The bill, identified as Substitute Senate Bill No. 316 with File No. 258, mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to conduct a study on the potential expansion of state-funded assisted living services. This study is specifically for individuals who are eligible for the state-funded Connecticut home-care program for the elderly as per section 17b-342 of the general statutes but do not meet the criteria for Medicaid. The study is to be completed and a report submitted by January 1, 2025, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly that oversee appropriations, budgets of state agencies, and human services. The report should include an estimation of the number of individuals who may qualify for such services, the cost of these services, and the potential savings to the state by delaying Medicaid-funded care in nursing home facilities due to health decline and asset depletion.

The bill is set to take effect upon passage and creates a new section in the law. The Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis indicate that there is no fiscal impact from this bill, as the Department of Social Services (DSS) has the necessary expertise to conduct the study without additional costs. The bill analysis by the Office of Legislative Research does not analyze Special Acts, and the Human Services Committee has given a Joint Favorable Substitute recommendation with a unanimous vote in favor (22 Yea, 0 Nay) on March 19, 2024.