Sec. 17a-219c. Family Support Council.
Sec. 17a-219c. Family Support Council. (a) There is established a Family Support Council to assist the Department of Developmental Services and other state agencies
that administer or fund family support services to act in concert and, within available
appropriations, to (1) establish a comprehensive, coordinated system of family support
services, (2) use existing state and other resources efficiently and effectively as appropriate for such services, (3) identify and address services that are needed for families
of children with disabilities, and (4) promote state-wide availability of such services.
The council shall consist of twenty-seven voting members including the Commissioners
of Public Health, Developmental Services, Children and Families, Education and Social
Services, or their designees, the Child Advocate, the executive director of the Office of
Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, the chairperson of the State
Interagency Birth-to-Three Coordinating Council, as established pursuant to section
17a-248b, the executive director of the Commission on Children, and family members
of, or individuals who advocate for, children with disabilities. The family members or
individuals who advocate for children with disabilities shall comprise two-thirds of the
council and shall be appointed as follows: Six by the Governor, three by the president
pro tempore of the Senate, two by the majority leader of the Senate, one by the minority
leader of the Senate, three by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two by the
majority leader of the House of Representatives and one by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives. Members shall be appointed for a term of four years. Members
shall be limited to two consecutive terms. The council shall meet at least quarterly and
shall select its own chairperson. Council members shall serve without compensation
but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred. The costs of administering the
council shall be within available appropriations in accordance with sections 17a-219a
to 17a-219c, inclusive.
(b) The council shall: (1) Gather input and develop a vision and guidelines for family
support services in Connecticut; (2) review existing program policies, procedures and
funding mechanisms for conformity to the guidelines and make appropriate recommendations; (3) monitor the implementation of the guidelines and recommendations; (4)
report to the Governor and the General Assembly on an annual basis regarding the
status of family support services, including the implementation of the guidelines and
recommendations; (5) advocate for family support services in accordance with the
guidelines; (6) compile and distribute information on family support services within
public and private agencies; and (7) perform such other duties as are related to the
advancement of family centered supports, policies and services.
(P.A. 94-228, S. 3, 4; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-185, S. 13, 16; P.A. 98-100; P.A. 01-195, S. 127, 181; P.A.
07-73, S. 2(a),(b).)
History: P.A. 94-228 effective June 8, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health
and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995 (Revisor's note: The
phrase "Commissioners of the Departments of Public Health ..." in Subsec. (a) was changed editorially by the Revisors to
"Commissioners of Public Health ..." for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 96-185 made a technical
change in Subsec. (a) reflecting transfer of birth-to-three program to Department of Mental Retardation, effective July 1,
1996; P.A. 98-100 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing members from 24 to 27, adding the Child Advocate, individuals
who advocate for children with disabilities and increased from 2 to 3 the appointments by the president pro tempore of
the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives; P.A. 01-195 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes,
effective July 11, 2001; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department of Mental Retardation" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and "Department of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007.