Bill Text: CT SB00189 | 2010 | General Assembly | Comm Sub


Bill Title: An Act Establishing An Advisory Council On Services For Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-04-22 - House Calendar Number 399 [SB00189 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2010-SB00189-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly

 

Substitute Bill No. 189

February Session, 2010

 

*_____SB00189GAE___041510____*

AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ADVISORY COUNCIL ON SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

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

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2010) (a) As used in this section "traumatic brain injury" means an injury to the brain caused by physical trauma that may include a collision, fall or physical assault and that is of sufficient severity to result in impairment in one or more of the following areas: Cognition; language; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem solving; sensory, perceptual and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing or memory. "Traumatic brain injury" does not include a brain injury that is congenital, degenerative or induced by birth trauma.

(b) (1) There is established an advisory council to the Governor and the Commissioner of Social Services to address the needs of persons with traumatic brain injury. The council shall consist of the following members: (A) The Commissioner of Social Services or the commissioner's designee; (B) four representatives of the Department of Social Services, who are appointed by the commissioner not later than October 1, 2010, (i) one who shall have expertise in the area of children's services; (ii) one who shall have expertise in the area of mental health; (iii) one who shall have expertise in the area of public health; and (iv) one who shall have expertise in the area of vocational rehabilitation; (C) the Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs or the commissioners' designee; (D) the Commissioner of Correction or the commissioner's designee; (E) the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's designee; (F) the Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard or the Adjutant General's designee; (G) the executive director of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities or the executive director's designee; and (H) the executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut or the executive director's designee.

(2) The council shall also consist of the following members, each appointed by the Governor not later than October 1, 2010: (A) A representative from an organization serving veterans; (B) a representative of a federally-recognized tribe located in Connecticut; (C) a neuropsychologist who has experience working with persons with traumatic brain injury; (D) a social worker or clinical psychologist who has experience working with persons with traumatic brain injury; (E) a rehabilitation specialist, such as a speech pathologist, vocational rehabilitation counselor, occupational therapist or physical therapist, who has experience working with persons with traumatic brain injury; (F) a person with traumatic brain injury; (G) a family member of a person with traumatic brain injury; and (H) a member of the public who has experience with issues related to the causes of traumatic brain injury. Each member appointed by the Governor under this subdivision shall be appointed, to the extent practicable, to represent both rural and urban areas of the state.

(c) The advisory council shall elect, by a majority vote, a chairperson from among its members. Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation, except for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(d) The duties of the council shall include, but not be limited to, developing a comprehensive plan to address the needs of persons with traumatic brain injury. In developing such plan, the council shall consider: (1) Increasing provider capacity and provider training; (2) improving the coordination of services for persons with traumatic brain injury; (3) establishing agreements with private community-based agencies to develop services for persons with traumatic brain injury; and (4) making recommendations to address the needs of persons with traumatic brain injury.

(e) (1) Not later than December 1, 2010, the council shall submit a preliminary report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services. The preliminary report shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the use of public-private partnerships to serve persons with traumatic brain injury.

(2) Not later than December 1, 2011, the council shall submit a final report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services. The final report shall include a comprehensive state-wide plan to address the needs of persons with traumatic brain injury.

(f) Commencing January 1, 2012, the council shall meet with the Commissioner of Social Services not less than one time per year to make recommendations to address the needs of persons with traumatic brain injury.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1

July 1, 2010

New section

HS

Joint Favorable Subst.-LCO

 

GAE

Joint Favorable

 
feedback