Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Licensing Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee moves felony penalty for operating unlicensed health facilities to the floor, with wording questions
Summary
House Bill 5510 would create a Class D felony and allow daily fines for operating a health care facility without a license and allow DPH to issue summary orders when public safety is threatened; committee members asked whether the measure distinguishes bad‑faith operators from inadvertent renewals and noted the Connecticut Hospital Association opposes broad felony language.
A bill that would make it a Class D felony to open, manage or operate a health care facility without a required license was advanced by the committee, but lawmakers pressed for clarifications on reach and intent.
Chair described House Bill 5510 as targeting facilities that seek to operate without required licensure and said the committee’s substitute (S) language removed a 30‑day renewal exemption in some circumstances. The bill sets a maximum $5,000 daily fine for violations and allows Department of Consumer Affairs or Department of Public Health staff to issue a summary order stopping an operation immediately when there is a threat to public health or safety.
Representative Claire Di Stitria asked if the bill’s intent was to target unlicensed practices and not to penalize licensees who inadvertently missed renewal paperwork. The chair acknowledged that the 30‑day language had been changed and said the bill is intended to hold bad‑faith actors accountable; the chair also said further conversation and drafting will address lines where CHA (Connecticut Hospital Association) raised concerns.
Representative Dauphine and Senator Gordon voiced caution; Gordon noted CHA’s suggested wording and asked whether the bill distinguishes administrative clerical errors (omissions) from purposeful, bad‑faith operations. The chair said more conversations will occur and that the bill will move to the judiciary committee from the floor if referred.
The committee moved HB 5510 to JFS to the floor; committee members recorded multiple votes and flagged the need for additional drafting to ensure the bill targets intentional unlawful operations rather than inadvertent licensing lapses.
