Authorizes the development of a fall and injury prevention program and the creation of a fall and injury prevention coordinating council

2 Co-sponsors

• Kemp Hannon
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer

Title of bill

An act to amend the elder law, in relation to developing a fall and injury prevention program and creating a fall and injury prevention coordinating council

Purpose or general idea of the bill

Authorizes the development of a fall and injury prevention program and the creation of a fall and injury prevention coordinating council.

Summary of provisions

Requires the State Office of Aging to develop a fall and injury prevention program to 1) provide public education strategies to reduce falls and educate 2) intensify services and conduct research to determine effective approaches to preventing falls among older adults 3) support demonstration programs and 4) to evaluate the effects of falls on health care costs. the potential for reducing falls. and the most effective strategies for reducing health care costs associated with falls.

To oversee and support a statewide educational campaign and award grants, contracts and cooperative agreements to be carried out by qualified organizations that focus on reducing and preventing repeat falls. Organizing regional and local coalitions of appropriate members to design and carry out local education campaigns, focused on reducing and preventing repeat falls and planning and designing safe communities.

To educate the people directly working and coming in contact with older adults about fall risk, assessment and prevention. To design and carry out state-level professional education campaigns regarding fall risk. assessment and prevention.

To create a fall and injury prevention coordinating council to facilitate interagency planning and policy development, to provide recommendations and a continuing forum for concerns. discussion and best practices related to falls and the prevention of falls among the elderly.

Justification

A state approach to reducing falls among older adults, which focuses on the daily life of senior citizens in residential, institutional and community settings is needed. To develop a fall and injury prevention program which would 1) provide public education strategies to reduce falls and educate 2) intensify services and conduct research to determine effective approaches to preventing falls among older adults 3) support demonstration programs and 4) to evaluate the effects of tails on health care costs, the potential for reducing falls, and the most effective strategies for reducing health care costs associated with falls.

To oversee and support a statewide educational campaign and award grants, contracts and cooperative agreements to be carried out by qualified organizations that focus on reducing and preventing repeat falls. Organizing regional and local coalitions of appropriate members to design and carry out local education campaigns, focused on reducing and preventing repeat falls and planning and designing safe communities.

To educate the people directly working and coming in contact with older adults about tall risk, assessment and prevention. To design and carry out state-level professional education campaigns regarding fall risk, assessment and prevention.

To create a fall and injury prevention coordinating council to facilitate interagency planning and policy development, to provide recommendations and a continuing forum for concerns, discussion and best practices related to falls and the prevention of falls among the elderly.

Legislative history

2008 - Vetoed.

Fiscal implications

In the veto message. the Division or the Budget advised that establishment of the Council would cost approximately $250.000 and, although the bill states that the grants described therein are subject to appropriation, such grants could potentially cost $6.3 million in 2008-09 and $6.2 million in 09-10. These amounts have not been included in the Financial Plan. Given the State's current fiscal situation, we are in no position to incur expenditures, however worthy, that duplicate ongoing endeavors:

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.