Substitute House Bill No. 7107 establishes a task force dedicated to studying the expansion of employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This task force will consist of appointed members, including experts and advocates, and is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations by January 1, 2027. The bill also updates the statutes governing ABLE accounts, which are savings accounts for individuals with disabilities, by aligning definitions with federal standards under Section 529A. Key changes include the introduction of new terms such as "authorized individual" and "qualified ABLE program," while outdated language is repealed to clarify regulations surrounding these accounts.

Additionally, the bill modifies the Connecticut Achieving A Better Life Experience (ABLE) Trust by removing references to the federal ABLE Act and specifying that distributions must be used for qualified disability expenses. It allows the trust to enter into contracts, procure insurance, and accept donations, while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws. The bill also addresses the treatment of funds in individual ABLE accounts, ensuring they do not affect eligibility for public assistance programs, and transfers oversight of the driver training program for individuals with disabilities from the Department of Aging and Disability Services to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HS Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 469:
Public Act No. 25-148: 3-39j, 3-39k, 3-39l, 3-39p, 3-39q, 3-39r, 14-11b