HARTFORD, CT – The state Senate voted Wednesday to advance bills creating task forces to study behavioral health and the effect of hate speech on children.
The bills are now headed to the House floor for further action.
Senate Bill 217 is aimed at simplifying applications for recipients of behavioral care for children. It would create a task force to study the potential of having a universal intake form for recipients of behavioral health services for children.
The legislation would require the working group to submit a report, no later than Jan. 1, 2026, including the new form, as well as the requirements and guidelines for use of the form by providers.
The working group would report to the Department of Public Health.
Sen. Ceci Maher, who is chair of the Committee on Children, said that families are in a “state of crisis” when bringing in their child for behavior services, and that the children’s committee is trying to give them the necessary tools to answer important questions.
“What we’re trying to do with this form is putting in all the things a parent needs to know so that when they go to a place to meet with a new provider, you [the parents] are not asked questions that you don’t know the answers to,” she said.
“I’m thrilled that we’re going to make life easier for parents in the state,” Maher, D-Wilton, said.
The form would include questions related to:
- a patient’s medical and behavioral health history, including treatment history, diagnoses, related family history and past and current prescription medication;
- the conditions and concerns for which treatment is being sought; and
- other questions deemed necessary to provide a full understanding of the patient’s condition
Senate President Martin Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff voiced their support for the bill, and said that it should be much easier for patients to apply for care than it currently is.
The legislation passed through the chamber by a vote of 34-1.
Studying The Effects Of Hate Speech
The chamber also voted to create a task force to study the effects of hate speech on kids, and to analyze which programs throughout the state are doing the best job of preventing and mitigating the damage that bullying and hate speech can cause.
Senate Bill 337 would create a task force to study the factors behind hate speech and bullying, and the effects on children. The task force would also analyze programs throughout the state that are successful at mitigating hateful rhetoric and its effects.
Maher said that since 2016 there has been an increase in hateful and unkind behavior, and that the legislature wants to know why it is happening, and what effects it is having.
“We know that in our districts across the state, children are dealing with issues of racism and anti-semitism and homophobia, and we must look at what are the reasons that this is happening, what is the effect on children, and what are the programs that exist currently in communities that are successful,” she said.
Using that information to better address hate speech and its effects on youth, and possibly growing the most effective programs at combating that rhetoric, is something the legislature could do.
“This working group is to look at all of this and bring these ideas and concepts back to the legislature so we can put programs in place back to ameliorate this happening to children, because the impact is lifelong,” Maher said.
Looney said that the bill would provide “valuable information” to the legislature.
The working group would report to the General Assembly, and would be required to report its findings no later than January 1, 2025.
The legislation passed by a vote of 35-0.
