(a) The Department of Social Services, in consultation with the Labor Department and the Departments of Education, Public Health and Children and Families, shall seek, within available appropriations, to promote efficiency, reduce costs and administrative error rates and simplify the application process for families eligible for benefits by streamlining and integrating public information and access to programs.
(b) For the purpose of subsection (a) of this section, the Department of Social Services shall develop, within available appropriations, a plan for a comprehensive state service approach that may include (1) the development and promotion of a single, simplified, on-line application and enrollment process for programs administered by the Department of Social Services that serve children or families; (2) the use of the Internet to develop and increase public access to on-line screening tools, benefit calculators and on-line applications that facilitate prompt access to programs administered by the Department of Social Services and benefit information; and (3) the promotion of access to direct assistance with application and enrollment processes through community-based organizations. Not later than January 31, 2011, the department shall submit the plan to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and to the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children. The department may consult with and accept donations from philanthropic organizations to accomplish the purposes of this section.
(c) The Department of Social Services shall develop, in accordance with the provisions of federal law, a client-friendly application process which shall not require applications to be resubmitted if a family applied for services and, not more than thirty days after the date the application was submitted, the family experienced a change in circumstances or the program closed to intake applications and then reopened.
(P.A. 10-133, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 10-133 effective June 8, 2010.
See Sec. 4-165c re immunity of the state and its officials, employees and agents.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 319o - Department of Social Services
Section 17b-2. - Programs administered by the Department of Social Services.
Section 17b-3. - Commissioner of Social Services: Powers and duties.
Section 17b-5. - Implementation plan.
Section 17b-6. - Department of Social Services: Regional administrators. Agency goals.
Section 17b-7. (Formerly Sec. 17-3i). - General assistance training programs.
Section 17b-7a. - State-wide fraud early detection system. Regulations. Quarterly reports.
Section 17b-9. (Formerly Sec. 17-2l). - Annual report to the General Assembly.
Section 17b-10a. - Department of Social Services policies and procedures. Implementation.
Section 17b-10b. - Department of Social Services policies and procedures. Implementation.
Section 17b-11a. - Adult family living classification in rated housing.
Section 17b-12. (Formerly Sec. 17-11b). - Acceptance of bequests or gifts for services.
Section 17b-13. (Formerly Sec. 17-12). - Federal aid for emergency relief purposes.
Section 17b-14. (Formerly Sec. 17-12j). - Notification of federal sanctions and fines. Report.
Section 17b-20. (Formerly Sec. 17-574). - Grants for pilot projects or demonstrations.
Section 17b-22. (Formerly Sec. 17-106). - Agreements with other states.
Section 17b-24. (Formerly Sec. 17-573). - Contracts for comprehensive health care.
Section 17b-25. (Formerly Sec. 17-576). - Purchase or lease and management of property.
Section 17b-25a. - Toll-free vendor fraud telephone line.
Section 17b-25b. - Program for persons suffering from Huntington's disease.
Section 17b-28a. - Waiver Application Development Council. Medicaid waiver unit.
Section 17b-28b. - Competitive bidding for Medicaid managed care plans.
Section 17b-28f. - Care management subcontractors. Report on costs and profit.
Section 17b-28g. - Notice of amendment to Medicaid state plan.
Section 17b-28j. - Amendment to Medicaid state plan re community violence prevention services.
Section 17b-30. - Biometric identifier system.
Section 17b-31. - Parent's Fair Share Program.
Section 17b-32. - Pilot nurse practitioner training program.
Section 17b-55. - Regulations re welfare reform.
Section 17b-55a. - Service by state marshals.
Section 17b-55b. - Two-generation poverty reduction account.
Section 17b-56. (Formerly Sec. 17-21a). - Compact.
Section 17b-57. (Formerly Sec. 17-21b). - Administrator.
Section 17b-58. (Formerly Sec. 17-21c). - Administrator to coordinate activities.
Section 17b-59. (Formerly Sec. 17-21d). - Notice to other states of repeal of part.
Section 17b-59c. (Formerly Sec. 4-60l). - Approval of agency policies, programs and plans.
Section 17b-59d. - State-wide Health Information Exchange. Established.