AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, shall conduct a study of programs for children and families offered by the Department of Children and Families.

(b) The study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall include, but not be limited to, a report on: (1) Whether current programs offered by the Department of Children and Families meet the needs of children and families, and (2) whether any programmatic or legislative changes are needed to better protect and serve children and families.

(c) Not later than July 1, 2014, the Commissioner of Social Services, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, shall report the results of the study done pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children and human services. Such report may include the commissioner's recommendations for addressing identified gaps in the provision of services and improving access to such services.

Statement of Purpose:

To study programs offered by the Department of Children and Families to determine whether they meet the needs of children and families.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]