Group home fire safety funding. Assessment of need. Applications, reporting requirements

(a) The Department of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, shall, within available appropriations, establish a pool of funds not later than January 1, 2025, to allow private providers to apply for financial assistance to comply with fire regulation requirements that any group home be equipped with a five-thousand gallon water tank. (b) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Connecticut Council of Small Towns, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and the Connecticut Builders Trade Association, shall assess the level of need for such funds and review fire regulations for group homes in other states, including, but not limited to, New England states, California and Colorado, to determine whether any changes are necessary in state fire regulations for such group homes. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall prescribe application requirements for the funding and post such requirements on the Internet web site of the Department of Administrative Services. (c) Not later than October 1, 2024, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on level of need for the funds to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, finance, public safety, human services, planning and development and public health.