HB 5239 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE INDEPENDENT MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD AND FATALITY REVIEW BOARD.

HB 5239 establishes an Independent Mortality Review Board within Connecticut's Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to review deaths of people with intellectual disabilities under DDS care. The board will examine cases involving abuse/neglect allegations, deaths under medical examiner jurisdiction, sudden unexpected deaths, or concerns about care appropriateness. The board includes DDS staff, the Chief Medical Examiner, public health representatives, and other stakeholders, operating under existing peer review and confidentiality rules. This formalizes the review process to avoid duplication with the existing Fatality Review Board.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Signed May 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PH Joint Favorable Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify that the Independent Mortality Review Board specifically reviews deaths of people with intellectual disabilities under the Department of Developmental Services. The changes add precise language to ensure the board's authority is clearly limited to this specific population and align the text with the bill's stated purpose, while also updating member titles for consistency.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed and clarified to explicitly apply only to deaths of persons with intellectual disabilities for whom the Department of Developmental Services has responsibility, rather than applying more broadly to all individuals under the department's care.

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific language defining the board's jurisdiction to deaths of 'a person with intellectual disability for whom the department has direct or oversight responsibility for medical care'.

DEFINITION

Changed the term 'individual' to 'person' throughout the bill for consistency and clarity.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted phrasing in the list of review criteria (e.g., changing 'Involving' to 'Involving an' and 'that was' to 'for which') to improve grammatical flow and consistency.

Added a statement explaining that the legislative changes were made for clarity and consistency with other sections of the bill.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2026 · House Apr 8, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed

Total votes 36

May 6, 2026

D Democratic25

25 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican11

11 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 27, 2026

Signed into law

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

lower

May 6, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (36-0)

senate

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

SENATE PASSED

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

HOUSE PASSED

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors