The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1176, aims to enhance support for the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and area agencies on aging by appropriating funds from the General Fund. Specifically, the bill allocates an unspecified sum to the Department of Aging and Disability Services for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027. This funding is designated for hiring one regional ombudsman for the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and for providing financial resources to the five area agencies on aging, enabling them to hire two additional service navigators each.

The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and introduces new sections to the existing law without any deletions from current statutes. The intent of the legislation is to strengthen the support systems for aging individuals by increasing the number of personnel available to assist them, thereby improving the overall quality of care and advocacy within long-term care settings.