OLR Bill Analysis

HB 6523 (as amended by House "A")

AN ACT CONCERNING LICENSING OF ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITIES.

SUMMARY:

This bill exempts from Department of Public Health (DPH) licensure requirements individuals to whom the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has issued a license for (1) operation of a substance abuse treatment facility or (2) maternity homes (facilities whose purpose is to care for women during their pregnancies and for these women and their newborns). As a corollary, the bill repeals the law requiring maternity homes to get licensed. DCF licenses maternity homes.

The bill further allows non-nursing staff to administer medication to children or youth residing in DCF-licensed substance abuse treatment facilities. The law already allows medication administration by non-nursing staff to people (1) attending day programs, living in residential treatment facilities, or receiving individual and family support under DCF or the Corrections or Developmental Disabilities departments or (2) being detained in juvenile detention centers or living in residential treatment facilities dually licensed by DCF and DPH. This can occur only when the medication is administered by trained personnel under a written order from a doctor or other medical personnel licensed to prescribe.

*House Amendment “A” replaces the file copy, which would have eliminated a requirement that a residential substance abuse treatment facility that cares for or boards children obtain a DCF license when that facility is already licensed by DPH.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009

COMMITTEE ACTION

Human Services Committee

Joint Favorable