September 21, 2012

NEW LAWS TAKING EFFECT OCT. 1
HELP SENIORS, GRANPARENTS, CHILDREN FACING ADOPTION

State Representative Bob Godfrey is celebrating the new law on hospice care that goes into effect Oct. 1. “This was my top priority during the 2012 session,” said Godfrey. “The volunteer directors of Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut explained that antiquated laws and regulations were preventing them from offering compassionate, professional care in our area. I joined my colleagues, especially David Scribner (R-Brookfield), to correct and update the statute. We succeeded!”

This new law improves access to quality end-of-life care for families in a number of regions across the state. By adjusting the state’s regulations to make them consistent with federal hospice standards, the law will encourage hospices to offer residential services in areas of the state where they are not currently available.

“Bringing hospice services into the homes of people of all ages needing end-of-life care will greatly help the caregivers and the individual,” said Rep. Godfrey. “It’s simply the right thing to do.”

Godfrey said there are other new laws going into effect October 1 that will have positive implications for seniors and children. They include:

• The Grandparent’s Bill of Rights.  This new law strengthens the rights of grandparents seeking visitation by putting extra weight on evidence showing that a parent-like relationship exists and that a denial of visitation could cause harm to the child. The law is in response to a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling that denied a visitation petition, which had previously been approved by a lower court.

• Preserving Medicare. Seniors who benefit from the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which helps with co-pays and deductibles, can now rest easier. The program’s income eligibility requirements have been adjusted to account for recent Social Security cost of living increases. This change in law took effect earlier this year.

“I am proud we were able to help re-connect grandparents and their grandchildren and adjust Medicare members’ income limits,” said Godfrey.

• Adoption. The legislature also approved a measure that restructures the legal adoption process for children in the custody and care of foster parents. The new adoption process permits the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to file adoption petitions in the Superior Court, instead of probate court.

Connecticut has almost 6,000 children in foster care and many can wait for years to find permanent placement with families eager to have them.

Rep. Godfrey said, “Expediting placement by streamlining the process at DCF not only makes sense but also helps to better serve the most vulnerable children in the state,”