Sec. 17b-409. (Formerly Sec. 17a-414). Legal counsel for residents and applicants and to assist the ombudsman and representatives of the office in performance of their official duties. Regional ombuds - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 17b-409. (Formerly Sec. 17a-414). Legal counsel for residents and applicants and to assist the ombudsman and representatives of the office in performance of their official duties. Regional ombudsmen and residents' advocates considered state employees for purposes of certain civil actions. (a) The state agency shall ensure that:

      (1) Adequate legal counsel is available and is able, without conflict of interest, to: (A) Provide advice and consultation needed to protect the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents and applicants in relation to their applications to long-term care facilities; and (B) assist the ombudsman and representatives of the office in the performance of the official duties of the ombudsman and representatives; and

      (2) Administrative, legal and other appropriate remedies are pursued on behalf of residents and applicants in relation to their applications to long-term care facilities.

      (b) The regional ombudsmen and residents' advocates shall be considered state employees under section 4-141 for the purposes of any civil action for damages on account of any act or omission that is not wanton, wilful or malicious and that is within the scope of employment or duties under sections 17b-400 to 17b-412, inclusive, 19a-531 and 19a-532.

      (P.A. 77-575, S. 16, 23; P.A. 99-176, S. 10, 24; P.A. 03-278, S. 65.)

      History: Sec. 17-135j transferred to Sec. 17a-414 in 1991; Sec. 17a-414 transferred to Sec. 17b-409 in 1995; P.A. 99-176 deleted existing provisions and substituted Subsec. (a) re availability of legal counsel and pursuit of legal and other remedies, and added Subsec. (b) re status of regional ombudsmen and residents' advocates as state employees for purposes of certain civil actions, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective July 9, 2003.