• See the Public Policy Updates Section for the most current information available.

• Check out our Education & Training section to see the exciting seminars we are offering!

2)  Does CCPA make referrals?

3)  Does CCPA post industry job openings?

6)    How do I find my legislators?

7)    How do I track a legislative bill?

8)    How do I testify in a public hearing?

9)    How do I get to the Capitol and Legislative Office Buildings?

10)  How do I find contact information for a state agency employee?

11)  How does a bill become a law?

15)  Is my child eligible for Birth to Three services?

16)  How can I find Birth to Three providers in my area?

17)  How do I get services and supports for a person with mental retardation?

19)  Where can I learn more about the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver?

20)  Where can I find information on HIPAA?

21)  How can I learn more about Medicare Part D?

22)  How does the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 affect nonprofits?

23)  What is the status of Medicare reimbursement for LPCs? 

1) Who do I contact at CCPA?

Click here to access the complete CCPA staff list.

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2) Does CCPA make referrals?

CCPA can provide the names and contact information of our member agencies that are located in your area which provide the types of services you are seeking.  You will have to contact the providers individually to determine whether or not they can assist you.

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3) Does CCPA post industry job openings?

CCPA has a Job Bank, accessible through our website. Members can post job advertisements at a cost of $30 for the first 30 words and $1 for each additional word. Nonmembers may post job openings at a cost of $50 for the first 30 words and $1 for each additional word.  We post advertisements as soon as we receive them.  The volume of the Job Bank fluctuates; it may or may not contain advertisements at any given time.  If you have specific questions about CCPA’s Job Bank, contact Sherri Woolley, CCPA Administrative Assistant for Administrative Operations.

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4) When do CCPA divisions meet?  Who should attend?

Click here to access a complete listing of CCPA's Divisions, Committees and Forums including general meeting times.

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5) How do I find out about CCPA’s Fall Conference or Annual Meeting?

The CCPA Fall Conference usually occurs in mid-September.  CCPA’s Annual Meeting happens in early December.  For more information, contact Kendra Maigarie, Member Services Coordinator.

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6) How do I find my legislators?

 Go to the Connecticut General Assembly website: http://www.cga.ct.gov. To find a representative, click on House/Find Your Legislator. Towns are listed alphabetically and Representatives are listed by district next to the town they represent. If there is more than one district per town, click on the numbers for the districts.  You will see a map of your town divided by district. If you click on the area in which you live, you will see your legislator’s website displayed. The same process can be used to find your Senators. You may also use the CCPA Contact Your legislators Feature, which allows you to search for and send an email to your legislator directly from our website.  Click here to utilize this important tool!

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7) How do I track a legislative bill?

 A legislative bill is either a House bill or a Senate bill, depending on its place of origin. All bills have a number; a bill with a number higher than 5000 is a House bill and a bill with a number below 5000 is a Senate bill.  Bills can be tracked on the legislative website: http://www.cga.ct.gov. At the top of the page there is a place to type in a bill’s number.  If you do not know the bill’s number, there is a search command on the left side of the page where you can search for bills by committee or title. Once you enter the bill’s number, the website will give you all the information related to that particular bill.

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8) How do I testify in a public hearing?

Most hearings are held in the Legislative Office Building (LOB), though some are in the Capitol. TV monitors at LOB and Capitol entrances show the locations. A daily bulletin also gives this information and lists all bills scheduled for hearing. You can get a bulletin in the LOB's ground floor bill room during regular sessions or on the General Assembly's website (www.cga.ct.gov).

Read the legislative bulletin for the particular information on the sign-up process for that day. The sign up sheet has space to print your name legibly, the bill(s) you are speaking on, and sometimes, whether you are for or against the bill. Sign up sheets are usually in place one hour before the hearing, but people may begin getting in line to sign up even earlier.  Sign up sheets are usually outside the room where the hearing will be, but not always. The bulletin will detail the exact location of the sign up.

Anyone may testify at a public hearing.  Testimony should be no longer than three minutes.  The first hour of a hearing is normally reserved for legislators and agency heads or invited guests.  Then testimony is taken in the order people signed up. Written testimony is not required but is recommended.  If you bring written testimony, you must bring a copy for every committee member. 

When you are called, sit at the speaker's desk. You may begin with "Madam Chair, Mr. Chairman" (as appropriate) "and members of the committee." Introduce yourself very distinctly so the transcriber can understand, and mention your town and the number and title of the bill you'll be speaking on. In addition, most hearings and meetings are covered by Connecticut Network (CT-N) for broadcast over local cable access stations.

Indicate right away whether you support the bill, oppose it, or are offering suggestions to improve it. Then explain your reasoning. Follow this procedure for each bill you discuss.  After the three minute time limit, legislators may ask questions regarding your testimony.  (From www.cga.ct.gov/olm/yourvoice.asp)

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9) How do I get to the Capitol and Legislative Office Buildings?

Going East on I-84: Take the Capitol Ave. Exit 48B. The Capitol is on the left and the Legislative Office Building (LOB) on the right.

Going West on I-84: Take the Asylum Street Exit 48.   Turn right at the light, then immediately take the left fork, which is Farmington Avenue.  Turn left at the next light onto Broad Street.  After one light and the State Armory, turn left into the Legislative Office Building driveway and continue left to the LOB Garage.   To park at the Capitol, which has very limited space, turn left at the second light onto Capitol Avenue, left onto Trinity Street at the second light, and left onto the Capitol Grounds.

From I-91, Northbound and Southbound: Take the Capitol Area Exit 29A. Follow the Whitehead Highway; go halfway around the rotary onto Elm St., left onto Trinity St., and bear right onto Capitol Ave. The Capitol and the Legislative Office Building (LOB) are on the right.

Parking: Limited free parking is available in the Legislative Office Building parking garage (weekdays only) accessible from both Capitol Avenue and Broad Street and on the north Capitol grounds off Trinity Street.  On-street metered parking and commercial parking lots are also nearby.

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10) How do I find contact information for a state agency employee?

Anyone can search for a state employee’s contact information at the following website: www.phone.state.ct.us/phonesearch.asp.

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11) How does a bill become a law?

For information on how a bill becomes law, check out the following website: www.cga.ct.gov/html/bill-law.htm.

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12) What do all these acronyms mean?

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act

AG Attorney General

BA Bill analysis

BESB Board of Education and Services for the Blind

CB Committee bill

CGS Connecticut General Statutes

CHRO Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities

COLA Cost of living adjustment

DAS Department of Administrative Services

DCF Department of Children and Families

DMHAS Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

DMR Department of Mental Retardation

DMV Department of Motor Vehicles

DOC Department of Correction

DOL Department of Labor

DPH Department of Public Health

DPS Department of Public Safety

DPW Department of Public Works

DRS Department of Revenue Services

DSS Department of Social Services

FY Fiscal Year

GAE Government Administration and Elections Committee

HJR House Joint Resolution

HR House Resolution

JF Joint Favorable

JFS Joint Favorable Substitute

LCO Legislative Commissioners’ Office

LOB Legislative Office Building

OFA Office of Fiscal Analysis

OLM Office of Legisltaive Management

OLR Office of Legislative Research; Office of Labor Relations

OPA Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities

OPM Office of Policy and Management

OVS Office of Victim Services

PA Public Act

PAC Political Action Committee

PCA Personal Care Assistance

PL Public Law (Federal)

RB Raised bill

RCH Residential Care Home

RFP Request for proposal

SA Special Act

SJR Senate Joint Resolution

SR Senate Resolution

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13) What is the salary scale for DMR Regional Directors? 

Regional Directors fall in the MP73 classification as “Social Services Regional Administrator.” 

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14)  What is the salary differential between state workers and private community providers that do the same    type work?

CCPA Cola Chart FY07

CCPA Cola Chart FY07- Salary Data     

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15) Is my child eligible for Birth to Three services?

An eligible child is a child (under the age of 36 months) of any Connecticut resident who either has a diagnosed medical condition such as Down syndrome, spina bifida, autism, blindness, deafness, or others that have a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay; or shows significant delays in development such as talking or walking.  (From http://www.birth23.org/Questions%20and%20Answers/default.asp)  To refer a child, contact the Birth to Three infoline at 1-800-505-7000.  Or visit www.birth23.org for more information. 

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16) How can I find Birth to Three providers in my area?

The Birth to Three website has a map of the different regions in Connecticut.  See the map at www.birth23.org/Programs/default.asp#map.  Click on the area of the state in which you live and the website will give you a list of providers in your area.

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17) How do I get services and supports for a person with mental retardation?

An application for eligibility determination may be submitted by any resident of Connecticut or their legal representative. To apply for services from the Department of Mental Retardation please call our Eligibility Unit at the toll free number - 1-866-433-8192. If calling from out of state, call 1-203-974-4256. Basic information will be taken over the phone and an eligibility packet will be forwarded with a list of the items that are needed to complete the process. Email for the Eligibility Coordinator is: DMR.Eligibility@po.state.ct.us.  For more information, please visit: http://www.dmr.state.ct.us/ 

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18) What level of Directors & Officers Insurance coverage does my agency need?

D&O Insurance protects the directors and officers of you agency if they are sued in their capacity as director and officers in performance of their duties to your agency.  Approximately 90% of nonprofit D&O claims are related to employment practices (discrimination, harrassment, wrongful termination, etc.).  Without D&O Insurance, the directors and officers of your agency could be personally responsible for judgments against them. 

Factors to consider when determining level of coverage:

• Individual comfortability with risk
• Agency mission / clients served
• Number of employees
• Past experience
• Loss control measures in place
• Hiring / firing practices
• Turnover of staff
• Profitability 

(From Paul Palanzo, Rose and Kiernan, Inc., email dated 9/12/05)

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19) Where can I learn more about the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver?

The DMR website provides helpful information on the waiver, from the Individual & Family Support (IFS) Waiver Manual to an overview of the comprehensive waiver.  Check out DMR’s website: www.dmr.state.ct.us/HCBS/index.htm.  Please contact Alyssa Goduti, CCPA Public Policy Program Supervisor, with any questions. For more information on the federal waiver guidelines, visit the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/

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20) Where can I find information on HIPAA?

Information is available from many sources. For state agencies’ HIPAA compliance policies and information, visit: www.dss.state.ct.us/HIPAA, www.dmhas.state.ct.us/HIPAA/overview.htm, and www.dmr.state.ct.us/publications/centralofc/fact_sheets/ifs_hipp.htm.  For more general information, visit: www.hipaa.org and www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa. If you have specific questions regarding HIPAA, please call Alyssa Goduti, CCPA Public Policy Program Supervisor.

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21) How can I learn more about Medicare Part D?

Medicare Part D is the new drug prescription benefit program, which will start January 1, 2006.  As eligible persons may begin enrolling November 15, 2005, people should be aware of rights and responsibilities under the new program.  There are tasks and timelines that providers and clients need to meet in order to participate in the program.  For more information on the complexities of this new program, please visit these websites:  http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ , http://www.medicare.gov/ , http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/ , http://www.ct.gov/dss/site/default.asp .

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22) How does the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 affect nonprofits?

While Sarbanes Oxley was designed to improve governance of publicly traded companies, some of its provision apply to nonprofits.  For a helpful summary of Sarbanes Oxley’s effect on nonprofits, please check out this website: www.blumshapiro.com/pub/nonprofit/NonProfitNotes_Winter,2005.pdf.

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23)  What is the status of Medicare reimbursement for LPCs? 

Medicare will not reimburse for an LPC’s time because the money is federal and the state credentialing standards vary too much by state.  Someone can become an LPC with no background and only a high school diploma in one state, but other states require a doctorate or master’s degree.  However, if someone is Medicaid/Medicare – you can bill Medicaid and usually be reimbursed. 

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24)  I’ve heard that there have been some recent changes to 2005 Form 990?  What exactly has been modified?

In March 2006 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued its revised annual information returns, Form 990 and 990-EZ, and the associated Schedules A and B for 2005.  The revised forms include a number of changes that may potentially increase the burden on organizations exempt from federal income tax under Sections 501(c), 527, or 4947(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code to comply with the new reporting obligations.  On the other hand, the revised forms will also facilitate an increased understanding of the organization's exempt activities, financial condition, and governance structure.  Most of the changes relate to compensation and relationship questions between the organization and its directors, trustees, officers, key employees, and independent contractors, as well as foreign grants information.  Since new requirements may affect your organization, we have summarized the changes to the 2005 annual information return:

Format Changes

• 2005 Form 990 is increased to eight pages from six and the corresponding Form 990-EZ has three pages instead of two.

Content Changes

• 2005 Form 990 more clearly emphasizes the intended nature of the form, i.e. to communicate the information about the organization's services and programs to the general public.  New language is added in Part III * Statement of Program and Service Accomplishments to encourage organizations to provide more extensive and detailed narratives about their activities.

• The form now expressly asks for information regarding foreign grantsmade by the organization (Part III).  Also, the organization has to disclose whether it has an interest in, or signature authority over, any foreign financial accounts (Part VI, line 91b), or whether it has offices in a foreign country (Part VI, line 91c).  These changes stem from concerns in Congress and the IRS about potential financing of terrorist activities through foreign grants.

• There are expanded disclosure requirements regarding compensation and other benefits to officers, directors, trustees, and key employees.  The form requests information about current individuals (Part V), as well as former ones (Part V-B), serving in these positions.  The introduction of the new section (Part V-B) clearly indicates the effort of the IRS to guard against potential abuses with regard to compensation plans.

• Part V-A includes new questions concerning relationships with other entities and control of organization.  There are disclosure requirements regarding a written conflict of interest policy, total number of directors entitled to vote, and related parties.  

• Schedule A (which is required for all 501(c)(3) organizations filing any kind of Form 990) has changed as well.  It has been expanded to include a section regarding compensation information for the five highest paid independent contractors for nonprofessional services (Part II-B), as well as for professional services (Part II-A). The change results from the IRS's objective to monitor for potential conflicts of interest between the exempt organization and its service providers.

• The revised Schedule A also includes a new question regarding receipt of qualified real property interests under Section 170(h), known as "conservation easements".

(Answer courtesy of Blum, Shapiro & Company, correspondence dated 6/23/06)

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