CHAPTER 319b
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL RETARDATION
Table of Contents
Sec. 17a-210. (Formerly Sec. 19a-460). Department and Commissioner of Mental Retardation. Duties. Patient transfer, programs and placement. Right to object and hearing.
Sec. 17a-210a. Ombudsman.
Sec. 17a-218. (Formerly Sec. 19a-464a). Programs of community-based residential facilities and respite care and emergency placement for persons with mental retardation. Requirement re enrollment in federal programs.
Sec. 17a-241. (Formerly Sec. 19a-472). Appointment and duties of school superintendent.
Sec. 17a-248b. State Interagency Birth-to-Three Coordinating Council.
Sec. 17a-248c. Local interagency birth-to-three coordinating councils.
Sec. 17a-210. (Formerly Sec. 19a-460). Department and Commissioner of
Mental Retardation. Duties. Patient transfer, programs and placement. Right to
object and hearing. (a) There shall be a Department of Mental Retardation. The Department of Mental Retardation, with the advice of a Council on Mental Retardation, shall
be responsible for the planning, development and administration of complete, comprehensive and integrated state-wide services for persons with mental retardation and persons medically diagnosed as having Prader-Willi syndrome. The Department of Mental
Retardation shall be under the supervision of a Commissioner of Mental Retardation,
who shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections
4-5 to 4-8, inclusive. The Council on Mental Retardation may advise the Governor on
the appointment. The commissioner shall be a person who has background, training,
education or experience in administering programs for the care, training, education,
treatment and custody of persons with mental retardation. The commissioner shall be
responsible, with the advice of the council, for: (1) Planning and developing complete,
comprehensive and integrated state-wide services for persons with mental retardation;
(2) the implementation and where appropriate the funding of such services; and (3) the
coordination of the efforts of the Department of Mental Retardation with those of other
state departments and agencies, municipal governments and private agencies concerned
with and providing services for persons with mental retardation. The commissioner shall
be responsible for the administration and operation of the state training school, state
mental retardation regions and all state-operated community-based residential facilities
established for the diagnosis, care and training of persons with mental retardation. The
commissioner shall be responsible for establishing standards, providing technical assistance and exercising the requisite supervision of all state-supported residential, day and
program support services for persons with mental retardation and work activity programs operated pursuant to section 17a-226. The commissioner shall conduct or monitor
investigations into allegations of abuse and neglect and file reports as requested by
state agencies having statutory responsibility for the conduct and oversight of such
investigations. In the event of the death of a person with mental retardation for whom
the department has direct or oversight responsibility for medical care, the commissioner
shall ensure that a comprehensive and timely review of the events, overall care, quality
of life issues and medical care preceding such death is conducted by the department and
shall, as requested, provide information and assistance to the Independent Mortality
Review Board established by Executive Order No. 25 of Governor John G. Rowland.
The commissioner shall report to the board and the board shall review any death: (A)
Involving an allegation of abuse or neglect; (B) for which the Office of Chief Medical
Examiner or local medical examiner has accepted jurisdiction; (C) in which an autopsy
was performed; (D) which was sudden and unexpected; or (E) in which the commissioner's review raises questions about the appropriateness of care. The commissioner shall
stimulate research by public and private agencies, institutions of higher learning and
hospitals, in the interest of the elimination and amelioration of retardation and care and
training of persons with mental retardation.
(b) The commissioner shall be responsible for the development of criteria as to the
eligibility of any person with mental retardation for residential care in any public or state-supported private institution and, after considering the recommendation of a properly
designated diagnostic agency, may assign such person to a public or state-supported
private institution. The commissioner may transfer such persons from one such institution to another when necessary and desirable for their welfare, provided such person
and such person's parent, conservator, guardian or other legal representative receive
written notice of their right to object to such transfer at least ten days prior to the proposed
transfer of such person from any such institution or facility. Such prior notice shall not
be required when transfers are made between residential units within the training school
or a state mental retardation region or when necessary to avoid a serious and immediate
threat to the life or physical or mental health of such person or others residing in such
institution or facility. The notice required by this subsection shall notify the recipient
of his or her right to object to such transfer, except in the case of an emergency transfer
as provided in this subsection, and shall include the name, address and telephone number
of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. In the event of
an emergency transfer, the notice required by this subsection shall notify the recipient
of his or her right to request a hearing in accordance with subsection (c) of this section
and shall be given within ten days following the emergency transfer. In the event of an
objection to the proposed transfer, the commissioner shall conduct a hearing in accordance with subsection (c) of this section and the transfer shall be stayed pending final
disposition of the hearing, provided no such hearing shall be required if the commissioner withdraws such proposed transfer.
(c) Any person with mental retardation who is eighteen years of age or older and who
resides at any institution or facility operated by the Department of Mental Retardation, or
the parent, guardian, conservator or other legal representative of any person with mental
retardation who resides at any such institution or facility, may object to any transfer of
such person from one institution or facility to another for any reason other than a medical
reason or an emergency, or may request such a transfer. In the event of any such objection
or request, the commissioner shall conduct a hearing on such proposed transfer, provided
no such hearing shall be required if the commissioner withdraws such proposed transfer.
In any such transfer hearing, the proponent of a transfer shall have the burden of showing,
by clear and convincing evidence, that the proposed transfer is in the best interest of the
resident being considered for transfer and that the facility and programs to which transfer
is proposed (1) are safe and effectively supervised and monitored, and (2) provide a
greater opportunity for personal development than the resident's present setting. Such
hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(d) Any person, or the parent, guardian, conservator or other legal representative
of such person, may request a hearing for any final determination by the department
that denies such person eligibility for programs and services of the department. A request
for a hearing shall be made in writing to the commissioner. Such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(e) Any person with mental retardation, or the parent, guardian, conservator or other
legal representative of such person, may request a hearing to contest the priority assignment made by the department for persons seeking residential placement, residential
services or residential support. A request for hearing shall be made, in writing, to the
commissioner. Such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54.
(f) Any person with mental retardation or the parent, guardian, conservator or other
legal representative of such person, may object to (1) a proposed approval by the department of a program for such person that includes the use of behavior-modifying medications or aversive procedures, or (2) a proposed determination of the department that
community placement is inappropriate for such person placed under the direction of
the commissioner. The department shall provide written notice of any such proposed
approval or determination to the person, or to the parent, guardian, conservator or other
legal representative of such person, at least ten days prior to making such approval or
determination. In the event of an objection to such proposed approval or determination,
the commissioner shall conduct a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter
54, provided no such hearing shall be required if the commissioner withdraws such
proposed approval or determination.
(1959, P.A. 148, S. 22; 1963, P.A. 377, S. 3; P.A. 75-594; 75-638, S. 2, 23; P.A. 76-153, S. 1; P.A. 81-185; P.A. 83-64, S. 1, 4; P.A. 86-41, S. 9, 11; P.A. 87-109, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-28, S. 2, 8; 88-317, S. 80, 107; P.A. 89-144, S. 7; 89-325,
S. 21, 26; P.A. 90-164, S. 4; P.A. 91-193; 91-406, S. 22, 29; P.A. 94-124, S. 1; 94-222, S. 2; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8,
S. 22, 88; P.A. 00-135, S. 1, 21; P.A. 01-140, S. 1; P.A. 03-146, S. 1; P.A. 05-256, S. 9.)
History: 1963 act eliminated deputy commissioner's responsibility for the Mansfield-Southbury social service; P.A.
75-594 added Subsec. (b) re requests for transfers; P.A. 75-638 replaced office of mental retardation in health department
with independent department of mental retardation headed by commissioner appointed by the governor; P.A. 76-153
included responsibility for regional centers in commissioner's duties and again replaced office of mental retardation with
independent department of mental retardation; Sec. 19-4c transferred to Sec. 19-570 in 1977; P.A. 81-185 added provisions
re required notice of intended transfers of persons from one institution to another in Subsec. (a) and amended Subsec. (b)
to include conservators or other legal representatives as persons authorized to request hearing; Sec. 19-570 transferred to
Sec. 19a-460 in 1983; P.A. 83-64 amended Subsec. (a) to include vocational training and work activity programs under
the commissioner's responsibility and supervision; P.A. 86-41 substituted references to mental retardation regions for
references to regional centers and made other technical changes in Subsec. (a); P.A. 87-109 substituted "services" for
"program" and "persons with mental retardation" for "mentally retarded"; P.A. 88-28 divided Subsec. (a) into two subsections, relettering Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and substituted "residential, day and program support services" for "diagnostic
facilities, day care centers, habilitation centers, sheltered workshops, boarding homes and other facilities"; P.A. 88-317
amended reference to Secs. 4-177 to 4-184 in Subsec. (b) to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989,
and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 89-144 amended Subsec. (b) by substituting
the office of protection and advocacy for persons with disabilities for the office of protection and advocacy for handicapped
and developmentally disabled persons; P.A. 89-325 deleted the references to Secs. 19a-477 to 19a-479, inclusive, in Subsec.
(a); P.A. 90-164 made technical changes in Subsec. (a) and deleted a provision requiring the council on mental retardation
to recommend the appointment of the commissioner and added authority for the council to advise the governor on the
appointment; Sec. 19a-460 transferred to Sec. 17a-210 in 1991; P.A. 91-193 added Subsec. (d) authorizing the parent,
guardian, conservator or other legal representative of a person, or the person himself, to request a hearing by the department
on certain final decisions of the department; P.A. 91-406 substituted "determination" for "decision" in the phrase "final
decision" in Subsec. (d); P.A. 94-124 required that commissioner conduct investigations of allegations of abuse and neglect
and made technical changes; P.A. 94-222 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for services to persons with Prader-Willi Syndrome; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b) and in (c) added the evidentiary
requirements for transfer hearings, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 00-135 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision re power of
commissioner to monitor investigations, effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 01-140 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical
changes, amended Subsec. (b) by making technical changes and adding provisions re notice of right to object to transfer
and withdrawal of proposed transfer, amended Subsec. (c) by making technical changes, deleting provision re request for
hearing and adding provisions re objection to or request for transfer and withdrawal of proposed transfer, amended Subsec.
(d) by making technical changes and deleting provisions re hearing for use of behavior-modifying medications or aversive
procedures and determination of inappropriate community placement, and added new Subsec. (e) re objection to and hearing
for proposed approval of use of behavior-modifying medications or aversive procedures and proposed determination of
inappropriate community placement; P.A. 03-146 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re duties in the event of death
of a person for whom department has direct or oversight responsibility; P.A. 05-256 amended Subsec. (c) to permit person
with mental retardation residing at institution or facility who is eighteen years of age or older to object to transfer to another
institution or facility, made technical changes in Subsec. (d), added new Subsec. (e) to permit person with mental retardation,
or parent, guardian, conservator or other legal representative of person, to contest priority assignment made by department
re residential placement, services or support, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f) and made technical
changes therein.
See Sec. 17b-492b re authority of Commissioner of Mental Retardation with respect to Medicare Part D program.
Sec. 17a-210a. Ombudsman. (a) There is established an independent ombudsman
office within the Department of Mental Retardation that is responsible for receiving
and making recommendations to the commissioner for resolving complaints affecting
consumers under the care or supervision of the department or of any public or private
agency with which the department has contracted for the provision of services.
(b) The director of the ombudsman office shall be appointed by the Governor, with
the approval of the General Assembly. Said director shall be an elector of the state with
expertise and experience in the fields of mental retardation and advocacy for the rights
of the consumers specified in subsection (a) of this section and shall be exempt from
the classified service.
(c) Upon the vacancy of the director of the ombudsman office by the person serving
in such position on July 1, 2004, and whenever thereafter the term of such position
expires or there is a vacancy in such position, the Governor shall appoint the director
of the ombudsman office from a list of candidates prepared and submitted to the Governor by the Council on Mental Retardation, established by section 17a-270. The Governor
shall notify the council of the pending expiration of the term of an incumbent ombudsman
not less than ninety days prior to the final day of the ombudsman's term in office. If a
vacancy occurs in the position of ombudsman, the Governor shall notify the council
immediately of the vacancy. The council shall meet to consider qualified candidates for
the position of ombudsman and shall submit a list of not more than five candidates to
the Governor ranked in order of preference, not more than sixty days after receiving
notice from the Governor of the pending expiration of the ombudsman's term or the
occurrence of a vacancy. The Governor shall designate, not more than sixty days after
receipt of the list of candidates from the council, one candidate from the list for the
position of ombudsman. If, after the list is submitted to the Governor by the council,
any candidate withdraws from consideration, the Governor shall designate a candidate
from those remaining on the list. If the Governor fails to designate a candidate within
sixty days of receipt of the list from the council, the council shall refer the candidate
with the highest ranking on the list to the General Assembly for confirmation. If the
General Assembly is not in session at the time of the Governor's or council's designation
of a candidate, the candidate shall serve as the acting ombudsman until the General
Assembly meets and confirms the candidate as ombudsman. A candidate serving as
acting ombudsman shall be entitled to compensation and have all the powers, duties
and privileges of the ombudsman. An ombudsman shall serve a term of four years, not
including any time served as acting ombudsman, and may be reappointed by the Governor or shall remain in the position until a successor is appointed pursuant to this subsection. Although an incumbent ombudsman may be reappointed, the Governor shall also
consider additional candidates from a list submitted by the council as provided in this
section.
(d) The director of the ombudsman office shall report monthly to the Council on
Mental Retardation and, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, annually
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
relating to public health.
(P.A. 99-271, S. 1, 2; P.A. 02-89, S. 25; P.A. 04-211, S. 3; P.A. 05-256, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 99-271 effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 02-89 deleted as obsolete former Subsec. (c) requiring the commissioner to convene by September 1, 1999, a special selection committee for advice and recommendations in the hiring or
appointment of the director; P.A. 04-211 amended Subsec. (a) to require establishment of office, changed name from
"ombudsperson" to "ombudsman" throughout, added new Subsec. (b) requiring director of ombudsman office be appointed
by Governor and be elector of state with expertise and experience in fields of mental retardation and advocacy for rights
of consumers, added new Subsec. (c) establishing procedure for appointment of new director upon vacancy of office by
person serving in position on July 1, 2004, and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d), making technical changes
therein, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-256 amended Subsec. (c) to require ombudsman to remain in position until successor
appointed.
Sec. 17a-218. (Formerly Sec. 19a-464a). Programs of community-based residential facilities and respite care and emergency placement for persons with mental
retardation. Requirement re enrollment in federal programs. (a) For purposes of
this section, the following terms have the following meanings: "Commissioner" means
the Commissioner of Mental Retardation; "department" means the Department of Mental Retardation; and "emergency placement" means cases in which there has been a
request for a residential accommodation for an individual for whom there is an unforeseen emergency in his current living arrangement, or cases in which the department has
had no previous knowledge of a need for placement, or cases in which such a placement
is needed because of actions of another state agency or department, including, but not
limited to, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department
of Children and Families, and any court, or cases prior to any other planned placements,
because the health or safety of the individual needing such placement would be adversely
affected without such placement.
(b) The commissioner shall plan, develop and administer a comprehensive program
of community-based residential facilities including, but not limited to, transitional facilities, group homes, community training homes and supervised apartments. On and after
January 1, 1997, every contract by the commissioner for the construction, renovation
or rehabilitation of a community-based residential facility shall be awarded to the lowest
responsible and qualified bidder on the basis of competitive bids in accordance with
procedures which the commissioner shall establish in regulations adopted by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(c) The commissioner may provide, within available appropriations, subsidies to
persons with mental retardation who are placed in supervised apartments, condominiums or homes which do not receive housing payments under section 17b-244, in order
to assist such persons to meet housing costs.
(d) The commissioner may provide, within available appropriations, respite care
services which may be administered directly by the department, or through contracts
for services with providers of such services, or by means of direct subsidy to parents of
mentally retarded persons to enable them to purchase such services.
(e) The commissioner may, within available appropriations and in accordance with
individualized plans of care, provide a full range of services to support persons with
mental retardation living with their families, caretakers, independently or in community-based residential facilities licensed pursuant to section 17a-227. Such services may
include, but are not limited to, education and training programs, social services, counseling services, medical services, physical or occupational therapy, parent training, recreation and transportation. Such services may be provided by the department or be purchased from persons or private agencies through contracts pursuant to subsection (c) of
section 4-70b or purchased directly by the service recipient or his family. The department
may provide a direct subsidy to persons with mental retardation or their families to be
used for such purchases of such support services. The recipient of such subsidy shall
provide a documented accounting of such subsidy to the department.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of part III of chapter 59, the commissioner may,
within available appropriations, enter into a rental or lease agreement for an apartment,
home, or similar private residence if it has been determined by the commissioner that
an individual is in need of an emergency placement. Such agreements shall not exceed
the fair market price for the area in which the leased premises are located and shall not
be for more than twelve months. Upon entering such agreements, the commissioner
shall notify the State Properties Review Board and shall begin the leasing procedures
outlined in said part III of chapter 59.
(g) Any person who is in or is seeking a placement through the Department of
Mental Retardation or is receiving any support or service that is included within or
covered by any federal program being administered and operated by the Department of
Social Services and the Department of Mental Retardation, and who meets the eligibility
criteria for the federal program, shall enroll in such program in order to continue in the
existing placement or to remain eligible for a placement or continue to receive such
support or service. Any person who is ineligible for such federal program due to excess
income or assets may continue in existing placement, or continue to receive existing
supports and services through the Department of Mental Retardation while spending
down available excess income and assets until such person qualifies for enrollment in
the applicable federal program. The Commissioner of Mental Retardation may make
exceptions to the requirements of this provision and provide or continue to provide,
within available appropriations, placement, support or services to individuals who are
not eligible for enrollment in such federal programs and for whom it is determined there
is a legal requirement to serve pursuant to state or federal law or court order.
(P.A. 83-64, S. 2, 4; P.A. 87-152, S. 3, 4; P.A. 88-28, S. 3, 8; P.A. 89-375, S. 1, 5; P.A. 90-230, S. 29, 101; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-222, S. 1; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 58; P.A. 96-186, S. 5, 6; P.A. 05-280, S. 31.)
History: P.A. 87-152 added provisions designated as Subsecs. (a) and (f) re emergency placement, relettering prior
Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 88-28 added "within available appropriations" in Subsec. (c), (d) and (e) and authorized placements in "condominiums or homes which do not receive payments under section 17-313b" to Subsec. (c); P.A. 89-375
made technical changes in Subsec. (c); P.A. 90-230 corrected internal references in Subsec. (f); Sec. 19a-464a transferred
to Sec. 17a-218 in 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner
and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-222 amended Subsec. (e) to add provision
to permit direct subsidies to persons with mental retardation or their families and made technical corrections; P.A. 95-257
replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and
Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-186 amended Subsec. (b) by adding lowest-bidder requirements,
effective May 31, 1996; P.A. 05-280 added new Subsec. (g) re enrollment in federal programs, effective July 1, 2005.
Sec. 17a-241. (Formerly Sec. 19a-472). Appointment and duties of school superintendent. (a) The Commissioner of Mental Retardation shall appoint a superintendent for the school district. Said superintendent shall operate the school district in accordance with the rules and orders of the commissioner. The superintendent shall, subject
to the approval of the commissioner, make rules for the administration of the school
system, provided all such rules are in accordance with regulations established by the
State Board of Education.
(b) The superintendent of the school district under the general supervision of the
Commissioner of Mental Retardation shall have the power to (1) establish and maintain
within the department a state-wide system of programs as required; (2) purchase, receive,
hold and convey personal property for school purposes and equip and supply such
schools with necessary furniture, equipment and other appendages; (3) make agreements
and regulations for establishing and conducting the district's programs and employ and
dismiss, in accordance with the applicable provisions of section 10-151, such teachers
and other staff as are necessary to carry out the intent of sections 17a-239 to 17a-244,
inclusive, and to pay their salaries; (4) receive any federal funds or aid made available
to the state for such programs and shall be eligible for and may receive any other funds
or aid whether private, state or otherwise, to be used for the purposes of sections 17a-239 to 17a-244, inclusive. The superintendent of the school district may cooperate with
the federal government in carrying out the purposes of any federal law pertaining to the
education of students within said district, and may adopt such methods of administration
as are found by the federal government to be necessary, and may comply with such
conditions as may be necessary to secure the full benefit of all federal funds available.
(P.A. 77-587, S. 3, 9; P.A. 83-169, S. 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-11, S. 4, 25; P.A. 04-54, S. 5; P.A. 05-256, S. 4.)
History: Sec. 19-575d transferred to Sec. 19a-472 in 1983; P.A. 83-169 made technical changes; Sec. 19a-472 transferred
to Sec. 17a-241 in 1991; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-11 amended Subsec. (b) to delete references to Subsec. (f) of Sec. 10-76a
and changed reference to district's "schools" to district's "programs"; P.A. 04-54 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to delete
references to education council (Revisor's note: In 2005, a reference in Subsec. (b) to "Commissioner for Mental Retardation" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Mental Retardation", for accuracy); P.A. 05-256
amended Subsec. (a) to delete provisions re education council of school district and make a technical change, effective
June 30, 2005.
Sec. 17a-248b. State Interagency Birth-to-Three Coordinating Council. (a)
The lead agency shall establish a State Interagency Birth-to-Three Coordinating Council
and shall provide staff assistance and other resources to the council. The council shall
consist of the following members, appointed by the Governor: (1) Parents, including
minority parents, of children with disabilities twelve years of age or younger, with
knowledge of, or experience with, programs for children from birth to thirty-six months
of age with disabilities, the total number of whom shall equal not less than twenty per
cent of the total membership of the council, and at least one of whom shall be a parent
of a child six years of age or younger, with a disability; (2) two members of the General
Assembly at the time of their appointment, one of whom shall be designated by the
speaker of the House of Representatives and one of whom shall be designated by the
president pro tempore of the Senate; (3) one person involved in the training of personnel
who provide early intervention services; (4) one person who is a member of the American
Academy of Pediatrics; (5) one person from each of the participating agencies, who
shall be designated by the commissioner or executive director of the participating agency
and who have authority to engage in policy planning and implementation on behalf of
the participating agency; (6) public or private providers of early intervention services,
the total number of whom shall equal not less than twenty per cent of the total membership of the council; and (7) a representative of a Head Start program or agency. The
Governor shall designate the chairperson of the council who shall not be the designee
of the lead agency.
(b) The Governor shall appoint all members of the council for terms of three years.
(c) The council shall meet at least quarterly and shall provide public notice of its
meetings, which shall be open and accessible to the general public. Special meetings
may be called by the chairperson and shall be called at the request of the commissioner.
(d) Council members who are parents of children with disabilities shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties
under this section.
(e) The council shall: (1) Assist the lead agency in the effective performance of the
lead agency's responsibilities under section 17a-248, this section and sections 17a-248c
to 17a-248g, inclusive, 38a-490a and 38a-516a, including identifying the sources of
fiscal support for early intervention services and programs, assignment of financial
responsibility to the appropriate agency, promotion of interagency agreements and preparing applications and amendments required pursuant to federal law; (2) advise and
assist the commissioner and other participating agencies in the development of standards
and procedures pursuant to said sections; (3) advise and assist the commissioner and
the Commissioner of Education regarding the transition of children with disabilities to
services provided under sections 10-76a to 10-76h, inclusive; (4) advise and assist the
commissioner in identifying barriers that impede timely and effective service delivery,
including advice and assistance with regard to interagency disputes; and (5) prepare and
submit an annual report in accordance with section 11-4a to the Governor and the General
Assembly on the status of the birth-to-three system. At least thirty days prior to the
commissioner's final approval of rules and regulations pursuant to section 17a-248, this
section, sections 17a-248c to 17a-248g, inclusive, 38a-490a and 38a-516a, other than
emergency rules and regulations, the commissioner shall submit proposed rules and
regulations to the council for its review. The council shall review all proposed rules and
regulations and report its recommendations thereon to the commissioner within thirty
days. The commissioner shall not act in a manner inconsistent with the recommendations
of the council without first providing the reasons for such action. The council, upon a
majority vote of its members, may require that an alternative approach to the proposed
rules and regulations be published with a notice of the proposed rules and regulations
pursuant to chapter 54. When an alternative approach is published pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall state the reasons for not selecting such alternative approach.
(P.A. 96-185, S. 8, 16; P.A. 98-250, S. 5, 39; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 28; P.A. 00-27, S. 2, 24; P.A. 05-256, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 96-185 effective July 1, 1996 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a) a reference to the "chair" of the council was
replaced editorially by the Revisors with "chairperson" for conformity with Subsec. (c) and customary statutory usage);
P.A. 98-250 increased number of parents from five to six and added a representative of a Head Start program or agency,
effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing staggered appointments with appointed
for three years; P.A. 00-27 made technical changes, effective May 1, 2000; P.A. 05-256 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to require
that the total number of parents on council equal not less than twenty per cent of total membership and Subsec. (a)(6) to
require that the total number of public or private providers on council equal not less than twenty per cent of total membership,
effective June 30, 2005.
Sec. 17a-248c. Local interagency birth-to-three coordinating councils. (a) The
commissioner shall establish at least one local interagency coordinating council in each
region of the state. Each council shall consist of five or more individuals interested in
the welfare of children ages birth to three years with disabilities or developmental delays.
(b) Each local interagency coordinating council established pursuant to subsection
(a) of this section shall meet at least four times a year and shall advise and assist the
regional birth-to-three managers regarding any matter relating to early intervention policies and procedures within the towns served by that council as are brought to its attention
by parents, providers, public agencies or others, including the transition from early
intervention services to services and programs under sections 10-76a to 10-76g, inclusive, and other early childhood programs.
(c) Council members who are parents of children with disabilities shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(P.A. 96-185, S. 9, 16; P.A. 00-27, S. 3, 24; P.A. 05-256, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 96-185 effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 00-27 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective May 1, 2000;
P.A. 05-256 amended Subsec. (a) to change membership of local interagency coordinating councils, amended Subsec. (b)
to require councils to advise and assist regional birth-to-three managers and to change matters about which councils are
to advise and assist, deleted former Subsec. (c) re annual report and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as new Subsec. (c),
effective June 30, 2005.