Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 400o - Homemaker-Companion Agencies
Section 20-670. - Definitions.

As used in sections 20-670 to 20-680, inclusive:

(1) “Certificate” means a certificate of registration issued under section 20-672.
(2) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Consumer Protection or any person designated by the commissioner to administer and enforce the provisions of sections 20-670 to 20-680, inclusive.
(3) “Companion services” means nonmedical, basic supervision services to ensure the well-being and safety of a person in such person's home.
(4) “Employee” means any person employed by, or who enters into a contract to perform services for, a homemaker-companion agency, including, but not limited to, temporary employees, pool employees and persons treated by such agency as independent contractors.
(5) “Comprehensive background check” means a background investigation of a prospective employee performed by a homemaker-companion agency, that includes: (A) A review of any application materials prepared or requested by the agency and completed by the prospective employee; (B) an in-person or video-conference interview of the prospective employee; (C) verification of the prospective employee's Social Security number; (D) if the position applied for within the agency requires licensure on the part of the prospective employee, verification that the required license is in good standing; (E) a check of the registry established and maintained pursuant to section 54-257; (F) a local and national criminal background check of criminal matters of public record based on the prospective employee's name and date of birth that includes a search of a multistate and multijurisdiction criminal record locator or other similar commercial nationwide database with validation, and a search of the United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website, conducted by a third-party consumer reporting agency or background screening company that is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association and in compliance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act; (G) if the prospective employee has resided in this state less than three years prior to the date of the application with the agency, a review of criminal conviction information from the state or states where such prospective employee resided during such three-year period; and (H) a review of any other information that the agency deems necessary in order to evaluate the suitability of the prospective employee for the position.
(6) “Homemaker services” means nonmedical, supportive services that ensure a safe and healthy environment for a person in such person's home, such services to include assistance with personal hygiene, cooking, household cleaning, laundry and other household chores.
(7) “Homemaker-companion agency” means (A) any public or private organization that employs one or more persons and is engaged in the business of providing companion services or homemaker services, or (B) any registry. “Homemaker-companion agency” shall not include a home health care agency, as defined in subsection (d) of section 19a-490, or a home health aide agency, as defined in subsection (e) of section 19a-490.
(8) “Registry” means any person or entity engaged in the business of supplying or referring an individual to or placing an individual with a consumer to provide homemaker or companion services provided by such individual, when the individual providing such services is either (A) directly compensated, in whole or in part, by the consumer, or (B) treated, referred to or considered by such person or entity as an independent contractor.
(9) “Service plan” means a written document provided by a homemaker-companion agency to a person utilizing services provided by such agency, that specifies the anticipated scope, type, frequency and duration of homemaker or companion services that are to be provided by such agency for the benefit of the person.
(P.A. 06-187, S. 52; P.A. 11-230, S. 1; 11-242, S. 91; P.A. 19-97, S. 11; P.A. 21-37, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 11-230 redefined “employee” in Subdiv. (4), added new Subdiv. (7) defining “registry”, redesignated existing Subdiv. (7) as Subdiv. (8) and made a technical change, effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 11-242 redefined “employee” in Subdiv. (4), added new Subdiv. (5) defining “comprehensive background check”, redesignated existing Subdivs. (5) and (6) as Subdivs. (6) and (7), redefined “homemaker-companion agency” in said Subdiv. (7), added new Subdiv. (8) defining “registry” and redesignated existing Subdiv. (7) as Subdiv. (9), effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 19-97 amended Subdiv. (7) by replacing “homemaker-home health aide agency” with “home health aide agency”, effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 21-37 redefined “comprehensive background check” in Subdiv. (5), effective January 1, 2022.

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