2014 -- H 7361 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC004127/SUB 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:

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

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

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CHAPTER 66.11

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THE AGING IN COMMUNITY ACT OF 2014

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

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in Community Act of 2014."

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

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

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

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year 2030.

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

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

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

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

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and community for as long as possible.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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home.

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

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

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essential services.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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appropriate.

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     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

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community" subcommittee with the purpose of providing infrastructure and program

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

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remaining at home and in community settings.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2014.

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