Senate Bill No. 2, Public Act No. 23-101, is a comprehensive bill that addresses the mental, physical, and emotional wellness of children, as well as the licensing and renewal processes for social workers, marital and family therapists, and professional counselors. The bill requires the Department of Public Health to hire a full-time employee to assist in the licensure of social workers and modifies the eligibility and requirements for principal public libraries to receive state grants, including a deletion of the word "Each" and an insertion related to eligibility conditions. It also revises the administrative payment structure for providers of early intervention services, with a general administrative payment of two hundred dollars for each child with an individualized family service plan who receives less than nine hours of service in a billing month. The bill includes updates to definitions and procedures related to early intervention services, such as translating individualized family service plans into Spanish for Spanish-speaking families.

The bill also amends the legal representation of children in certain court proceedings, ensuring that a child is represented by knowledgeable counsel for the duration of the proceeding under section 46b-129, even if the child turns eighteen. It establishes the Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate within the Insurance Department to assist with mental and behavioral health care issues and mandates Medicaid reimbursement for suicide risk assessments and other mental health evaluations at school-based health centers or public schools. The bill outlines changes to the application and renewal fees for clinical and master social workers, marital and family therapists, and professional counselors, reducing fees and introducing continuing education requirements. It also establishes a task force to study the comprehensive needs of children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly high school students between 2020 and 2023. Additionally, the bill mandates the Department of Education to collaborate with a nonprofit organization to serve at-risk teenage students and introduces changes to the composition and duties of a council focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the establishment of a social and emotional learning and school climate advisory collaborative.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 11-24a, 11-24b, 31-57r
KID Joint Favorable: 11-24a, 11-24b, 31-57r
File No. 77: 11-24a, 11-24b, 31-57r
APP Joint Favorable: 11-24a, 11-24b, 31-57r
Public Act No. 23-101: 11-24b, 31-57r, 20-195c, 10-222q