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AB-2410 Meal program: senior citizens.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 05/16/2024 09:55 PM
AB2410:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  May 16, 2024
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2410

Introduced by Assembly Member Wallis

February 12, 2024

An act to amend Section 18327 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to nutrition.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2410, as amended, Wallis. Meal program: senior citizens.
Existing law establishes the California Department of Aging within the California Health and Human Services Agency. Existing law authorizes the department to make specified funds available for nutrition projects serving the needs of individuals 60 years of age or over and their spouses, as specified. Existing law, the McCarthy-Kennick Nutrition Program for the Elderly Act of 1972, among other things, establishes the Nutrition Reserve Fund for the purpose of maintaining existing nutrition services and lending moneys to senior nutrition projects, as specified. Existing law requires the California Commission on Aging, with the approval of the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, to develop and submit to the federal government a state plan for implementing the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, by May 1 of each year. Existing law requires the state plan to include the establishment of projects that provide at least one hot meal per day for 5 or more days per week, as specified.

This bill would require the above-described state plan to include the establishment of projects that would provide, at least 5 days per week, at least one meal per day and any additional meals the contracting agency or organization may elect to provide, to be made available for pickup by eligible individuals 60 years of age or older. The bill would specify the meal is not required to be hot or ready-to-eat at the time of pickup.

This bill would instead require that the projects provide those meals either served hot or made available for to-go pickup for reheating at home by eligible individuals.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 18327 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

18327.
 The state plan referred to in Section 18326 shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Establishment of projects that, five or more days per week, provide at least one hot meal per day meal per day, either served hot or made available for to-go pickup for reheating at home by eligible individuals, and any additional meals the contracting agency or organization may elect to provide that ensures recommended dietary allowances.
(2) Provision of nutrition projects for individuals 60 years of age or older who are eligible.
(3) Furnishing of sites for nutrition projects in close proximity to concentrations of eligible individuals’ residences, such as schools, churches, senior centers and facilities serving the aging.
(4) Utilization of administrative methods to ensure maximum participation of eligible individuals.
(5) Provision of special menus, when feasible, to meet particular dietary needs arising from health or religious requirements or ethnic backgrounds.
(6) Provision of settings conducive to including, as a part of these projects, recreational activities, information, health and welfare counseling, and referral services.
(7) Provision of appropriate modes of transportation essential to maximum participation of eligible individuals confined to their homes.
(8) Establishment and administration of projects with the advice of persons competent in the field and of older Californians who will themselves participate in the program.
(9) Nutrition education.

(10)Establishment of projects that, five or more days per week, provide at least one meal per day and any additional meals the contracting agency or organization may elect to provide, to be made available for to-go pickup by eligible individuals 60 years of age or older. The meal shall not be required to be hot or ready-to-eat at the time of pickup.