AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING RECOVERY-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE AND VARIOUS REVISIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION STATUTES.

2026 Regular Session

Connecticut directs mental health agency to recommend recovery-friendly statutory language updates to reduce stigma in addiction and mental health laws.

FILE NO. 529

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Legislative bill overview

HB 5517 directs Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop recommendations on "recovery-friendly language" for use across mental health and addiction statutes, and authorizes various revisions to existing mental health and addiction laws. The bill aims to standardize terminology that supports recovery-oriented approaches rather than stigmatizing language in official state documents and legal frameworks.

Why is this important

Language in statutes shapes how systems treat individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, influencing both policy implementation and public perception. Standardizing recovery-friendly terminology across state law can reduce stigma, improve treatment engagement, and align Connecticut's legal framework with modern evidence-based approaches to mental health and addiction services.

Potential points of contention

Definition ambiguity: "Recovery-friendly language" lacks a precise definition, potentially creating inconsistency in how recommendations are applied across different statutes and agencies

Implementation scope and cost: Revising multiple statutes requires clarification on which laws qualify, what changes are mandatory versus advisory, and whether agencies have adequate resources for implementation

Legal precision concerns: Mental health and addiction statutes often use specific terminology for legal purposes (liability, commitment criteria, treatment authority); changing language risks unintended legal consequences or creating ambiguity in enforcement