Bill Text: CT HB05049 | 2016 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

Connecticut House Bill 5049 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: An Act Implementing The Governor's Budget Recommendations For General Government.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-21 - File Number 683 [HB05049 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2016-HB05049-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly		*Substitute Bill No. 5049*
*February Session, 2016*		_____HB05049APP___040716____

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 8-71 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) In lieu of real property taxes, special benefit assessments and sewerage system use charges otherwise payable to such municipality, except in such municipalities as, by special act or charter, on May 20, 1957, had a sewer use charge, an authority shall pay each year to the municipality in which any of its moderate rental housing projects are located a sum to be determined by the municipality, with the approval of the Commissioner of Housing, not in excess of twelve and one-half per cent of the shelter rent per annum for each occupied dwelling unit in any such housing project; except that the amount of such payment shall not be so limited in any case where funds are made available for such payment by an agency or department of the United States government, but no payment shall exceed the amount of taxes which would be paid on the property were the property not exempt from taxation.

(b) For the period commencing on the effective date of this section and ending June 30, 2017, each municipality that received a grant-in-aid pursuant to section 8-216 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, shall waive any payment that becomes payable during such period pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, except that no waiver shall be required in any case where funds are made available for such payment by an agency or department of the United States government.

Sec. 2. Section 31-98 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) The panel, or its single member if sitting in accordance with section 31-93, may, in its discretion and with the consent of the parties, issue an oral decision immediately upon conclusion of the proceedings. If the decision is to be in writing, it shall be signed, within fifteen days, by a majority of the members of the panel or by the single member so sitting, and the decision shall state such details as will clearly show the nature of the decision and the points disposed of by the panel. Where the decision is in writing, one copy thereof shall be filed by the panel in the office of the town clerk in the town where the controversy arose and one copy shall be given to each of the parties to the controversy. The panel or single member which has rendered an oral decision immediately upon conclusion of the proceedings shall submit a written copy of the decision to each party within fifteen days from the issuance of such oral decision. In all cases where a decision is rendered orally from the bench, the secretary shall cause such oral decision to be transcribed, approved by the panel or single member as applicable and filed with the records of the board proceedings.

(b) Upon the conclusion of the proceedings, each member of the panel shall receive [one hundred seventy-five dollars, and on and after July 1, 2006, two] three hundred twenty-five dollars and a panel member who prepares a written decision shall receive an additional [one hundred twenty-five dollars, and on and after July 1, 2006,] one hundred seventy-five dollars, or the single member, if sitting in accordance with section 31-93, shall receive [two hundred seventy-five dollars, and on and after July 1, 2006,] three hundred twenty-five dollars, provided if the proceedings extend beyond one day, each member shall receive [one hundred dollars, and on and after July 1, 2006,] one hundred fifty dollars for each additional day beyond the first day, and provided further no proceeding may be extended beyond two days without the prior approval of the Labor Commissioner for each such additional day.

(c) Upon the conclusion of an executive panel session, each member of such panel shall receive [one hundred dollars, and on and after July 1, 2006,] one hundred fifty dollars.

Sec. 3. Section 17b-277a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

The Commissioners of Public Health, [Social Services] Early Childhood and Mental Health and Addiction Services shall jointly establish a program to inform applicants to the Healthy Start program about the availability of, and eligibility for, services provided by the Nurturing Families Network established pursuant to section 17b-751b.

Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 12-170f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) Any renter, believing himself or herself to be entitled to a grant under section 12-170d for any calendar year, shall apply for such grant to the assessor of the municipality in which the renter resides or to the duly authorized agent of such assessor or municipality on or after April first and not later than October first of each year with respect to such grant for the calendar year preceding each such year, on a form prescribed and furnished by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to the assessor. A renter may apply to the secretary prior to December fifteenth of the claim year for an extension of the application period. The secretary may grant such extension in the case of extenuating circumstance due to illness or incapacitation as evidenced by a certificate signed by a physician or an advanced practice registered nurse to that extent, or if the secretary determines there is good cause for doing so. A renter making such application shall present to such assessor or agent, in substantiation of the renter's application, a copy of the renter's federal income tax return, and if not required to file a federal income tax return, such other evidence of qualifying income, receipts for money received, or cancelled checks, or copies thereof, and any other evidence the assessor or such agent may require. When the assessor or agent is satisfied that the applying renter is entitled to a grant, such assessor or agent shall issue a certificate of grant, in triplicate, in such form as the secretary may prescribe and supply showing the amount of the grant due. The assessor or agent shall forward the original copy and attached application to the secretary not later than the last day of the month following the month in which the renter has made application. Any municipality that neglects to transmit to the secretary the claim and supporting applications as required by this section shall forfeit two hundred fifty dollars to the state, provided the secretary may waive such forfeiture in accordance with procedures and standards adopted by regulation in accordance with chapter 54. A duplicate of such certificate with a copy of the application attached shall be delivered to the renter and the assessor or agent shall keep the third copy of such certificate and a copy of the application. After the secretary's review of each claim, pursuant to section 12-120b, and verification of the amount of the grant, the secretary shall make a determination of any per cent reduction to all claims that will be necessary to keep within available appropriations and, not later than September thirtieth of each year prepare a list of certificates approved for payment, and shall thereafter supplement such list monthly. Such list and any supplements thereto shall be approved for payment by the secretary and shall be forwarded by the secretary to the Comptroller, along with a notice of any necessary per cent reduction in claim amounts, not later than one hundred twenty days after receipt of such applications and certificates of grant from the assessor or agent, and the Comptroller shall draw an order on the Treasurer, not later than fifteen days following, in favor of each person on such list and on supplements to such list in the amount of such person's claim, minus any per cent reduction noticed by the secretary pursuant to this subsection, and the Treasurer shall pay such amount to such person, not later than fifteen days following. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management determines a renter was overpaid for such grant, the amount of any subsequent grant paid to the renter under section 12-170d after such determination shall be reduced by the amount of overpayment until the overpayment has been recouped. Any claimant aggrieved by the results of the secretary's review or determination shall have the rights of appeal as set forth in section 12-120b. Applications filed under this section shall not be open for public inspection. Any person who, for the purpose of obtaining a grant under section 12-170d, wilfully fails to disclose all matters related thereto or with intent to defraud makes false statement shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.

Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 12-19a of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2015):

(a) Until the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2016, on or before January first, annually, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall determine the amount due, as a state grant in lieu of taxes, to each town in this state wherein state-owned real property, reservation land held in trust by the state for an Indian tribe, [or] a municipally owned airport, or any airport owned by the Connecticut Airport Authority, other than Bradley International Airport, except that which was acquired and used for highways and bridges, but not excepting property acquired and used for highway administration or maintenance purposes, is located. The grant payable to any town under the provisions of this section in the state fiscal year commencing July 1, 1999, and each fiscal year thereafter, shall be equal to the total of (1) (A) one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to any facility designated by the Commissioner of Correction, on or before August first of each year, to be a correctional facility administered under the auspices of the Department of Correction or a juvenile detention center under direction of the Department of Children and Families that was used for incarcerative purposes during the preceding fiscal year. If a list containing the name and location of such designated facilities and information concerning their use for purposes of incarceration during the preceding fiscal year is not available from the Secretary of the State on the first day of August of any year, said commissioner shall, on said first day of August, certify to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management a list containing such information, (B) one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to that portion of the John Dempsey Hospital located at The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington that is used as a permanent medical ward for prisoners under the custody of the Department of Correction. Nothing in this section shall be construed as designating any portion of The University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey Hospital as a correctional facility, and (C) in the state fiscal year commencing July 1, 2001, and each fiscal year thereafter, one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid on any land designated within the 1983 Settlement boundary and taken into trust by the federal government for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on or after June 8, 1999, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, sixty-five per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to the buildings and grounds comprising Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown. Such grant shall commence with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000, and continuing each year thereafter, (3) notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, with respect to any town in which more than fifty per cent of the property is state-owned real property, one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to such state-owned property. Such grant shall commence with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and continuing each year thereafter, (4) subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, forty-five per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to all other state-owned real property, (5) forty-five per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to all municipally owned airports [;] or any airport owned by the Connecticut Airport Authority, other than Bradley International Airport, except for the exemption applicable to such property, on the assessment list in such town for the assessment date two years prior to the commencement of the state fiscal year in which such grant is payable. The grant provided pursuant to this section for any municipally owned airport or any airport owned by the Connecticut Airport Authority, other than Bradley International Airport, shall be paid to any municipality in which the airport is located, except that the grant applicable to Sikorsky Airport shall be paid half to the town of Stratford and half to the city of Bridgeport, and (6) forty-five per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to any land designated within the 1983 Settlement boundary and taken into trust by the federal government for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation prior to June 8, 1999, or taken into trust by the federal government for the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, provided (A) the real property subject to this subdivision shall be the land only, and shall not include the assessed value of any structures, buildings or other improvements on such land, and (B) said forty-five per cent grant shall be phased in as follows: (i) In the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012, an amount equal to ten per cent of said forty-five per cent grant, (ii) in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2013, thirty-five per cent of said forty-five per cent grant, (iii) in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014, sixty per cent of said forty-five per cent grant, (iv) in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2015, eighty-five per cent of said forty-five per cent grant, and (v) in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2016, one hundred per cent of said forty-five per cent grant.

Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 38a-488a of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of mental or nervous conditions. Benefits payable include, but need not be limited to:

(1) General inpatient hospitalization, including in state-operated facilities;

(2) Medically necessary acute treatment services and medically necessary clinical stabilization services;

(3) General hospital outpatient services, including at state-operated facilities;

(4) Psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, including in state-operated facilities;

(5) Psychiatric outpatient hospital services, including at state-operated facilities;

(6) Intensive outpatient services, including at state-operated facilities;

(7) Partial hospitalization, including at state-operated facilities;

[(8) Evidence-based maternal, infant and early childhood home visitation services, as described in Section 2951 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended from time to time, that are designed to improve health outcomes for pregnant women, postpartum mothers and newborns and children, including, but not limited to, for maternal substance use disorders or depression and relationship-focused interventions for children with mental or nervous conditions or substance use disorders;]

[(9)] (8) Intensive, home-based services designed to address specific mental or nervous conditions in a child;

[(10)] (9) Evidence-based family-focused therapy that specializes in the treatment of juvenile substance use disorders;

[(11)] (10) Short-term family therapy intervention;

[(12)] (11) Nonhospital inpatient detoxification;

[(13)] (12) Medically monitored detoxification;

[(14)] (13) Ambulatory detoxification;

[(15)] (14) Inpatient services at psychiatric residential treatment facilities;

[(16)] (15) Rehabilitation services provided in residential treatment facilities, general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric facilities;

[(17)] (16) Observation beds in acute hospital settings;

[(18)] (17) Psychological and neuropsychological testing conducted by an appropriately licensed health care provider;

[(19)] (18) Trauma screening conducted by a licensed behavioral health professional;

[(20)] (19) Depression screening, including maternal depression screening, conducted by a licensed behavioral health professional; and

[(21)] (20) Substance use screening conducted by a licensed behavioral health professional.

Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 38a-514 of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) Except as provided in subsection (j) of this section, each group health insurance policy, providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469, delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of mental or nervous conditions. Benefits payable include, but need not be limited to: