Bill Text: CT SB00283 | 2012 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

Connecticut Senate Bill 283 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Treatment Of Benefits Received Under The Veterans' Aid And Attendance Improved Pension.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-19 - Favorable Change of Reference, House to Committee on Human Services [SB00283 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2012-SB00283-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly		*Substitute Bill No. 283*
*February Session, 2012*		_____SB00283AGEHS_031512____

AN ACT CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF BENEFITS RECEIVED UNDER THE VETERANS' AID AND ATTENDANCE IMPROVED PENSION.

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

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 16a-41a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):

(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall submit to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of energy planning and activities, appropriations, and human services the following on the implementation of the block grant program authorized under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended:

(1) Not later than August first, annually, a Connecticut energy assistance program annual plan which establishes guidelines for the use of funds authorized under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended, and includes the following:

(A) Criteria for determining which households are to receive emergency and weatherization assistance;

(B) A description of systems used to ensure referrals to other energy assistance programs and the taking of simultaneous applications, as required under section 16a-41;

(D) Estimates of the total number of households eligible for assistance under the program and the number of households in which one or more elderly or physically disabled individuals eligible for assistance reside; [and]

(E) Design of a basic grant for eligible households that does not discriminate against such households based on the type of energy used for heating; and

(F) An exemption for aid and attendance benefits provided by the Veterans' Administration from the determination of income eligibility for assistance under the program.

(2) Not later than January thirtieth, annually, a report covering the preceding months of the program year, including:

(A) In each community action agency geographic area and Department of Social Services region, the number of fuel assistance applications filed, approved and denied, the number of emergency assistance requests made, approved and denied and the number of households provided weatherization assistance;

(B) In each such area and district, the total amount of fuel, emergency and weatherization assistance, itemized by such type of assistance, and total expenditures to date; and

(C) For each state-wide office of each state agency administering the program, each community action agency and each Department of Social Services region, administrative expenses under the program, by line item, and an estimate of outreach expenditures; and

(3) Not later than November first, annually, a report covering the preceding twelve calendar months, including:

(A) In each community action agency geographic area and Department of Social Services region, (i) seasonal totals for the categories of data submitted under subdivision (1) of this subsection, (ii) the number of households receiving fuel assistance in which elderly or physically disabled individuals reside, and (iii) the average combined benefit level of fuel, emergency and renter assistance;

(B) Types of weatherization assistance provided;

(D) The number of homeowners and tenants whose heat or total energy costs are not included in their rent receiving fuel and emergency assistance under the program by benefit level;

(E) The number of homeowners and tenants whose heat is included in their rent and who are receiving assistance, by benefit level; and

(F) The number of households receiving assistance, by energy type and total expenditures for each energy type.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 17b-104 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):

(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer the program of state supplementation to the Supplemental Security Income Program provided for by the Social Security Act and state law. The commissioner may delegate any powers and authority to any deputy, assistant, investigator or supervisor, who shall have, within the scope of the power and authority so delegated, all of the power and authority of the Commissioner of Social Services. The commissioner shall establish a standard of need based on the cost of living in this state for the temporary family assistance program and the state-administered general assistance program. The commissioner shall make a reinvestigation, at least every twelve months, of all cases receiving aid from the state, except that such reinvestigation may be conducted every twenty-four months for recipients of assistance to the elderly or disabled with stable circumstances, and shall maintain all case records of the several programs administered by the Department of Social Services so that such records show, at all times, full information with respect to eligibility of the applicant or recipient. In the determination of need under any public assistance program, such income or earnings shall be disregarded as federal law requires, and such income or earnings may be disregarded as federal law permits. The commissioner shall encourage and promulgate such incentive earning programs as are permitted by federal law and regulations. The commissioner shall disregard aid and attendance benefits provided by the Veterans' Administration from the determination of income eligibility for the program of state supplementation.

Sec. 3. Section 17b-261 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (j) as follows (Effective July 1, 2012):

(NEW) (j) The Commissioner of Social Services shall disregard aid and attendance benefits provided by the Veterans' Administration from the determination of income eligibility for the Medicaid program.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2012	16a-41a(a)
Sec. 2	July 1, 2012	17b-104(a)
Sec. 3	July 1, 2012	17b-261