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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO SERVICES AND COORDINATION OF STATE

PROGRAMS RELATING TO OLDER ADULT RHODE ISLANDERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Azzinaro, Noret, Donovan, Kazarian, Alzate,
Knight, Fogarty, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2023

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, Today, more than 240,000 Rhode Island residents are age 60 or older and by

2040, it is estimated that that figure will rise to almost 265,000, constituting an increase of nearly

75 percent over 30 years; and

     WHEREAS, A collaborative study of Rhode Island's current services and

recommendations for potential initiatives that would help residents, agencies, providers, and the

government to better assist the growing population of older adults in our state achieve wellbeing

and maximum independence in ways that value, empower and engage them is essential to our

State's future resilience and prosperity; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by

the Speaker of the House; two (2) of whom shall be Rhode Island residents over the age of sixty-

five (65), to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the

Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH), or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the

Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging, or designee; three (3) of whom shall be Directors from RI

Senior Center Director's Association, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom

shall be a Community Action Program Director from the Rhode Island Association of

Community Action Agencies, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be

the Director of the AARP Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the RI

Long Term Care Coordinating Council (LTCCC), to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Age-Friendly RI, or designee; one of whom shall

be the Director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI; or designee; and one of whom shall be a

member of a Rhode Island organization representing adults with disabilities, to be appointed by

the Speaker of the House.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of key statistics

and information about services for older adults in Rhode Island including, but not limited to:

     Examine strengths, vulnerabilities, and demographic and financial statistics of older adult

Rhode Islanders;

     Assess the current State, Federal and local services currently available to older adult

Rhode Islanders;

     Examine any duplication of elderly services within the State;

     Provide recommendations to institute, integrate, collaborate, and implement initiatives

that eliminate red tape, coordinate services within agencies, and focus on better

delivery of services and programs related to older adult Rhode Islanders, including

older adult housing options and various living arrangements, health status and

healthcare resources;

     Provide recommendations for the creation of a portal to provide and coordinate aging

programs and services in the areas of employment, education, independent living,

accessibility and advocacy, as well as local older adult centers and services;

     Provide recommendations on mental health, transportation, food access, and healthcare;

     Review and provide recommendations for the funding of services through State, Federal,

and private grants and provide recommendations for more efficient distribution and

use of these dollars; and

     Explore and provide recommendations for more regionalization of services.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

legislators. The commission shall hold two (2) of its meetings in local communities.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than May 7, 2024, and said commission shall expire on August

7, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO SERVICES AND COORDINATION OF STATE

PROGRAMS RELATING TO OLDER ADULT RHODE ISLANDERS

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     This resolution would create a sixteen (16) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and provide recommendations for

services and the coordination of state programs for older adult Rhode Islanders, and who would

report back to the House of Representatives no later than May 7, 2024, and whose life would

expire on August 7, 2024.

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