Substitute Senate Bill No. 1, known as Public Act No. 24-19, is comprehensive legislation aimed at enhancing the health and safety of Connecticut residents, with a particular focus on home health care and home health aide agencies. The bill requires these agencies to collect and provide information about clients' history of violence, substance use, domestic abuse, psychiatric history, and relevant judicial records or sex offender registry information to their employees. Agencies must also provide details about the location where services will be provided, including crime rates and safety hazards. They are required to conduct monthly safety assessments, provide annual staff training, and report instances of abuse against staff members. The Commissioner of Social Services must ensure compliance with training requirements for agencies receiving reimbursement under the Connecticut medical assistance program. A home health worker safety grant program is established, and hospitals must adopt workplace violence prevention standards. A working group will be convened to study staff safety issues in home health care and hospice organizations.

The bill also includes provisions for the establishment of various working groups to address different health-related issues, such as gun safety practices, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and health issues experienced by nail salon workers. It mandates the Commissioner of Public Health to develop educational material on gun safety and requires primary care providers to distribute this material to patients annually. The bill addresses opioid safety by allowing pharmacists to provide information on opioid drug deactivation and disposal systems and requires the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to post information about these systems on their website. Additionally, the bill amends the definition of "employer" in the general statutes, requires coverage for coronary calcium scans in health insurance policies, and updates the State-wide Health Information Exchange requirements. The bill also redefines "health care provider" and sets deadlines for connecting to the State-wide Health Information Exchange, with certain exemptions and liability clarifications. The composition of a specified committee is adjusted to include the Attorney General, and a statewide registry for Parkinson's disease data is established. The bill does not specify any insertions or deletions from current law.

Statutes affected:
Public Act No. 24-19: