Establishes the aging in place task force, and provides for its powers and duties

Summary of provisions

Section 1. Aging in place task force. There is hereby established within the office for the aging an aging in place task force. The purpose of the task force shall be to study how the state can encourage aging in place including, but not limited to, an examination of:

(a) infrastructure and transportation improvements,

(b) zoning changes to facilitate home care,

(c) enhanced nutrition programs and delivery options,

(d) improved fraud and abuse protections,

(e) expansion of home medical care options,

(f) tax incentives, and

(g) incentives for private insurance.

§ 2. The aging in place task force shall consist of a total of six teen members and shall include: the commissioner of the state office of temporary and disability assistance or his or her designee; the director of the office for the aging or his or her designee; the chairperson and ranking member of the standing senate and assembly committees of aging or his or her designee; two people appointed by the governor; two people appointed by the temporary president of the senate; one person appointed by the majority leader of the senate; one person appointed by the minority leader of the senate; two people appointed by the speaker of the assembly; one person appointed by the majority leader of the assembly; and one person appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The chairperson and ranking members of the standing senate and assembly committees of aging and the appointees of the temporary president of the senate, majority leader of the senate, minority leader of the senate, speaker of the assembly, majority leader of the assembly and minority leader of the assembly may be members of the legislature. All appointments to the aging in place task force shall be made no later than thirty days after the effective date of this act. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.

§ 3. There shall be two chairpersons selected from among the members of the aging in place task force. One chairperson shall be selected by

the temporary president of the senate and one chairperson shall be selected by the speaker of the assembly. Such chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held no later than sixty days after the effective date of this act.

§ 4. The members of the aging in place task force shall serve without compensation, except that members shall be allowed their necessary and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this act.

§ 5. The office for the aging shall provide the aging in place task force with such facilities, assistance, and data as will enable such task force to carry out its powers and duties. Additionally, all other departments or agencies of the state or subdivisions thereof shall, at the request of the chairpersons, provide such task force with such facilities, assistance, and data as will enable such task force to carry out its powers and duties.

§ 6. The aging in place task force shall issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than January 1, 2016.

§ 7. The aging in place task force shall terminate on the date that it submits the report required in section six of this act or December 31, 2015, whichever is later.

§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately.

Existing law

None exist at this time

Justification

If you're like the majority of Americans, you want to continue living in a familiar environment throughout your maturing years.

In life, sooner or later, the house that was built for an "average" family does not work and one of the greatest concerns people have as they grow older is that they may have to leave their home. In fact an AARP survey found the number of Americans desiring to stay in their homes for the rest of their lives, to "Age in Place", to be greater than 80%.

Aging in Place means living in your homes safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age or ability level.

Whether for physical, geographic, or monetary reasons, much of the aging population will someday have to face this issue. This possibly means leaving behind a comfortable living space, family, a familiar community and many memories. In addition, a certain amount of control is lost when a person gives up their home. This "control" provides the bases to our feelings of dignity, quality of life and independence. One's Home, their Haven, is a strong element in that sense of security.

As health care costs rise and stays at hospitals or even transitional care get shorter, the aging population must decide how they want to spend their hard earned dollars.

The purpose of the task force is to examine the needs of senior citizens and in doing so the appropriate state agencies will be able to encourage aging in place including, but not limited to, an examination of the above mentioned concerns.

Legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Local fiscal implications

To be determined

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.