Bill Text: CT SB00259 | 2018 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Senior Centers.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-04-18 - Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate [SB00259 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2018-SB00259-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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February Session, 2018 |
*_____SB00259APP___041818____* |
AN ACT CONCERNING SENIOR CENTERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 7-127b of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):
(a) The chief elected official or the chief executive officer if by ordinance of each municipality shall appoint a municipal agent for elderly persons. Such agent shall be a staff member of a senior center, a member of an agency that serves elderly persons in the municipality, or a responsible resident of the municipality who has demonstrated an interest in the elderly or has been involved in programs in the field of aging.
(b) The duties of the municipal agent may include, but shall not be limited to: [,] (1) [disseminating] Disseminating information to elderly persons, assisting such persons in learning about the community resources available to them and publicizing such resources and benefits; (2) assisting elderly persons to apply for federal and other benefits available to such persons; (3) reporting to the chief elected official or chief executive officer of the municipality and the Department of [Social Services] Rehabilitation Services any needs and problems of the elderly and any recommendations for action to improve services to the elderly.
(c) Each municipal agent shall serve for a term of two or four years, at the discretion of the appointing authority of each municipality, and may be reappointed. If more than one agent is necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, the appointing authority, in its discretion, may appoint one or more assistant agents. The town clerk in each municipality shall notify the Department of [Social Services] Rehabilitation Services immediately of the appointment of a new municipal agent. Each municipality may provide to its municipal agent resources sufficient for such agent to perform the duties of the office.
(d) The Department of [Social Services] Rehabilitation Services shall adopt and disseminate to municipalities guidelines as to the role and duties of municipal agents and such informational and technical materials as may assist such agents in performance of their duties. The department, in cooperation with the area agencies on aging, may provide training for municipal agents within the available resources of the department and of the area agencies on aging.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2018) (a) Any one or more municipalities, or any one or more private organizations that serve older persons and are designated to act as agents of one or more municipalities, may establish a multipurpose senior center, as defined in Title I of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended from time to time. Such senior center shall facilitate evaluation, planning, coordination and implementation of programs and services, including, but not limited to, health, including mental and behavioral health, social, nutritional and educational services and recreational activities for older persons.
(b) A multipurpose senior center established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may provide, but need not be limited to, the following services: (1) Nutrition services, (2) health and wellness programs, (3) employment assistance, (4) intergenerational initiatives, (5) community service and civic engagement opportunities, (6) public benefits counseling, (7) socialization and educational opportunities, (8) transportation, (9) peer counseling, (10) financial and retirement counseling, (11) arts programs, and (12) case management services.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2018) (a) Within available appropriations, the Department of Rehabilitation Services shall provide assistance to senior centers including, but not limited to, the following duties: (1) Establishment and maintenance of a list of senior centers and municipal services for older persons; (2) establishment and maintenance of a list of resources for staff of senior centers and municipal services for older persons; (3) technical assistance to staff of senior centers and municipal services for older persons through direct assistance or referral to expert resources; (4) regular communication to staff of senior centers and municipal services for older persons of information about local, state and federal support, and services of interest to senior centers and municipal services for older persons; and (5) establishment and facilitation of a state-wide senior center work group as described in subsection (b) of this section. The Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services shall assign or appoint necessary personnel to perform such duties.
(b) The Department of Rehabilitation Services shall establish a state-wide senior center work group comprised of, but not limited to: (1) The Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services, or the commissioner's designee; (2) the Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee; (3) two representatives of the Connecticut Association of Senior Center Personnel; (4) one representative of the Connecticut Association of Municipal Agents for the Elderly; (5) one representative of the Connecticut Local Administrators of Social Services; (6) five representatives of senior centers, with one from each of the five area agencies on aging, as described in section 17a-304 of the general statutes; (7) one representative from a nonprofit senior center; and (8) one representative from a senior center that is accredited by the National Institute of Senior Centers.
(c) The senior center work group shall ensure a coordinated plan of development for senior centers and municipal services for older persons and shall: (1) Develop an annual plan for the support and development of senior centers and municipal services for older persons, including, but not limited to, training needs and the coordination of existing resources; (2) evaluate the feasibility of implementing standards for the delivery of core services and make recommendations for such standards, including, but not limited to, recommending standards that allow for parity of core services across municipalities while maintaining flexibility for delivery of those core services; (3) consult with the five area agencies on aging and other agencies; (4) facilitate coordination and communication between senior centers and municipal services for older persons with executive branch departments, including, but not limited to, the Departments of Rehabilitation Services, Public Health, Transportation, Housing and Mental Health and Addiction Services, and agencies and initiatives that impact older persons in the community; (5) develop and provide access to best practices and procedures for senior centers and municipal services for older persons; and (6) make recommendations to the General Assembly for any necessary appropriations or legislative changes.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2018 |
7-127b |
Sec. 2 |
October 1, 2018 |
New section |
Sec. 3 |
October 1, 2018 |
New section |
AGE |
Joint Favorable Subst. |
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APP |
Joint Favorable |