Healthcare (People with Disabilities)

This bill updates the definition of intellectual disability used by the Department of Developmental Services to align with the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual, which will affect eligibility for state-administered services starting July 1, 2026. It includes a protection clause ensuring that people currently receiving services will not lose benefits or face reduced services due to changes in eligibility criteria resulting from this definition update. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Developmental Services to review and potentially adjust eligibility criteria by December 1, 2026, after consulting with stakeholders and studying best practices from other states. A report detailing recommendations, expected impacts on eligible populations, and associated costs must be submitted to the General Assembly committees overseeing human services and appropriations.

This bill directs state agencies responsible for children, developmental services, education, social services, and mental health to create a coordinated system for young adults aged 17 to 22 with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including autism, who also have behavioral health needs. The system requires agencies to sign agreements to identify eligible individuals, calculate necessary resources, inventory residential behavioral health options, and explore psychiatric residential treatment facilities through requests for proposals or state property. Agencies must submit a joint report by October 1, 2026, detailing funding needs, progress made, and recommendations for closing service gaps to the General Assembly committees.

HB 5040 updates cash assistance rates for the state's general assistance program, setting monthly payments at $269 for unemployable individuals, $200 for transitional people paying shelter costs, and $50 for others not paying shelter. It creates a new "working persons with disabilities" Medicaid program allowing disabled workers earning under $85,000 annually to qualify for medical assistance, with asset limits of $20,000 for singles and $30,000 for couples, plus specific income disregards. The bill also modifies drug formulary rules to require prior authorization for nonpreferred drugs (except mental health drugs filled recently) and excludes antiretroviral drugs from preferred lists. These changes directly affect low-income residents, disabled workers seeking Medicaid, and Medicaid patients using prescription drugs.

SB 329 expands Medicaid eligibility for older adults with disabilities by raising the income limit to 159% of the benefit amount for people with no income under the temporary family assistance program. The bill specifically excludes VA Aid and Attendance pensions for veterans and their spouses, and Social Security benefits for disabled adult children, from being counted as income when determining eligibility. This change, effective July 1, 2026, will make Medicaid coverage available to more older adults with disabilities who previously faced income barriers. The bill does not alter asset requirements for this group.

SB 353 amends Connecticut law to require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees experiencing conditions related to menopause, directly affecting working women in the state. It expands existing anti-discrimination protections by adding menopause to the list of conditions requiring accommodations, such as allowing seated work, flexible breaks, modified schedules, or temporary light-duty assignments. The bill defines "reasonable accommodation" and clarifies that employers cannot claim "undue hardship" for minor, low-cost adjustments. This change takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies to all employers covered under Connecticut’s anti-discrimination law.

SB 153 expands Medicaid eligibility for older adults with disabilities who qualify as "adult disabled children" under federal Social Security rules. The bill amends state law to disregard certain income (such as Social Security benefits) that would otherwise make these individuals ineligible for Medicaid. This change directly affects older adults with disabilities meeting federal Social Security criteria who previously lost Medicaid coverage due to income thresholds. The key mechanism is excluding specific income sources from eligibility calculations, aligning state policy with a federal Medicaid provision.