2014 -- H 7361 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - THE AGING IN COMMUNITY

OF 2014

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Diaz, Slater, Hull, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 66.11

THE AGING IN COMMUNITY ACT OF 2014

     42-66.11-1. Short title. -- This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Aging

in Community Act of 2014."

     42-66.11-2. Legislative findings. -- The legislature finds and declares:

     (1) The number of Rhode Islanders sixty-five (65) years of age and older is projected by

the state planning office to grow from 152,000 in 2010 to 189,000 in 2020 and to 248,000 by the

year 2030.

     (2) The 2010 U.S. Census established that Rhode Island had the highest percentage of

persons age eighty-five (85) years and older, an age group that has the highest dependency needs

and an increased need for long-term care services and supports.

     (3) Surveys consistently show most older persons prefer to remain in their own homes

and community for as long as possible.

     (4) Community-based support services and programs, such as Meals on Wheels,

caregiver support, respite services, and senior centers, play important roles in helping older

persons to "age in community" thereby preventing or postponing institutionalization, reducing

Medicaid costs for long-term care facilities, and reducing caregiver burden.

     (5) Adequate funding for demonstrated cost-effective home and community support

services, such as Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, and respite programs is essential to

reducing the use of long-term care facilities by low-care residents; to saving Medicaid costs for

the state; and to helping unpaid caregivers keep frail elders and adults with disabilities living at

home.

     (6) State funds to support Meals on Wheels and respite services decreased by sixty-three

percent (63%) from fiscal year 2003 to fiscal year 2014 and there exists a waiting list for these

essential services.

     42-66.11-3. The aging in community plan. -- The chair of the state long-term care

coordinating council shall create an aging-in-community subcommittee the purpose of which

shall be to develop a plan to provide the needed infrastructure and program improvements in

support services, housing, and transportation that will enable the state's growing elder population

to safely remain living at home and in community settings. The aging in community plan shall

include an inventory of available services, identification of service and program gaps, and

resource needs. In addition to members of the long-term care coordinating council, the

subcommittee shall include those members of the state's academic community with expertise in

aging services and community-based, long-term supports and services as the council deems

appropriate.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - THE AGING IN COMMUNITY

OF 2014

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     This act would direct the state long-term care coordinating council to create an "aging in

community" subcommittee with the purpose of providing infrastructure and program

improvements in services, housing and transportation which will assist the elderly in safely

remaining at home and in community settings.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2014.

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