House Unanimously Passes Bill Concerning Persons With Intellectual or Developmental Disability

Hartford— The House has unanimously passed a comprehensive bill concerning resources and support services for person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD).

Rep. Tony Scott (R-112) voted for HB 5001, which includes a number of bills brought up for public hearings this session to minimize waiting lists for support services, housing, and workforce development for individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability, as well as those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

“As Ranking Member on the Housing Committee, I was pleased to see that this bill would expand housing options by providing grants for nonprofit provider housing developments which will be used to house persons with I/DD who are on Medicaid waiver waitlists and creates a plan for a comprehensive program for community-based group homes,” said Scott.

The bill would also:

• Increase the maximum age for people with I/DD or ASD who can get special education services from 22 to 23
• Allows for more parental or guardian participation in the development of special education services for their children and keeping those parents or guardians better notified on those services
• Updates the Department of Education and Bureau of Special Education process for transition services from childhood to adulthood for children using special education services
• Adding persons with IDD to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s “Purple Alert” missing persons system
• Requires employers using the JobsCT tax rebate program to have at lease one new employee with an intellectual or other developmental disability to promote the hiring of persons with IDD

“This bill provides vital services in the areas of education, transitional services, career and job coaching, behavioral services assistive technology, day programming, and housing,” said Scott.