House Bill No. 5260, reported favorably by the Committee on Children, requires the Commissioner of Children and Families to submit a report by January 1, 2025, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly that oversees matters related to children. This report must include an evaluation of short-term assessment and respite group homes for children that are operated or licensed by the Department of Children and Families. The evaluation should assess the efficacy of these homes in providing care to children with significant behavioral health treatment needs, the department's ability to retain qualified staff, the provision of specialized training for staff, and the availability of structured pro-social, therapeutic, and clinical services in these homes.

The bill, designated as File No. 126, does not have any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as it is expected that the Department of Children and Families staff have the necessary expertise to submit the required report. The bill is effective from passage and creates a new section in the law. The Office of Legislative Research has not provided an analysis for this bill, as it does not analyze Special Acts. The Committee on Children has given a joint favorable vote with 18 yeas and 0 nays on March 12, 2024.