Substitute Senate Bill No. 396, also known as Public Act No. 24-99, introduces amendments to support the Elderly Nutrition Program. The bill amends Section 17a-851 of the general statutes by adding subsections (e) and (f), which are effective from July 1, 2024. Subsection (e) requires the Department of Aging and Disability Services to provide additional payments to area agencies on aging that have used fifty percent or more of their initial elderly nutrition program funding, with the stipulation that these agencies must transfer the funds to vendors within thirty days. The Commissioner is also required to report annually on the possibility of disbursing additional funds when an agency has spent twenty-five percent or more of the initial funding. Subsection (f) mandates each area agency on aging to create a continuity of effort plan to ensure the elderly nutrition program continues smoothly during provider changes or demand spikes, with plans due by January 1, 2025, and a requirement to notify officials within ten days of significant service level changes. The bill also streamlines the contracting and reporting process for the elderly nutrition program, with a report due by October 1, 2024.

The bill further addresses the sharing of information in IV-D support cases and enhances coordination between social services and other departments. It allows for the disclosure of information to health insurance providers for enrolling children in health insurance plans and permits information sharing with various state departments to support child support programs, identify family violence cases, and manage unclaimed property and the renters rebate program. A new insertion enables the sharing of information with the Department of Aging and Disability Services or an area agency on aging to assist the elderly nutrition program. Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioners of Social Services and Aging and Disability Services to develop a plan to maximize supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to support the elderly nutrition program, with a report on this plan due by October 1, 2024. The bill also includes deletions of vague references to "said department" and clarifies them as "the Department of Social Services."

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HS Joint Favorable Change of Reference:
APP Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 575:
Public Act No. 24-99: