Case Leads Successful House Vote on Addressing Support Services, Housing Accessibility

HARTFORD – The House of Representatives has approved H.B. 5001 – An Act Concerning Resources and Support Services for Persons with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability. According to State Rep. Jay Case (R-Winsted), the legislation is aimed toward minimizing waiting lists for support services, increasing housing resources, and improvement workforce development. The floor debate was focused on the positive impact the bill will have on the intellectually or developmentally disabled (I/DD) community and those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

“It’s been a collaborative effort to get this legislation to where it stands today. It was encouraging working with my fellow members on the Human Services Committee, as well as leadership on both sides of the aisle. This is a clever investment into streamlining and remedying processes that are not working, leaving almost 3,000 residents waiting for services. When the solutions of the bill are implemented, then many individuals will be able to improve their quality of life by accessing services,” said Case, who serves as the Ranking Member to the legislature’s Human Services Committee.

During debate on the legislation, Case stressed the finer points of the bill. In addition to minimizing wait lists, the legislation also helps connect students with transition services prior to graduation. While these programs and services are centered on traditional medical care, they also include employment and housing resources – all critical components to strengthening the state’s safety net.

Additional details of the bill:

• Requires new reports to be submitted for legislative review, detailing hospital services, housing, and workforce options available to the I/DD community
• Reduces the waitlist for Medicaid waiver services for the I/DD community and individuals diagnosed on the autism spectrum
• Creates a plan for a comprehensive program for community-based group homes
• Increases staffing requirements for additional transitional services and rehabilitation counselors
• Creates new training requirements for state agencies, improving the overall quality of service provided to the I/DD community
• Establishes numerous transportation plans and grants to provide nonmedical transportation to and help modernize the state’s transportation system for persons with I/DD or autism spectrum disorder
• Expands DESPP “Purple Alert” to include people who have an intellectual disability or other developmental disability

“New measures of accountability are designed to keep one of the state’s most vulnerable populations from being underserved. It’s a stark reality that there are too many residents not receiving the care they deserve. Cutting existing red tape and adding safeguards will help avoid waitlist backlogs going forward,” said Case.

You can review Case’s comments from the floor by clicking here.

The House approved the bill with a unanimous vote. It now heads to the Senate for further action. For it to become law, the Senate must act before the end of the current legislative session.

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