Sec. 17a-270. (Formerly Sec. 19a-445). Council on Developmental Services.
(a) There is established a Council on Developmental Services which shall consist of
thirteen members appointed as follows: Eight shall be appointed by the Governor, one
of whom shall be a doctor of medicine, one of whom shall be a person with intellectual
disability who is receiving services from the Department of Developmental Services
and at least two of whom shall be parents or guardians of persons with intellectual
disability, to serve for terms of two years each; four shall be appointed by members of
the General Assembly for two-year terms, one of whom shall be a parent or guardian
of a person with intellectual disability, appointed by the speaker of the House, one
appointed by the minority leader of the House, one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and one of whom shall be a parent or guardian of a person with
intellectual disability, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; and one of whom
shall be a member of the board of trustees of the Southbury Training School, appointed
by said board for a term of one year. No member of the council may serve more than
three consecutive terms, except that a member may continue to serve until a successor
is appointed. The members of the council shall serve without compensation except for
necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties. The Commissioner of Developmental Services or the commissioner's designee shall be an ex-officio member of the
Council on Developmental Services without vote and shall attend its meetings. No employee of any state agency engaged in the care or training of persons with intellectual
disability shall be eligible for appointment to the council. The council shall appoint
annually, from among its members, a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary. The
council may make rules for the conduct of its affairs. The council shall meet at least
bimonthly and at other times upon the call of the chair or the written request of any two
members.
(b) The council shall consider and advise on such matters as its members, the board
of trustees of the training school and the Commissioner of Developmental Services may
request. The council shall consult with the Commissioner of Developmental Services
on the administration of the state program for persons with intellectual disability. The
council shall recommend to the Governor and to the General Assembly such legislation
as will in its judgment improve the care and training of persons with intellectual disability.
(1959, P.A. 148, S. 23, 24; 1967, P.A. 118, S. 3; 1969, P.A. 43, S. 1; P.A. 75-638, S. 3, 23; P.A. 85-363, S. 1, 2; P.A.
89-99; P.A. 90-59; P.A. 91-278, S. 1; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b); P.A. 08-7, S. 3; P.A. 10-93, S. 7; P.A. 11-16, S. 22.)
History: 1967 act changed name of Mansfield State Training School and Hospital; 1969 act increased council membership from 7 to 11 and provided for appointment of additional members; P.A. 75-638 replaced deputy commissioner on
mental retardation in health department with commissioner of mental retardation, reflecting creation of independent mental
retardation agency and deleted reference to council's consultation with commissioner of health; Sec. 17-172a transferred
to Sec. 19-569a in 1977; Sec. 19-569a transferred to Sec. 19a-445 in 1983; P.A. 85-363 reduced the number of appointments
made by the governor from 9 to 5, required 2 of such 5 to be parents or guardians of mentally retarded persons, provided
for 4 members to be appointed by members of the general assembly and precluded any member from serving more than
6 consecutive years; P.A. 89-99 increased number of council members from 11 to 13, and increased number appointed by
governor from 5 to 7; P.A. 90-59 removed requirement that the doctor of medicine be a pediatrician and added a person
with mental retardation as a member; Sec. 19a-445 transferred to Sec. 17a-270 in 1991; P.A. 91-278 amended section to
change council membership from 14 to 13 eliminating member representing Mansfield Training School and removing
all other references to Mansfield Training School; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and
"Department of Mental Retardation" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and "Department of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 08-7 amended Subsec. (a) by renaming
Council on Mental Retardation as Council on Developmental Services, adding provision permitting Commissioner of
Developmental Services to designate an individual to serve on committee and making technical changes and amended
Subsec. (b) by substituting "persons with mental retardation" for "mentally retarded", effective April 29, 2008; P.A. 10-93 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing "six consecutive years" with "three consecutive terms", by providing that council
member may continue to serve until successor is appointed, by deleting provision that prohibited employee of a state
institution from being eligible for appointment to council and by making technical changes; P.A. 11-16 substituted "intellectual disability" for "mental retardation", effective May 24, 2011.
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Sec. 17a-272. (Formerly Sec. 19a-447). Training schools. Developmental services regions. Directors. Assistant directors. (a) The director of each training school
or state developmental services region shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Developmental Services, and shall be removable in the same manner. The director shall be a
trained administrator of services and facilities engaged in the care, custody, treatment
and training of persons with intellectual disability. Each director shall be subject to the
direction of the Commissioner of Developmental Services and shall be responsible for
the operation and the administration of the training school or state developmental services region.
(b) Each director may with the approval of the Commissioner of Developmental
Services appoint four assistant directors for the efficient conduct of the business of each
training school or state developmental services region. Each director shall designate an
assistant director who shall in the absence or disqualification of the director or on his
death, exercise the powers and duties of the director until he resumes his duties or the
vacancy is filled. Assistant directors shall be removable by the director.
(1959, P.A. 148, S. 27; P.A. 75-638, S. 5, 23; P.A. 76-153, S. 2; P.A. 86-246, S. 1, 3; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(b); P.A. 08-7,
S. 5; P.A. 11-16, S. 23.)
History: P.A. 75-638 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of mental retardation and deleted reference
to deputy commissioner on mental retardation, reflecting creation of independent mental retardation department; P.A. 76-153 included regional centers and deleted references to advice of council on mental retardation re appointment and supervision of superintendents; Sec. 17-172c transferred to Sec. 19-569c in 1977; Sec. 19-569c transferred to Sec. 19a-447 in
1983; P.A. 86-246 substituted "director" for "superintendent" and "state mental retardation region" for "regional center"
where appearing and added Subsec. (b) re assistant directors; Sec. 19a-447 transferred to Sec. 17a-272 in 1991; pursuant
to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 08-7 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by renaming state mental retardation
regions as state developmental services regions, effective April 29, 2008; P.A. 11-16 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting
"persons with intellectual disability" for "mentally retarded persons", effective May 24, 2011.
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Sec. 17a-273. (Formerly Sec. 19a-468). Advisory and planning councils for
state developmental services regions. (a) The Commissioner of Developmental Services shall appoint at least one advisory and planning council for each state developmental services region operated by the Department of Developmental Services, which
council shall have the responsibility of consulting with and advising the director of the
region on the needs of persons with intellectual disability in the region, the annual plan
and budget of the region and other matters deemed appropriate by the council.
(b) Each such council shall consist of at least ten members appointed from the state
developmental services region. No employee of any state agency engaged in the care
or training of persons with intellectual disability shall be eligible for appointment. At
least one member shall be designated by a local chapter of the Arc of Connecticut in
the region. At least one member shall be an individual who is eligible for and receives
services from the Department of Developmental Services. At least two members shall
be parents of persons with intellectual disability. Members shall be appointed for terms
of three years. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms. Each council
shall appoint annually, from among its members, a chairperson, vice-chairperson and
secretary. The council may make rules for the conduct of its affairs. The director of the
region shall be an ex-officio member of the council without vote and shall attend its
meetings.
(c) The council shall meet at least six times a year and at other times upon the call
of the chair or the director of the state developmental services region or on the written
request of any two members. A majority of the council members in office shall constitute
a quorum. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to
attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to
have resigned from office.
(P.A. 73-207, S. 1-3; P.A. 75-638, S. 19, 23; P.A. 76-153, S. 11; P.A. 84-256, S. 14, 17; P.A. 85-373; P.A. 86-246, S.
2, 3; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b); P.A. 08-7, S. 6; P.A. 10-93, S. 10; P.A. 11-16, S. 24.)
History: P.A. 75-638 replaced office of mental retardation in health department with independent department of mental
retardation; P.A. 76-153 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of mental retardation as appointing authority
for advisory and planning councils in Subsec. (a), reflecting creation of independent department of mental retardation;
Sec. 19-4h transferred to Sec. 19-575 in 1977; Sec. 19-575 transferred to Sec. 19a-468 in 1983; P.A. 84-256 amended
section to establish quorum and attendance requirements for members; P.A. 85-373 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to give
the council responsibility for the annual plan and budget of the regional center, increased the membership from nine to
ten members, required at least two members to be parents of mentally retarded persons and precluded any member from
serving more than two consecutive terms; P.A. 86-246 substituted "director" for "superintendent" and mental retardation
"regions" for "regional centers" and made other technical changes; Sec. 19a-468 transferred to Sec. 17a-273 in 1991;
pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department of Mental Retardation" were changed
editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and "Department of Developmental Services",
effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 08-7 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by substituting persons "with mental retardation" for
"mentally retarded" persons, amended Subsecs. (a) to (c) by renaming state mental retardation regions as state developmental services regions, and amended Subsec. (b) by changing "retarded citizens" to "mentally retarded citizens", effective
April 29, 2008; P.A. 10-93 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision that prohibited employee of a state institution from
being eligible for appointment to council, by substituting "a local chapter of the Arc of Connecticut in the region" for
provisions re incorporated local association in region, by deleting provision requiring at least 1 member to be attorney
familiar with mental retardation issues and by adding provision requiring at least 1 member to be individual who is eligible
for and receiving services from department; P.A. 11-16 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by substituting "persons with intellectual disability" for "persons with mental retardation", effective May 24, 2011.
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Sec. 17a-274. (Formerly Sec. 19a-448). Involuntary placements with the Department of Developmental Services. Application. Notice and hearing. Rights of
respondent. Examination by psychologist. Temporary placement. Evaluation of
needs. Fraudulent or malicious applications. (a) Any court of probate shall have the
power to place any person residing in its district whom it finds to be a person with
intellectual disability with the Department of Developmental Services for placement in
any appropriate setting which meets the person's habilitative needs in the least restrictive
environment available or which can be created within existing resources of the department, in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 17a-276. No person
shall be so placed unless the court has found the person has intellectual disability and
(1) is unable to provide for himself or herself at least one of the following: Education,
habilitation, care for personal health and mental health needs, meals, clothing, safe
shelter or protection from harm; (2) has no family or guardian to care for him or her, or
his or her family or guardian can no longer provide adequate care for him or her; (3) is
unable to obtain adequate, appropriate services which would enable him or her to receive
care, treatment and education or habilitation without placement by a court of probate;
and (4) is not willing to be placed under the custody and control of the Department of
Developmental Services or its agents or voluntary admission has been sought by the
guardian or limited guardian of such person appointed pursuant to chapter 779a or the
provisions of sections 45a-711 to 45a-725, inclusive, and such voluntary admission has
been opposed by the ward or his or her next of kin.
(b) Application to the Probate Court for placement under this section may be made
by any interested party. The application and all records of Probate Court proceedings
held as a result of the filing of such application, except for the name of any guardian of
the respondent, shall be sealed and shall be made available only to the respondent or
the respondent's counsel or guardian, and to the Commissioner of Developmental Services or the commissioner's designee, unless the Probate Court, after hearing held with
notice to the respondent or the respondent's counsel or guardian, and to the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, determines that such application and records
should be disclosed for cause shown. The application shall allege that the respondent
is a person with intellectual disability and (1) is unable to provide for himself or herself
at least one of the following: Education, habilitation, care for personal health and mental
health needs, meals, clothing, safe shelter or protection from harm; (2) has no family
or guardian to care for the respondent or the respondent's family or guardian can no
longer provide adequate care for the respondent; (3) is unable to obtain adequate, appropriate services which would enable the respondent to receive care, treatment and education or habilitation without placement by a court of probate; and (4) is not willing to be
placed under the custody and control of the Department of Developmental Services or
its agents or voluntary admission has been sought by the guardian or limited guardian
of the respondent appointed pursuant to chapter 779a or the provisions of sections 45a-711 to 45a-725, inclusive, and such voluntary admission has been opposed by the ward
or the ward's next of kin.
(c) Immediately upon the filing of the application, the Probate Court shall assign a
time, date and place for a hearing, such hearing to be held not later than thirty business
days from the date of receipt of the application. The court shall give notice of the hearing
to the respondent, the respondent's guardian or conservator, the respondent's spouse
or, if none, the respondent's children or, if none, the respondent's parents or, if none,
the respondent's siblings, the Commissioner of Developmental Services, the director
of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, and any other
person who has shown an interest in the respondent.
(d) Notice to the respondent and Commissioner of Developmental Services shall
include: The names of all persons filing the application, the allegations made in the
application, the time, date and place of the hearing, and the name, address and telephone
number of the attorney who will represent the respondent. The notice shall state the
right of the respondent to be present at the hearing, to present evidence, to cross-examine
witnesses who testify at the hearing, and to an independent diagnostic and evaluative
examination by a licensed psychologist of his own choice, who may testify on his behalf.
If the court finds the respondent is indigent, the notice shall further state the respondent
may be represented by counsel of his own choosing, and, if the court finds the respondent
is indigent, that counsel shall be provided without cost. The reasonable compensation
for counsel provided to indigent respondents shall be established by, and paid from
funds appropriated to, the Judicial Department, however, if funds have not been included
in the budget of the Judicial Department for such purposes, such compensation shall
be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from the Probate Court
Administration Fund.
(e) Unless the respondent is represented by counsel, the court shall immediately
appoint an attorney to represent the respondent from a list of attorneys admitted to
practice in this state provided by the Probate Court Administrator in accordance with
regulations adopted by the Probate Court Administrator in accordance with section 45a-77. Such attorney may, unless replaced, attend all examinations preceding the hearing
and may copy or inspect any and all reports concerning the respondent.
(f) The court shall appoint a licensed psychologist from a panel of psychologists
provided by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator to examine the respondent.
The psychologist shall prepare a report on a form provided by the Probate Court. Such
report shall include a statement as to whether the respondent has intellectual disability
and an explanation of how the determination was reached. The explanation shall include
the results of a psychological assessment within the past year, an interview or observation of the respondent, and an evaluation of adaptive behavior. Such report shall include
a statement of the respondent's needs. Duplicate copies of the report shall be filed with
the Commissioner of Developmental Services and all attorneys of record not less than
five days prior to the date of the hearing. The court shall order the psychologist to appear
for cross-examination at the request of the respondent if the respondent makes such
request not less than three days prior to the date of the hearing.
(g) If the court, after hearing, finds there is clear and convincing evidence that the
respondent has intellectual disability and meets the criteria set out in subsection (a) of
this section, the court shall order the respondent placed with the Department of Developmental Services for placement in the least restrictive environment available or which
can be created within existing resources of the department.
(h) If, after hearing, the court determines that the respondent's need for placement
is so critical as to require immediate placement, the court shall order the respondent to
be temporarily placed in the most appropriate available placement. The Department of
Developmental Services upon receipt of such order shall place the respondent in such
setting and shall proceed according to subsection (i) of this section.
(i) The Department of Developmental Services, upon receipt of an order pursuant
to subsection (g) of this section, shall arrange for an interdisciplinary team to evaluate
the respondent, determine the respondent's priority needs for programming and determine the least restrictive environments in which those needs could be met. The Department of Developmental Services shall place the respondent's name on the waiting list
for all facilities which have been identified. If no placement has become available not
later than sixty days after the date that the respondent's name was placed on the waiting
list, the Commissioner of Developmental Services shall so advise the court and shall
continue to report to the court every thirty days thereafter until an appropriate placement
is available.
(j) Upon receipt of a report under subsection (i) of this section, the Court of Probate,
if it determines that the respondent's need is so critical as to require immediate placement, shall order the respondent to be temporarily placed in the most appropriate available placement.
(k) Any person or agency having reasonable cause to believe that a person has
intellectual disability and is in need of immediate care and treatment for his or her safety
and welfare, which care and treatment is not being provided by his or her family or
guardian, shall make a written report to the Commissioner of Developmental Services.
The report shall contain the name and address of the person believed to have intellectual
disability and be in need of immediate care and treatment, and his or her parent or other
person responsible for his or her care, and all evidence forming the basis for such belief
and shall be signed and dated by the person making such report. The Commissioner of
Developmental Services shall promptly determine whether there is reasonable cause to
believe that the person named in the report has intellectual disability and is in need of
immediate care and treatment, which care and treatment is not being provided by such
person's family or guardian, and if the commissioner so determines, shall assume the
care and custody of such person. The commissioner or his designee shall, within twenty-four hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after assuming the care
and custody of such person, (1) notify the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons
with Disabilities, and (2) file an application pursuant to subsection (b) of this section
in the court of probate for the district in which such person resided prior to emergency
placement. The court of probate in which such application is filed shall assign a time
and place for a hearing pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
(l) In the event that any person placed under the provisions of this section is recommended for transfer by the Department of Developmental Services, the department shall
proceed as required by subsection (c) of section 17a-210 and shall in addition notify the
probate court which made the placement.
(m) Any person who wilfully files or attempts to file, or conspires with any person
to file a fraudulent or malicious application for the placement of any person pursuant
to this section, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more
than five years or both.
(n) For the purposes of this section, (1) "interdisciplinary team" means a group of
persons appointed by the Commissioner of Developmental Services, including a social
worker, psychologist, nurse, residential programmer, educational or vocational programmer and such other persons as may be appropriate; (2) "intellectual disability" shall
have the same meaning as provided in section 1-1g; (3) "respondent" means a person
alleged to be a person with intellectual disability for whom an application for placement
has been filed; (4) "placement" means placement in a community companion home,
community living arrangement, group home, regional facility, other residential facility
or residential program for persons with intellectual disability.
(1961, P.A. 489, S. 2; P.A. 75-5, S. 1; 75-420, S. 4, 6; 75-638, S. 6, 23; P.A. 76-153, S. 3; P.A. 77-614, S. 521, 610;
P.A. 79-583, S. 1; P.A. 80-311, S. 2, 5; 80-476, S. 351, 352; 80-483, S. 84, 186; P.A. 82-363, S. 1; P.A. 83-295, S. 23; 83-420, S. 4; P.A. 86-41, S. 3, 11; P.A. 88-28, S. 1, 8; P.A. 89-326, S. 6, 7; P.A. 96-170, S. 4, 23; P.A. 97-90, S. 5, 6; P.A.
00-22, S. 1; P.A. 03-278, S. 122; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b); P.A. 11-16, S. 25.)
History: P.A. 75-5 removed references to commitment of epileptic persons and deleted two-year residency requirement
for commitment eligibility; P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services; P.A. 75-638 replaced mental retardation office and deputy commissioner with department and commissioner of mental retardation;
P.A. 76-153 replaced "certified" psychologist with "licensed" psychologist; Sec. 17-172d transferred to Sec. 19-569d in
1977; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of social services with commissioner of human resources, effective January 1,
1979; P.A. 79-583 essentially rewrote provisions in greater detail, dividing section into Subsecs., referring to placement
rather than commitment, broadening eligibility for placement, stating application contents, providing for legal counsel,
detailing notice contents, and setting forth respondent's right to relevant information; P.A. 80-311 allowed mental retardation commissioner to make application in Subsec. (a), required commissioner to be notified of application and hearing,
placed deadline for holding hearing, required judicial department to compensate counsel of indigent respondent in Subsec.
(b) and otherwise merged Subsec. (c) into Subsec. (b), inserted new Subsecs. (c) and (d) re hearing to determine whether
person is mentally retarded and in need of care, redesignating former Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e), deleted former Subsec.
(e) re placements and added Subsecs. (f) to (i) re hearing to determine proper placement and other matters regarding
placement; P.A. 80-476 repealed amendments enacted in P.A. 80-311; P.A. 80-483 confirmed repeal of amendments
enacted in P.A. 80-311; P.A. 82-363 revised criteria and procedures for involuntary placement of mentally retarded persons
and provided for placement of such persons with the department of mental retardation; Sec. 19-569d transferred to Sec.
19a-448 in 1983; P.A. 83-295 amended Subsec. (d) to provide that the reasonable compensation for counsel provided to
indigent respondents shall be established and paid by the judicial department; P.A. 83-420 amended Subsecs. (a)(4) and
(b)(4) by adding language re voluntary admission and opposition to such admission by ward or next of kin, deleting
references to placement "being sought or contested"; P.A. 86-41 made technical change in Subsec. (n); P.A. 88-28 made
a technical change; P.A. 89-326 amended Subsec. (d) to provide that a psychologist who testifies on behalf of the respondent
shall be compensated from the probate court administration fund, rather than by funds appropriated to the judicial department, and that the compensation of counsel provided to indigent respondents shall be established by the probate court
administrator, rather than by the judicial department, and be paid from the probate court administration fund, rather than
from funds appropriated the judicial department; Sec. 19a-448 transferred to Sec. 17a-274 in 1991; P.A. 96-170 amended
Subsec. (d) by changing funding of compensation of counsel from Probate Court Administration Fund to funds appropriated
to Judicial Department, unless funds are not included in budget of Judicial Department for such purpose, effective July 1,
1998; (Revisor's note: In codifying Subsec. (d) the Revisors editorially inserted the word "and" in the phrase "... who
testify at the hearing, and to an independent diagnostic ..."); P.A. 97-90 revised effective date of P.A. 96-170 but without
affecting this section; P.A. 00-22 amended Subsec. (b) by making technical changes and adding provisions re disclosure
of the application and records of Probate Court proceedings; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes in Subsec. (c), effective
July 9, 2003; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department of Mental Retardation" were
changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and "Department of Developmental
Services", effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 11-16 amended Subsecs. (a), (b), (f), (g) and (k) by substituting "intellectual
disability" for "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" and by making technical changes, amended Subsec. (i) by
making technical changes, amended Subsec. (n)(2) by replacing definition of "mentally retarded person" with definition
of "intellectual disability", amended Subsec. (n)(3) by substituting "person with intellectual disability" for "mentally
retarded person" and amended Subsec. (n)(4) by redefining "placement", effective May 24, 2011.
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Sec. 17a-275. (Formerly Sec. 19a-449). Proceedings re involuntary placement
with the Department of Developmental Services. Payment of fees and expenses.
When any person is involuntarily placed with the Department of Developmental Services pursuant to the provisions of section 17a-274, all fees and expenses incurred upon
such proceedings shall be paid by the state; and, if such person is not involuntarily placed
with the department, such fees and expenses shall be paid by the petitioner.
(1957, P.A. 134, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 489, S. 3; P.A. 76-153, S. 4; P.A. 80-311, S. 4, 5; 80-476, S. 351, 352; 80-483, S.
180, 186; P.A. 92-118, S. 1; P.A. 11-16, S. 26.)
History: 1961 act substituted "mentally retarded" for "mentally deficient"; P.A. 76-153 excluded epileptic persons
from purview of section; Sec. 17-173 transferred to Sec. 19-569e in 1977; P.A. 80-311 added exception; P.A. 80-476
repealed exception added by P.A. 80-311 and P.A. 80-483 confirmed its repeal; Sec. 19-569e transferred to Sec. 19a-449
in 1983; Sec. 19a-449 transferred to Sec. 17a-275 in 1991; P.A. 92-118 changed reference to "17a-273" to "17a-274" and
changed "complainant" to "petitioner"; P.A. 11-16 substituted "involuntarily placed with the Department of Developmental
Services pursuant to the provisions of section 17a-274" for "found to be mentally retarded upon proceedings had under
sections 17a-210 to 17a-247, inclusive, and 17a-274" and substituted "not involuntarily placed with the department" for
"found not to be mentally retarded", effective May 24, 2011.
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Sec. 17a-276. (Formerly Sec. 19a-450). Director to have custody and control
of persons with intellectual disability admitted to facility. Review of placement.
Notice of right to annual review hearing. (a) All persons admitted to a state training
school, regional facility or other facility provided for the care and training of persons
with intellectual disability shall, until discharged therefrom either by the commissioner
or by operation of law, be under the custody and control of the director of such facility.
All costs of care and training shall be provided pursuant to section 17b-223. Notice of
discharge shall be sent by the Department of Developmental Services to such person,
his parent or guardian and the Probate Court.
(b) Any person with intellectual disability placed with the Department of Developmental Services pursuant to section 17a-274 may request a review of his or her placement
by the Probate Court at any time after issuance of the original order of placement and
once a year thereafter. Such request shall be in writing, shall state the reasons for review
and shall be made by the person with intellectual disability or any other person acting
on his or her behalf. Such request shall be filed with the Probate Court, one copy shall
be served on the Commissioner of Developmental Services and one copy shall be served
on the person in charge of the facility in which the person with intellectual disability is
placed. The hearing on such request shall be held not later than ten days, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after the date of the filing of such request.
(c) At such hearing the person with intellectual disability shall have the same rights
as provided under subsections (c), (d), (e) and (f) of section 17a-274. The Department
of Developmental Services shall notify each person placed pursuant to section 17a-274
at least annually that such person has the right to a hearing to review the appropriateness
and adequacy of his or her placement. At such hearing, if the court finds that the person
is no longer in need of placement, the court shall order the placement terminated. If the
court finds that the person's placement does not adequately meet his or her needs in the
least restrictive environment available or which can be created within existing resources
of the department, the court shall order the department to place such person in such least
restrictive environment as the court deems available.
(d) If, within five years from the date of placement, any person placed on or after
October 1, 1982, has not requested a hearing to review his or her placement, the Department of Developmental Services shall notify the court of probate which placed such
person. The court of probate, upon such notice, shall proceed in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this section to schedule a hearing to determine if the placement should
be continued and whether such placement adequately meets his or her habilitative needs
in the least restrictive environment available or which can be created within existing
resources of the department.
(1961, P.A. 489, S. 1; P.A. 76-153, S. 5; P.A. 79-583, S. 2; P.A. 80-311, S. 3, 5; 80-476, S. 351, 352; 80-483, S. 85,
143, 186; P.A. 82-363, S. 2; P.A. 83-567; P.A. 86-41, S. 4, 11; P.A. 87-421, S. 11, 13; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b); P.A. 11-16, S. 27.)
History: P.A. 76-153 included admissions to regional centers and removed epileptic persons from purview of section;
Sec. 17-173a transferred to Sec. 19-569f in 1977; P.A. 79-583 deleted provision re conditions under which retarded resident
committed by court may be discharged and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re placement review; P.A. 80-311 substituted
"community training home" for "foster home" and made minor language changes; P.A. 80-476 repealed amendments
enacted by P.A. 80-311 and P.A. 80-483 confirmed the repeal; P.A. 82-363 added provisions re costs of care and training,
notice of discharge, review of appropriateness and adequacy of placement and development of plan by department to
ensure such review not later than October 1, 1986; Sec. 19-569f transferred to Sec. 19a-450 in 1983; P.A. 83-567 deleted
former Subsec. (e) which had required development of plan by department to insure review of placement of persons
committed prior to October 1, 1982; P.A. 86-41 substituted references to regional facilities for references to regional centers
and "director" for "superintendent" in Subsec. (a); P.A. 87-421 substituted the reference to Sec. 17-295 for a reference to
Sec. 17-295a which was repealed by the same act; Sec. 19a-450 transferred to Sec. 17a-276 in 1991; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department of Mental Retardation" were changed editorially by the
Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and "Department of Developmental Services", effective October
1, 2007; P.A. 11-16 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting "persons with intellectual disability" for "the mentally retarded",
amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by substituting "person with intellectual disability" for "patient" and made technical changes,
effective May 24, 2011.
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Sec. 17a-277. (Formerly Sec. 19a-451). Placement of persons with intellectual
disability in residential facilities or residential programs. The director of any state
training school, regional facility or other facility for the care and training of persons
with intellectual disability may place any resident with intellectual disability committed
or admitted to such training school, regional facility or other facility provided for the
care and training of persons with intellectual disability, under the provisions of sections
17a-210 to 17a-247, inclusive, and 17a-273, in a community companion home, community living arrangement, private boarding home, group home, other residential facility
or residential program to be cared for in accordance with the following conditions:
(1) Such resident shall, despite such transfer, remain subject to the control of the
director of such training school, regional facility or other facility provided for the care
and training of persons with intellectual disability and the director may, at any time,
order and provide for the return of any such resident to such training school, regional
facility or other facility provided for the care and training of persons with intellectual
disability, subject to any limitations of the term of commitment contained in the order
of commitment under which such resident was committed;
(2) When the transfer of any such resident has been authorized or when, having
been transferred to a community companion home, community living arrangement,
private boarding home, group home, other residential facility or residential program for
persons with intellectual disability, such resident has been returned to the training school,
regional facility or other facility, the director of such training school, regional facility
or other facility shall forthwith so notify the Commissioner of Developmental Services;
(3) Such community companion home, community living arrangement, private
boarding home, group home, other residential facility or residential program shall be
licensed by the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Children
and Families or the Department of Public Health under such regulations as the departments adopt, in accordance with chapter 54; and
(4) The Commissioner of Developmental Services shall, upon request, be given
access to the complete record of any resident placed in a community companion home,
community living arrangement, private boarding home, group home, other residential
facility or residential program pursuant to this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 2684; 1955, S. 1511d; 1959, P.A. 183; 1961, P.A. 489, S. 4; 517, S. 17; P.A. 76-153, S. 6; P.A. 82-10;
P.A. 83-59; P.A. 86-41, S. 5, 11; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 01-195, S. 134,
181; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b); P.A. 11-16, S. 28.)
History: 1959 act deleted former Subsec. (b) which required notice to welfare commissioner of transfer or return;
1961 acts substituted the mentally retarded or epileptic for mental deficients, added requirement for notice to deputy
commissioner on mental retardation and substituted council on mental retardation for joint committee of state training
schools in Subdiv. (c); P.A. 76-153 included references to regional centers, group homes and other facilities "provided
for the care and training of the mentally retarded", removed epileptic persons from purview of section, replaced deputy
commissioner of mental retardation with commissioner of mental retardation, reflecting creation of independent department
and transferred regulation power from public health council and council on mental retardation to department of mental
retardation; Sec. 17-174 transferred to Sec. 19-569h in 1977; P.A. 82-10 amended Subdiv. (c) to clarify that residential
facilities for the mentally retarded may be licensed by the departments of children and youth services or health services,
as well as the department of mental retardation; Sec. 19-569h transferred to Sec. 19a-451 in 1983; P.A. 83-59 replaced
alphabetic Subdiv. indicators with numeric indicators and added Subdiv. (4) to give the commissioner access to the records
of persons placed in private residential facilities for the mentally retarded; P.A. 86-41 substituted "director" for "superintendent" and regional "facility" for regional "center" where appearing; Sec. 19a-451 transferred to Sec. 17a-277 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. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public
health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health
and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 01-195 made
technical changes, effective July 11, 2001; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department
of Mental Retardation" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and
"Department of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 11-16 substituted "intellectual disability" for
"mental retardation", added "community companion home", "community living arrangement" and "residential program"
as placement options and made technical changes, effective May 24, 2011.
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Secs. 17a-278 to 17a-280. (Formerly Secs. 19a-452 to 19a-454). Recall for examination. Return of placed-out or escaped persons. Recommitment and transfers
of committed persons. Sections 17a-278 to 17a-280, inclusive, are repealed, effective
May 24, 2011.
(1949 Rev., S. 2847; 1955, S. 1589d, 1590d; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 42; 1961, P.A. 489, S. 5, 6, 8; 1967, P.A. 118,
S. 4, 5, 249; P.A. 76-153, S. 7; P.A. 86-41, S. 6, 11; P.A. 91-278, S. 3; P.A. 08-7, S. 7; P.A. 11-16, S. 43.)
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Sec. 17a-281. (Formerly Sec. 19a-455). Voluntary admission to facility for persons with intellectual disability. Termination of admission. Any person who is a
resident of Connecticut at the time an application is made by such resident or on behalf
of such resident under the provisions of this section, and who is, or appears to be, or
believes himself or herself to be a person with intellectual disability, may apply, in
writing, to the Commissioner of Developmental Services, on a form prescribed by the
commissioner, for admission to any facility for persons with intellectual disability. Such
application shall be accompanied by a medical history of the applicant, including any
medical or physical condition requiring special attention, treatment or precautions, a
written psychological report provided by a psychologist either licensed under the provisions of chapter 383 or employed by the Department of Developmental Services, who
has personally examined the applicant prior to the filing of application for residential
placement or a copy of the determination of eligibility made in accordance with section
17a-212 and the regulations adopted thereunder. The written psychological report shall
include (1) a statement that the psychologist has personally examined the applicant not
more than ninety days prior to the date of filing of the application, (2) the results of a
psychometric assessment conducted not more than one year prior to the date of filing
of the application, and (3) an evaluation of the applicant's current level of adaptive
functioning, including self-care, mental health, social, academic and vocational needs.
In the event of an emergency, admission to a residential facility may be made and the
required medical history and psychologist's report may be submitted not later than thirty
days after the date of such admission. The application for such person, if such person
is a minor, may be made by a parent, guardian of the person of, or person having custody
of, such minor. If such person is an adult who has had a guardian appointed pursuant
to sections 45a-669 to 45a-684, inclusive, such person's guardian may apply for admission and the commissioner may admit such person, provided the commissioner is satisfied that there is no conflict concerning the admission between the guardian and his or
her ward or the ward's next of kin. If such conflict exists, the applicant may only be
admitted under the provisions of section 17a-274. The commissioner may approve any
such application for admission if the person on whose behalf application is made is
suitable for admission and if space is available and may terminate such admission at
any time when the commissioner feels such person will not profit from continued placement. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons who apply to the commissioner for respite care services for a period not to exceed thirty days.
(1961, P.A. 260, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 377, S. 1; P.A. 75-5, S. 2; 75-638, S. 9, 23; P.A. 76-153, S. 8; P.A. 82-82; P.A. 83-31; 83-420, S. 3; P.A. 86-41, S. 7, 11; P.A. 87-152, S. 1, 4; P.A. 95-109; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b); P.A. 11-16, S. 29.)
History: 1963 act included epileptic persons and stipulated psychological diagnostic evaluation be made only when
applicant has physical and mental capacity for evaluation; P.A. 75-5 removed two-year residency requirement for eligibility
and removed epileptic persons from purview of section; P.A. 75-638 replaced deputy commissioner of mental retardation
with commissioner of mental retardation reflecting creation of independent department of mental retardation; P.A. 76-153
specified "facility for the mentally retarded" where previous wording referred generally to schools, centers, institutions,
etc. and replaced "certified" psychologists with "licensed" psychologists; Sec. 17-175a transferred to Sec. 19-569l in 1977;
P.A. 82-82 eliminated the requirement that the commissioner of mental retardation approve an application for admission
to a residential facility for the mentally retarded if the person is suitable for admission, requiring instead that person be
free from communicable disease, allowed the commissioner to approve the application if space is available, specified
contents of psychological report, added provision re delayed submission of required documents in emergency admissions
and required commissioner to adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54; Sec. 19-569l transferred to Sec. 19a-455
in 1983; P.A. 83-31 excluded applications for respite care services for 30 days or less from provisions re voluntary admission
to facilities for the mentally retarded; P.A. 83-420 added language re admission of adult adjudicated incompetent by his
guardian, deleting prior provision which had allowed conservator or person having custody of an adult incompetent to
make application for admission; P.A. 86-41 substituted "regional facility" for "regional center" where appearing; P.A. 87-152 substituted "person with mental retardation" for "mentally retarded" throughout section and deleted reference to
mentally ill; Sec. 19a-455 transferred to Sec. 17a-281 in 1991; P.A. 95-109 replaced the requirement for a certificate on
communicable diseases with a requirement that the medical history include any condition requiring special attention,
treatment or precautions or that the application be accompanied by a copy of the determination of eligibility under Sec.
17a-212, deleted reference to training schools, replaced "been adjudicated incompetent" with "had a guardian appointed"
and eliminated a requirement that the commissioner adopt regulations; (Revisor's note: In 2005, a reference to Sec. 45a-668 was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 45a-669 to reflect the repeal of Sec. 45a-668 by P.A. 04-54); pursuant
to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department of Mental Retardation" were changed editorially
by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and "Department of Developmental Services", effective
October 1, 2007; P.A. 11-16 substituted "intellectual disability" for "mental retardation" and made technical changes,
effective May 24, 2011.
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Sec. 17a-282. (Formerly Sec. 19a-456). Involuntary admission to facility for
persons with intellectual disability. Termination of admission. No person admitted
to a facility for persons with intellectual disability under the provisions of section 17a-281, shall be detained in such facility for more than seven days after such person has
given notice in writing, or, if such person is a minor or adult incompetent, after such
notice has been given on his or her behalf by his or her parent, guardian, conservator
or person having custody, to the Commissioner of Developmental Services, of his or
her intention or desire to leave such facility. If the commissioner is of the opinion that
such person is in need of further treatment or observation, the commissioner may make
and file, in the probate court for the district within which such person resides, application
for the involuntary placement of such person to such facility and the probate court shall
proceed thereon in the same manner as is provided in section 17a-274.
(1961, P.A. 260, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 377, S. 2; P.A. 75-638, S. 10, 23; P.A. 76-153, S. 9; P.A. 87-152, S. 2, 4; P.A. 07-73,
S. 2(b); P.A. 11-16, S. 30.)
History: 1963 act deleted obsolete references to Secs. 17-160 and 17-165, substituting Sec. 17-172d; P.A. 75-638
replaced deputy commissioner of mental retardation with commissioner of mental retardation, reflecting creation of independent mental retardation department; P.A. 76-153 replaced references to state schools, diagnostic centers or institutions
with references to facilities for the mentally retarded; Sec. 17-175b transferred to Sec. 19-569m in 1977; Sec. 19-569m
transferred to Sec. 19a-456 in 1983; P.A. 87-152 substituted "persons with mental retardation" for "the mentally retarded"
and substituted "involuntary placement" for "commitment"; Sec. 19a-456 transferred to Sec. 17a-282 in 1991; pursuant
to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 11-16 substituted "persons with intellectual disability" for "persons
with mental retardation" and made technical changes, effective May 24, 2011.
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Sec. 17a-283a. Moratorium on sale, lease or transfer of state property used for
residential purposes by persons with mental retardation or psychiatric disabilities.
Section 17a-283a is repealed, effective May 24, 2011.
(P.A. 01-154, S. 1, 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 52, 58; P.A. 05-70, S. 1; P.A. 07-238, S. 9; P.A. 11-16, S. 43.)
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