Section 17b-NEW - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered] Cross-enrollment of children for services(a) Not later than January 1, 2025, the Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the Departments of Social Services and Agriculture, shall develop a plan to streamline cross-enrollment of any child who is receiving services under HUSKY A, as defined in section 17b-290 of the general statutes, in (1) the federal Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children administered by the Department of Public Health pursuant to section 19a-59c of the general statutes, (2) the supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the Department of Social Services pursuant to the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and section 17b-2 of the general statutes, and (3) the Connecticut Farmers' Market/Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program administered by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to section 22-6h of the general statutes. Such plan shall include, but need not be limited to, using licensed health care professionals employed by the Department of Public Health to make an initial assessment regarding whether a child meets the criteria for enrollment in the federal Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children.(b) Not later than January 1, 2025, the Departments of Public Health, Social Services and Agriculture shall (1) jointly create, in clear and readily understandable language and graphics, a simple fact sheet containing the eligibility requirements for, instructions for applying to and types of benefits provided by HUSKY A and the programs described in subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section, and (2) translate the fact sheet into the five most commonly spoken languages in the state, as determined by the Commissioners of Public Health, Social Services and Agriculture. Such fact sheet shall include a telephone number for the administrative or outreach office of the HUSKY A program that members of the public may contact with questions regarding the program.(c) Not later than January 1, 2025, the Commissioners of Public Health, Social Services and Agriculture shall jointly report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, human services and the environment regarding (1) the plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and the anticipated implementation date of such plan, and (2) a copy of the fact sheet created pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.(d) Not later than January 1, 2025, the Commissioners of Public Health, Social Services and Agriculture shall make (1) the applications for HUSKY A and the programs described in subsection (a) of this section, and (2) the fact sheet created pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or the information contained in the fact sheet, available and easily accessible to potential applicants both electronically and telephonically, including, but not limited to, through conspicuously posting such applications and fact sheet, and the translations for the fact sheet made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, on the Internet web sites of the Departments of Public Health, Social Services and Agriculture.(e) Not later than January 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Public Health shall distribute the fact sheet created pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to each provider of pediatric health care and obstetrics and gynecology services in the state at the time such provider (1) is initially licensed by the Department of Public Health, and (2) renews such provider's license with the department, for provision to the provider's patients.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-NEW
Added by P.A. 24-0082,S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 5/30/2024.