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SB 400

relative to duties and reporting requirements of the therapeutic cannabis medical oversight board.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Regina Birdsell and 5 co-sponsors

Creates local Adult Protection Multidisciplinary Teams to coordinate cross-agency reviews of abuse/neglect cases and speed protection for disabled and older adults.

House Refuses to Accede to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Layon): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14
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Bill Summary · SB 400

SB 400 — Adult Protection Multidisciplinary Teams

Status: Signed by Governor 6/26/2025 (Chaptered). Introduced: 2/14/2025.
Subject areas: Aging, counties, DHHS, local government, social services, social workers, personnel.

Main purpose

SB 400 authorizes and encourages the creation of local Adult Protection Multidisciplinary Teams (AP-MDTs) to improve cross‑agency coordination, case review, and systemic problem‑solving for cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving disabled adults and older adults who are served by Adult Protective Services (APS). The statute enables selected, structured information sharing and multi‑agency responses to reduce re‑victimization and close service gaps.

Key provisions

  • Establishes a new Article (Local Adult Protection Multidisciplinary Teams) in Chapter 108A of the General Statutes.
  • Two team types:
    • Case Review Multidisciplinary Team — reviews selected active APS cases.
    • Systemic Review Multidisciplinary Team — addresses systemic problems, develops information networks, and coordinates community education/outreach.
  • County implementation:
    • Each county may form its own single‑county team or enter a multicounty team by agreement of participating county boards.
    • County boards may withdraw from a multicounty team with written notice.
  • Mandatory composition (each single‑county team; multicounty teams include representatives from each member county):
    • Director of social services and a designated local DSS staff member
    • Local law enforcement officer
    • District attorney’s office attorney
    • Public guardian (where appointed)
    • Local mental health professional (area authority)
    • Long‑term care ombudsman
    • Local public health director (or designee)
    • Local health care provider (appointed by board of health)
    • Representative of local area agency on aging
    • Victim advocate from local domestic violence/sexual assault agency
  • Chair powers: chair may appoint up to 5 additional local/community members (e.g., bankers, hospital reps, nonprofits).
  • Meetings: teams must meet at least quarterly; the local DSS director calls the first meeting; the chair sets subsequent meetings and agenda.
  • Duties and operations:
    • Review selected APS cases under written operating procedures developed by local DSS.
    • Use risk‑based criteria for case selection.
    • Coordinate case‑level multiagency solutions and submit annual recommendations to county commissioners on systemic service gaps.
    • Required training: chair must complete designated training within three months of election.
  • Information sharing and confidentiality: the Article authorizes limited interagency information sharing for team purposes within statutory confidentiality safeguards (and typically includes consent/notice and data‑handling protocols — teams must follow state confidentiality law).
  • Civil liability/immunity: participants acting in good faith while performing team duties are typically protected from civil liability (see statute for exact language).

Who is affected

  • Primary: disabled adults (age 18+) and older adults (age 65+) served by APS.
  • Local governments and agencies: county departments of social services, law enforcement, district attorneys, public guardians, mental health authorities, public health, health care providers, long‑term care ombudsman, area agencies on aging, victim advocates and other community partners.
  • Indirectly: service providers and local systems that respond to elder/disabled adult abuse and neglect.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 14, 2025 (per file); signed by governor 6/26/2025 and chaptered. (Check the enacted statute for the official effective date — many versions set an effective date of Oct. 1, 2025; confirm the chaptered act for the final effective date.)
  • Implementation is county‑driven; counties decide single‑county vs. multicounty arrangements and absorb convening/training duties.

Expected impacts

  • Benefits: improved multidisciplinary case reviews, faster multiagency responses, better identification of systemic gaps, potential reduction in re‑victimization.
  • Costs/administration: primarily staff time and coordination for meetings, training, and recordkeeping. Fiscal impact is expected to be modest and borne locally unless the statute (in final text) authorizes or requires state funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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