Committee on Children
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6109
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ALBERT J. SOLNIT CHILDREN'S CENTER.
Vote Date: 2/25/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 2/4/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Committee on Children
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill would allow the Department of Children and Families to receive the funding it needs
in order to direct additional nursing and clinical staff to meet the anticipated licensure
standards made by the Working Groups regarding the Solnit Center. These new
recommendations would be put in place in order to better treat the people who are at the
Solnit Center.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Vannessa Dorantes, Commissioner. Department of Children and Families: Her
testimony is in favor of this bill. She appreciates the intent of the bill and explains how the
Solnit Center works along with its facilities. In addition, she also explains that there are
mandatory inspections every five years undertaken by the Department of Social Services
(DSS). Due to federal regulations regarding the remediation of concerns the Plan of
Correction decided that a full-time consulting team to help monitor and implement necessary
improvements. To implement this requirement, a Working Group was organized in August
2019, comprised of representatives from DCF, DPH, DSS, OCA, the Solnit Center campuses,
Beacon Health Options, and two privately-operated adolescent psychiatric treatment facilities.
The Working Group met on a bi-weekly basis through November 2019 in order to draft the
report, which was submitted to the Committee on Children in early 2020. The bill adopts the
Working Groups recommendations to repeal the licensure exemption for the Solnit Center
and for DPH to promulgate regulations on licensing the PRTFs at both the north and south
campuses. In order to carry out these recommendations, DCF would require funding to
support additional nursing and clinical staff to meet the anticipated licensure standards.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Connecticut Department of Public Health: The department is in accordance with this bill. It
was said that the special Act 19-16, An Act Concerning the Licensure of the Albert J. Solnit
Childrens Center, directed the Commissioner of Children and Families (DCF) to submit a
report recommending a process for DPH to license the Solnit Centers North and South
Campuses. DCF worked with the Departments of Public Health and Social Services and the
Office of the Child Advocate in the drafting of the report. A working group was organized in
August 2019, comprised of representatives from the four state agencies, the Solnit Center,
Beacon Health Options, and two privately-operated adolescent psychiatric treatment facilities.
Recommendations were developed and a report was issued early in 2020. The working
groups recommendations are reflected in this bill. Should this bill move forward, the
Department would need additional resources to implement the requirements.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
No Opposition to this bill offered
Reported by: Gabriela Dos Santos Date: March 6th 2021
Page 2 of 2 HB-6109


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
KID Joint Favorable:
File No. 18: