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SB00500 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE-FUNDED CAREGIVER PROGRAM TO ASSIST PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENROLLED IN A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM.

AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE-FUNDED CAREGIVER PROGRAM TO ASSIST PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENROLLED IN A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM.

Children Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Human Services Committee
Last action
2026-04-20
Official status
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill title mentions assisting parents of persons with autism, but Section 1(d) specifically links the respite program to those enrolled in a Medicaid waiver. It is unclear if this applies only to adults or includes children based solely on the provided text excerpt.

State-Funded Caregiver Program for Parents of Persons with Autism

This law allows the state to create a program that gives parents temporary breaks by providing care for their children or adults who have autism and are in Medicaid waiver programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Commissioner of Social Services to ask federal approval for new Medicaid services or waivers.
  • Creates a plan to offer community-based services and housing help to adults diagnosed with autism but not intellectual disability.
  • Establishes a caregiver respite program within available funding limits.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Parents of persons enrolled in any Medicaid home and community-based waiver program for those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
  • Adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who do not have an intellectual disability

Limits and Unknowns

  • The caregiver respite program can only be established within available appropriations.
  • Federal approval is required before new services or waivers can start.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-20 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  2. 2026-04-20 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  3. 2026-04-20 Connecticut General Assembly

    No New File by Committee on Appropriations

  4. 2026-04-20 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

  5. 2026-04-17 APP

    Joint Favorable

  6. 2026-04-15 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred by Senate to Committee on Appropriations

  7. 2026-04-15 Connecticut General Assembly

    Immediate Transmittal

  8. 2026-04-07 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  9. 2026-04-07 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

  10. 2026-04-07 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Calendar Number 301

  11. 2026-04-07 LCO

    File Number 489

  12. 2026-03-30 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26 12:00 PM

  13. 2026-03-20 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  14. 2026-03-19 HS

    Joint Favorable

  15. 2026-03-13 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 03/17

  16. 2026-03-12 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Human Services

Official Summary Text

To provide a state-funded caregiver program for parents of children enrolled in a Medicaid waiver program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
LCO 1 of 2

General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 500
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE-FUNDED CAREGIVER PROGRAM
TO ASSIST PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM
DISORDER ENROLLED IN A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (d) of section 17a-215c of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
2026): 3
(d) The Commissioner of Social Services may seek approval of an 4
amendment to the Medicaid state plan or a waiver from federal law, 5
whichever is sufficient and most expeditious, to establish and 6
implement a Medicaid-financed home and community -based program 7
to provide community -based services and, if necessary, housing 8
assistance, to adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but not 9
with intellectual disability. Within available appropriations, the 10
commissioner shall establish a caregiver respite program to assist 11
parents of persons enrolled in any Medicaid home and community -12
based waiver program for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum 13
disorder by providing state-financed care of such persons. 14
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 17a-215c(d)

Substitute Bill No. 500

LCO 2 of 2

HS Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
APP Joint Favorable