CT HB07188

Commissioner of Social Services must amend the CHESS (Connecticut Housing Engagement and Support Services) Medicaid initiative to establish minimum per-person monthly rates for providers and align eligibility criteria and payment rates with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services supportive housing program

Providers participating in both CHESS and the DMHAS supportive housing program are protected from reimbursement rate decreases, with CHESS rates required to match DMHAS supportive housing rates

Newly enrolled, unhoused CHESS participants must receive priority for available housing assistance vouchers

Establishes a legislative oversight committee for homeless services consisting of chairpersons from four joint standing committees (housing, human services, planning and development, public health), three state commissioners, the interagency council on affordable housing chairperson, and two nonprofit representatives

Commissioners of Housing, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Social Services must file quarterly reports with the oversight committee and obtain committee approval before making changes to homeless services programs, with votes scheduled within 30 days of proposed changes