HB 5239 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE INDEPENDENT MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD AND FATALITY REVIEW BOARD.
Last action — SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Ned Lamont (Democratic) on May 27, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
The bill addresses recommendations for mortality and fatality review boards in developmental services.
This bill makes changes based on recommendations regarding the Independent Mortality Review Board and Fatality Review Board for the Department of Developmental Services. It aims to improve oversight and review processes related to fatalities within this sector.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
91 added · 210 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent changes to House Bill 5239 clarify the responsibilities of the commissioner regarding the oversight of medical care for individuals with intellectual disabilities who have passed away. Instead of just ensuring a review takes place, the commissioner is now explicitly tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the circumstances surrounding the death. This amendment strengthens accountability and ensures that any concerns related to care quality are thoroughly examined, which is crucial for improving safety and support for vulnerable individuals in the system.
Substitute House ofBill Representatives General Assembly File No.
395239 FebruaryPublic Session,Act 2026 Substitute House Bill No.
523926-54 HouseAN ofACT Representatives,CONCERNING MarchTHE 17,DEPARTMENT 2026OF TheDEVELOPMENTAL CommitteeSERVICES' onRECOMMENDATIONS PublicREGARDING HealthTHE reportedINDEPENDENT throughMORTALITY REP.REVIEW BOARD AND FATALITY REVIEW BOARD.
MCCARTHY VAHEY of the 133rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE INDEPENDENT MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD AND FATALITY REVIEW BOARD.
[is conducted by the department and shall, as requested, provide information and assistance] The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall, if required by section 2 of this act, refer the case to the Independent Mortality Review Board established [by Executive Order sHB5239 / File No.
39 1 sHB5239 File No.
39 No.
(3)Substitute inHouse whichBill anNo. autopsy was performed;
5239 (3) in which an autopsy was performed;
or (4) for which the comprehensive and timely review conducted pursuant to section 17a- 210 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, raises questions about the appropriateness of care.
sHB5239(b) /The FileCommissioner of Developmental Services, or the Public Act No.
3926-54 2 sHB5239of File4 Substitute House Bill No.
395239 (b) The Commissioner of Developmental Services, or the commissioner's designee, shall serve as chairperson of the Independent Mortality Review Board.
(d)Public TheAct Independent Mortality Review Board may request documentation and information as may be necessary for their review sHB5239 / File No.
3926-54 3 sHB5239of File4 Substitute House Bill No.
395239 (d) The Independent Mortality Review Board may request documentation and information as may be necessary for their review pursuant to section 17a-210 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
ThisGovernor's actAction: shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
SectionApproved 1May from27, passage2026 17a-210(b)Public Sec.Act No.
226-54 from4 passage New section Statement of Legislative4 Commissioners:
In the second sentence of Section 2(a), "of a person with intellectual disability for whom the department has direct or oversight responsibility for medical care" was added for clarity and consistency with Section 1, in Section 2(a)(3), "for which" was added before "the commissioner" for clarity, in Section 2(a)(4) "in which" was changed to "for which" for consistency, and in Section 2(c), "shall be constituted by the Commissioner of Developmental Services and" was added for clarity, and "individual" was changed to "person" for consistency.
PH Joint Favorable Subst.
sHB5239 / File No.
39 4 sHB5239 File No.
39 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill consolidates the Fatality Review Board into the Independent Mortality Review Board and makes other technical and clarifying changes which do not result in a fiscal impact.
The Out Years State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None sHB5239 / File No.
39 5 sHB5239 File No.
39 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5239 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE INDEPENDENT MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD AND FATALITY REVIEW BOARD.
SUMMARY This bill makes changes to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Independent Mortality Review Board (IMRB) by removing a statutory reference to Executive Order 57.
This 2017 executive order established two boards that review and investigate certain deaths of people with intellectual disabilities under DDS care (i.e.
Independent Mortality Review Board and Fatality Review Board (FRB), see BACKGROUND).
In doing so, the bill appears to eliminate the FRB and merge its functions with the IMRB.
(In practice, the responsibilities of the two boards overlap.) The bill specifically establishes the IMRB in statute and codifies, with changes, the IMRB’s membership.
Show all 80 changed lines (40 more)
More specifically, it allows, rather than requires, specified people to serve as board members, depending on the case under review.
It also allows the board’s chairperson to add any members to the IMRB he or she deems beneficial, so long as the majority of the board’s members are not DDS employees.
As under current law, the bill subjects DDS and IMRB mortality processes to existing law’s confidentiality and peer review requirements.
The billalso makes minor andtechnicalchanges,suchasallowing the DDS commissioner’s designee to perform board-related functions.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage sHB5239 / File No.
39 6 sHB5239 File No.
39 INDEPENDENT MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD Membership The bill codifies the board’s membership in a way that is similar to its current membership under Executive Order 57.
But it allows, rather than requires, the following individuals to serve as board members, depending on the case under review:
1.
the DDS directors of quality and systems improvement and investigations, or their designees;
2.
the chief medical examiner, or his designee;
3.
a physician appointed by the DDS commissioner;
4.
the public health commissioner, or her designee;
5.
the Disability Rights CT executive director or her designee;
and 6.
a representative of private providers, appointed by the DDS commissioner.
Under the bill, the board chairperson may also add any board members he or she deems beneficial, so long as the majority of board members are not DDS employees.
The bill designates the DDS commissioner or his designee as the chairperson, instead of requiring the commissioner to appoint the chairperson from among the board’s members as under the executive order.
Responsibilities By law, DDS must investigate the deaths of people for which it has direct or oversight responsibility for their medical care.
Similar to current law, the bill requires the DDS commissioner to report to the IMRB any death in which (1) the department raises questions about the client's care, (2) abuse or neglect has been alleged, (3) the Office of Chief Medical Examiner or a local medical examiner has accepted jurisdiction, or (4) the death was unexpected and the commissioner or his designee determines that an independent investigation by the board is needed.
The board must then investigate each report and may request sHB5239 / File No.
39 7 sHB5239 File No.
39 necessary documentation and information to do so.
BACKGROUND Fatality Review Board Executive Order 57 (2017) established a DDS FRB to investigate unexpected deaths of people under DDS care that the commissioner believes warrant an independent investigation.
The commissioner may refer a particular case to the FRB before the IMRB completes its review.
The FRB is chaired by the DDS commissioner, and includes the following members appointed by the governor:
1.
one law enforcement professional with a background in forensic investigations, 2.
one developmental services professional, 3.
the Chief State’s Attorney or his designee, 4.
two medical professionals, 5.
one expert in teaching forensic investigation techniques, and 6.
the Disability Rights CT executive director.
COMMITTEE ACTION Public Health Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 31 Nay 0 (03/02/2026) sHB5239 / File No.
39 8
Show all 80 changed rows (40 more)
View plain text versions (4)
- Chaptered Public Act No. 26-54 Current pdf
- File No. 39 View text pdf
- Raised Bill View text pdf
- Substitute PH Joint Favorable Substitute pdf
Action History
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SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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TRANSMITTED BY SECRETARY OF THE STATE TO GOVERNOR
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TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY OF THE STATE
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PUBLIC ACT 26-54
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ON CONSENT CALENDAR /IN CONCURRENCE
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SENATE PASSED
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SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 357
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FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.
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HOUSE PASSED
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FILE NO. 39
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HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 57
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FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR
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RPTD. OUT OF LCO
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REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/16/26
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FILED WITH LCO
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Joint Favorable Substitute
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PUBLIC HEARING 0223
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REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health
Sponsors
- Tom Delnicki · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 186 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Tom Delnicki Republican
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (186)
186 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 186 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 5239?
- HB 5239 is sponsored by Tom Delnicki (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 5239?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 5239?
- Track HB 5239 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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