Substitute House Bill No. 5001 is a comprehensive legislative proposal that seeks to enhance support and resources for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The bill includes a wide range of provisions, such as the creation of a Transitional Life Skills College program, the identification and analysis of employment assistance programs for persons with disabilities, and the expansion of the Medicaid waiver program for persons with autism spectrum disorder. It also mandates the development of new statutory definitions for intellectual and developmental disabilities and the evaluation of the Intelligence Quotient as a factor in these definitions. The bill requires various reports to be filed by January 1, 2025, and includes provisions for annual reporting on the number of persons waiting for Medicaid waiver programs and the status of the program for persons with autism spectrum disorder.

The bill also addresses the process of locating missing persons with specific conditions by expanding the categories of missing persons eligible for assistance and simplifying the verification process for eligibility. It mandates the development of a form to assist emergency services personnel when interacting with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and outlines procedures for the voluntary registration of individuals with disabilities in a searchable electronic database. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the development of emergency services awareness programs, the procurement of sensory kits for emergency services personnel, and the establishment of a Human Services Career Pipeline program. It also calls for a review of the rights of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the establishment of a secure online portal for sharing critical information across state agencies. The bill establishes new staff positions within the Office of Policy and Management and requires the Connecticut Sentencing Commission to study the experience of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the criminal justice system.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 29-1f
HS Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference:
APP Joint Favorable: 29-1f
File No. 738: 29-1f
File No. 848: 29-1f, 10-74m, 10-74n, 10-76h, 12-701, 32-7t, 8-3f
Public Act No. 23-137: 29-1f, 10-74m, 10-74n, 10-76h, 12-701, 32-7t, 8-3f