AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE ISSUES SURROUNDING CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN REHABILITATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study issues surrounding children and youth in rehabilitation. The task force shall examine: (1) Barriers to accessing substance use disorder treatment services for children and youth and coverage gaps in the provision of such services, (2) insurance coverage and reimbursement for rehabilitation services for children and youth, including substance use disorder treatment services, (3) the practical implications of state and federal mental health parity laws as such laws relate to the provision of substance use disorder treatment services for children and youth, and (4) such other topics the task force considers pertinent that relate to the provision of rehabilitation services to children and youth in the state.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;

(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives;

(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;

(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;

(7) The Commissioners of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Children and Families and the Insurance Commissioner, or said commissioners' designees;

(8) The Child Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee;

(9) The Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's designee;

(10) Two persons appointed by the Governor; and

(11) Two persons appointed by the chairpersons of the task force, who shall be representatives of parent or family advocacy groups.

(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.

(d) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force, from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.

(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.

(g) Not later than January 1, 2012, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, human services and insurance, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2012, whichever is later.