(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall develop and administer a program to provide a single, coordinated system of information and access for individuals seeking long-term support, including in-home, community-based and institutional services. The program shall be the state Aging and Disability Resource Center Program in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006, P.L. 109-365 and shall be administered as part of the Department of Social Services’ CHOICES program in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 17a-314. Consumers served by the program shall include, but not be limited to, those sixty years of age or older and those eighteen years of age or older with disabilities and caregivers.

(b) The program shall, within available resources, provide (1) information, referral and assistance concerning aging and disability issues and long-term care planning; (2) comprehensive assessments to identify possible consumer needs or desires; (3) counseling for purposes of obtaining (A) employment or employment-related services, (B) screening for public benefits and private resources, and (C) information on long-term care planning; (4) follow-up to ensure consumer referrals were appropriate and to offer additional assistance and individual advocacy if needed; (5) support to consumers making decisions about current and future supports and services; (6) coordination of transitions between providers or sites of care; (7) preparation and distribution of written materials regarding the availability of program services; (8) maintenance of a toll-free telephone number; (9) assistance in improving and managing the program, monitoring quality and measuring responsiveness of systems of care; (10) assistance as necessary to conform to federal and other grant requirements; and (11) other related services.

(c) The commissioner shall establish program requirements and procedures for entering into agreements to operate the program. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

(P.A. 12-119, S. 1; P.A. 13-125, S. 22; P.A. 15-19, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 299.)

History: P.A. 12-119 effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-125 amended Subsec. (a) to change “Commissioner of Social Services” to “Commissioner on Aging”, effective July 1, 2013; Sec. 17b-367a transferred to Sec. 17a-316a in 2015; P.A. 15-19 deleted references to Community Choices and amended Subsec. (a) to add provision re program administered as part of Department on Aging’s CHOICES program, effective July 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to Commissioner on Aging with reference to Commissioner of Social Services and replaced “Department on Aging’s” with “Department of Social Services’” re CHOICES program, effective October 31, 2017.