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--- version:Public Act No. 26-151
+++ version:(document, no version)
@@ -1,135 +1,138 @@
-House Bill No. 5557
+Researcher: MF Page 1 5/5/26
 
-Public Act No. 26-151
+OLR Bill Analysis
+HB 5557 (File 441, as amended by House "A")*
 
-AN ACT CONCERNING A PLAN TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF
-INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
-WORKING GROUPS ON AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
-EDUCATION AND NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION
-REIMBURSEMENT.
-Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
-Assembly convened:
+AN ACT CONCERNING ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS BY THE
+DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.
 
-Section 1. ( Effective from passage ) (a) The Commissioner of
-Developmental Services shall produce a plan with recommendations on
-developing a standard definition of intellectual disability that originates
-before an individual attains eighteen years of age and is characterized
-by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive
-behavior, including, but not limited to, conceptual, social and practical
-skills. Such definition shall be consistent with generally accepted
-professional standard s, including, but not limited to, such standards
-recognized by the American Association on Intellectual and
-Developmental Disabilities.
-(b) As part of the plan, the commissioner shall ensure (1) no single
-test score or single measure would be determinative of intellectual
-disability in any such definition; and (2) that such definition is based on
-the totality of relevant clinical, educatio nal and functional evidence,
-including, but not limited to (A) standardized assessments when valid
-and appropriate, (B) adaptive behavior measures, (C) developmental
-House Bill No. 5557
+SUMMARY
+This bill requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
+commissioner to produce a plan with recommendations on developing
+a standard definition of “intellect ual disability” that meets certain
+requirements and report the plan to the Appropriations, Human
+Services, and Public Health committees by July 1, 2027.
+The bill also requires the education commissioner to create an
+American Sign Language (ASL) working group. The working group
+must report annually on its work, starting by July 1, 2028, to the
+Education and Human Services committees.
+Lastly, the bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to
+study Medicaid nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT)
+reimbursement rates and service availability. The DSS commissioner
+must report her findings to the Human Services and Public Health
+committees by February 1, 2027.
+*House Amendment “A” replaces the underlying bill, which would
+have changed the statutory definition of “intellectual disability” and
+required DDS to review eligibility criteria for people with intellectual
+disability in order to receive state-administered services.
+EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the ASL working group is
+effective January 1, 2027.
+§ 1 — PLAN ON INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY DEFINITION
+Under current law, “intellectual disability” generally means a
+significant limitation in intellectual functioning that exists alongside
+deficits in adaptive behavior that started during a person’s
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-Public Act No. 26-151 2 of 5
+Researcher: MF Page 2 5/5/26
 
-history, (D) medical evidence, and (E) other reliable information.
-(c) The commissioner shall include in the plan (1) a recommendation
-for a timeline for the transition to a new definition of intellectual
-disability, (2) any approvals required from the federal government, and
-(3) estimates of the one -time costs of making such transition and the
-recurring costs of utilizing the new definition to the Department of
-Developmental Services, other state agencies and school districts
-impacted by the change in the definition.
-(d) Not later than July 1, 2027, the commissioner shall file a report on
-the plan to provide recommendations on developing a standard
-definition of intellectual disability, in accordance with the provisions of
-section 11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committees
-of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
-appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, human services and
-public health.
-Sec. 2. (NEW) ( Effective January 1, 2027 ) (a) The Commissioner of
-Education shall establish an American Sign Language education
-working group which shall consist of:
-(1) (A) One representative each from the (i) Departments of
-Education and Aging and Disability Services, (ii) Labor Department,
-and (iii) Office of Higher Education, and (B) the following members
-appointed by the Commissioner of Education: (i) A representative of the
-Connecticut Council of Language Teachers, (ii) a representative of the
-American School for the Deaf, (iii) a representative of the Connecticut
-Association of the Deaf, and (iv) at least one American Sign Language
-instructor who teaches in a public school in the state;
-(2) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
-(3) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
-House Bill No. 5557
+developmental period before age 18. A “significant limitation in
+intellectual functioning” means an IQ more than two standard
+deviations below the mean as measured by tests of general intellectual
+functioning that are individualized, standardized, and clin ically and
+culturally appropriate to the person (CGS § 1-1g).
+The bill requires the DDS commissioner to produce a plan with
+recommendations on developing a standard definition for intellectual
+disability that originates  before age 18 and is characterized by
+significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive
+behavior, including conceptual, social, and practical skills. The
+definition must be consistent with generally acceptable standards,
+including those recognized by the American Association on Intellectual
+and Developmental Disabilities.
+As part of the plan, the DDS commissioner must ensure that no single
+test score or single measure would determine intellectual disability and
+that the definition is based on the totality of relevant clinical,
+educational, and functional evidence, including:
+1. standardized assessments when valid and appropriate,
+2. adaptive behavior measures,
+3. developmental history,
+4. medical evidence, and
+5. other reliable information.
+The plan must include:
+1. a recommended timeline to transition to a new intellectual
+disability definition;
+2. any required federal approvals; and
+3. estimates of one -time costs to transition and recurring costs of
+using the new definition for DDS, other state agencies, and school
+districts impacted by the change.
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+Researcher: MF Page 3 5/5/26
 
-(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of
-Representatives;
-(5) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
-(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of
-Representatives;
-(7) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
-(8) The House and Senate chairpersons and House and Senate
-ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General
-Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and
-human services, or their designees; and
-(9) Two persons appointed by the Governor.
-(b) The working group shall provide recommendations to the
-Department of Education regarding the following:
-(1) Curriculum guidance for American Sign Language instruction
-that includes, but is not limited to, aligning such curriculum with
-nationally recognized proficiency frameworks;
-(2) Teacher certification standards based on standards established by
-the American Sign Language Teachers Association and the American
-Sign Language Proficiency Interview that includes, but is not limited to,
-(A) establishment of a proficiency benchmark, ( B) recognition of an
-alternative certification pathway for native American Sign Language
-users and interpreters, and (C) reciprocity with American Sign
-Language teaching certifications from other states; and
-(3) Guidance to educator preparation programs in the state
-concerning, but not limited to, the (A) expansion of American Sign
-Language and interpretation education programs, (B) creation of
-educational incentives, such as tuition support, credit enhancemen t or
-House Bill No. 5557
+§ 2 — ASL WORKING GROUP
+Membership
+The working group includes at least four members appointed by the
+education commissioner:
+1. a Connecticut Council on Language Teachers representative,
+2. an American School for the Deaf representative,
+3. a Connecticut Association of the Deaf representative, and
+4. at least one ASL instructor who teaches in a public school in the
+state.
+The working group also includes:
+1. representatives from the State Department of Education (SDE),
+the Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Labor
+Department, and the Office of Higher Education;
+2. one member appointed by each legislative leader;
+3. the Education and Human Services  committees’ chairpersons
+and ranking members; and
+4. two members appointed by the governor.
+Duties
+The working group must provide recommendations to SDE on:
+1. curriculum guidance for ASL instruction that includes aligning
+the curriculum with nationally recognized proficiency
+frameworks;
+2. guidance to educator preparation programs in the state on
+expanding ASL and interpretation education programs, creating
+educational incentives like tuition support, credit enhancement,
+or alternative programs, and creating a bridge, endorsement, or
+alternative programs for native ASL users and certified
+interpreters seeking teacher certification; and
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+Researcher: MF Page 4 5/5/26
 
-alternative programs, and (C) establishment of bridge, endorsement or
-alternative programs for native American Sign Language users and
-certified interpreters seeking teacher certification.
-(c) Not later than January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter,  the
-Department of Education shall submit a progress 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 education and human services concerning the work
-of the American Sign Language education working group.
-Sec. 3. (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Social Services
-shall conduct a study relating to Medicaid reimbursement rates for, and
-the availability of, nonemergency medical transportation services for
-Medicaid beneficiaries to (1) evaluate the adequacy of current Medicaid
-reimbursement rates for nonemergency medical transportation services;
-(2) examine the availability of such transportation services across the
-state, including, but not limited to, geographic disparities in access and
-service gaps; (3) evaluate options for permitting home care providers,
-including, but not limited to, home health aides, to provide
-transportation services to or from medical appointments for Medicaid
-beneficiaries; (4) assess appropriate qualifications, licensing
-requirements and insurance standards for any such home care
-providers providing transportation services; (5) review the practices of
-other states concerning reimbursement rates and provider eligibility for
-nonemergency medical transportation services; and  (6) identify any
-other issues the commissioner deems relevant to improving access to
-non-emergency medical transportation services for Medicaid
-beneficiaries.
-(b) Not later than February 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Social
-Services shall submit a report on the findings of such study, and any
-recommendations for legislation, to the joint standing committees of the
-General Assembly having cognizance of matters rel ating to human
-House Bill No. 5557
+3. teacher certification standards based on those established by the
+American Sign Language Teachers Association and the
+American Sign Language Proficiency Interview.
+The teacher certification standards must establish a proficiency
+benchmark, recognize an alternative certification pathway for native
+ASL users and interpreters, and include reciprocity with ASL teacher
+certifications for other states.
+§ 3 — NEMT STUDY
+The bill requires DSS to study access to, and Medicaid reimbursement
+for, NEMT. The study must:
+1. evaluate the adequacy of current Medicaid NEMT
+reimbursement rates;
+2. examine the availability of NEMT across the state, including
+geographic disparities in access and service gaps;
+3. evaluate options to allow home care providers, such as home
+health aides, to provide transportation to or from medical
+appointments for Medicaid beneficiaries;
+4. assess appropriate qualifications, licensing requirements, and
+insurance standards for any home care worker providing these
+services;
+5. review other states’ practices on NEMT reimbursement rates and
+provider eligibility; and
+6. identify any other issues the DSS commissioner deems relevant
+to improve access to Medicaid NEMT.
+COMMITTEE ACTION
+Human Services Committee
+Joint Favorable
+Yea 23 Nay 0 (03/19/2026)
 
-Public Act No. 26-151 5 of 5
+2026HB-05557-R01-BA.DOCX
 
-services and public health, in accordance with the provisions of section
-11-4a of the general statutes.
+Researcher: MF Page 5 5/5/26
 
-Governor's Action:
-Approved June 2, 2026
+Appropriations Committee
+Joint Favorable
+Yea 46 Nay 7 (04/17/2026)