Connecticut 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee

HB 7188 — AN ACT CONCERNING HOMELESSNESS AND THE CHESS PROGRAM.

Last action — FILE NO. 473

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

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

211 added · 64 removed

211 line(s) added, 64 removed.

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General Assembly Raised Bill No.
House of Representatives General Assembly File No.
7188 January Session, 2025 LCO No.
473 January Session, 2025 Substitute House Bill No.
5831 Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES Introduced by:
7188 House of Representatives, April 2, 2025 The Committee on Human Services reported through REP.
(HS) AN ACT CONCERNING HOMELESSNESS AND THE CHESS PROGRAM.
GILCHREST of the 18th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING HOMELESSNESS AND THE CHESS PROGRAM.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, "Connecticut Housing Engagement and Support Services" or "CHESS" means a home and community-based services program established pursuant to a Medicaid state plan amendment under Section 1915(i) of the Social Security Act and a Medicaid waiver pursuant to Section 1915(b)(4) of the Social Security Act to improve housing stability and health outcomes for persons who have (1) complex health conditions, (2) experienced homelessness, and (3) been determined to be likely to benefit from targeted services to improve health and housing stability.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, (1) "Connecticut Housing Engagement and Support Services" or "CHESS" initiative means a home and community-based services initiative establishedpursuanttoaMedicaidstateplan amendmentunderSection 1915(i) of the Social Security Act and a Medicaid waiver pursuant to Section 1915(b)(4) of the Social Security Act to improve housing stability and health outcomes for persons who have (A) complex health conditions, (B) experienced homelessness, and (C) been determined to belikelytobenefitfromtargetedservicestoimprovehealthandhousing stability;
(b) The Commissioner of Housing, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Services, shall prioritize participants in the CHESS program for state-administered housing assistance, including, to the extent permissible under federal eligibility standards, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers.
(2) "pretenancy supports" means assistance in locating and securing stable housing;
Not later than December 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Housing shall file a report, in accordance with the LCO No.
and (3) "tenancy-sustaining supports" means assistance in maintaining a successful tenancy, including, but not limited to, through assistance with health care coordination, skill development and community integration.
5831 1 of 3 Raised Bill No.7188 provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing and human services on the number of CHESS participants who have received state-administered housing assistance, including, but not limited to, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers established pursuant to 42 USC §1437f(o), as amended from time to time.
sHB7188 / File No.
473 1 sHB7188 File No.
473 (b) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Housing, shall amend the Medicaid state plan amendment filed under Section 1915(i) of the Social Security Act to make the following changes in the CHESS initiative:
(1) Establish a minimum per person per month rate for providers for each CHESS initiative participant they serve, (2) ensure that CHESS initiative eligibility criteria and provider payment rates match eligibility criteria and provider payment rates for the supportive housing program administered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, (3) set provider payment rates that are comparable to those providedinotherstatesforpretenancysupportsandtenancy-sustaining supports, and (4) give newly enrolled, unhoused participants in the CHESS initiative priority for any available housing assistance vouchers.
(c) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Commissioners of Housing and Mental Health and Addiction Services, shall ensure that a provider of services under the supportive housing program administered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall not experience a decrease in reimbursement rates if such provider participates in the CHESS initiative.
The Commissioner of Social Services shall require the administrative services organization managing the CHESS initiative to ensure that providers in the CHESS initiative receive the same rates of reimbursement as providers in the supportive housing program administered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a legislative oversight committee for services for homeless persons in the state.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established an oversight committee for services for homeless persons in the state.
(2) The House and Senate chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, or their designees;
(2) The House and Senate chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters sHB7188 / File No.
473 2 sHB7188 File No.
473 relating to human services, or their designees;
and (4) The House and Senate chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, or their designees.
(4) The House and Senate chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, or their designees;
(b) The oversight committee shall meet not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.
(5) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee;
The chairpersons shall be the Senate chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing, or the chairperson's designee, and the House chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, or the chairperson's designee.
(6) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the commissioner's designee;
The oversight committee shall review services for homeless persons in the state, including, but not LCO No.
(7) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee;
5831 2 of 3 Raised Bill No.
(8) The chairperson of the interagency council on affordable housing established pursuant to section 8-37nnn of the general statutes, or the chairperson's designee;
7188 limited to the CHESS program, as defined in section 1 of this act.
and (9) Two representatives of private nonprofit organizations that focus on serving the needs of homeless persons in the state, appointed by the oversight committee's chairpersons.
(c) The Commissioners of Housing and Social Services shall file quarterly reports with the oversight committee on services for homeless persons in the state and shall seek approval of the oversight committee for any changes to such services, including, but not limited to, the CHESS program.
(b) The oversight committee shall be appointed and meet not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.
The chairpersons shall be the House chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing, or the chairperson's designee, and the Senate chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, or the chairperson's designee.
The oversight committee shall review services for homeless persons in the state, including, but not limited to, the CHESS initiative, as defined in section 1 of this act.
(c) The Commissioners of Housing, Mental Health and Addiction sHB7188 / File No.
473 3 sHB7188 File No.
473 Services and Social Services shall file quarterly reports with the oversight committee on services for homeless persons in the state and shall seek approval of the oversight committee for any changes to such services, including, but not limited to, the CHESS initiative.
The committee shall schedule a vote on such changes not later than thirty days after receipt of notice from thecommissioners of any such changes.
2 from passage New section Statement of Purpose:
2 from passage New section Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
To ensure adequate services for homeless persons.
In Section 2(b), "be appointed and" was inserted for clarity.
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
HS Joint Favorable Subst.
5831 3 of 3
sHB7188 / File No.
473 4 sHB7188 File No.
473 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:
Show all 87 changed rows (47 more)
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Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $ 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 increasing rates for the Connecticut Housing Engagement and Support Services (CHESS) program.
The bill's provisions include (1) establishing a minimum per person per month rate to be paid to providers, (2) ensuring that eligibility criteria and provider payment rates align with those for the supportive housing program administered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), (3) setting provider payment rates that are comparable to other states, and (4) prioritizing housing assistance vouchers for newly enrolled, unhoused participants.
For context, FY 24 DSS expenditures for CHESS totaled approximately $762,000.
Medicaid rates vary and include comprehensive community support services ($45 per hour) and service assessment/plan of care development ($207 per unit).
Permanent supportive housing services provided by DMHAS cost approximately $9,500 per slot per year.
The extent of the cost to increase rates depends on how such rates are structured in order to meet the provisions of the bill.
sHB7188 / File No.
473 5 sHB7188 File No.
473 The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to CHESS rates and program structure.
sHB7188 / File No.
473 6 sHB7188 File No.
473 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 7188 AN ACT CONCERNING HOMELESSNESS AND THE CHESS PROGRAM.
SUMMARY This bill establishes several requirements on provider payment rates and priority for services under the Connecticut Housing Engagement and Support Services (CHESS) initiative, a Medicaid program to improve outcomes for people with complex health conditions who have experienced homelessness and would likely benefit from targeted services.
The Department of Social Services (DSS) currently administers CHESS under a Medicaid state plan and a federal waiver.
The bill also creates an oversight committee to review services for homeless people in the state, including CHESS initiative services.
The bill requires the DSS, Department of Housing (DOH), and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) commissioners to file quarterlyreportsonthese serviceswiththeoversight committeeand seek approval of any changes to these services, including changes to the CHESS program.
The oversight committee, which includes the commissioners as members, must schedule and hold a vote on the changes within 30 days after receiving notice from the commissioners.
(The bill appears to require committee approval prior to DOH, DSS, or DMHAS implementing any changes.) EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage CHANGES TO THE CHESS INITIATIVE The bill generally aligns CHESS provider payment rates with those for DMHAS’s supportive housing program.
The bill requires the administrative service organization that manages the CHESS initiative to ensure that CHESS providers get the same reimbursement rates as sHB7188 / File No.
473 7 sHB7188 File No.
473 providersinDMHAS’ssupportivehousingprogram.Itrequires theDSS commissioner, in consultation with the DOH and DMHAS commissioners, to ensure that providers for the DHMAS program do not receive a rate cut when they participate in the CHESS initiative.
The bill requires the DSS commissioner, in consultation with the DOH commissioner, to amend the Medicaid state plan amendment for the CHESS initiative to:
1.
ensure that CHESS initiative eligibility criteria and provider payment rates match those for DMHAS’s supportive housing program;
2.
set provider rates that are comparable to those provided in other states for pre-tenancy supports (help locating and securing stable housing) and tenancy-sustaining services (help maintaining successful tenancy, including help with health care coordination, skill development, and community integration);
3.
set a minimum per person per month rate for providers for each CHESS initiative participant they serve;
and 4.
give newly enrolled, unhoused CHESS participants priority for any available housing assistance vouchers (DOH typically administers housing assistance voucher programs (e.g., the state rental assistance program)).
(It is unclear how DSS can both match the CHESS rates to DMHAS rates and set CHESS rates comparable to other states’ rates.) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP Under the bill, the oversight committee consists of the following members or their designees:
1.
chairpersons of the Housing, Human Services, Planning and Development, and Public Health committees;
2.
the DMHAS, DOH, and DSS commissioners;
and sHB7188 / File No.
473 8 sHB7188 File No.
473 3.
the interagency council on affordable housing chairperson.
The oversight committee also includes two representatives of private nonprofit organizations that serve homeless people in the state, appointed by the oversight committee’s chairpersons, which, under the bill, are the House Housing Committee chairperson and the Senate Human Services Committee chairperson, or their designees.
The bill requires the oversight committee to (1) meet within 60 days after the bill passes and (2) review services for homeless people in the state.
COMMITTEE ACTION Human Services Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 17 Nay 5 (03/18/2025) sHB7188 / File No.
473 9
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 473

  2. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 303

  3. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/01/25

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0311

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Human Services

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 187 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (187)

187 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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.

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Subjects

public-safety housing
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current status of HB 7188?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
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