SB 501 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMPLEX REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY AND WHEELCHAIR REPAIR ADVISORY COUNCIL.

This bill creates a new advisory council to oversee wheelchair repairs and establish stricter timelines for dealers to fix complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs. The council will include representatives from Medicaid recipients, private insurance users, disability advocates, dealers, and state agencies to monitor repair times and make recommendations. Dealers must now respond to repair requests within one business day, order parts within three days, and offer home repairs upon request, while a new complaint system tracks repair delays. The bill also requires regular reporting on repair performance to state committees to ensure accountability.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 12, 2026 Last action Apr 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → HS Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' and updated to reflect the 2026 legislative session. The most significant change involves expanding the advisory council for wheelchair repairs by increasing the number of consumer representatives and clarifying the types of funding sources (Medicaid and private insurance) they represent. Additionally, the bill now explicitly requires dealers to perform repairs at a consumer's home upon request, whereas previous versions did not specify the location of repairs.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the advisory council composition was broadened to include more consumer voices and specific representatives for the state advocacy system. The scope of repair obligations was expanded to explicitly mandate home repairs.

REQUIREMENT

Added a specific requirement that authorized wheelchair dealers must provide timely repairs at a consumer's home upon request.

Increased the number of consumer representatives on the advisory council from one to two, ensuring broader representation for individuals using Medicaid-funded wheelchairs.

Added a new category of consumer representative to the advisory council who privately pays for wheelchairs, ensuring the needs of those without insurance coverage are represented.

Expanded the reporting requirements for wheelchair dealers to include a detailed breakdown of repair times for every step of the process, from responding to requests and ordering parts to completing repairs at home, remotely, or at a facility.

DEFINITION

Clarified that the state advocacy system representative on the council is established under a specific existing section of the law.

TIMELINE

Removed specific dates for initial appointments and the first meeting from the text, likely because these dates were set in a previous version or are no longer relevant to the substitute bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Human Services

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors