Title 17a, Title 17a: Social and Human Services and Resources

Sec. 17a-519. (Formerly Sec. 17-196). Fees, compensation and costs. Each officer or indifferent person making legal service of any order, notice, warrant or other paper under the provisions of sections 17a-75 to 17a-83, inclusive, 17a-450 to 17a-483, inclusive, 17a-495 to 17a-528…

Sec. 17a-52. Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board. Composition. Duties. (a) There is established a Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board, within the Department of Children and Families, which shall be a coordinating source for suicide prevention across a person's lifespan, including, …

Sec. 17a-520. (Formerly Sec. 17-197). Commitment at expiration of term of imprisonment. When any person has been transferred from any correctional institution to a state hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities and is confined in such hospital at the time of the expirat…

Sec. 17a-521. (Formerly Sec. 17-198). Temporary leaves from institution. Return or recall of patient. Exception. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the superintendent of any institution used wholly or in part for the care of persons with psychiatric disabilities or the…

Sec. 17a-522. (Formerly Sec. 17-199). Recommitment of escaped persons. The name of any person who has escaped from any institution for persons with psychiatric disabilities and has not been returned to such institution within one year thereafter shall be stricken from the records…

Sec. 17a-523. (Formerly Sec. 17-200). Commission to inquire whether person is wrongly confined. Any judge of the Superior Court, on information to him that any person is unjustly deprived of his liberty by being detained or confined in any hospital for psychiatric disabilities, o…

Sec. 17a-524. (Formerly Sec. 17-201). Writ of habeas corpus. Each person confined in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities in this state shall be entitled to the benefit of the writ of habeas corpus, and the question of the legality of such confinement in a hospital for psychia…

Sec. 17a-525. (Formerly Sec. 17-202). Appeal. Any person aggrieved by an order, denial or decree of a Probate Court under sections 17a-75 to 17a-83, inclusive, 17a-450 to 17a-483, inclusive, 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusi…

Sec. 17a-526. (Formerly Sec. 17-203). Commitment suspended on bond for confinement. The Court of Probate, before or pending or in the absence of an appeal, and the Superior Court, after finding on an appeal that such person has psychiatric disabilities, may, in its discretion, su…

Sec. 17a-527. (Formerly Sec. 17-204). Court may direct as to care of mentally ill pending appeal. Pending an appeal to the Superior Court, said court or, if said court is not in session, any judge of the Superior Court, may make and enforce such reasonable orders for the care and…

Sec. 17a-528. (Formerly Sec. 17-205a). Payment of commitment and transportation expenses. (a) When any person is found to have psychiatric disabilities, and is committed to a state hospital for psychiatric disabilities, upon proceedings had under sections 17a-75 to 17a-83, inclus…

Secs. 17a-529 to 17a-539. Reserved for future use. PART III* PATIENTS' RIGHTS *Annotation to former part Ib of chapter 306: Secs. 17-206a–17-206k cited. 213 C. 548. Annotation to present part: Cited. 233 C. 44.

Sec. 17a-52a. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (c) and effective date.) Evidence-based youth suicide prevention training program. (a) As used in this section, (1) “evidence-based” describes a training program that (A) incorporates methods demonstrated to be …

Sec. 17a-53. Training manual for youth suicide prevention programs. The Department of Children and Families shall develop, within available resources, a training manual for youth suicide prevention programs. (P.A. 89-191, S. 4; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2.) History: P.A. 93-91 substitute…

Sec. 17a-54. Parent education and support centers. The Department of Children and Families shall establish, within available appropriations, community-based, multiservice parent education and support centers. The goal of each center shall be to improve parenting and enhance famil…

Sec. 17a-540. (Formerly Sec. 17-206a). Definitions. As used in sections 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, unless otherwise expressly stated or unless the context otherwise requires: (1) “Facility” means any inpatient or outpatient hospital, clinic or other facility for the diagnosis…

Sec. 17a-541. (Formerly Sec. 17-206b). Deprivation of rights of patient prohibited. Exception. No patient hospitalized or treated in any public or private facility for the treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities shall be deprived of any personal, property or civil righ…

Sec. 17a-542. (Formerly Sec. 17-206c). Humane and dignified treatment required. Formulation of discharge plan. Every patient treated in any facility for treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities shall receive humane and dignified treatment at all times, with full respect…

Sec. 17a-543. (Formerly Sec. 17-206d). Procedures governing medication, treatment, psychosurgery and shock therapy. (a) No patient shall receive medication for the treatment of the psychiatric disabilities of such patient without the informed consent of such patient, except in ac…

Sec. 17a-543a. Administration of medication to criminal defendant placed in custody of Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Special limited conservator. (a)(1)(A) If it is determined by the head of the hospital and two qualified physicians that a patient who is a…

Sec. 17a-544. (Formerly Sec. 17-206e). Placement of patient in seclusion or mechanical restraint. Medication not to be used as substitute for habilitation. (a) No patient may be placed involuntarily in seclusion or a mechanical restraint unless necessary because there is imminent…

Sec. 17a-545. (Formerly Sec. 17-206f). Physical and psychiatric examinations. Every patient hospitalized under any of sections 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, shall receive a physical examination within five days of his hospitalization, and at least once each year thereafter. Ever…

Sec. 17a-546. (Formerly Sec. 17-206g). Communication by mail and telephone. (a) Every patient shall be permitted to communicate by sealed mail with any individual, group or agency, except as provided in this section. (b) Every hospital for treatment of persons with psychiatric di…

Sec. 17a-547. (Formerly Sec. 17-206h). Visitors. Restrictions on mail, telephone and visitor privileges, when allowed. (a) Every patient shall be permitted to receive visitors at regular visiting hours, except as herein provided. The head of the hospital shall: (1) Establish visi…

Sec. 17a-548. (Formerly Sec. 17-206i). Patient's rights re clothing, possessions, money and access to records. List of rights to be posted. (a) Any patient shall be permitted to wear his or her own clothes; to keep and use personal possessions including toilet articles; to be pre…

Sec. 17a-549. (Formerly Sec. 17-206j). Denial of employment, housing, licenses, because of history of mental disorder restricted. (a) No person shall be denied employment, housing, civil service rank, any license or permit, including a professional license, or any other civil or …

Sec. 17a-54a. Support for families with children with serious, chronic medical conditions. Section 17a-54a is repealed, effective July 1, 2013. (May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-1, S. 41; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(b); P.A. 13-234, S. 155.)

Sec. 17a-54b. Policies and procedures to secure health, safety and well-being of infants affected at birth by drug or alcohol exposure. (a) For purposes of this section, (1) “drug abuse” means the ingestion of controlled substances, as defined in 21 USC 802, without a prescriptio…

Sec. 17a-55. Awarding of grants to community service programs based upon effectiveness. The Commissioner of Children and Families shall implement a system of awarding grants to community service programs whereby such programs are funded proportionate to their effectiveness in tre…

Sec. 17a-550. (Formerly Sec. 17-206k). Remedies of aggrieved persons. Any person aggrieved by a violation of sections 17a-540 to 17a-549, inclusive, may petition the superior court within whose jurisdiction the person is or resides for appropriate relief, including temporary and …

Secs. 17a-551 to 17a-559. Reserved for future use. PART IV WHITING FORENSIC HOSPITAL

Sec. 17a-560. (Formerly Sec. 17-238). Definitions. As used in sections 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusive, unless specifically provided otherwise, “hospital” means the Whiting Forensic Hospital, including the diagnostic unit established under the provisions of section 17a-562, or any …

Sec. 17a-560a. Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital substituted for Whiting Forensic Institute. Section 17a-560a is repealed, effective June 4, 2018. (P.A. 95-257, S. 20, 58; P.A. 18-86, S. 54.)

Sec. 17a-561. (Formerly Sec. 17-239). Persons to be treated at Whiting Forensic Hospital. The Whiting Forensic Hospital shall exist for the care and treatment of (1) patients with psychiatric disabilities, confined in facilities under the control of the Department of Mental Healt…

Sec. 17a-562. (Formerly Sec. 17-240). Whiting Forensic Hospital under control and supervision of Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The Whiting Forensic Hospital shall be within the general administrative control and supervision of the Department of Mental Health…

Sec. 17a-563. (Formerly Sec. 17-242). Appointment of staff. The director shall appoint, subject to chapter 67 and with the approval of the advisory and review board, adequate staff including psychiatrists, certified psychologists, social workers, a dentist and such other professi…

Sec. 17a-564. (Formerly Sec. 17-242a). Director to make report to board. The director of the Whiting Forensic Hospital shall quarterly make a report to the Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services on the affairs of the hospital, including reports of reexaminations and recomm…

Sec. 17a-565. (Formerly Sec. 17-243). Replacement of advisory board with oversight board. Functions. Investigative reports. Reporting. (a)(1) On and before September 30, 2022, there shall be an advisory board for Whiting Forensic Hospital, constituted as follows: The Commissioner…

Sec. 17a-566. (Formerly Sec. 17-244). Certain convicted persons to be examined. Report and recommendation. (a) Except as provided in section 17a-574, any court prior to sentencing a person convicted of an offense for which the penalty may be imprisonment in any correctional insti…

Sec. 17a-567. (Formerly Sec. 17-245). Disposition of defendant after report. (a) If the report recommends that the defendant be sentenced in accordance with the conviction, placed on probation by the court or placed on probation by the court with the requirement, as a condition o…

Sec. 17a-568. (Formerly Sec. 17-247). Other statutes not affected. Nothing in sections 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusive, shall affect proceedings under sections 17a-580 to 17a-602, inclusive, 17b-250 and 54-56d. (1957, P.A. 650, S. 10; 1967, P.A. 183, S. 2; P.A. 80-470, S. 5, 11; P.…

Sec. 17a-569. (Formerly Sec. 17-250). Periodic examinations of patients. Not less than once every six months the staff of the hospital shall give a complete psychiatric examination to every patient confined in the hospital. As used in this section and sections 17a-570 to 17a-573,…

Sec. 17a-57. Designation of emergency room nursing staff to take physical custody of infant voluntarily surrendered. Each hospital operating an emergency room shall designate all members of the emergency room nursing staff as employees authorized to take physical custody of an in…

Sec. 17a-570. (Formerly Sec. 17-251). Review and disposition of case after periodic examination. Report of determination to court. Hearing. (a) As soon as is practicable, the director of the Whiting Forensic Hospital shall act upon the examination reports of the director's staff.…

Sec. 17a-571. (Formerly Sec. 17-252). Notice of director's action. Copies of the patient's examination report submitted to the director and copies of the director's determination shall be sent to the court which sentenced him if the patient was sentenced under section 17a-567. (1…

Sec. 17a-572. (Formerly Sec. 17-253). Records to be confidential. All certificates, applications, records and reports made for the purpose of sections 17a-560 to 17a-575, inclusive, and directly or indirectly identifying a person subject to it shall be kept confidential and shall…