Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-1g (2026)

“Intellectual disability” defined

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) Except as otherwise provided by statute, “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.

(b) As used in subsection (a) of this section, “significant limitation in intellectual functioning” means an intelligence quotient more than two standard deviations below the mean as measured by tests of general intellectual functioning that are individualized, standardized and clinically and culturally appropriate to the individual; and “adaptive behavior” means the effectiveness or degree with which an individual meets the standards of personal independence and social responsibility expected for the individual's age and cultural group as measured by tests that are individualized, standardized and clinically and culturally appropriate to the individual.

(P.A. 78-148, S. 1; P.A. 80-259, S. 3; P.A. 82-51, S. 1; P.A. 83-587, S. 1, 96; P.A. 99-122, S. 5; P.A. 05-288, S. 1; P.A. 11-16, S. 1; 11-129, S. 2; P.A. 12-136, S. 1; 12-143, S. 4; P.A. 15-54, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 80-259 added reference to Sec. 38-61(12); P.A. 82-51 clarified terms used in the statutory definition in new Subsec. (b) and updated list of applicable sections in prior provisions, now Subsec. (a); P.A. 83-587 made a technical amendment; P.A. 99-122 amended Subsec. (a) to make definition applicable to Secs. 53a-59a, 53a-60b, 53a-60c and 53a-61a; (Revisor's note: In 2005, a reference to Sec. “45a-668” was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. “45a-669” since Sec. 45a-668 was repealed by P.A. 04-54); P.A. 05-288 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 11-16 amended Subsec. (a) by making definition applicable to Secs. 17a-210b, 17a-580, 46a-11a to 46a-11g, 46a-64b, 46b-84, 53a-46a, 53a-320 and 54-56d and by removing references to Secs. 17a-274 and 17a-281, added new Subsec. (b) defining “intellectual disability” and setting forth sections to which the definition applies and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-129 deleted references to Secs. 46a-11a to 46a-11g in Subsec. (a), transferred various section references from Subsec. (a) to Subsec. (b) and added section references in Subsec. (b); P.A. 12-136 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “mental retardation” and amended Subsec. (c) by deleting definitions of “general intellectual functioning”, “significantly subaverage” and “developmental period”, adding definition of “significant limitation in intellectual functioning” and redefining “adaptive behavior”; P.A. 12-143 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to Sec. 2c-2b and to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 15-54 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to Secs. 17a-210b and 38a-816 with “Except as otherwise provided by statute”, replacing “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” and adding “existing concurrently with”, deleted former Subsec. (b) re meaning of intellectual disability for purposes of listed sections and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (b), effective June 19, 2015.

Interpreting section to allow consideration of all intelligence tests that meet the statutory criteria best furthers legislature's intent to clarify and narrow definition of mental retardation to ensure that persons with borderline normal intelligence are not classified as mentally retarded, to prevent inappropriate commitment of such persons to mental retardation facilities and to assure that limited administrative resources are devoted to those most in need. 277 C. 594.

Christopher R. v. Commissioner of Mental Retardation, 277 C. 594, remains good law after 2012 amendment to section and controls the meaning of section, and 2012 amendment does not preclude the commissioner from considering more than one intelligence test. 208 CA 423.

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Notes of Decisions

Cited in 14 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · leading case: In re Elijah C., 165 A.3d 1149 (Conn. 2017).

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In re Elijah C., 165 A.3d 1149 (Conn. 2017). · cites it 4× “[that] [s]he complete[d] household chores at the level of an eleven year old, and use[d] time, money, and communication tools at the level of a [thirteen] year old.”

Ex Parte Perkins, 851 So. 2d 453 (Ala. 2002). “3-1101(2) (2002); Conn. Gen.Stat. § 1-1g (2001); Fla. Stat.”

Bowling v. Commonwealth, 163 S.W.3d 361 (Ky. 2005). “[11] Conn. Gen.Stat. § 1-1g(b); Fla. Stat. Ann.”

Stallworth v. State, 868 So. 2d 1128 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003). “" Conn. Gen.Stat. § 1-1g(a) (2001); "[T]he term `mental retardation' means significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the period from conception to age 18.”

State v. Strode, 232 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2007). “) (providing that the condition manifest before the age of eighteen); Conn. Gen.Stat. Ann. § 1-1g(b) (West, Westlaw through 2007 Sess.”

State v. Fernandes, 12 A.3d 925 (Conn. 2011). “"(c) If the court makes a finding of probable cause, any child referred pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section may request an immediate hearing at which he shall have the right to present evidence that he should not be transferred to the regular criminal…”

Oller v. Oller-Chiang, 646 A.2d 822 (Conn. 1994). ““(d) ‘Mentally retarded person’ means a person who has a condition defined as mental retardation pursuant to section 1-1g. “(e) ‘Respondent’ means an adult person for whom an application for guardianship or limited guardianship of the person has been filed.”

Benjamin v. Dept. of Developmental Servs. (Conn. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 44× “On appeal, the plaintiffs claim that (1) the final decision of the commissioner violates the plain language of General Statutes § 1-1g, on the basis that the amended version of the statute no longer per- mits the commissioner to consider more than one intel- ligence test where…”

In re Elijah C. (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 4× “’’ In short, Leite’s evaluation demonstrated that the respondent, pursuant to General Statutes § 1-1g,4 was intellectually disabled.”

Sackman v. Quinlan, 198 Conn. App. 614 (Conn. App. Ct. 2020). “Unless waived by the court pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, medical evidence shall be introduced from one or more physicians licensed to practice medicine in this state who have examined the respondent not more than forty-five days prior to the hearing, except…”

Comm'n on Human Rights & Opportunities ex rel. Pizzoferrato v. Mansions, LLC (Conn. App. Ct. 2025). “Pursuant to § 46a-64b (8), ‘‘ ‘[p]hysical or mental dis- ability’ includes, but is not limited to, intellectual dis- ability, as defined in section 1-1g, and physical disabil- ity, as defined in subdivision (15) of section 46a-51, and 8 Our conclusion as to the ‘‘record of’’…”

State v. Foster (Concurrence) (Conn. 2025). “See General Statutes § 17a-580 (8) (‘‘ ‘[i]ntellectual disability’ has the same meaning as provided in [General Statutes §] 1-1g’’); see also General Statutes § 1-1g (a) and (b) (defining ‘‘intellectual disability’’ as ‘‘a significant limitation in intellectual functioning,’’…”

Show all 14 citing cases →

— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-1g(a) — 1 case

— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-1g(b) — 2 cases

Bowling v. Commonwealth, 163 S.W.3d 361 (Ky. 2005). “[11] Conn. Gen.Stat. § 1-1g(b); Fla. Stat. Ann.”

State v. Strode, 232 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2007). “) (providing that the condition manifest before the age of eighteen); Conn. Gen.Stat. Ann. § 1-1g(b) (West, Westlaw through 2007 Sess.”

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