Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Department of Aging and sets forth its duties and powers, including, among other things, administering all programs under the act and the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, which includes providing technical assistance to area agencies on aging, program managers, staff, and volunteers providing services. Existing law provides findings and declarations relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors and requires each area agency on aging to include the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) seniors in its needs assessment and area plans.

This bill would authorize the Director of the California Department of Aging to provide grants, to the extent appropriations are made for this purpose, to nonprofit organizations with experience providing services and training that are culturally competent and sensitive to issues relating to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The bill would require nonprofit organizations receiving those grant funds to, among other things, provide training, outreach, and education to agencies, individuals, and other appropriate entities that provide services to veterans who are elder and LGBT.