Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 6 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 500 — AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE-FUNDED CAREGIVER PROGRAM TO ASSIST PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENROLLED IN A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM.

Last action — FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 12, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    7 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

6 added · 62 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill SB 500, the term "children" has been replaced with "persons," and "waiver program" has been specified as "waiver program for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder." These changes aim to clarify the bill's focus on adults, ensuring that the language accurately reflects the intended target group for the waiver program. This matters because it helps to avoid confusion and ensures that the legislation addresses the specific needs of adults with autism, potentially leading to better support and resources for this population.

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Latest
Senate General Assembly File No.
General Assembly Substitute Bill No.
489 February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No.
500 February Session, 2026 AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE-FUNDED CAREGIVER PROGRAM TO ASSIST PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENROLLED IN A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM.
500 Senate, April 7, 2026 The Committee on Human Services reported through SEN.
LESSER of the 9th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE-FUNDED CAREGIVER PROGRAM TO ASSIST PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENROLLED IN A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM.
Within available appropriations, the commissioner shall establish a caregiver respite program to assist parents of persons enrolled in any Medicaid home and community- based waiver program for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum sSB500 / File No.
Within available appropriations, the commissioner shall establish a caregiver respite program to assist parents of persons enrolled in any Medicaid home and community- based waiver program for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by providing state-financed care of such persons.
489 1 sSB500 File No.
489 disorder by providing state-financed care of such persons.
Section 1 July 1, 2026 17a-215c(d) Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
Section 1 July 1, 2026 17a-215c(d) LCO 1 of 2 Substitute Bill No.
In Subsection (d), "children" was changed to "persons" and "waiver program" was changed to "waiver program for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder" for clarity.
500 HS Joint Favorable Subst.
HS Joint Favorable Subst.
-LCO APP Joint Favorable LCO 2 of 2
-LCO sSB500 / File No.
489 2 sSB500 File No.
489 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:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Social Services, Dept.
GF - Cost See Below See Below Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill results in a cost to the Department of Social Services (DSS) associated with creating a state-funded respite program to support caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder who are enrolled in the Medicaid Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) waiver program.
The cost will depend on funds appropriated to the program and additional staff and resources needed to operate the program.
For reference, the most recent Autism Waiver Waitlist report (April 2025) reported that there were 2,249 individuals on the waitlist, 217 individuals actively receiving services, and 140 individuals assigned a case manager and moving through the enrollment process.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.
sSB500 / File No.
489 3 sSB500 File No.
489 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 500 AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE-FUNDED CAREGIVER PROGRAM TO ASSIST PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENROLLED IN A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM.
SUMMARY This bill requires the Department of Social Services commissioner, within available appropriations, to establish a state-funded caregiver respite program for parents of adult children enrolled in the Medicaid Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) waiver program.
By law, the ASD waiver program provides home- and community- based services to people with ASD who do not have an intellectual disability (an intelligence quotient score of at least 70).
To qualify, a person must have substantial limitations in two or more specified major life activities that were diagnosed before age 22 and are expected to continue indefinitely.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2026 COMMITTEE ACTION Human Services Committee Joint Favorable Yea 23 Nay 0 (03/19/2026) sSB500 / File No.
489 4
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Action History

  1. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  2. NO NEW FILE BY COMM. ON Appropriations

  3. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  4. FILED WITH LCO

  5. Joint Favorable

  6. IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL TO COMMITTEE

  7. REF. BY SEN. TO COMM. ON Appropriations

  8. FILE NO. 489

  9. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 301

  10. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  11. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  12. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26

  13. FILED WITH LCO

  14. Joint Favorable

  15. PUBLIC HEARING 0317

  16. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Human Services

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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7 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 180 not signed on

Sponsors (7)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (180)

180 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 180 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 500?
SB 500 is sponsored by John A. Kissel (Republican), Jane M. Garibay (Democratic), Laurie Sweet (Democratic), Nick Gauthier (Democratic), Travis Simms (Democratic), Saud Anwar (Democratic), and Lucy Dathan (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 500?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 12, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 500?
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