Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Task Force on Aging in New Jersey in DOH.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Task Force on Aging in New Jersey and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of Health the Task Force on Aging in New Jersey. The purpose of the task shall be to study the State resources available for older residents of the State and to identify, prioritize, make recommendation on ways to improve the services needed to support an aging population so that individuals may grow old with dignity and independence.
b. The task force shall consist of 17 members, including:
(1) the Commissioner of Health, the Commissioner of Human Services, the Public Guardian, and the New Jersey Long Term Care Ombudsman, or their designees, who shall serve ex-officio;
(2) two public members appointed by the Governor based upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, including one member who represents an organization that advocates for the aging community and one member who represents an organization or agency that provides programs or services to senior citizens;
(3) two public members to be appointed by the Governor based upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, including one member who represents an organization that advocates for the aging community and one member who represents an organization or agency that provides programs or services to senior citizens; and
(4) nine public members appointed by the Governor who shall include: a representative of the New Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging; a representative of the New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well; a representative of the AARP; a representative of the New Jersey Elder Rights Coalition; a representative of the Center for Health Aging at Rutgers University; a physician who has been specially trained in caring for elderly persons and has a certificate of added qualifications in geriatrics; an individual who is 65 years of age or older who lives in a long-term care facility; an individual who is 65 years of age or older living at home; and a caregiver of an individual who is 65 years of age or older
c. The public members of the task force shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the initial appointments, four public members shall serve for one year, five public members shall serve for two years, and five public members shall serve for three years. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members are eligible for reappointment to the task force.
d. The Commissioner of Health, or a designee, shall serve as chairperson of the task force. The task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson. The task force shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. The task force, in its discretion, may divide its membership into subcommittees in the course of carrying out its duties.
e. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.
f. The Department of Health shall provide such stenographic, clerical, other administrative assistants, and such professional staff as the task force requires to carry out its work.
g. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes.
2. a. The duties of the task force shall be to:
(1) review all policies, procedures, programs, and practices relating to the provision of services to the older residents of New Jersey by State, county, and municipal agencies and for community-based organizations;
(2) study, analyze, and monitor information and data collected by State agencies and community-based organization relating to the aging processes and the needs of the older residents of New Jersey
(3) examine State activities, processes, and strategies that support family caregivers of older adults;
(4) evaluate State policies and procedures that support quality of care in long-term care facilities;
(5) establish an educational program to inform senior citizens about consumer rights, social isolation and loneliness, elder abuse, elder theft and scams, the availability of affordable, quality housing options, transportation services, and other issues that affect the quality of life of older New Jerseyans; and
(6) ensure all State policies relating to aging are inclusive of race, gender, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and other characteristics that reflect the States population.
b. The task force shall issue a report of its recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than 18 months after the organization of the task force. The task force shall issue reports of any new or updated recommendations on a biennial basis.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the 17-member Task Force on Aging in New Jersey in the Department of Health. The task force is study the State resources available for older residents of the State and to identify, prioritize, make recommendation on ways to improve the services needed to support an aging population so that individuals may grow old with dignity and independence.
The task force is to consist of the following members: the Commissioners of Health and Human Services, the Public Guardian, and the New Jersey Long Term Care Ombudsman, or their designees, who are to serve ex-officio; four public members appointed by the Governor, two to be appointed on recommendation of the Senate President and two to be appointed on recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, who represent organizations that advocate for the aging community or provide programs or services to senior citizens; and nine public members, including, representatives of various organizations that advocate for older adults, a health care provider specializing in geriatric services, a family caregiver, an individual 65 years of age or older who lives in a long-term care facility, and an individual who is 65 years of age or older living at home.
The duties of the task force are to: (1) review all policies, procedures, programs, and practices relating to the provision of services to the older residents of New Jersey by State, county, and municipal agencies and for community-based organizations; (2) study, analyze, and monitor information and data collected by State agencies and community-based organization relating to the aging processes and the needs of the older residents of New Jersey; (3) examine State activities, processes, and strategies that support family caregivers of older adults; (4) evaluate State policies and procedures that support quality of care in long-term care facilities; (5) establish an educational program to inform senior citizens about consumer rights, social isolation and loneliness, elder abuse, elder theft and scams, the availability of affordable, quality housing options, transportation services, and other issues th