Connecticut General Statutes 17a-247a – Definitions
As used in this section and sections 17a-247b to 17a-247f, inclusive:
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 17a-247a
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- intellectual disability: means a significant limitation in intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior that originated during the developmental period before eighteen years of age. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1g
(1) “Abuse” means (A) the wilful infliction by an employee of physical pain or injury, financial exploitation, psychological abuse or verbal abuse; (B) the wilful deprivation of services necessary to the physical and mental health and safety of an individual who receives services or funding from the department; or (C) sexual abuse.
(2) “Authorized agency” means any agency authorized in accordance with the general statutes to conduct abuse and neglect investigations and responsible for issuing or carrying out protective services for persons with intellectual disability.
(3) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Developmental Services, or his or her designee.
(4) “Department” means the Department of Developmental Services.
(5) “Employee” means any person employed (A) by the department, or (B) by an agency, organization or person that is licensed or funded by the department.
(6) “Employer” means (A) the department, or (B) an agency, organization or person that is licensed or funded by the department.
(7) “Financial exploitation” means the theft, misappropriation or unauthorized or improper use of property, money or other resource that is intended to be used by or for an individual who receives services or funding from the department.
(8) “Neglect” means the failure by an employee, through action or inaction, to provide an individual who receives services or funding from the department with the services necessary to maintain such individual’s physical and mental health and safety.
(9) “Protective services” has the same meaning as provided in § 46a-11a.
(10) “Psychological abuse” means an act intended to (A) humiliate, intimidate, degrade or demean an individual who receives services or funding from the department, (B) inflict emotional harm or invoke fear in such individual, or (C) otherwise negatively impact the mental health of such individual.
(11) “Registry” means a centralized data base containing information regarding substantiated abuse or neglect.
(12) “Sexual abuse” means (A) any sexual contact between an individual who receives services or funding from the department, regardless of such individual’s ability to consent, and an employee, or (B) the encouragement by an employee of an individual who receives services or funding from the department to engage in sexual activity.
(13) “Substantiated abuse or neglect” means a determination by an authorized agency, following an investigation conducted or monitored by such agency, that (A) abuse or neglect of an individual who receives services or funding from the department, or (B) there has been a criminal conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving abuse or neglect.
(14) “Verbal abuse” means the use of offensive or intimidating language that is intended to provoke or cause the distress of an individual who receives services or funding from the department.