Senate Bill No. 245, identified as File No. 117, is a legislative proposal that mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to conduct a study on the state's long-term care needs. This study is to be carried out in consultation with the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services. The bill stipulates that the findings of the study must be reported to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly that oversee matters related to aging and human services by January 1, 2025. The bill is set to be effective immediately upon passage and introduces a new section to the law.
The fiscal impact statement attached to the bill clarifies that there will be no state or municipal fiscal impact resulting from the bill. This is because the Department of Social Services (DSS) already possesses the necessary expertise to conduct the study on long-term care needs. The bill analysis by the Office of Legislative Research does not provide an analysis of Special Acts. The Aging Committee has given the bill a Joint Favorable report with a vote of 11 in favor and 4 against on March 12, 2024.