HB 5305 Summary

• Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services may accept gifts, grants, reimbursements, and bequests made conditionally or unconditionally for department purposes, consistent with state and federal law, effective July 1, 2020.

• Commissioner shall maintain a register of blind persons in Connecticut describing their condition, cause of blindness, and capacity for education and rehabilitative training, and establish criteria for low vision care with authorized providers.

• Establishes the Assistive Technology Loan Program (renamed from Revolving Fund) to make and guarantee loans up to ten years at no more than 6% interest to persons with disabilities and older adults for purchasing assistive technology and adaptive equipment.

• State Bond Commission authorized to issue up to $1 million in bonds to fund the Assistive Technology Loan Program, with bond proceeds deposited in the program and net investment earnings deposited in the state General Fund.

• Expands the Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing to monitor services, meet with state agency commissioners, and make recommendations on technical assistance, public policy, and interpreter qualifications; removes function of referring interpreter complaints to outside entities.