Public Policies and Livable Communities
State-level legislation and public policies can support and inspire the critical local and regional initiatives and opportunities needed to realize livable communities that support aging in place. The Commission on Women, Children and Seniors works with members of the Connecticut General Assembly and various partners to identify and promote innovative and wide-ranging legislation related to livable communities and aging in place. Areas range from telehealth to economic security to countless initiatives in between.
Legislative Highlights
2015:
Public Act 15-41 improves bicyclist safety and transportation options in Connecticut.Public Act 15-57 expands tax increment financing (a special funding tool that promotes investments in downtowns), allowing municipalities to create a defined district and plan, and then use the tax revenues generated within the district for investment within the area.Public Act 15-1 (Section 229) allows a nonprofit organization contracted by the Department of Rehabilitative Services to administer the grant program authorized by Public Act 14-98 (see description below under “2014”).
2014:
Public Act 14-98 authorized $6 million in bonding money to provide grants to older adults and persons with disabilities to make home modifications and purchase assistive technology so they can remain in their homes.
Public Act 14-73 requires Connecticut’s Legislative Commission on Aging to recognize communities that have implemented livable community initiatives.
2013:
Public Act 13-109 created a livable communities initiative to help municipalities prepare for the growing aging population. It required Connecticut’s Legislative Commission on Aging to
- Serve as a forum for best practices and a resource clearinghouse;
- Establish and facilitate partnerships;
- Identify various public and private funding sources;
- Create a livable communities website; and
- Report annually on the initiative to the Connecticut General Assembly’s Committees on Aging, Housing, Human Services and Transportation.
Public Act 13-250 implemented many recommendations of the Aging In Place Task Force (Special Act 12-6), making changes in several statutes to help people remain in their own homes and communities as they age. Specifically, it:
- Requires a coordinated outreach system to increase the use of the supplemental nutrition assistance program;
- Suggests that local plans of conservation and development include a component of planning for older adults and individuals with disabilities to remain in their homes and communities;
- Specifies that a ramp for wheelchair use be included in the list of visitable features that are exempted from obtaining a State Building Code variance;
- Expands the list of mandated elder abuse reporters and establishes a new training requirement for their employers;
- Requires the Department of Social Services to issue a yearly report to the Connecticut General Assembly, detailing the number of elder abuse complaints and disposition of complaints from the previous calendar year; and
- Requires a public awareness campaign to educate older adults on ways to resist aggressive marketing tactics.
Commission on Women, Children and Seniors 