HB 05396 Summary

• Establishes a psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program within the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to provide funding for MDMA-assisted and psilocybin-assisted therapy to qualified patients (veterans, retired first responders, direct care health workers, and residents of historically underserved communities) through FDA-approved expanded access protocols.

• Creates a Qualified Patients for Approved Treatment Sites Fund (PAT Fund) with $3 million appropriated for fiscal year 2023, distributing $1.5 million equally among up to three selected treatment sites, with an additional $1.5 million available if sites secure matching private foundation grants by March 31, 2023.

• Establishes the Connecticut Psychedelic Treatment Advisory Board with 10 members appointed by legislative and executive officials to advise the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services on regulations, training, equity measures, and long-term strategy for therapeutic psychedelic access upon federal legalization.

• Requires the Department of Consumer Protection to adopt the DEA schedule designation for MDMA and psilocybin if approved by the DEA for medical use, allowing Connecticut to align state controlled substance classifications with federal determinations.

• Requires approved treatment sites to collect and submit data on protocols, training, facility standards, and drug diversion prevention to the state while maintaining compliance with patient privacy laws; the pilot program ceases when MDMA and psilocybin receive DEA medical use approval.