SB 257 Summary

• Transfers the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman from the Office of Policy and Management to the Department of Rehabilitation Services, with the Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services replacing the Secretary in oversight duties.

• Establishes a new position of Assistant State Ombudsman appointed by the State Ombudsman to assist in carrying out ombudsman duties.

• Expands ombudsman program coverage to include recipients of home and community-based services aged 60 and older, in addition to residents of long-term care facilities.

• Removes the limited Hartford County pilot program for home and community-based care recipients and makes it a statewide service.

• Updates ombudsman duties to investigate and resolve complaints related to home and community-based services, including issues with applications for such services, and requires annual reports analyzing data on both facility residents and home care recipients.