PA 07-73—HB 7007

Public Health Committee

Government Administration and Elections Committee

Appropriations Committee

AN ACT RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL RETARDATION

SUMMARY: This act renames the Department of Mental Retardation as the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). It specifies that the name change does not change the criteria for determining eligibility for the department's services. To be eligible for services, a person must (1) function at a significantly subaverage general intellectual level (usually this means an IQ score of 69 or lower) and (2) at the same time, exhibit deficits in adaptive behavior. These characteristics must manifest themselves before the person's 18^th birthday.

The act authorizes the DDS commissioner to determine how and when related administrative changes, such as revisions to business cards, stationery, and signage, occur. It also makes a number of technical, conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2007

OLR Tracking: SS: KM: CR: dw