Strategic Plan for Aging Act

Bill: 118-s-3827
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2024-02-28
Policy area: Social Welfare
Latest action: action_date: 2024-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3827 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 28, 2024 Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself and Mr. Casey ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Assistant Secretary for Aging to award grants to States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to create or implement Multisector Plans for Aging and Aging with a Disability, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strategic Plan for Aging Act . 2. Supporting Multisector Plans for Aging and Aging with a Disability (a) In general Part A of IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3032 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 423. Supporting Multisector Plans For Aging and Aging with a Disability (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Aging and disability stakeholders (A) In general The term aging and disability stakeholders means a group of individuals with experience or expertise in aging or disability issues, which shall consist of— (i) representatives from area agencies on aging; (ii) covered individuals; and (iii) representatives from not less than 3 of the groups described in subparagraph (B). (B) Additional groups The groups described in this subparagraph are the following: (i) Advocates for covered individuals. (ii) Academics with expertise in aging or disability issues. (iii) Philanthropic organizations with experience in supporting aging or disability initiatives. (iv) Individuals and community partners serving older individuals, including individuals employed by area agencies on aging or by multipurpose senior centers. (v) Providers of aging or disability services. (vi) Any other group of individuals serving or representing covered individuals, as determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary. (2) Covered individuals The term covered individuals means— (A) older individuals, including older individuals with disabilities; (B) individuals who are family members of older individuals, including family members of older individuals with disabilities; (C) paid caregivers, and unpaid caregivers, of older individuals, including any such caregivers of older individuals with disabilities; and (D) older relative caregivers. (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means a State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization. (4) Multisector plan for aging and aging with a disability; master plan for aging; plan The terms Multisector Plan for Aging and Aging with a Disability , Master Plan for Aging , and Plan mean a multi-year planning process, administered by an eligible entity, that convenes cross-sector stakeholders, including aging and disability stakeholders, to collaboratively address the diverse needs of covered individuals. (5) Older individual with a disability The term older individual with a disability means an individual who— (A) is an older individual; and (B) is an individual with a disability, as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12102 ). (6) Older relative caregiver The term older relative caregiver has the meaning given such term in section 372. (7) Qualified leader The term qualified leader , with respect to an eligible entity, means— (A) the head of the eligible entity, or the head of an agency or department of the eligible entity; (B) a legislative committee of the eligible entity; or (C) another leader of the eligible entity, as determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary. (8) Targeted subgroup The term targeted subgroup means a subgroup of older individuals (including older individuals with disabilities) who are older individuals with greatest social need, or greatest economic need, as a result of geographic location, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, socioeconomic status, language, immigration status, or other factors determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary. (b) Purpose The purpose of this section is to provide eligible entities with resources to create, coordinate, implement, and evaluate cross-sector plans to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life of covered individuals, including targeted subgroups. (c) Grants (1) In general The Assistant Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis in accordance with this section to eligible entities to each create or implement a Multisector Plan for Aging and Aging with a Disability (also known as a Master Plan for Aging ) that meets the requirements under paragraph (2). Such grants may be used in the creation or implementation stage of such a Plan. (2) Plans A Plan created or implemented by an eligible entity through a grant under this section shall— (A) have a creation or implementation process that is informed or led by a working group of aging and disability stakeholders that reflects the diversity and demographics of the population in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; (B) serve as a strategic planning resource that helps the eligible entity work across agencies or departments of the eligible entity (including political subdivisions of the eligible entity), and through collaborations with other eligible entities receiving such a grant to serve an area in the jurisdiction of the first eligible entity, to transform the infrastructure and coordination of key services, supports, and initiatives described in paragraph (3) for covered individuals, through public or private programs operating in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; (C) enable a qualified leader of the eligible entity to communicate a clear vision, and priorities, for a period of not less than 10 years for the eligible entity with respect to the transformation described in subparagraph (B); (D) guide policy of the eligible entity (including a political subdivision of the eligible entity), including through public or private programs, and through funding priorities, to assist people in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity in aging with dignity and autonomy; (E) include at least one goal for each of the key aging issues described in paragraph (4) and develop initiatives to carry out each such goal; (F) be more comprehensive than the area plans approved under section 306 by the State agency prior to the date of the creation of the Plan; (G) be more comprehensive than the State plans approved under section 307 by the Assistant Secretary prior to the date of the creation of the Plan; and (H) be created through a planning process that builds on the planning processes for the area plans described in subparagraph (F) and the State plans described in subparagraph (G). (3) Key services, supports, and initiatives The key services, supports, and initiatives described in this paragraph may include— (A) disease prevention and health promotion services, long-term care services and supports, human services, and any other public health or health care, services, supports, or initiatives; (B) services, supports, and initiatives with respect to— (i) retirement; (ii) nutrition and food security; (iii) economic security, including benefits access and job training and placement; (iv) elder rights protection and autonomy; (v) housing; (vi) education; (vii) transportation; (viii) social engagement; and (ix) broadband access; (C) services, supports, and initiatives for assisting covered individuals during a major disaster or emergency declared by the President under section 401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 , 5191), or any other natural disaster declared by the Governor of the applicable State; and (D) any other services, supports, or initiatives with respect to covered individuals, as determined appropriate by the eligible entity. (4) Key aging issues The key aging issues described in this paragraph are each of the following: (A) Supporting the ability of older individuals to be stably and safely housed, which may include supporting their ability to age well in the setting of their choice and to access homelessness prevention services. (B) Expanding access to disease prevention and health promotion services and health care, including behavioral health care and substance use disorder services. (C) Promoting age-friendly communities, as defined in section 203(c)(9). (D) Addressing the ability of older individuals to access long-term services and supports, including access to caregivers and home and community-based services. (E) Expanding access to services that promote elder justice and reduce elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. (F) Promoting economic security and retirement security and reducing poverty for covered individuals. (G) Promoting social connection and reducing social isolation and loneliness for covered individuals. (H) Improving equity for covered individuals. (I) Ensuring public spaces are accessible to, including safe for, older individuals, including older individuals with disabilities. (J) Ensuring access to healthy and affordable foods and reducing food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition. (d) Eligibility To be eligible for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require, including— (1) information demonstrating the commitment of the eligible entity to creating or implementing a Plan, as evidenced by— (A) an Executive order issued by the head of the eligible entity, or legislation enacted in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, authorizing a Plan; (B) a letter from a qualified leader of the eligible entity demonstrating the commitment of the eligible entity to working across government agencies or departments of the eligible entity, as well as with aging and disability stakeholders and other stakeholders in the public and private sectors, to create or implement a Plan; and (C) any other declarations, activities, or actions as determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary; (2) a description of— (A) the working group described in subsection (c)(2)(A) that the eligible entity has convened or plans to convene; and (B) any other anticipated activities and programs (such as public hearings, public comment periods, or listening sessions) to support creating or implementing a Plan that reflects demonstrated input from aging and disability stakeholders, including covered individuals, and other members of the public, including input from members of Indian Tribes or tribal organizations; (3) an assessment of the needs of covered individuals, including targeted subgroups, served by the eligible entity; (4) a consideration of varying needs of populations across different types of geographies in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, including urban, rural, and frontier, as applicable; and (5) details on how the Plan will comply with subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H) of subsection (c)(2). (e) Awards (1) In general The Assistant Secretary shall award not more than 65 grants under this section during the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this section. (2) Set aside Of the grants awarded under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall award not less than 10 grants to eligible entities that are Indian Tribes or tribal organizations. (3) Process The Assistant Secretary shall establish a process for— (A) selecting, including for prioritizing, eligible entities to receive a grant under this section; and (B) subject to paragraph (4), determining the amount of each such grant, which shall include a tiered system depending on the population in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity. (4) Maximum amount No grant awarded under this section to an eligible entity shall exceed $500,000. (5) Terms (A) In general An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall— (i) receive a total amount for the grant as a lump sum; and (ii) subject to subparagraph (B), obligate and expend such total amount in accordance with this section not later than 3 years after receiving such lump sum. (B) Extension of availability An eligible entity may, pursuant to an agreement with the Assistant Secretary, obligate and expend amounts from a grant under this section in accordance with the requirements of this section after the 3-year period described in subparagraph (A)(ii). (f) Deadline In the case of a grant awarded under this section to create a Plan, the eligible entity receiving the grant shall create the Plan and begin implementing the Plan not later than 2 years after receiving the grant. (g) Assessment and evaluation process (1) Developmental assessment Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under this section, the eligible entity receiving the grant shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a developmental assessment. Such assessment may include— (A) 3 or more goals with respect to the Plan that the eligible entity commits to addressing in the final Plan described in paragraph (2)(A); (B) demonstrated use of data metrics to inform the goals of the Plan, which data metrics are derived from— (i) datasets or qualitative data with respect to the population in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; and (ii) nationwide datasets or qualitative data, with an awareness that national datasets may not include data with respect to Indian tribes and tribal organizations; (C) demonstrated involvement with 3 or more governmental departments or agencies of the eligible entity on creation or implementation of the Plan; (D) demonstrated input from— (i) the working group described in subsection (c)(2)(A) convened by the eligible entity; and (ii) any other aging and disability stakeholders; (E) demonstrated input from other individuals who will be impacted by the Plan; (F) as applicable, demonstrated incorporation of aging, disability, and older relative caregiver plans and initiatives existing on the day before the receipt of the grant in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, which may include such existing age-friendly plans, Tribal plans and resolutions, initiatives in area plans submitted under section 306 and State plans submitted under section 307, and working groups or task forces related to aging, disability, or older relative caregiver initiatives; (G) demonstrated assurances that the eligible entity agrees to make available (directly or through public or private entities) non-Federal contributions towards the costs of the Plan; and (H) as applicable, a timeline and working plan for finalizing the Plan and beginning implementation of the Plan not later than 2 years after the grant is awarded. (2) Implementation assessment Not later than 2 years after receiving a grant under this section, the eligible entity receiving the grant shall submit to the Assistant Secretary an implementation assessment. Such assessment shall include— (A) a final Plan, including 3 or more goals for the Plan and short- and long-term priorities or initiatives to meet each of those goals; (B) an update regarding all matters included in the developmental assessment submitted under paragraph (1); (C) for each priority or initiative described in subparagraph (A), identified benchmarks or data metrics that are identified in a publicly accessible way such as through a data dashboard or in a report; (D) a plan for accountability that includes— (i) demonstrated commitment of a qualified leader of the eligible entity to execute and oversee such plan for accountability, as evidenced by information determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary; (ii) one or more departments or agencies of the eligible entity listed as accountable for each priority or initiative described in subparagraph (A); (iii) a plan to continue to engage aging and disability stakeholders, and other key players or partners as determined by the eligible entity, through advisory groups, public hearings held by the implementation committee as described in clause (iv)(II)(cc), or other means; (iv) the establishment of an implementation committee, which shall— (I) consist of the working group described in subsection (c)(2)(A) convened by the eligible entity and as applicable other regional, State, local, or Tribal participants as determined appropriate by the eligible entity; and (II) be responsible for— (aa) assisting in ensuring that the goals of the Plan described in subparagraph (A) are implemented; (bb) participating in the development of the progress report described in subparagraph (E); and (cc) holding public hearings, with an opportunity for public comment, for the purposes described in clause (iii); and (v) a plan for identifying and responding to any disparities in access to key services, supports, and initiatives in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity as described in subsection (c)(3); and (E) a progress report schedule that includes— (i) an established process for bi-yearly updates to the Plan throughout a 10-year period; and (ii) opportunities for input from aging and disability stakeholders and any other individuals impacted by the Plan. (h) Consultation In carrying out this section, the Assistant Secretary shall consult the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities established under section 203(c). (i) Technical assistance The Assistant Secretary shall provide technical assistance to eligible entities who are seeking or have received a grant under this section in complying with the requirements of this section or otherwise creating or implementing a Plan. (j) Funding (1) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to the Assistant Secretary to remain available until expended $6,500,000 to carry out this section. (2) Administrative costs Of the amounts appropriated under this section for a year, the Assistant Secretary shall use not more than 3 percent to carry out subsection (i) and for any other administrative costs. . (b) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities Section 203(c)(1) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3013(c)(1) ) is amended by striking with respect to aging issues and and inserting with respect to aging issues, advising the Assistant Secretary on carrying out the grant program under section 423, and .