SB 1300 — AN ACT CONCERNING COMPENSATING SPOUSES FOR STATE-FUNDED HOME CARE.

Senate General Assembly SubstituteFile Bill No.

1300105 January Session, 2025 ANSubstitute ACTSenate CONCERNINGBill COMPENSATINGNo. SPOUSES FOR STATE- FUNDED HOME CARE.

1300 Senate, March 18, 2025 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 COMPENSATING SPOUSES FOR STATE- FUNDED HOME CARE.

For program applications receivedsSB1300 by/ theFile Department of Social Services for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017, only persons who require the level of care provided in a nursing home shall be eligible for the state-funded portion of the program, except for persons residing in affordable housing under the assisted living demonstration project established LCO 1 of 3 Substitute Bill No.

1300105 pursuant1 tosSB1300 sectionFile 17b-347eNo. who are otherwise eligible in accordance with this section.

105 received by the Department of Social Services for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017, only persons who require the level of care provided in a nursing home shall be eligible for the state-funded portion of the program, except for persons residing in affordable housing under the assisted living demonstration project established pursuant to section 17b-347e who are otherwise eligible in accordance with this section.

Any person whose income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level and whosSB1300 does/ notFile contributeNo. to the cost of care in accordance with this subdivision shall be ineligible to receive services under this subsection.

Notwithstanding105 any provision of sections 17b-60 and 17b-61, the department shall not be required to provide an administrative hearing to a person found ineligible for services under this subsection because LCO 2 ofsSB1300 3File Substitute Bill No.

1300105 ofwho adoes failurenot to contribute to the cost of care.care in accordance with this subdivision shall be ineligible to receive services under this subsection.

Notwithstanding any provision of sections 17b-60 and 17b-61, the department shall not be required to provide an administrative hearing to a person found ineligible for services under this subsection because of a failure to contribute to the cost of care.

-LCO LCOsSB1300 3/ ofFile 3No.

105 3 sSB1300 File No.

105 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 26 $ FY 27 $ Social Services, Dept.

GF - Potential See Below See Below Cost Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill could result in a cost to the Department of Social Services (DSS) due to allowing payment for personal care assistance services for individuals enrolled in the state-funded Connecticut Home Care Program, including care provided by spouses.

The bill increases costs to DSS associated with clients who would not otherwise access PCA services but will do so if provided by their spouse or other caregivers currently ineligible for such payments.

For context, there are approximately 2,600 clients on the state-funded on the home care program.

In FY 24, PCA related expenditures totaled approximately $28.4 million.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.

sSB1300 / File No.

105 4 sSB1300 File No.

105 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 1300 AN ACT CONCERNING COMPENSATING SPOUSES FOR STATE- FUNDED HOME CARE.

SUMMARY This billauthorizescompensationfor people,including spouses, who provide personal care assistance to someone enrolled in the state- funded portion of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (see BACKGROUND).

The bill requires the Department of Social Services commissioner to set training and documentation requirements for these people to receive compensation under the program.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2025 BACKGROUND Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) provides many services for eligible people age 65 or older and at risk of institutionalization.

Services include care management, adult day care, homemaker services, transportation, meals-on-wheels, minor home modifications, and certain personal care assistant and assisted living services.

Because CHCPE is funded with federal and state dollars, it has two parts, each with different eligibility requirements.

For the state- funded part, no income limit is imposed, but the applicant must meet a state-prescribed asset limit and pay a certain percentage of the cost of their care.

COMMITTEE ACTION Human Services Committee Joint Favorable Yea 21 Nay 2 (03/04/2025) sSB1300 / File No.

105 5