Bill Text: CT SB01085 | 2013 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning A Pilot Program For The Provision Of Emotional And Behavioral Health Services To Youth.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-08 - Public Hearing 03/12 [SB01085 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2013-SB01085-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 1085
January Session, 2013		LCO No. 4279
		*04279_______HS_*
Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES
Introduced by:
(HS)

AN ACT CONCERNING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE PROVISION OF EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO YOUTH.

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

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in consultation with the Commissioners of Public Health and Social Services, shall establish a pilot program to offer an integrated emotional and behavioral health program for not more than five hundred youth in Hartford and New Haven counties by July 1, 2014.

(b) Not later than October 1, 2013, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall establish a working group of (1) mental health professionals who serve clients between thirteen and eighteen years of age; (2) mental health clients and other youth between thirteen and eighteen years of age; (3) parents of such youth; and (4) scholars who have studied the needs of this population to study (A) services in place, (B) gaps in service, (C) best practices world-wide, and (D) possible funding sources. Not later than December 31, 2013, the working group shall present the results of its study and an implementation plan for the pilot program to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, human services and public health.

(c) The pilot program shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Development of application criteria and processes to allow the neediest youth to participate in the pilot program on a first-come, first-served basis; (2) the establishment of teen drop-in centers where such youth can receive counseling and services; (3) a system to track the progress of program participants; and (4) a central repository of information and referral services available at such drop-in centers and on-line regarding emotional and behavioral health.

(d) Not later than July 1, 2015, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on the results of the pilot program to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, public health and human services. Such report shall include recommendations to improve and expand the program state-wide.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2013	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To establish a pilot program offering integrated emotional and behavioral health to youth in Hartford and New Haven counties.

[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.]