2013 -- H 5217

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LC00442

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ELDERLY AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Ackerman, Jacquard, DeSimone, and Palangio

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2013

     Referred To: House Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-66 of the General Laws entitled "Elderly Affairs Department" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     42-66-18. Community senior services grant program. -- (a) Establishment and

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purpose. In recognition of the continued growth in the number of persons age sixty-five (65) and

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over living in the community, there is established in the division of elderly affairs in the

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department of human services, the community senior services grant program to provide financial

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assistance and incentives to local governments and nonprofit agencies to operate senior centers

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and other senior services programs that help older residents to remain living in the community.

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Such services include, but are not limited to, outreach, social services, health promotion, physical

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fitness, recreation, life-long learning, transportation assistance and caregiver support services for

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persons age sixty-five (65) and over.

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     (b) Appropriations. For fiscal year 2014, the total amount of funds appropriated for the

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community senior services grant program shall be that amount needed to award each municipality

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the sum of five dollars ($5.00) per each non-institutionalized person age sixty-five (65) and over

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as reported by the 2010 U.S. bureau of the census or an amount equal to its fiscal year 2013 state

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senior services grant awarded by the division, whichever is greater, as its basic grant. In the event

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that the municipality does not directly operate local senior centers and programs, the division

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shall, in consultation with municipality’s chief elected or appointed official or the official’s

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designee, distribute and award the municipality’s basic grant to community nonprofit agencies

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which are operating senior centers and/or senior programs. However, for fiscal year 2014 no

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municipal or nonprofit community senior center or senior program shall receive an award which

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is less than the amount of their fiscal year 2013 state grant from the division. For fiscal years

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2015 through 2019, the general assembly shall increase funding for the community senior

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services grant program by an amount needed to increase the minimum basic grant by one dollar

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($1.00) each year until the minimum basic grant reaches an amount of ten dollars ($10.00) per

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each non-institutionalized person age sixty-five (65) and over within the municipality.

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     (c) Eligibility. To be eligible for the community senior services grant program a

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municipality or nonprofit agency must contribute an equal amount of cash or in-kind resources

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for senior program support that it provided in state fiscal year 2013 and submit to the division for

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its approval a plan detailing the services and/or programs to be provided with grant funds, how

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the proposed plan meets the needs of local seniors and how the local share match will be met. In

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addition, the grantee must demonstrate that there exists with the municipality, or there are plans

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to establish, a local senior advisory committee whose membership shall include a majority of

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persons age sixty-five (65) and over. The purpose of the local senior advisory committee shall be

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to provide advice to local officials and members of the legislature whose districts lie within the

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municipality on the service needs and interests of persons age sixty-five (65) and over. In

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approving grant proposals, the division shall take into consideration how the spending plan

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addresses the municipality’s comprehensive plan as it relates to services and programs for seniors

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and the goals and objectives of the state plan on aging as submitted to the federal administration

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on aging.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ELDERLY AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT

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     This act would establish a community senior services grant program to provide financial

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assistance to municipalities and nonprofit organizations which operate senior centers and/or

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senior programs.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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