Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 62
CHAPTER 45
Relative to elderly persons.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 17, 1996.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 62, Vasconcellos.
Older Americans Act.
Existing federal law establishes the Older Americans Act, under which funds are provided to each state for various programs for elderly persons.
This measure would request the President and Congress of the United States to reauthorize the federal Older Americans Act, in accordance with specified policies.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act (OAA) expired in 1995 and reauthorization proposals are now being considered in Congress; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, OAA programs provided over 240,000,000 meals, 40,000,000 rides, 12,000,000 responses for information and referrals, 1,000,000 care visits, and 1,000,000 legal counseling sessions to older persons who are at risk of losing their independence; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, the OAA celebrated 30 years of funding programs that have effectively reached out to older persons with the greatest social and economic needs; and
WHEREAS, The aging network, comprised of the federal Administration on Aging, state units on aging, area agencies on aging, tribal organizations, local service providers, and older adults, has developed a cost-effective, nationwide system to respond to the diverse needs of older persons; and
WHEREAS, Programs designed for more able older adults must increasingly rely on financial support from local communities, private individuals, families, and corporate sponsors; and
WHEREAS, Seniors deserve to live in the least restrictive environment in maximum independence as active participants in communities that value honor, respect, and justice for the elderly; and
WHEREAS, The number of financially independent, self-reliant elderly Americans continues to grow; and
WHEREAS, The intrastate funding formula recognizes that each state, territory, and local community has a unique demographic composition and related concerns; and
WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act will provide increased flexibility to state and local agencies in providing effective programs for seniors; and
WHEREAS, The number of minority older Americans and their corresponding service needs are rising exponentially; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature hereby memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to enact legislation that would reauthorize the Older Americans Act with explicit protection for the rights of seniors including legal rights, advocacy, ombudsman, and demonstration programs, including the following policies:
(a)
The maintenance of programs that serve the unique needs of special senior populations such as people with disabilities, and those in greatest social and economic need, including African Americans, Latinos, and Hawaiians, and that respect and recognize the sovereignty of Native Americans’ tribal councils through targeting set-asides.
(b)
Preservation and protection of the senior network and strong, vibrant area agencies on aging, through appropriate demographic targeting in a fair and balanced intrastate funding formula.
(c)
Allowance of flexibility for long-term care funding and services with an emphasis on providing home and community-based services such as adult day health care, adult day care, assisted living, residential care for the elderly, Alzheimer’s respite care, preventive health care, elder education, transportation, and congregate as well as home-delivered nutritional services.
(d)
Establishment of integrated long-term care services with comprehensive care management that maximizes consumer direction and choice of services and providers.
(e)
Provision of reasonable and sufficient resources to meet the growing demand for services as the elder population grows.
(f)
Designation and funding of the next White House Conference on Aging for the year 2005; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the Unites States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to each Senator and Representative in the California Congressional Delegation, and to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.