Substitute House Bill No. 7109 seeks to improve children's behavioral health services in Connecticut by implementing recommendations from the Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee. The bill establishes a grant program funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support state-certified behavioral health clinics. It tasks the Commissioner of Social Services with developing reimbursement models for acuity-based care coordination and creating a value-based payment system for providers. Additionally, the bill raises the age limit for recipients of behavioral therapy from "children less than twenty-one" to "individuals under twenty-six," mandates supervision of behavioral therapy by licensed professionals, and requires reports on grant fund usage and insurance claims data by specified deadlines.

The bill also expands the list of mandated reporters for child abuse to include behavior analysts and establishes protocols for reporting and investigating allegations against them. An advisory committee will be formed to guide the regulatory framework for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, particularly for children with autism spectrum disorder, and will review current oversight and recommend necessary changes. The bill eliminates previous requirements for the Department of Social Services to increase Medicaid coverage and provider rates for ABA services, while also mandating that the Department of Children and Families notify the Department of Public Health of any investigations involving behavior analysts. Various sections of the bill will take effect in stages, with some provisions becoming effective as early as July 1, 2025.