(a) The Commissioner of Social Services, within available appropriations, may establish and operate a Social Work In-Home Support program for persons with disabilities (1) who are between the ages of eighteen and sixty-four years, and (2) who meet the eligibility requirements specified in sections 17b-4(a)-1 to 17b-4(a)-6, inclusive, of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies. Such eligibility requirements with respect to income and assets shall not apply to persons eligible for medical assistance under § 17b-597 who were receiving community-based services on October 1, 2000.

(b) Any person participating in a Medicaid home and community-based services program shall not be eligible for the Social Work In-Home Support program, unless a particular service is not otherwise available under a Medicaid home and community-based services program.

(c) The Commissioner of Social Services shall implement the policies and procedures necessary to carry out the provisions of subsection (a) of this section while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in regulation form, provided notice of intent to adopt the regulations is published on the department’s Internet web site and the eRegulations System not later than twenty days after implementation. Such policies and procedures shall be valid until the time final regulations are effective.