Committees approve $500,000 SSBG allocation to Planned Parenthood to cover rising demand for family-planning care

Commissioner Andrea Barjan Reese of the Department of Social Services told a joint Appropriations and Human Services hearing Thursday that the agency seeks to reallocate $500,000 of SSBG carryforward to Planned Parenthood to maintain and expand family-planning access.

"I am Andrea Barjan Reese and I'm the Commissioner for the Department of Social Services. And today I'm here to request change ... to spend $500,000 of our carryforward to provide additional support to Planned Parenthood for family planning services," Reese said, describing the funds as federal Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) dollars drawn from a carryforward reserve.

The amendment adjusts the FFY25 SSBG allocation plan to increase funding for Planned Parenthood, a provider the commissioner said serves more than 50,000 people statewide. Reese said the funds will be used to cover routine family-planning care and general reproductive-health services already authorized under the existing allocation plan, and to avoid service reductions that could result from increased demand.

"Without this additional assistance, Planned Parenthood may need to reduce hours, limit appointments and potentially close clinics entirely," Reese said. She described the award as a one-time carryforward adjustment that does not reduce funding available to other SSBG recipients.

Committee members asked for details about the source and conditions of the funding, eligibility and program use. Deputy Commissioner Peter Hadler (DSS) explained that "carryforward" is a portion of the federal grant held to meet timing gaps or unexpected needs before federal disbursements arrive. When asked whether federal funds can be used for abortion-related services, the commissioner replied, "No. They cannot." Reese read the SSBG definition of family planning, noting it covers comprehensive reproductive and preventive services such as contraceptive methods, preconception counseling and diagnosis and treatment of infections that threaten reproductive capability.

Several members expressed concern about directing the full $500,000 to a single external provider while other human-services needs persist. Representative Case, who objected to the allocation, said, "I just can't I can't support it," citing homelessness and mental-health needs and noting an 18% increase in people sleeping outdoors referenced during the hearing. Representative Kaye said she would "be voting against this today" for similar reasons. Other members pressed the agency for more specific site-level service counts; Reese provided summary statistics (see clarifying details) and offered to supply site-by-site breakdowns.

The committee record shows two formal committee approvals of the amendment: Human Services approved the plan amendment in a roll-call vote and Appropriations approved it in a separate roll-call. Committee clerks recorded the following tallies and procedural details (full vote records below). The hearing record also notes the statutory requirement that any SSBG line-item change that exceeds $50,000 or 10% of an allocation triggers a public hearing before the legislature.

Votes at a glance

- Human Services Committee: Motion to approve the proposed amendment to the federal fiscal year 2025 SSBG allocation plan (allocate $500,000 carryforward to Planned Parenthood) — moved by Senator Lesser; second by Senator Anwar. Vote tally recorded as 15 yes, 6 no, 1 absent; outcome: approved.

- Appropriations Committee: Motion to approve the proposed amendment to the federal fiscal year 2025 SSBG allocation plan — moved by Representative Walker; seconded by Senator Lesser. Vote tally recorded as 46 yes, 4 no, 0 abstain/absent; outcome: approved.

Background and committee discussion

Reese and Deputy Commissioner Hadler said Planned Parenthood is unique among SSBG providers in the extent to which it provides reproductive and preventive care to people who often lack other primary care sources. Reese said Planned Parenthood serves patients across urban and rural areas and named Bridgeport, New London, Torrington and Willimantic as locations where the provider has reported increased demand. The department provided aggregate patient numbers for the most recent reporting period: 102,343 total visits and 47,252 individuals who identify as female; age and racial/ethnic breakdowns were reported in summary form (see clarifying details).

Members asked whether the requested allocation would be an immediate payment; the department said the state reimburses providers for services as invoices are submitted rather than issuing a single lump-sum check. Several lawmakers asked the agency to provide more granular reports of services by site and by service type; Reese agreed to provide additional detail.

The department and members also discussed prior one-time SSBG adjustments made for Meals on Wheels and shelter stabilization during the pandemic as precedent for targeted carryforward spending.

What happens next

Both committees approved the plan amendment at the hearing. With committee approval recorded, the amendment proceeds per the legislature's internal processes; the department said the funds will be used to reimburse eligible services provided under SSBG rules and that the award does not change the scope of services funded by the existing allocation plan.

Ending

Commissioners and committee leaders closed the hearing after procedural remarks and scheduling follow-up reports. The department committed to providing site-level service counts and to answer further member questions about remaining carryforward balances and expenditure timing.