The proposed bill, Substitute Bill No. 1214, mandates that the Department of Social Services and the Department of Developmental Services submit detailed reports by January 1, 2026, regarding programs that serve children and families. These reports must include descriptions of each program, total costs associated with their administration, and projected costs if eligibility were expanded to include families with incomes above the federal poverty level but below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival, as defined by the United Way of Connecticut. Additionally, the reports should specify how many more children or families would qualify under such expanded eligibility and discuss the feasibility of using the ALICE Threshold for determining program eligibility.

The bill introduces new legal language that establishes these reporting requirements as new sections in the law, specifically noted as "Section 1 from passage New section" and "Sec. 2 from passage New section." There are no deletions from current law mentioned in the text. The intent of the bill is to enhance transparency and understanding of the costs and potential impacts of social service programs aimed at supporting children and families in need.