The bill, identified as Substitute Senate Bill No. 309 with File No. 254, mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to conduct a study on the feasibility, costs, and benefits of providing medical assistance to certain legally present noncitizens. These noncitizens are those who would have been eligible for a program that was available before it was closed to new applicants in 2011, as per section 17b-257b of the general statutes. The Commissioner is required to collaborate with the executive director of the Office of Health Strategy for this study. A report on the findings of this study must be submitted by January 1, 2025, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly that oversee appropriations, state agency budgets, and human services.

The bill specifies that it will take effect upon passage and creates a new section in the law. The Fiscal Impact Statement attached to the bill indicates that there will be no state or municipal fiscal impact from the requirement for the Department of Social Services (DSS) to conduct this study, as the agency already possesses the necessary expertise. The bill analysis by the Office of Legislative Research does not provide an analysis of Special Acts, but it does note that the Human Services Committee has given a Joint Favorable Substitute recommendation with a vote of 15 in favor and 7 against on March 19, 2024.