions in an alcohol 2260
intervention program or successfully complete a substance [abuse] use 2261
treatment program of not less than twelve sessions pursuant to this 2262
section dependent upon the evaluation report and the court order, (4) to 2263
commence participation in an alcohol intervention program or 2264
substance [abuse] use treatment program not later than ninety days after 2265
the date of entry of the court order unless granted a delayed entry into 2266
a program by the court, (5) upon completion of participation in the 2267
alcohol intervention program, to accept placement in a substance 2268
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 71

[abuse] use treatment program upon the recommendation of a provider 2269
under contract with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction 2270
Services pursuant to subsection (f) of this section or placement in a state-2271
licensed substance [abuse] use treatment program which meets 2272
standards established by the Department of Mental Health and 2273
Addiction Services, if the Court Support Services Division deems it 2274
appropriate, and (6) if ordered by the court, to participate in at least one 2275
victim impact panel. The suspension of the motor vehicle operator's 2276
license of any such person pursuant to section 14-227b shall be effective 2277
during the period such person is participating in the pretrial alcohol 2278
education program, provided such person shall have the option of not 2279
commencing the participation in such program until the period of such 2280
suspension is completed. If the Court Support Services Division informs 2281
the court that the defendant is ineligible for such program and the court 2282
makes a determination of ineligibility or if the program provider 2283
certifies to the court that the defendant did not successfully complete 2284
the assigned program or is no longer amenable to treatment and such 2285
person does not request, or the court denies, program reinstatement 2286
under subsection (e) of this section, the court shall order the court file to 2287
be unsealed, enter a plea of not guilty for such defendant and 2288
immediately place the case on the trial list. If such defendant 2289
satisfactorily completes the assigned program, such defendant may 2290
apply for dismissal of the charges against such defendant and the court, 2291
on reviewing the record of the defendant's participation in such 2292
program submitted by the Court Support Services Division and on 2293
finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss the charges. If the 2294
defendant does not apply for dismissal of the charges against such 2295
defendant after satisfactorily completing the assigned program the 2296
court, upon receipt of the record of the defendant's participation in such 2297
program submitted by the Court Support Services Division, may on its 2298
own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss 2299
the charges. Upon motion of the defendant and a showing of good 2300
cause, the court may extend the one -year placement period for a 2301
reasonable period for the defendant to complete the assigned program. 2302
A record of participation in such program shall be retained by the Court 2303
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 72

Support Services Division for a period of ten years from the date the 2304
court grants the application for participation in such program. The 2305
Court Support Services Division shall transmit to the Department of 2306
Motor Vehicles a record of participation in such program for each 2307
person who satisfactorily completes such program. The Department of 2308
Motor Vehicles shall maintain for a period of ten years the record of a 2309
person's participation in such program as part of such person's driving 2310
record. The Court Support Services Division shall transmit to the 2311
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection the record of 2312
participation of any person who satisfactorily completes such program 2313
who has been charged with a violation of the provisions of subsection 2314
(d) of section 15-133 or section 15-140n. The Department of Energy and 2315
Environmental Protection shall maintain for a period of ten years the 2316
record of a person's participation in such program as a part of such 2317
person's boater certification record. 2318
(c) (1) At the time the court grants the application for participation in 2319
the pretrial alcohol education program, such person shall also pay to the 2320
court a nonrefundable program fee of three hundred fifty dollars if such 2321
person is ordered to participate in the ten-session intervention program 2322
and a nonrefundable program fee of five hundred dollars if such person 2323
is ordered to participate in the fifteen -session intervention program. If 2324
the court grants the application for participation in the pretrial alcohol 2325
education program and such person is ordered to participate in a 2326
substance abuse treatment program, such person shall be responsible 2327
for the costs associated with participation in such program. No person 2328
may be excluded from either program for inability to pay such fee or 2329
cost, and the court shall waive any such fee or cost for any intervention 2330
program if such person is found eligible to have such fee or cost waived 2331
under subsection (i) of this section. 2332
(2) If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for a 2333
treatment program using the method for determining indigency 2334
described in subsection (i) of this section, the costs of such program shall 2335
be paid from the pretrial account established under section 54-56k. 2336
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(3) If the court denies the application, such person shall not be 2337
required to pay the program fee. If the court grants the application and 2338
such person is later determined to be ineligible for participation in such 2339
pretrial alcohol education program or fails to complete the assigned 2340
program, the program fee shall not be refunded. All program fees shall 2341
be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k. 2342
(d) If a person returns to court with certification from a program 2343
provider that such person did not successfully complete the assigned 2344
program or is no longer amenable to treatment, the provider, to the 2345
extent practicable, shall include a recommendation to the court as to 2346
whether a ten -session intervention program, a fifteen -session 2347
intervention program or placement in a state-licensed substance [abuse] 2348
use treatment program would best serve such person's needs. The 2349
provider shall also indicate whether the current program referral was 2350
an initial referral or a reinstatement to the program. 2351
(e) When a person subsequently requests reinstatement into an 2352
alcohol intervention program or a substance [abuse] use treatment 2353
program and the Court Support Services Division verifies that such 2354
person is eligible for reinstatement into such program and thereafter the 2355
court favorably acts on such request, such person shall pay a 2356
nonrefundable program fee of one hundred seventy -five dollars if 2357
ordered to complete a ten-session intervention program or two hundred 2358
fifty dollars if ordered to complete a fifteen -session intervention 2359
program, as the case may be, except as provided in subsection (i) of this 2360
section. If the court grants a person's request to be reinstated into a 2361
treatment program, such person shall be responsible for the costs, if any, 2362
associated with being reinstated into the treatment program. All 2363
program fees collected in connection with a reinstatement to an 2364
intervention program shall be credited to the pretrial account 2365
established under section 54 -56k. No person shall be permitted more 2366
than two program reinstatements pursuant to this subsection. 2367
(f) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall 2368
contract with service providers, develop standards and oversee 2369
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appropriate alcohol programs to meet the requirements of this section. 2370
Said department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, 2371
to establish standards for such alcohol programs. Any person ordered 2372
to participate in a treatment program shall do so at a state -licensed 2373
treatment program which meets the standards established by said 2374
department. Any defendant whose employment or residence makes it 2375
unreasonable to attend an alcohol intervention program or a substance 2376
[abuse] use treatment program in this state may attend a program in 2377
another state which has standards substantially similar to, or higher 2378
than, those of this state, subject to the approval of the court and payment 2379
of the application, evaluation and program fees and treatment costs, as 2380
appropriate, as provided in this section. 2381
Sec. 105. Subsections (a) to (k), inclusive, of section 54 -56i of the 2382
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2383
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2384
(a) There is established a pretrial drug education and community 2385
service program for persons charged with a violation of section 21a-257, 2386
21a-267, 21a-279, as amended by this act , or 21a -279a, as amended by 2387
this act. The pretrial drug education and community service program 2388
shall include a fifteen-session drug education program and a substance 2389
[abuse] use treatment program of not less than fifteen sessions, and the 2390
performance of community service. 2391
(b) Upon application by any such person for participation in such 2392
program, the court shall , but only as to the public, order the court file 2393
sealed, and such person shall pay to the court an application fee of one 2394
hundred dollars and a nonrefundable evaluation fee of one hundred 2395
fifty dollars, except as provided in subsection (l) of this section. A person 2396
shall be ineligible for participation in such pretrial drug education and 2397
community service program if such person has twice previously 2398
participated in (1) the pretrial drug education program established 2399
under the provisions of this section in effect prior to October 1, 2013, (2) 2400
the community service labor program established under section 53a-39c, 2401
(3) the pretrial drug education and community service program 2402
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 75

established under this section, or (4) any of such programs, except that 2403
the court may allow a person who has twice previously participated in 2404
such programs to participate in the pretrial drug education and 2405
community service program one additional time, for good cause shown. 2406
The evaluation and application fee imposed under this subsection shall 2407
be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k. 2408
(c) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's 2409
attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in 2410
charge of the case, may, in its discretion, grant such application. If the 2411
court grants such application, the court shall refer such person (1) to the 2412
Court Support Services Division for confirmation of the eligibility of the 2413
applicant, (2) to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction 2414
Services for evaluation and determination of an appropriate drug 2415
education or substance [abuse] use treatment program for the first or 2416
second time such application is granted, and (3) to a state -licensed 2417
substance [abuse] use treatment program for evaluation and 2418
determination of an appropriate substance [abuse] use treatment 2419
program for the third time such application is granted, except that, if 2420
such person is a veteran, the court may refer such person to the 2421
Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of 2422
Veterans Affairs, as applicable, for any such evaluation and 2423
determination. For the purposes of this subsection and subsection (d) of 2424
this section, "veteran" has the same meaning as provided in section 27 -2425
103. 2426
(d) (1) (A) Upon confirmation of eligibility and receipt of the 2427
evaluation and determination required under subsection (c) of this 2428
section, such person shall be placed in the pretrial drug education and 2429
community service program and referred by the Court Support Services 2430
Division for the purpose of receiving appropriate drug education 2431
services or substance [abuse] use treatment program services, as 2432
recommended by the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (c) 2433
of this section and ordered by the court, to the Department of Mental 2434
Health and Addiction Services or to a state -licensed substance [abuse] 2435
use treatment program for placement in the appropriate drug education 2436
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 76

or substance [abuse] use treatment program, except that, if such person 2437
is a veteran, the division may refer such person to the Department of 2438
Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2439
subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection. 2440
(B) Persons who have been granted entry into the pretrial drug 2441
education and community service program for the first time shall 2442
participate in either a fifteen-session drug education program or a 2443
substance [abuse] use treatment program of not less than fifteen 2444
sessions, as ordered by the court on the basis of the evaluation and 2445
determination required under subsection (c) of this section. Persons 2446
who have been granted entry into the pretrial drug education and 2447
community service program for the second time shall participate in 2448
either a fifteen-session drug education program or a substance abuse 2449
treatment program of not less than fifteen sessions, as ordered by the 2450
court based on the evaluation and determination required under 2451
subsection (c) of this section. Persons who have been granted entry into 2452
the pretrial drug education and community service program for a third 2453
time shall be referred to a state-licensed substance [abuse] use program 2454
for evaluation and participation in a course of treatment as ordered by 2455
the court based on the evaluation and determination required under 2456
subsection (c) of this section. 2457
(C) Persons who have been granted entry into the pretrial drug 2458
education and community service program shall also participate in a 2459
community service program administered by the Court Support 2460
Services Division pursuant to section 53a -39c. Persons who have been 2461
granted entry into the pretrial drug education and community service 2462
program for the first time shall participate in the community service 2463
program for a period of five days. Persons who have been granted entry 2464
into the pretrial drug education and community service program for the 2465
second time shall participate in the community service program for a 2466
period of fifteen days. Persons who have been granted entry into the 2467
pretrial drug education and community service program for a third or 2468
additional time shall participate in the community service program for 2469
a period of thirty days. 2470
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(D) Placement in the pretrial drug education and community service 2471
program pursuant to this section shall not exceed one year. Persons 2472
receiving substance [abuse] use treatment program services in 2473
accordance with the provisions of this section shall only receive such 2474
services at state -licensed substance [abuse] use treatment program 2475
facilities that are in compliance with all state standards governing the 2476
operation of such facilities, except that, if such person is a veteran, such 2477
person may receive services from facilities under the supervision of the 2478
Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of 2479
Veterans Affairs, subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this 2480
subsection. 2481
(E) Any person who enters the pretrial drug education and 2482
community service program shall agree: (i) To the tolling of the statute 2483
of limitations with respect to such crime; (ii) to a waiver of such person's 2484
right to a speedy trial; (iii) to complete participation in the pretrial drug 2485
education and community service program, as ordered by the court; (iv) 2486
to commence participation in the pretrial drug education and 2487
community service program not later than ninety days after the date of 2488
entry of the court order unless granted a delayed entry into the program 2489
by the court; and (v) upon completion of participation in the pretrial 2490
drug education and community service program, to accept (I) placement 2491
in a treatment program upon the recommendation of a provider under 2492
contract with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services 2493
or a provider under the supervision of the Department of Veterans 2494
Affairs or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or (II) 2495
placement in a treatment program that has standards substantially 2496
similar to, or higher than, a program of a provider under contract with 2497
the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, if the Court 2498
Support Services Division deems it appropriate. 2499
(2) The Court Support Services Division may only refer a veteran to 2500
the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of 2501
Veterans Affairs for the receipt of services under the program if (A) the 2502
division determines that such services will be provided in a timely 2503
manner under standards substantially similar to, or higher than, 2504
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 78

standards for services provided by the Department of Mental Health 2505
and Addiction Services under the program, and (B) the applicable 2506
department agrees to submit timely program participation and 2507
completion reports to the division in the manner required by the 2508
division. 2509
(e) If the Court Support Services Division informs the court that such 2510
person is ineligible for the program and the court makes a determination 2511
of ineligibility or if the program provider certifies to the court that such 2512
person did not successfully complete the assigned program and such 2513
person did not request, or the court denied, reinstatement in the 2514
program under subsection (i) of this section, the court shall order the 2515
court file to be unsealed, enter a plea of not guilty for such person and 2516
immediately place the case on the trial list. 2517
(f) If such person satisfactorily completes the assigned program, such 2518
person may apply for dismissal of the charges against such person and 2519
the court, on reviewing the record of such person's participation in such 2520
program submitted by the Court Support Services Division and on 2521
finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss the charges. If such 2522
person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against such person 2523
after satisfactorily completing the assigned program, the court, upon 2524
receipt of the record of such person's participation in such program 2525
submitted by the Court Support Services Division, may on its own 2526
motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss the 2527
charges. Upon motion of such person and a showing of good cause, the 2528
court may extend the placement period for a reasonable period of time 2529
to allow such person to complete the assigned program. A record of 2530
participation in such program shall be retained by the Court Support 2531
Services Division for a period of ten years from the date the court grants 2532
the application for participation in the program. 2533
(g) At the time the court grants the application for participation in the 2534
pretrial drug education and community service program, any person 2535
ordered to participate in such drug education program shall pay to the 2536
court a nonrefundable program fee of six hundred dollars. If the court 2537
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 79

orders participation in a substance [abuse] use treatment program, such 2538
person shall pay to the court a nonrefundable program fee of one 2539
hundred dollars and shall be responsible for the costs associated with 2540
such program. No person may be excluded from any such program for 2541
inability to pay such fee or cost, and the court shall waive any such fee 2542
or cost if such person is found eligible to have such fee or cost waived 2543
under subsection (l) of this section . If the court waives the costs for a 2544
substance [abuse] use treatment program, the costs of such program 2545
shall be paid from the pretrial account established under section 54-56k. 2546
If the court denies the application, such person shall not be required to 2547
pay the program fee. If the court grants the application, and such person 2548
is later determined to be ineligible for participation in such pretrial drug 2549
education and community service program or fails to complete the 2550
assigned program, the program fee shall not be refunded. All program 2551
fees shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 2552
54-56k. 2553
(h) If a person returns to court with certification from a program 2554
provider that such person did not successfully complete the assigned 2555
program or is no longer amenable to treatment, the provider, to the 2556
extent practicable, shall include a recommendation to the court as to 2557
whether placement in a drug education program or placement in a 2558
substance [abuse] use treatment program would best serve such 2559
person's needs. The provider shall also indicate whether the current 2560
program referral was an initial referral or a reinstatement to the 2561
program. 2562
(i) When a person subsequently requests reinstatement into a drug 2563
education program or a substance [abuse] use treatment program and 2564
the Court Support Services Division verifies that such person is eligible 2565
for reinstatement into such program and thereafter the court favorably 2566
acts on such request, any person reinstated into such drug education 2567
program shall pay a nonrefundable program fee of two hundred fifty 2568
dollars, and any person reinstated into a substance [abuse] use 2569
treatment program shall be responsible for the costs, if any, associated 2570
with being reinstated into the treatment program, unless such person is 2571
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 80

found eligible to have such fee or costs waived under subsection (l) of 2572
this section . All program fees collected in connection with a 2573
reinstatement to a drug education program shall be credited to the 2574
pretrial account established under section 54 -56k. No person shall be 2575
permitted more than two program reinstatements pursuant to this 2576
subsection. 2577
(j) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall 2578
develop standards and oversee appropriate drug education programs 2579
that it administers to meet the requirements of this section and may 2580
contract with service providers to provide such programs. The 2581
department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to 2582
establish standards for such drug education programs. 2583
(k) Any person whose employment or residence or schooling makes 2584
it unreasonable to attend a drug education program or substance 2585
[abuse] use treatment program in this state may attend a program in 2586
another state that has standards similar to, or higher than, those of this 2587
state, subject to the approval of the court and payment of the program 2588
fee or costs as provided in this section. 2589
Sec. 106. Subsection (a) of section 54 -56l of the general statutes is 2590
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2591
1, 2026): 2592
(a) There shall be a supervised diversionary program for persons 2593
with psychiatric disabilities, or persons who are veterans, who are 2594
accused of a crime or crimes or a motor vehicle violation or violations 2595
for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be imposed, which 2596
crimes or violations are not of a serious nature. For the purposes of this 2597
section, (1) "psychiatric disability" means a mental or emotional 2598
condition, other than solely substance [abuse] use disorder, that (A) has 2599
substantial adverse effects on the defendant's ability to function, and (B) 2600
requires care and treatment, and (2) "veteran" means a veteran, as 2601
defined in section 27 -103, who is found, pursuant to subsection (d) of 2602
this section, to have a mental health condition that is amenable to 2603
treatment. 2604
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Sec. 107. Subsection (d) of section 54 -91a of the general statutes is 2605
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2606
1, 2026): 2607
(d) In lieu of ordering a full presentence investigation, the court may 2608
order an abridged version of such investigation, which (1) shall contain 2609
(A) identifying information about the defendant, (B) information about 2610
the pending case from the record of the court, (C) the circumstances of 2611
the offense, (D) the attitude of the complainant or victim, (E) any 2612
damages suffered by the victim, including medical expenses, loss of 2613
earnings and property loss, and (F) the criminal record of the defendant, 2614
and (2) may encompass one or more areas of the social history and 2615
present condition of the defendant, including family background, 2616
significant relationships or children, educational attainment or 2617
vocational training, employment history, financial situation, housing 2618
situation, medical status, mental health status, substance [abuse] use 2619
history, the results of any clinical evaluation conducted of the defendant 2620
or any other information required by the court that is consistent with 2621
the provisions of this section. If the court orders an abridged version of 2622
such investigation for a felony involving family violence, as defined in 2623
section 46b -38a, the abridged version of such investigation shall, in 2624
addition to the information set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection, 2625
contain the following information concerning the defendant: (A) Family 2626
background, (B) significant relationships or children, (C) mental health 2627
status, and (D) substance [abuse] use history. 2628
Sec. 108. Subdivision (4) of subsection (f) of section 54 -125a of the 2629
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2630
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2631
(4) After such hearing, the board may allow such person to go at large 2632
on parole with respect to any portion of a sentence that was based on a 2633
crime or crimes committed while such person was under eighteen years 2634
of age if the board finds that such parole release would be consistent 2635
with the factors set forth in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of 2636
subsection (c) of section 54 -300 and if it appears, from all available 2637
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 82

information, including, but not limited to, any reports from the 2638
Commissioner of Correction, that (A) there is a reasonable probability 2639
that such person will live and remain at liberty without violating the 2640
law, (B) the benefits to such person and society that would result from 2641
such person's release to community supervision substantially outweigh 2642
the benefits to such person and society that would result from such 2643
person's continued incarceration, and (C) such person has demonstrated 2644
substantial rehabilitation since the date such crime or crimes were 2645
committed considering such person's character, background and 2646
history, as demonstrated by factors, including, but not limited to, such 2647
person's correctional record, the age and circumstances of such person 2648
as of the date of the commission of the crime or crimes, whether such 2649
person has demonstrated remorse and increased maturity since the date 2650
of the commission of the crime or crimes, such person's contributions to 2651
the welfare of other persons through service, such person's efforts to 2652
overcome substance [abuse, addiction ] use disorder , trauma, lack of 2653
education or obstacles that such person may have faced as a child or 2654
youth in the adult correctional system, the opportunities for 2655
rehabilitation in the adult correctional system, whether the person has 2656
also applied for or received a sentence modification and the overall 2657
degree of such person's rehabilitation considering the nature and 2658
circumstances of the crime or crimes. 2659
Sec. 109. Subdivision (4) of subsection (g) of section 54 -125a of the 2660
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2661
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2662
(4) After such hearing, the board may allow such person to go at large 2663
on parole with respect to any portion of a sentence that was based on a 2664
crime or crimes committed while such person was under twenty-one 2665
years of age, if the board finds that such parole release would be 2666
consistent with the factors set forth in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, 2667
of subsection (c) of section 54 -300 and if it appears, from all available 2668
information, including, but not limited to, any reports from the 2669
Commissioner of Correction, that (A) there is a reasonable probability 2670
that such person will live and remain at liberty without violating the 2671
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 83

law, (B) the benefits to such person and society that would result from 2672
such person's release to community supervision substantially outweigh 2673
the benefits to such person and society that would result from such 2674
person's continued incarceration, and (C) such person has demonstrated 2675
substantial rehabilitation since the date such crime or crimes were 2676
committed considering such person's character, background and 2677
history, as demonstrated by factors, including, but not limited to, such 2678
person's correctional record, the age and circumstances of such person 2679
as of the date of the commission of the crime or crimes, whether such 2680
person has demonstrated remorse and increased maturity since the date 2681
of the commission of the crime or crimes, such person's contributions to 2682
the welfare of other persons through service, such person's efforts to 2683
overcome substance [abuse, addiction ] use disorder , trauma, lack of 2684
education or obstacles that such person may have faced as a person who 2685
was under twenty-one years of age in the adult correctional system, the 2686
opportunities for rehabilitation in the adult correctional system, 2687
whether the person has also applied for or received a sentence 2688
modification and the overall degree of such person's rehabilitation 2689
considering the nature and circumstances of the crime or crimes. 2690
Sec. 110. Subsection (a) of section 54 -142m of the general statutes is 2691
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2692
1, 2026): 2693
(a) A criminal justice agency holding nonconviction information may 2694
disclose it to persons or agencies not otherwise authorized (1) for the 2695
purposes of research, evaluation or statistical analysis, or (2) if there is a 2696
specific agreement with a criminal justice agency to provide services 2697
required for the administration of criminal justice pursuant to such 2698
agreement. The Judicial Branch may disclose nonconviction information 2699
to a state agency pursuant to an agreement to provide services related 2700
to the collection of moneys due. Any such disclosure of information 2701
shall be limited to that information necessary for the collection of 2702
moneys due. Pursuant to an agreement, the Judicial Branch may 2703
disclose nonconviction information to the Department of Mental Health 2704
and Addiction Services for the administration of court -ordered 2705
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evaluations and the provision of programs and services to persons with 2706
psychiatric disabilities and substance [abuse] use treatment needs. 2707
Pursuant to an agreement, the Judicial Branch may disclose 2708
nonconviction information to advocates for victims of family violence to 2709
allow such advocates to develop plans to provide for the safety of 2710
victims and victims' minor children, provided such agreement prohibits 2711
such advocates from disclosing such nonconviction information to any 2712
person, including, but not limited to, a victim of family violence. 2713
Sec. 111. Subsection (c) of section 28 -5a of the general statutes is 2714
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective from 2715
passage): 2716
(c) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 2717
shall coordinate with the [Commissioner] Commissioners of Public 2718
Health and Mental Health and Addiction Services for the deployment 2719
of grief counselors and mental health professionals to provide mental 2720
health services to the family members or other individuals with a close 2721
association with any victim of a mass shooting. Such deployments shall 2722
be made to local community outreach groups in and around the 2723
impacted geographical location and to any school or institution of 2724
higher education where any victim or perpetrator of a mass shooting 2725
event was enrolled. 2726
Sec. 112. Section 17a -470 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2727
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2728
Each state -operated facility for the treatment of persons with 2729
psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, or both, 2730
shall have an advisory board appointed by the superintendent or 2731
director of the facility for terms to be decided by such superintendent or 2732
director. The superintendent or director shall appoint at least two 2733
persons with lived experience with a behavioral health disorder to the 2734
advisory board. [In any case where the present number of members of 2735
an advisory board is less than the number of members designated by 2736
the superintendent or director of the facility, the superintendent or 2737
director shall appoint additional members to such board in accordance 2738
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 85

with this section in such manner that the terms of an approximately 2739
equal number of members shall expire in each odd-numbered year. The 2740
superintendent or director shall fill any vacancy that may occur for the 2741
unexpired portion of any term. No member shall serve more than two 2742
successive terms plus the balance of any unexpired term to which the 2743
member had been appointed. ] The superintendent or director of the 2744
facility shall be an ex -officio member of the advisory board. Each 2745
member of an advisory board of a state -operated facility within the 2746
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services assigned a 2747
geographical territory shall be a resident of the assigned geographical 2748
territory. Members of said advisory boards shall receive no 2749
compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary 2750
expenses involved in the performance of their duties. [At least one-third 2751
of such members shall be from regional behavioral health action 2752
organizations, established pursuant to section 17a-484f, and at least one-2753
third shall be members of the catchment area councils, as provided in 2754
section 17a-483, for the catchment areas served by such facility, except 2755
that members serving as of October 1, 1977, shall serve out their terms ] 2756
The provisions of this section shall not apply to the Connecticut Valley 2757
Hospital Advisory Council established pursuant to section 17a -471a or 2758
the oversight board for Whiting Forensic Hospital established pursuant 2759
to section 17a-565. 2760
Sec. 113. Section 17a -471 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2761
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2762
Any advisory board established pursuant to section 17a -470, as 2763
amended by this act, shall: Meet with the superintendent or director of 2764
the facility periodically to advise him on the programs and policies of 2765
the facility; act as a liaison between its facility and the residents of the 2766
facility's assigned geographic territory and the state of Connecticut to 2767
inform them of the programs and policies of the facility; and issue 2768
reports, in a form and manner prescribed by such advisory board, to the 2769
Governor and Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services 2770
on conditions at the facility and recommendations for changes or 2771
improvements in the facility. 2772
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Sec. 114. Subsection (a) of section 17a -476 of the general statutes is 2773
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2774
1, 2026): 2775
(a) Any general hospital, municipality or nonprofit organization in 2776
Connecticut may apply to the Department of Mental Health and 2777
Addiction Services for funds to establish, expand or maintain 2778
psychiatric or mental health services. The application for funds shall be 2779
submitted on forms provided by the Department of Mental Health and 2780
Addiction Services, and shall be accompanied by (1) a definition of the 2781
towns and areas to be served; (2) a plan by means of which the applicant 2782
proposes to coordinate its activities with those of other local agencies 2783
presently supplying mental health services or contributing in any way 2784
to the mental health of the area; (3) a description of the services to be 2785
provided, and the methods through which these services will be 2786
provided; and (4) indication of the methods that will be employed to 2787
effect a balance in the use of state and local resources so as to foster local 2788
initiative, responsibility and participation. In accordance with 2789
subdivision (4) of section 17a-480, the regional behavioral health action 2790
organization, established pursuant to section 17a -484f, as amended by 2791
this act, serving the mental health region in which the applicant is 2792
located shall review each such application with the Department of 2793
Mental Health and Addiction Services and make recommendations to 2794
the department with respect to each such application. 2795
Sec. 115. Section 17a -482 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2796
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2797
As used in this section, subsection (a) of section 17a-476, as amended 2798
by this act, and sections 17a-478 to 17a -480, inclusive, as amended by 2799
this act , [and section 17a-483,] unless the context otherwise requires: 2800
"Catchment area" means any geographical area within the state 2801
established as such by the Commissioner of Mental Health and 2802
Addiction Services, the boundaries of which may be redesignated by 2803
said commissioner when deemed necessary to equalize the population 2804
of each area and in such manner as is consistent with the boundaries of 2805
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 87

the municipalities therein, provided such boundaries of any catchment 2806
area shall be entirely within the boundaries of a mental health region 2807
established under section 17a -478, as amended by this act ; ["council" 2808
means the catchment area council established under section 17a -483;] 2809
"regional behavioral health action organization" means the organization 2810
established pursuant to section 17a -484f, as amended by this act ; and 2811
"provider" means any person who receives income from private practice 2812
or any public or private agency which delivers mental health services. 2813
Sec. 116. Subsection (a) of section 17a -450a of the general statutes is 2814
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2815
1, 2026): 2816
(a) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall 2817
constitute a successor department to the Department of Mental Health. 2818
Whenever the words "Commissioner of Mental Health" are used or 2819
referred to in the following general statutes, the words "Commissioner 2820
of Mental Health and Addiction Services" shall be substituted in lieu 2821
thereof and whenever the words "Department of Mental Health" are 2822
used or referred to in the following general statutes, the words 2823
"Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services" shall be 2824
substituted in lieu thereof: 4 -5, 4-38c, 4-77a, 4a-12, 4a-16, 5-142, 8-206d, 2825
10-19, 10-71, 10-76d, 17a-14, 17a-26, 17a-31, 17a-33, 17a-218, 17a-246, 17a-2826
450, as amended by this act , 17a-451, as amended by this act , 17a-453, 2827
17a-454, 17a-455, 17a-456, as amended by this act , 17a-457, as amended 2828
by this act , 17a-458, 17a-459, 17a-464, as amended by this act , 17a-465, 2829
17a-466, 17a-467, 17a-468, 17a-470, as amended by this act , 17a-471, as 2830
amended by this act, 17a-472, 17a-473, 17a-474, 17a-476, as amended by 2831
this act, 17a-478, as amended by this act, 17a-479, 17a-480, 17a-481, 17a-2832
482, as amended by this act, [17a-483,] 17a-498, as amended by this act, 2833
17a-499, as amended by this act, 17a-502, 17a-506, 17a-510, 17a-511, 17a-2834
512, 17a-513, 17a-519, as amended by this act , 17a-528, as amended by 2835
this act, 17a-560, 17a-561, 17a-562, 17a-565, 17a-581, 17a-582, 17a-675, 17-2836
836a, 17b-28, as amended by this act, 17b-59a, 17b-222, 17b-223, 17b-225, 2837
17b-359, 17b-694, as amended by this act , 19a-82, 19a-495, as amended 2838
by this act , 19a-498, 19a-507a, 19a-576, 19a-583, 20-14i, as amended by 2839
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 88

this act, 20-14j, 21a-240, 21a-301, 27-122a, 31-222, 38a-514, as amended 2840
by this act, 51-51o, 52-146h and 54-56d. 2841
Sec. 117. Section 17a -478 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2842
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2843
The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall 2844
designate mental health regions within the state. Such regions and 2845
boundaries thereof may be redesignated by said commissioner as he 2846
deems necessary. For the purposes of sections 17a -476, as amended by 2847
this act, and 17a -478 to 17a -480, inclusive , as amended by this act , 2848
"community mental health services" means comprehensive services, 2849
both medical and nonmedical, designed to (1) decrease the prevalence 2850
and incidence of psychiatric disabilities, emotional disturbance and 2851
social disfunctioning, and (2) promote mental health in individuals, 2852
groups and institutions and includes, but is not limited to, the following: 2853
Outreach and case finding, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, 2854
partial hospitalization, diagnosis and screening, aftercare and 2855
rehabilitation, education, consultation, emergency services, research, 2856
evaluation, training and services to the courts. The Commissioner of 2857
Mental Health and Addiction Services may enter into such contracts for 2858
services as may be required to carry out the provisions of subsection (a) 2859
of section 17a-476, as amended by this act , sections 17a-478 to 17a-480, 2860
inclusive, as amended by this act , and [sections] section 17a-482, as 2861
amended by this act. [and 17a-483.] 2862
Sec. 118. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 17a -495 of the 2863
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2864
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2865
(b) For the purposes of this section, sections 17a-450 to [17a-483] 17a-2866
482, inclusive, as amended by this act , 17a-496 to 17a-528, inclusive, as 2867
amended by this act , 17a-540 to 17a -550, inclusive, and 17a -560 to 17a-2868
575, inclusive, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 2869
"Business day" means Monday to Friday, inclusive, except when a legal 2870
holiday falls on any such day; "hospital for persons with psychiatric 2871
disabilities" means any public or private hospital, retreat, institution, 2872
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 89

house or place in which any person with psychiatric disabilities is 2873
received or detained as a patient, but shall not include any correctional 2874
institution of this state; "patient" means any person detained and taken 2875
care of as a person with psychiatric disabilities; "keeper of a hospital for 2876
persons with psychiatric disabilities" means any person, body of 2877
persons or corporation which has the immediate superintendence, 2878
management and control of a hospital for persons with psychiatric 2879
disabilities and the patients therein; "support" includes all necessary 2880
food, clothing and medicine and all general expenses of maintaining 2881
state hospitals for persons with psychiatric disabilities; "indigent 2882
person" means any person who has an estate insufficient, in the 2883
judgment of the Court of Probate, to provide for his or her support and 2884
has no person or persons legally liable who are able to support him or 2885
her; "dangerous to himself or herself or others" means there is a 2886
substantial risk that physical harm will be inflicted by an individual 2887
upon his or her own person or upon another person; "gravely disabled" 2888
means that a person, as a result of mental or emotional impairment, is 2889
in danger of serious harm as a result of an inability or failure to provide 2890
for his or her own basic human needs such as essential food, clothing, 2891
shelter or safety and that hospital treatment is necessary and available 2892
and that such person is mentally incapable of determining whether or 2893
not to accept such treatment because his judgment is impaired by his 2894
psychiatric disabilities; "respondent" means a person who is alleged to 2895
have psychiatric disabilities and for whom an application for 2896
commitment to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities has 2897
been filed; "voluntary patient" means any patient sixteen years of age or 2898
older who applies in writing to and is admitted to a hospital for persons 2899
with psychiatric disabilities as a person with psychiatric disabilities or 2900
any patient under sixteen years of age whose parent or legal guardian 2901
applies in writing to such hospital for admission of such patient; and 2902
"involuntary patient" means any patient hospitalized pursuant to an 2903
order of a judge of the Probate Court after an appropriate hearing or a 2904
patient hospitalized for emergency diagnosis, observation or treatment 2905
upon certification of a qualified physician. 2906
(c) For the purposes of this section and sections 17a-496 to 17a-528, 2907
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 90

inclusive, as amended by this act , "person with psychiatric disabilities" 2908
means any person who has a mental or emotional condition which has 2909
substantial adverse effects on his or her ability to function and who 2910
requires care and treatment, and specifically excludes a person who is 2911
an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person, as defined in 2912
section 17a-680. 2913
(d) For the purposes of sections 17a -453, 17a -454, 17a -456, as 2914
amended by this act , 17a-458 to 17a-464, inclusive, as amended by this 2915
act, 17a-466 to 17a-469, inclusive, 17a-471, as amended by this act , 17a-2916
474, 17a-476 to [17a-483] 17a-482, inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-2917
540 to 17a -550, inclusive, 17a -560 to 17a-575, inclusive, and 17a -615 to 2918
17a-618, inclusive, "person with psychiatric disabilities" means any 2919
person who has a mental or emotional condition which has substantial 2920
adverse effects on his or her ability to function and who requires care 2921
and treatment, and specifically includes a person who is an alcohol -2922
dependent person or a drug -dependent person, as defined in section 2923
17a-680. 2924
Sec. 119. Section 17a -496 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2925
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2926
Any keeper of a hospital for psychiatric disabilities who wilfully 2927
violates any of the provisions of this section, sections 17a -75 to 17a -83, 2928
inclusive, 17a-450 to [17a-483] 17a-482, inclusive, as amended by this act, 2929
17a-497 to 17a-528, inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, 2930
inclusive, 17a -560 to 17a-575, inclusive, and 17a -615 to 17a -618, 2931
inclusive, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars or 2932
imprisoned not more than one year or both. 2933
Sec. 120. Subsection (b) of section 17a -497 of the general statutes is 2934
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2935
1, 2026): 2936
(b) Upon the motion of any respondent or his or her counsel, or the 2937
probate judge having jurisdiction over such application, filed not later 2938
than three days prior to any hearing scheduled on such application, the 2939
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 91

Probate Court Administrator shall appoint a three -judge court from 2940
among the probate judges to hear such application. The judge of the 2941
Probate Court having jurisdiction over such application under the 2942
provisions of this section shall be a member, provided such judge may 2943
disqualify himself in which case all three members of such court shall 2944
be appointed by the Probate Court Administrator. Such three -judge 2945
court when convened shall have all the powers and duties set forth 2946
under sections 17a-75 to 17a-83, inclusive, 17a-450 to [17a-483] 17a-482, 2947
inclusive, as amended by this act , 17a -495 to 17a-528, inclusive , as 2948
amended by this act , 17a-540 to 17a -550, inclusive, 17a -560 to 17a-575, 2949
inclusive, and 17a-615 to 17a-618, inclusive, and shall be subject to all of 2950
the provisions of law as if it were a single -judge court. No such 2951
respondent shall be involuntarily confined without the vote of at least 2952
two of the three judges convened hereunder. The judges of such court 2953
shall designate a chief judge from among their members. All records for 2954
any case before the three-judge court shall be maintained in the Probate 2955
Court having jurisdiction over the matter as if the three-judge court had 2956
not been appointed. 2957
Sec. 121. Subsection (g) of section 17a -498 of the general statutes is 2958
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2959
1, 2026): 2960
(g) The hospital shall notify each patient at least annually that such 2961
patient has a right to a further hearing pursuant to this section. If the 2962
patient requests such hearing, it shall be held by the Probate Court for 2963
the district in which the hospital is located . Any such request shall be 2964
immediately filed with the appropriate court by the hospital. After such 2965
request is filed with the Probate Court, it shall proceed in the manner 2966
provided in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (f) of this section. In addition, 2967
the hospital shall furnish the Probate Court for the district in which the 2968
hospital is located on a monthly basis with a list of all patients confined 2969
in the hospital involuntarily without release for one year since the last 2970
annual review under this section of the patient's commitment or since 2971
the original commitment. The hospital shall include in such notification 2972
the type of review the patient last received. If the patient's last annual 2973
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 92

review had a hearing, the Probate Court shall, within fifteen business 2974
days thereafter, appoint an impartial physician who is a psychiatrist 2975
from the list provided by the Commissioner of Mental Health and 2976
Addiction Services as set forth in subsection (c) of this section and not 2977
connected with the hospital in which the patient is confined or related 2978
by blood or marriage to the original applicant or to the respondent, 2979
which physician shall see and examine each such patient within fifteen 2980
business days after such physician's appointment and make a report 2981
forthwith to such court of the condition of the patient on forms provided 2982
by the Probate Court Administrator. If the Probate Court concludes that 2983
the confinement of any such patient should be reviewed by such court 2984
for possible release of the patient, the court, on its own motion, shall 2985
proceed in the manner provided in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (f) of this 2986
section, except that the examining physician shall be considered one of 2987
the physicians required by subsection (c) of this section. If the patient's 2988
last annual review did not result in a hearing, and in any event at least 2989
every two years, the Probate Court shall, within fifteen business days, 2990
proceed with a hearing in the manner provided in subsections (a), (b), 2991
(c) and (f) of this section. All costs and expenses, including Probate 2992
Court entry fees provided by statute, in conjunction with the annual 2993
psychiatric review and the judicial review under this subsection, except 2994
costs for physicians appointed pursuant to this subsection, shall be 2995
established by, and paid from funds appropriated to, the Judicial 2996
Department, except that if funds have not been included in the budget 2997
of the Judicial Department for such costs and expenses, such payment 2998
shall be made from the Probate Court Administration Fund. 2999
Compensation of any physician appointed to conduct the annual 3000
psychiatric review, to examine a patient for any hearing held as a result 3001
of such annual review or for any other biennial hearing required 3002
pursuant to sections 17a-75 to 17a-83, inclusive, 17a-450 to [17a-483] 17a-3003
482, inclusive, as amended by this act , 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, as 3004
amended by this act , 17a-540 to 17a -550, inclusive, 17a -560 to 17a-575, 3005
inclusive, and 17a -615 to 17a -618, inclusive, shall be paid by the state 3006
from funds appropriated to the Department of Mental Health and 3007
Addiction Services in accordance with rates established by the 3008
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 93

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. 3009
Sec. 122. Section 17a -499 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3010
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 3011
All proceedings of the Probate Court, upon application made under 3012
the provisions of sections 17a -75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -450 to [17a-3013
483] 17a-482, inclusive , as amended by this act , 17a -495 to 17a -528, 3014
inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 3015
to 17a-575, inclusive, and 17a -615 to 17a -618, inclusive, shall be in 3016
writing and filed in such court, and, whenever a court passes an order 3017
for the admission of any person to any state hospital for psychiatric 3018
disabilities, the court shall record the order and give a certified copy of 3019
such order and of the reports of the physicians to the person by whom 3020
such person is to be taken to the hospital, as the warrant for such taking 3021
and commitment, and shall also forthwith transmit a like copy to the 3022
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and, in the case 3023
of a person in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction, to the 3024
Commissioner of Correction. Whenever a court passes an order for the 3025
commitment of any person to any hospital for psychiatric disabilities, it 3026
shall, within three business days, provide the Commissioner of Mental 3027
Health and Addiction Services with access to identifying information 3028
including, but not limited to, name, address, sex, date of birth and date 3029
of commitment on all commitments ordered on and after June 1, 1998. 3030
All commitment applications, orders of commitment and commitment 3031
papers issued by any court in committing persons with psychiatric 3032
disabilities to public or private hospitals for psychiatric disabilities shall 3033
be in accordance with a form prescribed by the Probate Court 3034
Administrator, which form shall be uniform throughout the state. State 3035
hospitals and other hospitals for persons with psychiatric disabilities 3036
shall, so far as they are able, upon reasonable request of any officer of a 3037
court having the power of commitment, send one or more trained 3038
attendants or nurses to attend any hearing concerning the commitment 3039
of any person with psychiatric disabilities and any such attendant or 3040
nurse, when present, shall be designated by the court as the authority to 3041
serve commitment process issued under the provisions of sections 17a -3042
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 94

75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -450 to [17a-483] 17a-482, inclusive , as 3043
amended by this act , 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, as amended by this 3044
act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusive, and 17a-3045
615 to 17a-618, inclusive. 3046
Sec. 123. Subsection (a) of section 17a -500 of the general statutes is 3047
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 3048
1, 2026): 3049
(a) Each court of probate shall keep a record of the cases relating to 3050
persons with psychiatric disabilities coming before it under sections 3051
17a-75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -450 to [17a-483] 17a-482, inclusive , as 3052
amended by this act , 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, as amended by this 3053
act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusive, and 17a-3054
615 to 17a-618, inclusive, and the disposition of them. It shall also keep 3055
on file the original application and certificate of physicians required by 3056
said sections, or a microfilm duplicate of such records in accordance 3057
with regulations issued by the Probate Court Administrator. All records 3058
maintained in the courts of probate under the provisions of said sections 3059
shall be sealed and available only to the respondent or his or her counsel 3060
unless the Court of Probate, after hearing held with notice to the 3061
respondent, determines such records should be disclosed for cause 3062
shown. 3063
Sec. 124. Section 17a -501 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3064
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 3065
Any person with psychiatric disabilities, the expense of whose 3066
support is paid by himself or by another person, may be committed to 3067
any institution for the care of persons with psychiatric disabilities 3068
designated by the person paying for such support; and any indigent 3069
person with psychiatric disabilities, not a pauper, committed under the 3070
provisions of sections 17a -75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -450 to [17a-483] 3071
17a-482, inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, 3072
as amended by this act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-575, 3073
inclusive, and 17a -615 to 17a -618, inclusive, shall be committed to any 3074
state hospital for psychiatric disabilities which is equipped to receive 3075
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 95

him, at the discretion of the Court of Probate, upon consideration of a 3076
request made by the person applying for such commitment. 3077
Sec. 125. Section 17a -504 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3078
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 3079
Any person who wilfully and maliciously causes, or attempts to 3080
cause, or who conspires with any other person to cause, any person who 3081
does not have psychiatric disabilities to be committed to any hospital 3082
for psychiatric disabilities, and any person who wilfully certifies falsely 3083
to the psychiatric disabilities of any person in any certificate provided 3084
for in sections 17a -75 to 17a-83, inclusive, 17a-450 to [17a-483] 17a-482, 3085
inclusive, as amended by this act , 17a -495 to 17a -528, inclusive , as 3086
amended by this act , 17a-540 to 17a -550, inclusive, 17a -560 to 17a-575, 3087
inclusive, and 17a-615 to 17a-618, inclusive, and any person who, under 3088
the provisions of said sections relating to persons with psychiatric 3089
disabilities, wilfully reports falsely to any court or judge that any person 3090
has psychiatric disabilities, shall be guilty of a class D felony. 3091
Sec. 126. Section 17a -505 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3092
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 3093
When any female with psychiatric disabilities is escorted to a state 3094
hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities by a male guard, 3095
attendant or other employee of a correctional or reformatory institution, 3096
or by a male law enforcement officer, under the provisions of sections 3097
17a-75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -450 to [17a-483] 17a-482, inclusive , as 3098
amended by this act , 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, as amended by this 3099
act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusive, and 17a-3100
615 to 17a -618, inclusive, the person so escorting her shall be 3101
accompanied by an adult member of her family or at least one woman. 3102
Sec. 127. Section 17a -519 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3103
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 3104
Each officer or indifferent person making legal service of any order, 3105
notice, warrant or other paper under the provisions of sections 17a-75 to 3106
sHB5517 File No. 529

sHB5517 / File No. 529 96

17a-83, inclusive, 17a-450 to [17a-483] 17a-482, inclusive, as amended by 3107
this act, 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-540 to 3108
17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusive, and 17a-615 to 17a-618, 3109
inclusive, shall be entitled to the same compensation as is by law 3110
provided for like services in civil causes. Physicians, for examining a 3111
person alleged to have psychiatric disabilities and making a certificate 3112
as provided by said sections, shall be entitled to a reasonable 3113
compensation established by the Commissioner of Mental Health and 3114
Addiction Services. The fees of the courts of probate shall be such as are 3115
provided by law for similar services. The Superior Court, on an appeal, 3116
may tax costs at its discretion. 3117
Sec. 128. Section 17a -525 of the general statutes is repealed and the 3118
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 3119
Any person aggrieved by an order, denial or decree of a Probate 3120
Court under sections 17a -75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -450 to [17a-483] 3121
17a-482, inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, 3122
as amended by this act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-575, 3123
inclusive, and 17a -615 to 17a -618, inclusive, including any relative or 3124
friend, on behalf of any person found to have psychiatric disabilities, 3125
shall have the right of appeal in accordance with sections 45a-186 to 45a-3126
193, inclusive. On the trial of an appeal, the Superior Court may require 3127
the state's attorney or, in the state's attorney's absence, some other 3128
practicing attorney of the court to be present for the protection of the 3129
interests of the state and of the public. 3130
Sec. 129. Subsection (a) of section 17a -528 of the general statutes is 3131
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 3132
1, 2026): 3133
(a) When any person is found to have psychiatric disabilities, and is 3134
committed to a state hospital for psychiatric disabilities, upon 3135
proceedings had under sections 17a -75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -450 to 3136
[17a-483] 17a-482, inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-495 to 17a-528, 3137
inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 3138
to 17a-575, inclusive, and 17a -615 to 17a -618, inclusive, all fees and 3139
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 97

expenses incurred upon the probate commitment proceedings, payment 3140
of which is not otherwise provided for under said sections, shall be paid 3141
by the state within available appropriations from funds appropriated to 3142
the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in accordance 3143
with rates established by said department; and, if such person is found 3144
not to have psychiatric disabilities, such fees and expenses shall be paid 3145
by the applicant. 3146
Sec. 130. Subsection (d) of section 45a -656 of the general statutes is 3147
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 3148
1, 2026): 3149
(d) The conservator of the person shall not have the power or 3150
authority to cause the respondent to be committed to any institution for 3151
the treatment of the mentally ill except under the provisions of sections 3152
17a-75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -456 to [17a-483] 17a-482, inclusive , as 3153
amended by this act , 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, as amended by this 3154
act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusive, 17a-615 3155
to 17a-618, inclusive, and 17a-621 to 17a-664, inclusive, and chapter 359. 3156
Sec. 131. Subsection (e) of section 45a -677 of the general statutes is 3157
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 3158
1, 2026): 3159
(e) A plenary guardian or limited guardian shall not have the power 3160
or authority: (1) To cause the protected person to be admitted to any 3161
institution for treatment of the mentally ill, except in accordance with 3162
the provisions of sections 17a -75 to 17a -83, inclusive, 17a -456 to [17a-3163
483] 17a-482, inclusive , as amended by this act , 17a -495 to 17a -528, 3164
inclusive, as amended by this act, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 3165
to 17a-575, inclusive, 17a-615 to 17a -618, inclusive, and 17a -621 to 17a -3166
664, inclusive, and chapter 420b; (2) to cause the protected person to be 3167
admitted to any training school or other facility provided for the care 3168
and training of persons with intellectual disability if there is a conflict 3169
concerning such admission between the guardian and the protected 3170
person or next of kin, except in accordance with the provisions of 3171
sections 17a-274 and 17a -275; (3) to consent on behalf of the protected 3172
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 98

person to a sterilization, except in accordance with the provisions of 3173
sections 45a -690 to 45a -700, inclusive; (4) to consent on behalf of the 3174
protected person to psychosurgery, except in accordance with the 3175
provisions of section 17a -543; (5) to consent on behalf of the protected 3176
person to the termination of the protected person's parental rights, 3177
except in accordance with the provisions of sections 45a-706 to 45a-709, 3178
inclusive, 45a -715 to 45a -718, inclusive, 45a -724 to 45a -737, inclusive, 3179
and 45a -743 to 45a -757, inclusive; (6) to consent on behalf of the 3180
protected person to the performance of any experimental biomedical or 3181
behavioral medical procedure or participation in any biomedical or 3182
behavioral experiment, unless it (A) is intended to preserve the life or 3183
prevent serious impairment of the physical health of the protected 3184
person, (B) is intended to assist the protected person to regain the 3185
protected person's abilities and has been approved for the protected 3186
person by the court, or (C) has been (i) approved by a recognized 3187
institutional review board, as defined by 45 CFR 46, 21 CFR 50 and 21 3188
CFR 56, as amended from time to time, which is not a part of the 3189
Department of Developmental Services, (ii) endorsed or supported by 3190
the Department of Developmental Services, and (iii) approved for the 3191
protected person by such protected person's primary care physician; (7) 3192
to admit the protected person to any residential facility operated by an 3193
organization by whom such guardian is employed, except in accordance 3194
with the provisions of section 17a -274; (8) to prohibit the marriage or 3195
divorce of the protected person ; and (9) to consent on behalf of the 3196
protected person to an abortion or removal of a body organ, except in 3197
accordance with applicable statutory procedures when necessary to 3198
preserve the life or prevent serious impairment of the physical or mental 3199
health of the protected person. 3200
Sec. 132. Subsection (a) of section 17a -486 of the general statutes is 3201
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 3202
1, 2026): 3203
(a) Prior to the arraignment of a person charged with the commission 3204
of a misdemeanor or felony, the Department of Mental Health and 3205
Addiction Services shall, to the maximum extent possible within the 3206
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limits of available appropriations, with the consent of the arrested 3207
person, cause a clinical assessment to be performed of any person who 3208
has previously received mental health services or treatment for 3209
substance [abuse] use from the department or who would reasonably 3210
benefit from such services to determine whether such person should be 3211
referred for community -based mental health services. If the person is 3212
determined to be in need of such services and is willing to accept the 3213
services offered, the court shall be informed of the result of the 3214
assessment and the recommended treatment plan for consideration by 3215
the court in the disposition of the criminal case. 3216
Sec. 133. Section 17a-483 of the general statutes is repealed. ( Effective 3217
October 1, 2026) 3218
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 4-67s
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 4-67x(b)
Sec. 3 October 1, 2026 10-16b(a)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2026 10-19b
Sec. 5 October 1, 2026 10-220a(a)
Sec. 6 October 1, 2026 14-44k(h)
Sec. 7 October 1, 2026 17a-4(a)
Sec. 8 October 1, 2026 17a-22g(a)
Sec. 9 October 1, 2026 17a-22dd(a)
Sec. 10 October 1, 2026 17a-62a(b)
Sec. 11 October 1, 2026 17a-101j(e)
Sec. 12 October 1, 2026 17a-101n
Sec. 13 October 1, 2026 17a-450(b)
Sec. 14 October 1, 2026 17a-450(d)
Sec. 15 October 1, 2026 17a-451(a)
Sec. 16 October 1, 2026 17a-453c
Sec. 17 October 1, 2026 17a-456(a)
Sec. 18 October 1, 2026 17a-457(f) and (g)
Sec. 19 October 1, 2026 17a-464
Sec. 20 October 1, 2026 17a-484c
Sec. 21 October 1, 2026 17a-484f(b)
Sec. 22 October 1, 2026 17a-485d(c) to (e)
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Sec. 23 October 1, 2026 17a-485i(a)
Sec. 24 October 1, 2026 17a-667(b) and (c)
Sec. 25 October 1, 2026 17a-667a(c)(1)(B)
Sec. 26 October 1, 2026 17a-667a(e)
Sec. 27 October 1, 2026 17a-670
Sec. 28 October 1, 2026 17a-673a(b)
Sec. 29 October 1, 2026 17a-683(b)
Sec. 30 October 1, 2026 17a-683(d)
Sec. 31 October 1, 2026 17a-684(a)
Sec. 32 October 1, 2026 17a-710(a)
Sec. 33 October 1, 2026 17a-750(2)
Sec. 34 October 1, 2026 17a-838(a)(8)
Sec. 35 October 1, 2026 17b-28(c)(4)
Sec. 36 October 1, 2026 17b-59d(d)(2)
Sec. 37 October 1, 2026 17b-112(c)
Sec. 38 October 1, 2026 17b-112d
Sec. 39 October 1, 2026 17b-191(c)
Sec. 40 October 1, 2026 17b-194(a)
Sec. 41 October 1, 2026 17b-195
Sec. 42 October 1, 2026 17b-241
Sec. 43 October 1, 2026 17b-241a
Sec. 44 October 1, 2026 17b-689c(a)(1)
Sec. 45 October 1, 2026 17b-694(a)
Sec. 46 October 1, 2026 18-69b
Sec. 47 October 1, 2026 18-69c(a)
Sec. 48 October 1, 2026 18-69c(g)
Sec. 49 October 1, 2026 18-87k(a)
Sec. 50 October 1, 2026 18-100f
Sec. 51 October 1, 2026 19a-6d
Sec. 52 October 1, 2026 19a-6h(e)(2)
Sec. 53 October 1, 2026 19a-7c(b)
Sec. 54 October 1, 2026 19a-7e
Sec. 55 October 1, 2026 19a-124(b)
Sec. 56 October 1, 2026 19a-490(a)
Sec. 57 October 1, 2026 19a-490h
Sec. 58 October 1, 2026 19a-490q(a)(1)
Sec. 59 October 1, 2026 19a-491(a)
Sec. 60 October 1, 2026 19a-495(d)
Sec. 61 October 1, 2026 19a-495c
Sec. 62 October 1, 2026 19a-509e
Sec. 63 October 1, 2026 19a-581(11) and (12)
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Sec. 64 October 1, 2026 19a-630(10)
Sec. 65 October 1, 2026 19a-638(a)(5)
Sec. 66 October 1, 2026 19a-902
Sec. 67 October 1, 2026 20-14i
Sec. 68 October 1, 2026 20-74s(a)(4) to (6)
Sec. 69 October 1, 2026 20-74ss
Sec. 70 October 1, 2026 20-94d(b)
Sec. 71 October 1, 2026 20-162cc
Sec. 72 October 1, 2026 20-185m
Sec. 73 October 1, 2026 20-195dd(a) and (b)
Sec. 74 October 1, 2026 20-195ee
Sec. 75 October 1, 2026 20-195tt
Sec. 76 October 1, 2026 20-195kkk
Sec. 77 October 1, 2026 20-195qqq
Sec. 78 October 1, 2026 20-206bb(h)
Sec. 79 October 1, 2026 20-206nn
Sec. 80 October 1, 2026 20-660(h)
Sec. 81 October 1, 2026 21a-252(a)
Sec. 82 October 1, 2026 21a-274a(a)
Sec. 83 October 1, 2026 21a-279(a)(2)
Sec. 84 October 1, 2026 21a-279a(e)(2)
Sec. 85 October 1, 2026 21a-322(b)
Sec. 86 October 1, 2026 21a-420f(b)
Sec. 87 October 1, 2026 31-40v(b)
Sec. 88 October 1, 2026 38a-479qq(a)(6)
Sec. 89 October 1, 2026 38a-488a(a) and (b)
Sec. 90 October 1, 2026 38a-488d
Sec. 91 October 1, 2026 38a-492p
Sec. 92 October 1, 2026 38a-514(a) and (b)
Sec. 93 October 1, 2026 38a-514d
Sec. 94 October 1, 2026 38a-518p
Sec. 95 October 1, 2026 38a-999(a)(8)
Sec. 96 October 1, 2026 46a-11b(a)
Sec. 97 October 1, 2026 46a-170(f)(1)(E)
Sec. 98 October 1, 2026 46b-38d(c)
Sec. 99 October 1, 2026 46b-129a(2)(A)
Sec. 100 October 1, 2026 51-81d(a)
Sec. 101 October 1, 2026 51-181b
Sec. 102 October 1, 2026 53a-65(9)
Sec. 103 October 1, 2026 54-36i(a) to (c)
Sec. 104 October 1, 2026 54-56g(b) to (f)
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Sec. 105 October 1, 2026 54-56i(a) to (k)
Sec. 106 October 1, 2026 54-56l(a)
Sec. 107 October 1, 2026 54-91a(d)
Sec. 108 October 1, 2026 54-125a(f)(4)
Sec. 109 October 1, 2026 54-125a(g)(4)
Sec. 110 October 1, 2026 54-142m(a)
Sec. 111 from passage 28-5a(c)
Sec. 112 from passage 17a-470
Sec. 113 from passage 17a-471
Sec. 114 October 1, 2026 17a-476(a)
Sec. 115 October 1, 2026 17a-482
Sec. 116 October 1, 2026 17a-450a(a)
Sec. 117 October 1, 2026 17a-478
Sec. 118 October 1, 2026 17a-495(b) to (d)
Sec. 119 October 1, 2026 17a-496
Sec. 120 October 1, 2026 17a-497(b)
Sec. 121 October 1, 2026 17a-498(g)
Sec. 122 October 1, 2026 17a-499
Sec. 123 October 1, 2026 17a-500(a)
Sec. 124 October 1, 2026 17a-501
Sec. 125 October 1, 2026 17a-504
Sec. 126 October 1, 2026 17a-505
Sec. 127 October 1, 2026 17a-519
Sec. 128 October 1, 2026 17a-525
Sec. 129 October 1, 2026 17a-528(a)
Sec. 130 October 1, 2026 45a-656(d)
Sec. 131 October 1, 2026 45a-677(e)
Sec. 132 October 1, 2026 17a-486(a)
Sec. 133 October 1, 2026 Repealer section

PH Joint Favorable Subst.

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sHB5517 / File No. 529 103

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: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill makes technical, conforming and other changes that have no
fiscal impact.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

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sHB5517 / File No. 529 104

OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5517

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING
RECOVERY-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE AND VARIOUS REVISIONS TO
MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION STATUTES.

SUMMARY
This bill changes terminology in various mental health and addiction -
related statutes to language that is intended to be person-centered, and
recovery-friendly. It primarily does so by replacing the terms (1)
“substance abuse” with “substance use ,”(2) “opiate or opioid addiction”
with “opioid use disorder,” (3) “detoxification” with “withdrawal
management,” and (4) “substance abuse counselor” with “alcohol and drug
counselor.”
Additionally, the bill:
1. requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public
Protection (D ESPP) to coordinate with the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services ( DMHAS), in addition to the
Department of Public Health ( DPH) as under current law, when
deploying behavioral health professionals after mass shootings (§
111);
2. updates the membership requirements of certain DMHAS advisory
boards to reflect current practice (§§ 112-114); and
3. repeals a statutory provision establishing catchment area councils
(community councils that help plan mental health services in a
geographic area) and makes related technical changes, removing
statutory references to these councils (in practice, their functions are
now performed by Regional Behavioral Health Action
Organizations) (§§ 115-132)).
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EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026, except th e provisions on (1)
deploying behavioral health professionals after mass shootings and (2)
advisory boards for DMHAS -operated facilities take effect upon
passage.
§ 111 — DEPLOYING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
AFTER MASS SHOOTINGS
The bill requires the DESPP commissioner to coordinate with the
DMHAS commissioner, in addition to the DPH commissioner as under
current law, when deploying grief counselors and mental health
professionals to provide mental health services to mass shooting
victims’ family members and other people with a close association to
them.
By law, these deployments must be made to (1) local community
outreach groups in and around the impacted geographic location and
(2) any school or higher education institution where a mass shooting
victim or perpetrator was enrolled.
§§ 112-114 — DMHAS ADVISORY BOARDS
Advisory Boards for State-Operated Facilities
Existing law requires all hospitals and facilities DMHAS operates
(partially or wholly) that treat people with psychiatric disabilities or
substance use disorders (or both) to have an advisory board that
includes members with lived experience of behavioral health disorders
(see BACKGROUND) . The bill exempts from this requirement the
Connecticut Valley Hospital advisory council and Whiting Forensic
Hospital oversight board.
By law, facilities must have their superintendent or director make
advisory board member appointments, at least two of whom must have
lived experience with behavioral health disorders. The bill eliminates
current law’s requirement that the superintendent or director appoint
additional board members when the current membership is less than
the number of members they designated and to fill vacancies.
It also eliminates the requirement under current law that (1)
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sHB5517 / File No. 529 106

appointed members’ terms be staggered so that an approximately equal
number of member terms expire in odd -numbered years, (2) members
serve no more than two successive terms in addition to any unexpired
term they were appointed to fill , and (3) at least one -third of members
each represent regional behavioral health action organizations and
catchment area councils, which the bill repeals.
The bill also makes related minor and technical changes.
BACKGROUND
DMHAS-Operated Facilities and Advisory Boards
By law, DMHAS-operated facilities generally include the Capitol
Region Mental Health Center, the Connecticut Valley Hospital
(including its Addictions and General Psychiatric divisions), the
Whiting Forensic Hospital, the Connecticut Mental Health Center, the
Franklin S. DuBois Center, the Greater Bridgeport Community Mental
Health Center, and River Valley Services (CGS § 17a-458).
A DMHAS-operated facility’s advisory board must (1) periodically
meet with the facility superintendent or director to advise on the
facility’s programs and policies, (2) act as a liaison between the facility
and residents of its assigned geographic area, and (3) issue reports to the
governor and DMHAS commissioner on facility conditions and make
recommendations for changes or improvements (CGS § 17a-471).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 21 Nay 11 (03/23/2026)