Governor's Bill No. 1251 proposes extensive reforms to the state's health and human services framework, particularly focusing on the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and support for individuals with disabilities. The bill replaces the Department of Aging and Disability Services with the DMV for a driver training program aimed at individuals with disabilities, establishing a dedicated driver training unit within the DMV that will have the authority to evaluate and train these individuals. It also allows individuals whose licenses have been withdrawn due to disabilities to operate vehicles under supervision during their training. Additionally, the bill revises payment standards for state-administered assistance programs, linking annual increases to the consumer price index with a cap of five percent, while extending the freeze on payment standards for certain fiscal years. It introduces immediate diversion assistance for families applying for temporary family assistance and streamlines eligibility criteria by removing provisions related to domestic violence victims.

The bill further amends the state-administered general assistance program and Medicaid coverage, establishing cash assistance rates for unemployable individuals and transitional persons, while setting new eligibility criteria. It introduces coverage for bariatric surgery under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, contingent on federal conditions, and specifies limits on step therapy for these services. Significant deletions include the repeal of provisions allowing one-time assistance payments for domestic violence victims under the general assistance program. The bill also restructures the financial operations of facilities financed through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, allowing for more flexible reimbursement rates based on actual debt service and establishing specific inflation factors for rate determination. Overall, the bill aims to enhance support for individuals with disabilities, improve the efficiency of assistance programs, and ensure fair compensation for residential care facilities while maintaining budgetary constraints.

Statutes affected:
Governor's Bill: 14-11b