Collapse to view only § 3026. Area plans
- § 3021. Purpose and program
- § 3022. Definitions
- § 3023. Authorization of appropriations; uses of funds
- § 3024. Allotment to States
- § 3025. Designation of State agencies
- § 3026. Area plans
- § 3027. State plans
- § 3028.
- § 3029. Payments of grants or contracts
- § 3030. Disaster relief reimbursements
- § 3030a. Nutrition services incentive program
- § 3030b. Recapture of payments made for multipurpose senior centers
- § 3030c. Audit; request for information
- § 3030c-1. Rights relating to in-home services for frail older individuals
- § 3030c-2. Consumer contributions
- § 3030c-3. Waivers
§ 3021. Purpose and program
(a) Congressional declaration of purpose
(1) It is the purpose of this subchapter to encourage and assist State agencies and area agencies on aging to concentrate resources in order to develop greater capacity and foster the development and implementation of comprehensive and coordinated systems to serve older individuals by entering into new cooperative arrangements in each State with the persons described in paragraph (2), for the planning, and for the provision of, supportive services, and multipurpose senior centers, in order to—
(A) secure and maintain maximum independence and dignity in a home environment for older individuals capable of self care with appropriate supportive services;
(B) remove individual and social barriers to economic and personal independence for older individuals;
(C) provide a continuum of care for vulnerable older individuals;
(D) secure the opportunity for older individuals to receive managed in-home and community-based long-term care services; and
(E) measure impacts related to social determinants of health of older individuals.
(2) The persons referred to in paragraph (1) include—
(A) State agencies and area agencies on aging;
(B) other State agencies, including agencies that administer home and community care programs;
(C) Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations;
(D) the providers, including voluntary organizations or other private sector organizations, of supportive services, nutrition services, and multipurpose senior centers;
(E) organizations representing or employing older individuals or their families; and
(F) organizations that have experience in providing training, placement, and stipends for volunteers or participants who are older individuals (such as organizations carrying out Federal service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service), in community service settings.
(b) Administration of program
(1) In order to effectively carry out the purpose of this subchapter, the Assistant Secretary shall administer programs under this subchapter through the Administration.
(2) In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Assistant Secretary may request the technical assistance and cooperation of the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation, the Office of Community Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,,1
1 So in original.
and such other agencies and departments of the Federal Government as may be appropriate.(c) Ombudsman program
(d) Use of funds
(1) Any funds received under an allotment as described in section 3024(a) of this title, or funds contributed toward the non-Federal share under section 3024(d) of this title, shall be used only for activities and services to benefit older individuals and other individuals as specifically provided for in this subchapter.
(2) No provision of this subchapter shall be construed as prohibiting a State agency or area agency on aging from providing services by using funds from sources not described in paragraph (1).
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 301, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1516; amended Pub. L. 97–115, § 3(a), (d), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1596, 1597; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 301, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1771; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 104(b), 105(c), 121, 129(a), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 929, 930, 933, 934; Pub. L. 100–628, title VII, § 705(3), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3247; Pub. L. 102–54, § 13(q)(9)(B), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 281; Pub. L. 102–321, title I, § 163(c)(2)(B), July 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 377; Pub. L. 102–375, title I, § 102(b)(1)(A), title III, § 301, title VII, § 708(a)(2)(B), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1200, 1219, 1292; Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1990; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 301, title VIII, § 801(c)(1), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2238, 2292; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 301, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2538; Pub. L. 116–131, title II, § 201, Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 254.)
§ 3022. DefinitionsFor the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) The term “comprehensive and coordinated system” means a system for providing all necessary supportive services, including nutrition services, in a manner designed to—
(A) facilitate accessibility to, and utilization of, all supportive services and nutrition services provided within the geographic area served by such system by any public or private agency or organization;
(B) develop and make the most efficient use of supportive services and nutrition services in meeting the needs of older individuals;
(C) use available resources efficiently and with a minimum of duplication; and
(D) encourage and assist public and private entities that have unrealized potential for meeting the service needs of older individuals to assist the older individuals on a voluntary basis.
(2) The term “education and training service” means a supportive service designed to assist older individuals to better cope with their economic, health, and personal needs through services such as consumer education, continuing education, health education, preretirement education, financial planning, and other education and training services which will advance the objectives of this chapter.
(3) The term “family caregiver” means an adult family member, or another individual, who is an informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual or to an individual of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder with neurological and organic brain dysfunction.
(4) The term “unit of general purpose local government” means—
(A) a political subdivision of the State whose authority is general and not limited to only one function or combination of related functions; or
(B) an Indian tribal organization.
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1517; amended Pub. L. 97–115, § 3(b), (d), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1596, 1597; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 302, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1771; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 136(a)(2), 144(a), 182(b)(2), (e)(1), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 943, 948, 964; Pub. L. 102–375, title I, § 102(b)(3), title III, § 302, Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1201, 1220; Pub. L. 103–171, § 2(7), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1988; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 302, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2538; Pub. L. 116–131, title II, § 202(1), Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 254.)
§ 3023. Authorization of appropriations; uses of funds
(a)
(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part B (relating to supportive services) $412,029,180 for fiscal year 2020, $436,750,931 for fiscal year 2021, $462,955,987 for fiscal year 2022, $490,733,346 for fiscal year 2023, and $520,177,347 for fiscal year 2024.
(2) Funds appropriated under paragraph (1) shall be available to carry out section 3058g of this title.
(b)
(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart I of part C (relating to congregate nutrition services) $530,015,940 for fiscal year 2020, $561,816,896 for fiscal year 2021, $595,525,910 for fiscal year 2022, $631,257,465 for fiscal year 2023, and $669,132,913 for fiscal year 2024.
(2) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart II of part C (relating to home delivered nutrition services) $268,935,940 for fiscal year 2020, $285,072,096 for fiscal year 2021, $302,176,422 for fiscal year 2022, $320,307,008 for fiscal year 2023, and $339,525,428 for fiscal year 2024.
(c) Grants made under part B, and subparts I and II of part C, of this subchapter may be used for paying part of the cost of—
(1) the administration of area plans by area agencies on aging designated under section 3025(a)(2)(A) of this title, including the preparation of area plans on aging consistent with section 3026 of this title and the evaluation of activities carried out under such plans; and
(2) the development of comprehensive and coordinated systems for supportive services, and congregate and home delivered nutrition services under subparts I and II of part C, the development and operation of multipurpose senior centers, and the delivery of legal assistance.
(d) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part D (relating to disease prevention and health promotion services) $26,587,360 for fiscal year 2020, $28,182,602 for fiscal year 2021, $29,873,558 for fiscal year 2022, $31,665,971 for fiscal year 2023, and $33,565,929 for fiscal year 2024.
(e) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part E (relating to family caregiver support) $193,869,020 for fiscal year 2020, $205,501,161 for fiscal year 2021, $217,831,231 for fiscal year 2022, $230,901,105 for fiscal year 2023, and $244,755,171 for fiscal year 2024.
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 303, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1518; amended Pub. L. 97–115, § 3(c), (d), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1597; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 303, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1771; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 122(a), (b), 129(c)(1), 140(a), 141(a), 143(a), 144(b), 145, 155(b), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 933, 935, 944, 946, 947, 949, 950, 952; Pub. L. 102–375, title III, §§ 303, 316(b), title VII, § 708(c)(3), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1220, 1241, 1293; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 302, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2238; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 303, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2538; Pub. L. 114–144, § 4(a), Apr. 19, 2016, 130 Stat. 337; Pub. L. 116–131, title II, § 203(a), Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 254.)
§ 3024. Allotment to States
(a) In general
(1) From the sums appropriated under subsections (a) through (d) of section 3023 of this title for each fiscal year, each State shall be allotted an amount which bears the same ratio to such sums as the population of older individuals in such State bears to the population of older individuals in all States.
(2) In determining the amounts allotted to States from the sums appropriated under section 3023 of this title for a fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall first determine the amount allotted to each State under paragraph (1) and then proportionately adjust such amounts, if necessary, to meet the requirements of paragraph (3).
(3)
(A) No State shall be allotted less than ½ of 1 percent of the sum appropriated for the fiscal year for which the determination is made.
(B) Guam and the United States Virgin Islands shall each be allotted not less than ¼ of 1 percent of the sum appropriated for the fiscal year for which the determination is made.
(C) American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall each be allotted not less than 1⁄16 of 1 percent of the sum appropriated for the fiscal year for which the determination is made. For the purposes of the exception contained in subparagraph (A) only, the term “State” does not include Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(D)
(i) In this subparagraph and paragraph (5)—(I) the term “allot” means allot under this subsection from a sum appropriated under section 3023(a) or 3023(b)(1) of this title, as the case may be; and(II) the term “covered fiscal year” means any of fiscal years 2020 through 2029.
(ii) If the sum appropriated under section 3023(a) or 3023(b)(1) of this title for a particular covered fiscal year is less than or equal to the sum appropriated under section 3023(a) or 3023(b)(1) of this title, respectively, for fiscal year 2019, amounts shall be allotted to States from the sum appropriated for the particular year in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), and subparagraphs (A) through (C) as applicable, but no State shall be allotted an amount that is less than—(I) for fiscal year 2020, 99.75 percent of the State’s allotment from the corresponding sum appropriated for fiscal year 2019;(II) for fiscal year 2021, 99.50 percent of that allotment;(III) for fiscal year 2022, 99.25 percent of that allotment;(IV) for fiscal year 2023, 99.00 percent of that allotment;(V) for fiscal year 2024, 98.75 percent of that allotment;(VI) for fiscal year 2025, 98.50 percent of that allotment;(VII) for fiscal year 2026, 98.25 percent of that allotment;(VIII) for fiscal year 2027, 98.00 percent of that allotment;(IX) for fiscal year 2028, 97.75 percent of that allotment; and(X) for fiscal year 2029, 97.50 percent of that allotment.
(iii) If the sum appropriated under section 3023(a) or 3023(b)(1) of this title for a particular covered fiscal year is greater than the sum appropriated under section 3023(a) or 3023(b)(1) of this title, respectively, for fiscal year 2019, the allotments to States from the sum appropriated for the particular year shall be calculated as follows:(I) From the portion equal to the corresponding sum appropriated for fiscal year 2019, amounts shall be allotted in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), and subparagraphs (A) through (C) as applicable, but no State shall be allotted an amount that is less than the percentage specified in clause (ii), for that particular year, of the State’s allotment from the corresponding sum appropriated for fiscal year 2019.(II) From the remainder, amounts shall be allotted in accordance with paragraph (1), subparagraphs (A) through (C) as applicable, and paragraph (2) to the extent needed to meet the requirements of those subparagraphs.
(4) The number of individuals aged 60 or older in any State and in all States shall be determined by the Assistant Secretary on the basis of the most recent data available from the Bureau of the Census, and other reliable demographic data satisfactory to the Assistant Secretary.
(5) State allotments for a fiscal year under this section shall be proportionally reduced to the extent that appropriations may be insufficient to provide the full allotments as required by paragraph (3).
(b) Unused funds
(c) Withholding of funds; disbursement
(d) Costs of administration, ombudsman program, demonstration projects, supportive services, senior centers and nutrition services; payment and determination of non-Federal share
(1) From any State’s allotment, after the application of section 3028(b) of this title, under this section for any fiscal year—
(A) such amount as the State agency determines, but not more than 10 percent thereof, shall be available for paying such percentage as the agency determines, but not more than 75 percent, of the cost of administration of area plans;
(B) such amount as the State agency determines to be adequate for conducting an effective ombudsman program under section 3027(a)(9) of this title shall be available for conducting such program;
(C) not less than $150,000 and not more than 4 percent of the amount allotted to the State for carrying out part B, shall be available for conducting outreach demonstration projects under section 3058e of this title; and
(D) the remainder of such allotment shall be available to such State only for paying such percentage as the State agency determines, but not more than 85 percent of the cost of supportive services, senior centers, and nutrition services under this subchapter provided in the State as part of a comprehensive and coordinated system in planning and service areas for which there is an area plan approved by the State agency.
(2) The non-Federal share shall be in cash or in kind. In determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the Assistant Secretary may attribute fair market value to services and facilities contributed from non-Federal sources.
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 304, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1519; amended Pub. L. 97–115, § 4, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1597; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 304, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1772; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 123, 155(c), (d), 182(f), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 933, 952, 965; Pub. L. 102–375, title III, § 304, title IX, § 904(a)(10), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1221, 1306; Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1990; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 303, title VIII, § 801(c)(2), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2239, 2292; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 304, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2539; Pub. L. 114–144, § 4(b), Apr. 19, 2016, 130 Stat. 338; Pub. L. 116–131, title II, § 204, title VII, § 701(6), (7), Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 255, 271.)
§ 3025. Designation of State agencies
(a) Duties of designated agencyIn order for a State to be eligible to participate in programs of grants to States from allotments under this subchapter—
(1) the State shall, in accordance with regulations of the Assistant Secretary, designate a State agency as the sole State agency to—
(A) develop a State plan to be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for approval under section 3027 of this title;
(B) administer the State plan within such State;
(C) be primarily responsible for the planning, policy development, administration, coordination, priority setting, and evaluation of all State activities related to the objectives of this chapter;
(D) serve as an effective and visible advocate for older individuals by reviewing and commenting upon all State plans, budgets, and policies which affect older individuals and providing technical assistance to any agency, organization, association, or individual representing the needs of older individuals; and
(E) divide the State into distinct planning and service areas (or in the case of a State specified in subsection (b)(5)(A), designate the entire State as a single planning and service area), in accordance with guidelines issued by the Assistant Secretary, after considering the geographical distribution of older individuals in the State, the incidence of the need for supportive services, nutrition services, multipurpose senior centers, and legal assistance, the distribution of older individuals who have greatest economic need (with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas) residing in such areas, the distribution of older individuals who have greatest social need (with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas) residing in such areas, the distribution of older individuals who are Indians residing in such areas, the distribution of resources available to provide such services or centers, the boundaries of existing areas within the State which were drawn for the planning or administration of supportive services programs, the location of units of general purpose local government within the State, and any other relevant factors;
(2) the State agency shall—
(A) except as provided in subsection (b)(5), designate for each such area after consideration of the views offered by the unit or units of general purpose local government in such area, a public or private nonprofit agency or organization as the area agency on aging for such area;
(B) provide assurances, satisfactory to the Assistant Secretary, that the State agency will take into account, in connection with matters of general policy arising in the development and administration of the State plan for any fiscal year, the views of recipients of supportive services or nutrition services, or individuals using multipurpose senior centers provided under such plan;
(C) in consultation with area agencies, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Assistant Secretary, and using the best available data, develop and publish for review and comment a formula for distribution within the State of funds received under this subchapter that takes into account—
(i) the geographical distribution of older individuals in the State; and
(ii) the distribution among planning and service areas of older individuals with greatest economic need and older individuals with greatest social need, with particular attention to low-income minority older individuals;
(D) submit its formula developed under subparagraph (C) to the Assistant Secretary for approval;
(E) provide assurances that preference will be given to providing services to older individuals with greatest economic need and older individuals with greatest social need (with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas), and include proposed methods of carrying out the preference in the State plan;
(F) provide assurances that the State agency will require use of outreach efforts described in section 3027(a)(16) of this title; and
(G)
(i) set specific objectives, in consultation with area agencies on aging, for each planning and service area for providing services funded under this subchapter to low-income minority older individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas;
(ii) provide an assurance that the State agency will undertake specific program development, advocacy, and outreach efforts focused on the needs of low-income minority older individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas; and
(iii) provide a description of the efforts described in clause (ii) that will be undertaken by the State agency; and
(3) the State agency shall, consistent with this section, promote the development and implementation of a State system of long-term care that is a comprehensive, coordinated system that enables older individuals to receive long-term care in home and community-based settings, in a manner responsive to the needs and preferences of the older individuals and their family caregivers, by—
(A) collaborating, coordinating, and consulting with other agencies in such State responsible for formulating, implementing, and administering programs, benefits, and services related to providing long-term care;
(B) participating in any State government activities concerning long-term care, including reviewing and commenting on any State rules, regulations, and policies related to long-term care;
(C) conducting analyses and making recommendations with respect to strategies for modifying the State system of long-term care to better—
(i) respond to the needs and preferences of older individuals and family caregivers;
(ii) facilitate the provision, by service providers, of long-term care in home and community-based settings; and
(iii) target services to individuals at risk for institutional placement, to permit such individuals to remain in home and community-based settings;
(D) implementing (through area agencies on aging, service providers, and such other entities as the State determines to be appropriate) evidence-based programs to assist older individuals and their family caregivers in learning about and making behavioral changes intended to reduce the risk of injury, disease, and disability among older individuals; and
(E) providing for the availability and distribution (through public education campaigns, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, area agencies on aging, and other appropriate means) of information relating to—
(i) the need to plan in advance for long-term care; and
(ii) the full range of available public and private long-term care (including integrated long-term care) programs, options, service providers, and resources.
(b) Planning and service areas
(1) In carrying out the requirement of subsection (a)(1), the State may designate as a planning and service area any unit of general purpose local government which has a population of 100,000 or more. In any case in which a unit of general purpose local government makes application to the State agency under the preceding sentence to be designated as a planning and service area, the State agency shall, upon request, provide an opportunity for a hearing to such unit of general purpose local government. A State may designate as a planning and service area under subsection (a)(1), any region within the State recognized for purposes of areawide planning which includes one or more such units of general purpose local government when the State determines that the designation of such a regional planning and service area is necessary for, and will enhance, the effective administration of the programs authorized by this subchapter. The State may include in any planning and service area designated under subsection (a)(1) such additional areas adjacent to the unit of general purpose local government or regions so designated as the State determines to be necessary for, and will enhance the effective administration of the programs authorized by this subchapter.
(2) The State is encouraged in carrying out the requirement of subsection (a)(1) to include the area covered by the appropriate economic development district involved in any planning and service area designated under subsection (a)(1), and to include all portions of an Indian reservation within a single planning and service area, if feasible.
(3) The chief executive officer of each State in which a planning and service area crosses State boundaries, or in which an interstate Indian reservation is located, may apply to the Assistant Secretary to request redesignation as an interstate planning and service area comprising the entire metropolitan area or Indian reservation. If the Assistant Secretary approves such an application, the Assistant Secretary shall adjust the State allotments of the areas within the planning and service area in which the interstate planning and service area is established to reflect the number of older individuals within the area who will be served by an interstate planning and service area not within the State.
(4) Whenever a unit of general purpose local government, a region, a metropolitan area or an Indian reservation is denied designation under the provisions of subsection (a)(1), such unit of general purpose local government, region, metropolitan area, or Indian reservation may appeal the decision of the State agency to the Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary shall afford such unit, region, metropolitan area, or Indian reservation an opportunity for a hearing. In carrying out the provisions of this paragraph, the Assistant Secretary may approve the decision of the State agency, disapprove the decision of the State agency and require the State agency to designate the unit, region, area, or Indian reservation appealing the decision as a planning and service area, or take such other action as the Assistant Secretary deems appropriate.
(5)
(A) A State which on or before October 1, 1980, had designated, with the approval of the Assistant Secretary, a single planning and service area covering all of the older individuals in the State, in which the State agency was administering the area plan, may after that date designate one or more additional planning and service areas within the State to be administered by public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations as area agencies on aging, after considering the factors specified in subsection (a)(1)(E). The State agency shall continue to perform the functions of an area agency on aging for any area of the State not included in a planning and service area for which an area agency on aging has been designated.
(B) Whenever a State agency designates a new area agency on aging after October 9, 1984, the State agency shall give the right to first refusal to a unit of general purpose local government if (i) such unit can meet the requirements of subsection (c), and (ii) the boundaries of such a unit and the boundaries of the area are reasonably contiguous.
(C)
(i) A State agency shall establish and follow appropriate procedures to provide due process to affected parties, if the State agency initiates an action or proceeding to—(I) revoke the designation of the area agency on aging under subsection (a);(II) designate an additional planning and service area in a State;(III) divide the State into different planning and service areas; or(IV) otherwise affect the boundaries of the planning and service areas in the State.
(ii) The procedures described in clause (i) shall include procedures for—(I) providing notice of an action or proceeding described in clause (i);(II) documenting the need for the action or proceeding;(III) conducting a public hearing for the action or proceeding;(IV) involving area agencies on aging, service providers, and older individuals in the action or proceeding; and(V) allowing an appeal of the decision of the State agency in the action or proceeding to the Assistant Secretary.
(iii) An adversely affected party involved in an action or proceeding described in clause (i) may bring an appeal described in clause (ii)(V) on the basis of—(I) the facts and merits of the matter that is the subject of the action or proceeding; or(II) procedural grounds.
(iv) In deciding an appeal described in clause (ii)(V), the Assistant Secretary may affirm or set aside the decision of the State agency. If the Assistant Secretary sets aside the decision, and the State agency has taken an action described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (i), the State agency shall nullify the action.
(c) Eligible State area agencies; development of area; preferred area agency on aging designeesAn area agency on aging designated under subsection (a) shall be—
(1) an established office of aging which is operating within a planning and service area designated under subsection (a);
(2) any office or agency of a unit of general purpose local government, which is designated to function only for the purpose of serving as an area agency on aging by the chief elected official of such unit;
(3) any office or agency designated by the appropriate chief elected officials of any combination of units of general purpose local government to act only on behalf of such combination for such purpose;
(4) any public or nonprofit private agency in a planning and service area, or any separate organizational unit within such agency, which is under the supervision or direction for this purpose of the designated State agency and which can and will engage only in the planning or provision of a broad range of supportive services, or nutrition services within such planning and service area; or
(5) in the case of a State specified in subsection (b)(5), the State agency;
and shall provide assurance, determined adequate by the State agency, that the area agency on aging will have the ability to develop an area plan and to carry out, directly or through contractual or other arrangements, a program in accordance with the plan within the planning and service area. In designating an area agency on aging within the planning and service area or within any unit of general purpose local government designated as a planning and service area the State shall give preference to an established office on aging, unless the State agency finds that no such office within the planning and service area will have the capacity to carry out the area plan.
(d) Publication for review and comment; contentsThe publication for review and comment required by paragraph (2)(C) of subsection (a) shall include—
(1) a descriptive statement of the formula’s assumptions and goals, and the application of the definitions of greatest economic or social need,
(2) a numerical statement of the actual funding formula to be used,
(3) a listing of the population, economic, and social data to be used for each planning and service area in the State, and
(4) a demonstration of the allocation of funds, pursuant to the funding formula, to each planning and service area in the State.
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 305, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1520; amended Pub. L. 97–115, §§ 3(d), 5, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1597; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 305, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1773; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 124, 132(a), 134(a)(1), 182(e)(2), (g), (h), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 933, 939, 940, 965; Pub. L. 100–628, title VII, § 705(4), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3247; Pub. L. 102–375, title I, § 102(b)(9)(B), (10)(B)–(D), title III, § 305, title IX, § 904(a)(11), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1201, 1202, 1222, 1306; Pub. L. 103–171, §§ 2(8), 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1988, 1990; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 304, title VIII, § 801(c)(3), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2239, 2292; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 305, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2539; Pub. L. 114–144, § 4(c), Apr. 19, 2016, 130 Stat. 338.)
§ 3026. Area plans
(a) Preparation and development by area agency on aging; requirementsEach area agency on aging designated under section 3025(a)(2)(A) of this title shall, in order to be approved by the State agency, prepare and develop an area plan for a planning and service area for a two-, three-, or four-year period determined by the State agency, with such annual adjustments as may be necessary. Each such plan shall be based upon a uniform format for area plans within the State prepared in accordance with section 3027(a)(1) of this title. Each such plan shall—
(1) provide, through a comprehensive and coordinated system, for supportive services, nutrition services, and, where appropriate, for the establishment, maintenance, modernization, or construction of multipurpose senior centers (including a plan to use the skills and services of older individuals in paid and unpaid work, including multigenerational and older individual to older individual work), within the planning and service area covered by the plan, including determining the extent of need for supportive services, nutrition services, and multipurpose senior centers in such area (taking into consideration, among other things, the number of older individuals with low incomes residing in such area, the number of older individuals who have greatest economic need (with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas) residing in such area, the number of older individuals who have greatest social need (with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas) residing in such area, the number of older individuals at risk for institutional placement residing in such area, the number of older individuals at risk for institutional placement residing in such area, and the number of older individuals who are Indians residing in such area, and the efforts of voluntary organizations in the community), evaluating the effectiveness of the use of resources in meeting such need, and entering into agreements with providers of supportive services, nutrition services, or multipurpose senior centers in such area, for the provision of such services or centers to meet such need;
(2) provide assurances that an adequate proportion, as required under section 3027(a)(2) of this title, of the amount allotted for part B to the planning and service area will be expended for the delivery of each of the following categories of services—
(A) services associated with access to services (transportation, health services (including mental and behavioral health services), outreach, information and assistance (which may include information and assistance to consumers on availability of services under part B and how to receive benefits under and participate in publicly supported programs for which the consumer may be eligible), and case management services);
(B) in-home services, including supportive services for families of older individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction); 1
1 So in original. A closing parenthesis probably should not appear.
and(C) legal assistance;
and assurances that the area agency on aging will report annually to the State agency in detail the amount of funds expended for each such category during the fiscal year most recently concluded;
(3)
(A) designate, where feasible, a focal point for comprehensive service delivery in each community, giving special consideration to designating multipurpose senior centers (including multipurpose senior centers operated by organizations referred to in paragraph (6)(C)) as such focal point; and
(B) specify, in grants, contracts, and agreements implementing the plan, the identity of each focal point so designated;
(4)
(A)
(i)(I) provide assurances that the area agency on aging will—(aa) set specific objectives, consistent with State policy, for providing services to older individuals with greatest economic need, older individuals with greatest social need, and older individuals at risk for institutional placement;(bb) include specific objectives for providing services to low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas; and(II) include proposed methods to achieve the objectives described in items (aa) and (bb) of subclause (I);
(ii) provide assurances that the area agency on aging will include in each agreement made with a provider of any service under this subchapter, a requirement that such provider will—(I) specify how the provider intends to satisfy the service needs of low-income minority individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas in the area served by the provider;(II) to the maximum extent feasible, provide services to low-income minority individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas in accordance with their need for such services; and(III) meet specific objectives established by the area agency on aging, for providing services to low-income minority individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas within the planning and service area; and
(iii) with respect to the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which such plan is prepared—(I) identify the number of low-income minority older individuals in the planning and service area;(II) describe the methods used to satisfy the service needs of such minority older individuals; and(III) provide information on the extent to which the area agency on aging met the objectives described in clause (i);
(B) provide assurances that the area agency on aging will use outreach efforts that will—
(i) identify individuals eligible for assistance under this chapter, with special emphasis on—(I) older individuals residing in rural areas;(II) older individuals with greatest economic need (with particular attention to low-income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas);(III) older individuals with greatest social need (with particular attention to low-income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas);(IV) older individuals with severe disabilities;(V) older individuals with limited English proficiency;(VI) older individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction (and the caretakers of such individuals); and(VII) older individuals at risk for institutional placement, specifically including survivors of the Holocaust; and
(ii) inform the older individuals referred to in subclauses (I) through (VII) of clause (i), and the caretakers of such individuals, of the availability of such assistance; and
(C) contain an assurance that the area agency on aging will ensure that each activity undertaken by the agency, including planning, advocacy, and systems development, will include a focus on the needs of low-income minority older individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas;
(5) provide assurances that the area agency on aging will coordinate planning, identification, assessment of needs, and provision of services for older individuals with disabilities, with particular attention to individuals with severe disabilities and individuals at risk for institutional placement, with agencies that develop or provide services for individuals with disabilities;
(6) provide that the area agency on aging will—
(A) take into account in connection with matters of general policy arising in the development and administration of the area plan, the views of recipients of services under such plan;
(B) serve as the advocate and focal point for older individuals within the community by (in cooperation with agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in activities under the plan) monitoring, evaluating, and commenting upon all policies, programs, hearings, levies, and community actions which will affect older individuals;
(C)
(i) where possible, enter into arrangements with organizations providing day care services for children, assistance to older individuals caring for relatives who are children, and respite for families, so as to provide opportunities for older individuals to aid or assist on a voluntary basis in the delivery of such services to children, adults, and families;
(ii) if possible regarding the provision of services under this subchapter, enter into arrangements and coordinate with organizations that have a proven record of providing services to older individuals, that—(I) were officially designated as community action agencies or community action programs under section 210 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2790) 2
2 See References in Text note below.
for fiscal year 1981, and did not lose the designation as a result of failure to comply with such Act; or(II) came into existence during fiscal year 1982 as direct successors in interest to such community action agencies or community action programs; and(iii) make use of trained volunteers in providing direct services delivered to older individuals and individuals with disabilities needing such services and, if possible, work in coordination with organizations that have experience in providing training, placement, and stipends for volunteers or participants (such as organizations carrying out Federal service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service), in community service settings;
and that meet the requirements under section 9910 of this title;
(D) establish an advisory council consisting of older individuals (including minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas) who are participants or who are eligible to participate in programs assisted under this chapter, family caregivers of such individuals, representatives of older individuals, service providers, representatives of the business community, local elected officials, providers of veterans’ health care (if appropriate), and the general public, to advise continuously the area agency on aging on all matters relating to the development of the area plan, the administration of the plan and operations conducted under the plan;
(E) establish effective and efficient procedures for coordination of—
(i) entities conducting programs that receive assistance under this chapter within the planning and service area served by the agency; and
(ii) entities conducting other Federal programs for older individuals at the local level, with particular emphasis on entities conducting programs described in section 3013(b) of this title, within the area;
(F) in coordination with the State agency and with the State agency responsible for mental and behavioral health services, increase public awareness of mental health disorders, remove barriers to diagnosis and treatment, and coordinate mental and behavioral health services (including mental health screenings) provided with funds expended by the area agency on aging with mental and behavioral health services provided by community health centers and by other public agencies and nonprofit private organizations;
(G) if there is a significant population of older individuals who are Indians in the planning and service area of the area agency on aging, the area agency on aging shall conduct outreach activities to identify such individuals in such area and shall inform such individuals of the availability of assistance under this chapter;
(H) in coordination with the State agency and with the State agency responsible for elder abuse prevention services, increase public awareness of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and remove barriers to education, prevention, investigation, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as appropriate; and
(I) to the extent feasible, coordinate with the State agency to disseminate information about the State assistive technology entity and access to assistive technology options for serving older individuals;
(7) provide that the area agency on aging shall, consistent with this section, facilitate the area-wide development and implementation of a comprehensive, coordinated system for providing long-term care in home and community-based settings, in a manner responsive to the needs and preferences of older individuals and their family caregivers, by—
(A) collaborating, coordinating activities, and consulting with other local public and private agencies and organizations responsible for administering programs, benefits, and services related to providing long-term care;
(B) conducting analyses and making recommendations with respect to strategies for modifying the local system of long-term care to better—
(i) respond to the needs and preferences of older individuals and family caregivers;
(ii) facilitate the provision, by service providers, of long-term care in home and community-based settings; and
(iii) target services to older individuals at risk for institutional placement, to permit such individuals to remain in home and community-based settings;
(C) implementing, through the agency or service providers, evidence-based programs to assist older individuals and their family caregivers in learning about and making behavioral changes intended to reduce the risk of injury, disease, and disability among older individuals; and
(D) providing for the availability and distribution (through public education campaigns, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, the area agency on aging itself, and other appropriate means) of information relating to—
(i) the need to plan in advance for long-term care; and
(ii) the full range of available public and private long-term care (including integrated long-term care) programs, options, service providers, and resources;
(8) provide that case management services provided under this subchapter through the area agency on aging will—
(A) not duplicate case management services provided through other Federal and State programs;
(B) be coordinated with services described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) be provided by a public agency or a nonprofit private agency that—
(i) gives each older individual seeking services under this subchapter a list of agencies that provide similar services within the jurisdiction of the area agency on aging;
(ii) gives each individual described in clause (i) a statement specifying that the individual has a right to make an independent choice of service providers and documents receipt by such individual of such statement;
(iii) has case managers acting as agents for the individuals receiving the services and not as promoters for the agency providing such services; or
(iv) is located in a rural area and obtains a waiver of the requirements described in clauses (i) through (iii);
(9) provide assurances that—
(A) the area agency on aging, in carrying out the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program under , will expend not less than the total amount of funds appropriated under this chapter and expended by the agency in fiscal year 2019 in carrying out such a program under this subchapter; and
(B) funds made available to the area agency on aging pursuant to section 3058g of this title shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local funds expended to support activities described in section 3058g of this title;
(10) provide a grievance procedure for older individuals who are dissatisfied with or denied services under this subchapter;
(11) provide information and assurances concerning services to older individuals who are Native Americans (referred to in this paragraph as “older Native Americans”), including—
(A) information concerning whether there is a significant population of older Native Americans in the planning and service area and if so, an assurance that the area agency on aging will pursue activities, including outreach, to increase access of those older Native Americans to programs and benefits provided under this subchapter;
(B) an assurance that the area agency on aging will, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate the services the agency provides under this subchapter with services provided under subchapter X; and
(C) an assurance that the area agency on aging will make services under the area plan available, to the same extent as such services are available to older individuals within the planning and service area, to older Native Americans; and 3
3 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.
(12) provide that the area agency on aging will establish procedures for coordination of services with entities conducting other Federal or federally assisted programs for older individuals at the local level, with particular emphasis on entities conducting programs described in section 3013(b) of this title within the planning and service area.4
4 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
(13) provide assurances that the area agency on aging will—
(A) maintain the integrity and public purpose of services provided, and service providers, under this subchapter in all contractual and commercial relationships;
(B) disclose to the Assistant Secretary and the State agency—
(i) the identity of each nongovernmental entity with which such agency has a contract or commercial relationship relating to providing any service to older individuals; and
(ii) the nature of such contract or such relationship;
(C) demonstrate that a loss or diminution in the quantity or quality of the services provided, or to be provided, under this subchapter by such agency has not resulted and will not result from such contract or such relationship;
(D) demonstrate that the quantity or quality of the services to be provided under this subchapter by such agency will be enhanced as a result of such contract or such relationship; and
(E) on the request of the Assistant Secretary or the State, for the purpose of monitoring compliance with this chapter (including conducting an audit), disclose all sources and expenditures of funds such agency receives or expends to provide services to older individuals;
(14) provide assurances that preference in receiving services under this subchapter will not be given by the area agency on aging to particular older individuals as a result of a contract or commercial relationship that is not carried out to implement this subchapter;
(15) provide assurances that funds received under this subchapter will be used—
(A) to provide benefits and services to older individuals, giving priority to older individuals identified in paragraph (4)(A)(i); and
(B) in compliance with the assurances specified in paragraph (13) and the limitations specified in section 3020c of this title;
(16) provide, to the extent feasible, for the furnishing of services under this chapter, consistent with self-directed care;
(17) include information detailing how the area agency on aging will coordinate activities, and develop long-range emergency preparedness plans, with local and State emergency response agencies, relief organizations, local and State governments, and any other institutions that have responsibility for disaster relief service delivery;
(18) provide assurances that the area agency on aging will collect data to determine—
(A) the services that are needed by older individuals whose needs were the focus of all centers funded under subchapter IV in fiscal year 2019; and
(B) the effectiveness of the programs, policies, and services provided by such area agency on aging in assisting such individuals; and
(19) provide assurances that the area agency on aging will use outreach efforts that will identify individuals eligible for assistance under this chapter, with special emphasis on those individuals whose needs were the focus of all centers funded under subchapter IV in fiscal year 2019.
(b) Assessment of preparation of area agencies
(1) An area agency on aging may include in the area plan an assessment of how prepared the area agency on aging and service providers in the planning and service area are for any anticipated change in the number of older individuals during the 10-year period following the fiscal year for which the plan is submitted.
(2) Such assessment may include—
(A) the projected change in the number of older individuals in the planning and service area;
(B) an analysis of how such change may affect such individuals, including individuals with low incomes, individuals with greatest economic need, minority older individuals, older individuals residing in rural areas, and older individuals with limited English proficiency;
(C) an analysis of how the programs, policies, and services provided by such area agency can be improved, and how resource levels can be adjusted to meet the needs of the changing population of older individuals in the planning and service area; and
(D) an analysis of how the change in the number of individuals age 85 and older in the planning and service area is expected to affect the need for supportive services.
(3) An area agency on aging, in cooperation with government officials, State agencies, tribal organizations, or local entities, may make recommendations to government officials in the planning and service area and the State, on actions determined by the area agency to build the capacity in the planning and service area to meet the needs of older individuals for—
(A) health and human services;
(B) land use;
(C) housing;
(D) transportation;
(E) public safety;
(F) workforce and economic development;
(G) recreation;
(H) education;
(I) civic engagement;
(J) emergency preparedness;
(K) protection from elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
(L) assistive technology devices and services; and
(M) any other service as determined by such agency.
(c) Waiver of requirements
(d) Transportation services; funds
(1) Subject to regulations prescribed by the Assistant Secretary, an area agency on aging designated under section 3025(a)(2)(A) of this title or, in areas of a State where no such agency has been designated, the State agency, may enter into agreements with agencies administering programs under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.], and titles XIX and XX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq., 1397 et seq.] for the purpose of developing and implementing plans for meeting the common need for transportation services of individuals receiving benefits under such Acts and older individuals participating in programs authorized by this subchapter.
(2) In accordance with an agreement entered into under paragraph (1), funds appropriated under this subchapter may be used to purchase transportation services for older individuals and may be pooled with funds made available for the provision of transportation services under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.], and titles XIX and XX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq., 1397 et seq.].
(e) Confidentiality of information relating to legal assistance
(f) Withholding of area funds
(1) If the head of a State agency finds that an area agency on aging has failed to comply with Federal or State laws, including the area plan requirements of this section, regulations, or policies, the State may withhold a portion of the funds to the area agency on aging available under this subchapter.
(2)
(A) The head of a State agency shall not make a final determination withholding funds under paragraph (1) without first affording the area agency on aging due process in accordance with procedures established by the State agency.
(B) At a minimum, such procedures shall include procedures for—
(i) providing notice of an action to withhold funds;
(ii) providing documentation of the need for such action; and
(iii) at the request of the area agency on aging, conducting a public hearing concerning the action.
(3)
(A) If a State agency withholds the funds, the State agency may use the funds withheld to directly administer programs under this subchapter in the planning and service area served by the area agency on aging for a period not to exceed 180 days, except as provided in subparagraph (B).
(B) If the State agency determines that the area agency on aging has not taken corrective action, or if the State agency does not approve the corrective action, during the 180-day period described in subparagraph (A), the State agency may extend the period for not more than 90 days.
(g) No restriction on provision of servicesNothing in this chapter shall restrict an area agency on aging from providing services not provided or authorized by this chapter, including through—
(1) contracts with health care payers;
(2) consumer private pay programs; or
(3) other arrangements with entities or individuals that increase the availability of home- and community-based services and supports.
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 306, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1522; amended Pub. L. 97–115, §§ 3(d), 6, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1597, 1598; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 306, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1774; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 104(c), 125–127, 130(a), 131(a), 132(b), 133, 134(a)(2), (b), 135, 136(b), 137(a), 140(b), 141(b), 143(b), 144(c), 155(e)(1), 182(e)(3), (i), (j), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 930, 934, 938–944, 946, 947, 949, 952, 965; Pub. L. 100–628, title VII, § 705(5), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3247; Pub. L. 102–375, title I, § 102(b)(4), (10)(C), (E), title III, § 306, title IX, § 904(a)(12), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1201, 1202, 1223, 1307; Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1990; Pub. L. 105–285, title II, § 202(a), Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2755; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 305, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2240; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 306, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2540; Pub. L. 114–144, §§ 4(d), 9(4), Apr. 19, 2016, 130 Stat. 338, 352; Pub. L. 116–131, title I, §§ 104(2), 118(b), title II, §§ 205, 206(1), 207(a), title VII, § 701(8), Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 243, 246, 256, 257, 271.)
§ 3027. State plans
(a) Criteria for eligibility; contentsExcept as provided in the succeeding sentence and section 3029(a) of this title, each State, in order to be eligible for grants from its allotment under this subchapter for any fiscal year, shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a State plan for a two-, three-, or four-year period determined by the State agency, with such annual revisions as are necessary, which meets such criteria as the Assistant Secretary may by regulation prescribe. If the Assistant Secretary determines, in the discretion of the Assistant Secretary, that a State failed in 2 successive years to comply with the requirements under this subchapter, then the State shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a State plan for a 1-year period that meets such criteria, for subsequent years until the Assistant Secretary determines that the State is in compliance with such requirements. Each such plan shall comply with all of the following requirements:
(1) The plan shall—
(A) require each area agency on aging designated under section 3025(a)(2)(A) of this title to develop and submit to the State agency for approval, in accordance with a uniform format developed by the State agency, an area plan meeting the requirements of section 3026 of this title; and
(B) be based on such area plans.
(2) The plan shall provide that the State agency will—
(A) evaluate, using uniform procedures described in section 3012(a)(26) of this title, the need for supportive services (including legal assistance pursuant to subsection (a)(11), information and assistance, and transportation services), nutrition services, and multipurpose senior centers within the State;
(B) develop a standardized process to determine the extent to which public or private programs and resources (including volunteers and programs and services of voluntary organizations) that have the capacity and actually meet such need;
(C) specify a minimum proportion of the funds received by each area agency on aging in the State to carry out part B that will be expended (in the absence of a waiver under section 3026(c) or 3030c–3 of this title) by such area agency on aging to provide each of the categories of services specified in section 3026(a)(2) of this title.
(3) The plan shall—
(A) include (and may not be approved unless the Assistant Secretary approves) the statement and demonstration required by paragraphs (2) and (4) of section 3025(d) of this title (concerning intrastate distribution of funds); and
(B) with respect to services for older individuals residing in rural areas—
(i) provide assurances that the State agency will spend for each fiscal year, not less than the amount expended for such services for fiscal year 2000;
(ii) identify, for each fiscal year to which the plan applies, the projected costs of providing such services (including the cost of providing access to such services); and
(iii) describe the methods used to meet the needs for such services in the fiscal year preceding the first year to which such plan applies.
(4) The plan shall provide that the State agency will conduct periodic evaluations of, and public hearings on, activities and projects carried out in the State under this subchapter and subchapter XI, including evaluations of the effectiveness of services provided to individuals with greatest economic need, greatest social need, or disabilities (with particular attention to low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas).
(5) The plan shall provide that the State agency will—
(A) afford an opportunity for a hearing upon request, in accordance with published procedures, to any area agency on aging submitting a plan under this subchapter, to any provider of (or applicant to provide) services;
(B) issue guidelines applicable to grievance procedures required by section 3026(a)(10) of this title; and
(C) afford an opportunity for a public hearing, upon request, by any area agency on aging, by any provider of (or applicant to provide) services, or by any recipient of services under this subchapter regarding any waiver request, including those under section 3030c–3 of this title.
(6) The plan shall provide that the State agency will make such reports, in such form, and containing such information, as the Assistant Secretary may require, and comply with such requirements as the Assistant Secretary may impose to insure the correctness of such reports.
(7)
(A) The plan shall provide satisfactory assurance that such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures will be adopted as may be necessary to assure proper disbursement of, and accounting for, Federal funds paid under this subchapter to the State, including any such funds paid to the recipients of a grant or contract.
(B) The plan shall provide assurances that—
(i) no individual (appointed or otherwise) involved in the designation of the State agency or an area agency on aging, or in the designation of the head of any subdivision of the State agency or of an area agency on aging, is subject to a conflict of interest prohibited under this chapter;
(ii) no officer, employee, or other representative of the State agency or an area agency on aging is subject to a conflict of interest prohibited under this chapter; and
(iii) mechanisms are in place to identify and remove conflicts of interest prohibited under this chapter.
(8)
(A) The plan shall provide that no supportive services, nutrition services, or in-home services will be directly provided by the State agency or an area agency on aging in the State, unless, in the judgment of the State agency—
(i) provision of such services by the State agency or the area agency on aging is necessary to assure an adequate supply of such services;
(ii) such services are directly related to such State agency’s or area agency on aging’s administrative functions; or
(iii) such services can be provided more economically, and with comparable quality, by such State agency or area agency on aging.
(B) Regarding case management services, if the State agency or area agency on aging is already providing case management services (as of the date of submission of the plan) under a State program, the plan may specify that such agency is allowed to continue to provide case management services.
(C) The plan may specify that an area agency on aging is allowed to directly provide information and assistance services and outreach.
(9) The plan shall provide assurances that—
(A) the State agency will carry out, through the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, a State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program in accordance with section 3058g of this title and this subchapter, and will expend for such purpose an amount that is not less than the amount expended by the State agency with funds received under this subchapter for fiscal year 2019, and an amount that is not less than the amount expended by the State agency with funds received under subchapter VII for fiscal year 2019; and
(B) funds made available to the State agency pursuant to section 3058g of this title shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local funds expended to support activities described in section 3058g of this title.
(10) The plan shall provide assurances that the special needs of older individuals residing in rural areas will be taken into consideration and shall describe how those needs have been met and describe how funds have been allocated to meet those needs.
(11) The plan shall provide that with respect to legal assistance—
(A) the plan contains assurances that area agencies on aging will (i) enter into contracts with providers of legal assistance which can demonstrate the experience or capacity to deliver legal assistance; (ii) include in any such contract provisions to assure that any recipient of funds under division (i) will be subject to specific restrictions and regulations promulgated under the Legal Services Corporation Act [
(B) the plan contains assurances that no legal assistance will be furnished unless the grantee administers a program designed to provide legal assistance to older individuals with social or economic need and has agreed, if the grantee is not a Legal Services Corporation project grantee, to coordinate its services with existing Legal Services Corporation projects in the planning and service area in order to concentrate the use of funds provided under this subchapter on individuals with the greatest such need; and the area agency on aging makes a finding, after assessment, pursuant to standards for service promulgated by the Assistant Secretary, that any grantee selected is the entity best able to provide the particular services;
(C) the State agency will provide for the coordination of the furnishing of legal services to older individuals within the State, and provide advice and technical assistance in the provision of legal services to older individuals within the State and support the furnishing of training and technical assistance for legal services for older individuals;
(D) the plan contains assurances, to the extent practicable, that legal services furnished under the plan will be in addition to any legal services for older individuals being furnished with funds from sources other than this chapter and that reasonable efforts will be made to maintain existing levels of legal services for older individuals; and
(E) the plan contains assurances that area agencies on aging will give priority to legal assistance related to income, health care, long-term care, nutrition, housing, utilities, protective services, defense of guardianship, abuse, neglect, and age discrimination.
(12) The plan shall provide, whenever the State desires to provide for a fiscal year for services for the prevention of abuse of older individuals—
(A) the plan contains assurances that any area agency on aging carrying out such services will conduct a program consistent with relevant State law and coordinated with existing State adult protective service activities for—
(i) public education to identify and prevent abuse of older individuals;
(ii) receipt of reports of abuse of older individuals;
(iii) active participation of older individuals participating in programs under this chapter through outreach, conferences, and referral of such individuals to other social service agencies or sources of assistance where appropriate and consented to by the parties to be referred; and
(iv) referral of complaints to law enforcement or public protective service agencies where appropriate;
(B) the State will not permit involuntary or coerced participation in the program of services described in this paragraph by alleged victims, abusers, or their households; and
(C) all information gathered in the course of receiving reports and making referrals shall remain confidential unless all parties to the complaint consent in writing to the release of such information, except that such information may be released to a law enforcement or public protective service agency.
(13) The plan shall provide assurances that each State will assign personnel (one of whom shall be known as a legal assistance developer) to provide State leadership in developing legal assistance programs for older individuals throughout the State.
(14) The plan shall, with respect to the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which such plan is prepared—
(A) identify the number of low-income minority older individuals in the State, including the number of low-income minority older individuals with limited English proficiency; and
(B) describe the methods used to satisfy the service needs of the low-income minority older individuals described in subparagraph (A), including the plan to meet the needs of low-income minority older individuals with limited English proficiency.
(15) The plan shall provide assurances that, if a substantial number of the older individuals residing in any planning and service area in the State are of limited English-speaking ability, then the State will require the area agency on aging for each such planning and service area—
(A) to utilize, in the delivery of outreach services under section 3026(a)(2)(A) of this title, the services of workers who are fluent in the language spoken by a predominant number of such older individuals who are of limited English-speaking ability; and
(B) to designate an individual employed by the area agency on aging, or available to such area agency on aging on a full-time basis, whose responsibilities will include—
(i) taking such action as may be appropriate to assure that counseling assistance is made available to such older individuals who are of limited English-speaking ability in order to assist such older individuals in participating in programs and receiving assistance under this chapter; and
(ii) providing guidance to individuals engaged in the delivery of supportive services under the area plan involved to enable such individuals to be aware of cultural sensitivities and to take into account effectively linguistic and cultural differences.
(16) The plan shall provide assurances that the State agency will require outreach efforts that will—
(A) identify individuals eligible for assistance under this chapter, with special emphasis on—
(i) older individuals residing in rural areas;
(ii) older individuals with greatest economic need (with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas);
(iii) older individuals with greatest social need (with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas);
(iv) older individuals with severe disabilities;
(v) older individuals with limited English-speaking ability; and
(vi) older individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction (and the caretakers of such individuals); and
(B) inform the older individuals referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of subparagraph (A), and the caretakers of such individuals, of the availability of such assistance.
(17) The plan shall provide, with respect to the needs of older individuals with severe disabilities, assurances that the State will coordinate planning, identification, assessment of needs, and service for older individuals with disabilities with particular attention to individuals with severe disabilities with the State agencies with primary responsibility for individuals with disabilities, including severe disabilities, to enhance services and develop collaborative programs, where appropriate, to meet the needs of older individuals with disabilities.
(18) The plan shall provide assurances that area agencies on aging will conduct efforts to facilitate the coordination of community-based, long-term care services, pursuant to section 3026(a)(7) of this title, for older individuals who—
(A) reside at home and are at risk of institutionalization because of limitations on their ability to function independently;
(B) are patients in hospitals and are at risk of prolonged institutionalization; or
(C) are patients in long-term care facilities, but who can return to their homes if community-based services are provided to them.
(19) The plan shall include the assurances and description required by section 3058d(a) of this title.
(20) The plan shall provide assurances that special efforts will be made to provide technical assistance to minority providers of services.
(21) The plan shall—
(A) provide an assurance that the State agency will coordinate programs under this subchapter and programs under subchapter X, if applicable; and
(B) provide an assurance that the State agency will pursue activities to increase access by older individuals who are Native Americans to all aging programs and benefits provided by the agency, including programs and benefits provided under this subchapter, if applicable, and specify the ways in which the State agency intends to implement the activities.
(22) If case management services are offered to provide access to supportive services, the plan shall provide that the State agency shall ensure compliance with the requirements specified in section 3026(a)(8) of this title.
(23) The plan shall provide assurances that demonstrable efforts will be made—
(A) to coordinate services provided under this chapter with other State services that benefit older individuals; and
(B) to provide multigenerational activities, such as opportunities for older individuals to serve as mentors or advisers in child care, youth day care, educational assistance, at-risk youth intervention, juvenile delinquency treatment, and family support programs.
(24) The plan shall provide assurances that the State will coordinate public services within the State to assist older individuals to obtain transportation services associated with access to services provided under this subchapter, to services under subchapter X, to comprehensive counseling services, and to legal assistance.
(25) The plan shall include assurances that the State has in effect a mechanism to provide for quality in the provision of in-home services under this subchapter.
(26) The plan shall provide assurances that area agencies on aging will provide, to the extent feasible, for the furnishing of services under this chapter, consistent with self-directed care.
(27)
(A) The plan shall include, at the election of the State, an assessment of how prepared the State is, under the State’s statewide service delivery model, for any anticipated change in the number of older individuals during the 10-year period following the fiscal year for which the plan is submitted.
(B) Such assessment may include—
(i) the projected change in the number of older individuals in the State;
(ii) an analysis of how such change may affect such individuals, including individuals with low incomes, individuals with greatest economic need, minority older individuals, older individuals residing in rural areas, and older individuals with limited English proficiency;
(iii) an analysis of how the programs, policies, and services provided by the State can be improved, including coordinating with area agencies on aging, and how resource levels can be adjusted to meet the needs of the changing population of older individuals in the State; and
(iv) an analysis of how the change in the number of individuals age 85 and older in the State is expected to affect the need for supportive services.
(28) The plan shall include information detailing how the State will coordinate activities, and develop long-range emergency preparedness plans, with area agencies on aging, local emergency response agencies, relief organizations, local governments, State agencies responsible for emergency preparedness, and any other institutions that have responsibility for disaster relief service delivery.
(29) The plan shall include information describing the involvement of the head of the State agency in the development, revision, and implementation of emergency preparedness plans, including the State Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.
(30) The plan shall contain an assurance that the State shall prepare and submit to the Assistant Secretary annual reports that describe—
(A) data collected to determine the services that are needed by older individuals whose needs were the focus of all centers funded under subchapter IV in fiscal year 2019;
(B) data collected to determine the effectiveness of the programs, policies, and services provided by area agencies on aging in assisting such individuals; and
(C) outreach efforts and other activities carried out to satisfy the assurances described in paragraphs (18) and (19) of section 3026(a) of this title.
(b) Approval by Assistant Secretary; waiver of requirements
(1) The Assistant Secretary shall approve any State plan which the Assistant Secretary finds fulfills the requirements of subsection (a), except the Assistant Secretary may not approve such plan unless the Assistant Secretary determines that the formula submitted under section 3025(a)(2)(D) of this title complies with the guidelines in effect under section 3025(a)(2)(C) of this title.
(2) The Assistant Secretary, in approving any State plan under this section, may waive the requirement described in paragraph (3)(B) of subsection (a) if the State agency demonstrates to the Assistant Secretary that the service needs of older individuals residing in rural areas in the State are being met, or that the number of older individuals residing in such rural areas is not sufficient to require the State agency to comply with such requirement.
(c) Notice and hearing prior to disapproval
(1) The Assistant Secretary shall not make a final determination disapproving any State plan, or any modification thereof, or make a final determination that a State is ineligible under section 3025 of this title, without first affording the State reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing.
(2) Not later than 30 days after such final determination, a State dissatisfied with such final determination may appeal such final determination to the Secretary for review. If the State timely appeals such final determination in accordance with subsection (e)(1), the Secretary shall dismiss the appeal filed under this paragraph.
(3) If the State is dissatisfied with the decision of the Secretary after review under paragraph (2), the State may appeal such decision not later than 30 days after such decision and in the manner described in subsection (e). For purposes of appellate review under the preceding sentence, a reference in subsection (e) to the Assistant Secretary shall be deemed to be a reference to the Secretary.
(d) Discontinuance of payments; disbursement of withheld funds to agencies with approved plans; matching fundsWhenever the Assistant Secretary, after reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing to the State agency, finds that—
(1) the State is not eligible under section 3025 of this title,
(2) the State plan has been so changed that it no longer complies substantially with the provisions of subsection (a), or
(3) in the administration of the plan there is a failure to comply substantially with any such provision of subsection (a),
the Assistant Secretary shall notify such State agency that no further payments from its allotments under section 3024 of this title and section 3028 of this title will be made to the State (or, in the Assistant Secretary’s discretion, that further payments to the State will be limited to projects under or portions of the State plan not affected by such failure), until the Assistant Secretary is satisfied that there will no longer be any failure to comply. Until the Assistant Secretary is so satisfied, no further payments shall be made to such State from its allotments under section 3024 of this title and section 3028 of this title (or payments shall be limited to projects under or portions of the State plan not affected by such failure). The Assistant Secretary shall, in accordance with regulations the Assistant Secretary shall prescribe, disburse the funds so withheld directly to any public or nonprofit private organization or agency or political subdivision of such State submitting an approved plan in accordance with the provisions of this section. Any such payment shall be matched in the proportions specified in section 3024 of this title.
(e) Appeal
(1) A State which is dissatisfied with a final action of the Assistant Secretary under subsection (b), (c), or (d) may appeal to the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the State is located, by filing a petition with such court within 30 days after such final action. A copy of the petition shall be forthwith transmitted by the clerk of the court to the Assistant Secretary, or any officer designated by the Assistant Secretary for such purpose. The Assistant Secretary thereupon shall file in the court the record of the proceedings on which the Assistant Secretary’s action is based, as provided in section 2112 of title 28.
(2) Upon the filing of such petition, the court shall have jurisdiction to affirm the action of the Assistant Secretary or to set it aside, in whole or in part, temporarily or permanently, but until the filing of the record, the Assistant Secretary may modify or set aside the Assistant Secretary’s order. The findings of the Assistant Secretary as to the facts, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive, but the court, for good cause shown, may remand the case to the Assistant Secretary to take further evidence, and the Assistant Secretary shall, within 30 days, file in the court the record of those further proceedings. Such new or modified findings of fact shall likewise be conclusive if supported by substantial evidence. The judgment of the court affirming or setting aside, in whole or in part, any action of the Assistant Secretary shall be final, subject to review by the Supreme Court of the United States upon certiorari or certification as provided in section 1254 of title 28.
(3) The commencement of proceedings under this subsection shall not, unless so specifically ordered by the court, operate as a stay of the Assistant Secretary’s action.
(f) Confidentiality of information relating to legal assistance
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 307, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1524; amended Pub. L. 97–115, §§ 3(d), 7, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1597, 1598; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 307, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1775; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 128, 129(d), (e), 130(b), 131(b), 132(c), 136(c), 137(b), 138, 140(c), 141(c), 142, 144(d), 155(e)(2), 182(k), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 934, 935, 938–940, 943, 944, 946, 947, 949, 953, 965; Pub. L. 100–628, title VII, § 705(6), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3247; Pub. L. 102–375, title I, § 102(b)(4), (5), (10)(A), (C), (E), (F), title III, § 307, title VII, § 708(c)(4), title IX, § 904(a)(13), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1201, 1202, 1228, 1293, 1308; Pub. L. 103–171, §§ 2(9), 3(a)(5), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1988, 1990; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 306, title VIII, § 801(c)(4), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2242, 2292; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 307, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2544; Pub. L. 114–144, § 4(e), Apr. 19, 2016, 130 Stat. 339; Pub. L. 116–131, title I, § 118(c), title II, §§ 206(2), 207(b), Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 247, 256, 257.)
§ 3028.
(a)
Activities constituting administration; use of excess funds to supplement cost of administration of area plans; election to pay costs from sums received for administration of area plans
(1) Amounts available to States under subsection (b) may be used to make grants to States for paying such percentages as each State agency determines, but not more than 75 percent, of the cost of the administration of its State plan, including the preparation of the State plan, the evaluation of activities carried out under such plan, the collection of data and the carrying out of analyses related to the need for supportive services, nutrition services, and multipurpose senior centers within the State, and dissemination of information so obtained, the provision of short-term training to personnel of public or nonprofit private agencies and organizations engaged in the operation of programs authorized by this chapter, and the carrying out of demonstration projects of statewide significance relating to the initiation, expansion, or improvement of services assisted under this subchapter.
(2) Any sums available to a State under subsection (b) for part of the cost of the administration of its State plan which the State determines is not needed for such purpose may be used by the State to supplement the amount available under section 3024(d)(1)(A) of this title to cover part of the cost of the administration of area plans.
(3) Any State which has been designated a single planning and service area under section 3025(a)(1)(E) of this title covering all, or substantially all, of the older individuals in such State, as determined by the Assistant Secretary, may elect to pay part of the costs of the administration of State and area plans either out of sums received under this section of out of sums made available for the administration of area plans under section 3024(d)(1)(A) of this title, but shall not pay such costs out of sums received or allotted under both such sections.
(b)
Formula for computation of allotment; application for additional funds; approval of application by Assistant Secretary; limitation on amount of additional funds; transfer of funds
(1) If for any fiscal year the aggregate amount appropriated under section 3023 of this title does not exceed $800,000,000, then—
(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), the greater of—
(i) 5 percent of the total amount of the allotments made to a State under sections 3024(a)(1) and 3030s–1(f) of this title; or
(ii) $300,000; and
(B) in the case of Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the greater of 5 percent of such total amount or $75,000;
shall be available to such State to carry out the purposes of this section.
(2) If for any fiscal year the aggregate amount appropriated under section 3023 of this title exceeds $800,000,000, then—
(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), the greater of—
(i) 5 percent of the total amount of the allotments made to a State under sections 3024(a)(1) and 3030s–1(f) of this title; or
(ii) $750,000; and
(B) in the case of Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the greater of 5 percent of such total amount or $100,000;
shall be available to such State to carry out the purposes of this section.
(3)
(A) If the aggregate amount appropriated under section 3023 of this title for a fiscal year does not exceed $800,000,000, then any State which desires to receive amounts, in addition to amounts allotted to such State under paragraph (1), to be used in the administration of its State plan in accordance with subsection (a) may transmit an application to the Assistant Secretary in accordance with this paragraph. Any such application shall be transmitted in such form, and according to such procedures, as the Assistant Secretary may require, except that such application may not be made as part of, or as an amendment to, the State plan.
(B) The Assistant Secretary may approve any application transmitted by a State under subparagraph (A) if the Assistant Secretary determines, based upon a particularized showing of need, that—
(i) the State will be unable to fully and effectively administer its State plan and to carry out programs and projects authorized by this subchapter unless such additional amounts are made available by the Assistant Secretary;
(ii) the State is making full and effective use of its allotment under paragraph (1) and of the personnel of the State agency and area agencies designated under section 3025(a)(2)(A) of this title in the administration of its State plan in accordance with subsection (a); and
(iii) the State agency and area agencies on aging of such State are carrying out, on a full-time basis, programs and activities which are in furtherance of the objectives of this chapter.
(C) The Assistant Secretary may approve that portion of the amount requested by a State in its application under subparagraph (A) which the Assistant Secretary determines has been justified in such application.
(D) Amounts which any State may receive in any fiscal year under this paragraph may not exceed three-fourths of 1 percent of the sum of the amounts allotted under section 3024(a) of this title to such State to carry out the State plan for such fiscal year.
(E) No application by a State under subparagraph (A) shall be approved unless it contains assurances that no amounts received by the State under this paragraph will be used to hire any individual to fill a job opening created by the action of the State in laying off or terminating the employment of any regular employee not supported under this chapter in anticipation of filling the vacancy so created by hiring an employee to be supported through use of amounts received under this paragraph.
(4)
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter and except as provided in subparagraph (B), with respect to funds received by a State and attributable to funds appropriated under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3023(b) of this title, the State may elect to transfer not more than 40 percent of the funds so received between subpart I and subpart II of part C, for use as the State considers appropriate to meet the needs of the area served. The Assistant Secretary shall approve any such transfer unless the Assistant Secretary determines that such transfer is not consistent with the objectives of this chapter.
(B) If a State demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Assistant Secretary, that funds received by the State and attributable to funds appropriated under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3023(b) of this title, including funds transferred under subparagraph (A) without regard to this subparagraph, for any fiscal year are insufficient to satisfy the need for services under subpart I or subpart II of part C, then the Assistant Secretary may grant a waiver that permits the State to transfer under subparagraph (A) to satisfy such need an additional 10 percent of the funds so received by a State and attributable to funds appropriated under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3023(b) of this title.
(C) A State’s request for a waiver under subparagraph (B) shall—
(i) be not more than one page in length;
(ii) include a request that the waiver be granted;
(iii) specify the amount of the funds received by a State and attributable to funds appropriated under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3023(b) of this title, over the permissible 40 percent referred to in subparagraph (A), that the State requires to satisfy the need for services under subpart I or II of part C; and
(iv) not include a request for a waiver with respect to an amount if the transfer of the amount would jeopardize the appropriate provision of services under subpart I or II of part C.
(D) The State, in consultation with area agencies on aging, shall ensure the process used by the State in transferring funds under this paragraph (including requirements relating to the authority and timing of such transfers) is simplified and clarified to reduce administrative barriers and direct limited resources to the greatest nutrition service needs at the community level. Such process shall be modified to attempt to lessen the administrative barriers of such transfers, and help direct limited resources to where they are needed the most as the unmet need for nutrition services grows.
(5)
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, of the funds received by a State attributable to funds appropriated under subsection (a)(1), and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b), of section 3023 of this title, the State may elect to transfer not more than 30 percent for any fiscal year between programs under part B and part C, for use as the State considers appropriate. The State shall notify the Assistant Secretary of any such election.
(B) At a minimum, the notification described in subparagraph (A) shall include a description of the amount to be transferred, the purposes of the transfer, the need for the transfer, and the impact of the transfer on the provision of services from which the funding will be transferred.
(6) A State agency may not delegate to an area agency on aging or any other entity the authority to make a transfer under paragraph (4)(A) or (5)(A).
(7) The Assistant Secretary shall annually collect, and include in the report required by section 3018(a) of this title, data regarding the transfers described in paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(A), including—
(A) the amount of funds involved in the transfers, analyzed by State;
(B) the rationales for the transfers;
(C) in the case of transfers described in paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(A), the effect of the transfers of the provision of services, including the effect on the number of meals served, under—
(i) subpart I of part C; and
(ii) subpart II of part C; and
(D) in the case of transfers described in paragraph (5)(A)—
(i) in the case of transfers to part B, information on the supportive services, or services provided through senior centers, for which the transfers were used; and
(ii) the effect of the transfers on the provision of services provided under—(I) part B; and(II) part C, including the effect on the number of meals served.
(8) The Assistant Secretary shall review the reports submitted under section 3027(a)(30) of this title and include aggregate data in the report required by section 3018(a) of this title, including data on—
(A) the effectiveness of the programs, policies, and services provided by area agencies on aging in assisting older individuals whose needs were the focus of all centers funded under subchapter IV in fiscal year 2019; and
(B) outreach efforts and other activities carried out to satisfy the assurances described in paragraphs (18) and (19) of section 3026(a) of this title, to identify such older individuals and their service needs.
(c)
Availability of funds under this section to provide services under parts B and C
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 308, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1530; amended Pub. L. 97–115, §§ 3(d), 8, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1597, 1600; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 308, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1777; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 129(c)(2), 182(l), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 935, 966; Pub. L. 102–375, title I, § 102(b)(9)(C), (10)(A), title III, § 308, title IX, § 904(a)(14), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1202, 1234, 1308; Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1990; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 307, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2245; Pub. L. 116–131, title II, §§ 209–211, Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 257, 258.)
§ 3029. Payments of grants or contracts
(a) Advances or reimbursement; installments; assistance in development of State plan
(b) Matching funds; percentage limitation
(1) For each fiscal year, not less than 25 percent of the non-Federal share of the total expenditures under the State plan which is required by section 3024(d) of this title shall be met from funds from State or local public sources.
(2) Funds required to meet the non-Federal share required by section 3024(d)(1)(D) of this title, in amounts exceeding 10 percent of the cost of the services specified in such section 3024(d)(1)(D) of this title, shall be met from State sources.
(c) Reduction of State allotment
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 309, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1532; amended Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 309, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1779; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, § 139, Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 944; Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1990; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 308, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2545.)
§ 3030. Disaster relief reimbursements
(a) Application; limitations
(1) The Assistant Secretary may provide reimbursements to any State (or to any tribal organization receiving a grant under subchapter X), upon application for such reimbursement, for funds such State makes available to area agencies on aging in such State (or funds used by such tribal organization) for the delivery of supportive services (and related supplies) during any major disaster declared by the President in accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act [42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.].
(2) Total payments to all States and such tribal organizations under paragraph (1) in any fiscal year shall not exceed 2 percent of the total amount appropriated and available to carry out subchapter IV.
(3) If the Assistant Secretary decides, in the 5-day period beginning on the date such disaster is declared by the President, to provide an amount of reimbursement under paragraph (1) to a State or such tribal organization, then the Assistant Secretary shall provide not less than 75 percent of such amount to such State or such tribal organization not later than 5 days after the date of such decision.
(b) Setting aside of funds by Assistant Secretary
(1) At the beginning of each fiscal year the Assistant Secretary shall set aside, for payment to States and such tribal organizations under subsection (a), an amount equal to 2 percent of the total amount appropriated and available to carry out subchapter IV.
(2) Amounts set aside under paragraph (1) which are not obligated by the end of the third quarter of any fiscal year shall be made available to carry out subchapter IV.
(c) Effect on other laws
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 310, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1533; amended Pub. L. 97–115, §§ 3(d), 11(b)(2), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1597, 1606; Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 109(q), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4709; Pub. L. 102–375, title I, § 102(b)(10)(A), title III, § 309, Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1202, 1235; Pub. L. 103–171, §§ 2(10), 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1989, 1990; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 308, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2246.)
§ 3030a. Nutrition services incentive program
(a) Purpose
(b) Allotment and provision and payment
(1) The Secretary shall allot and provide, in accordance with this section, to or on behalf of each State agency with a plan approved under this subchapter for a fiscal year, and to or on behalf of each grantee with an application approved under subchapter X for such fiscal year, an amount bearing the same ratio to the total amount appropriated for such fiscal year under subsection (e) as the number of meals served in the State under such plan approved for the preceding fiscal year (or the number of meals served by the title VI [subchapter X] grantee, under such application approved for such preceding fiscal year), bears to the total number of such meals served in all States and by all title VI [subchapter X] grantees under all such plans and applications approved for such preceding fiscal year.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), in the case of a grantee that has an application approved under subchapter X for a fiscal year but that did not receive assistance under this section for the preceding fiscal year, the number of meals served by the title VI [subchapter X] grantee for the preceding fiscal year shall be deemed to equal the number of meals that the Assistant Secretary estimates will be served by the title VI [subchapter X] grantee in the fiscal year for which the application was approved.
(c) Donation of products
(1) Agricultural commodities (including bonus commodities) and products purchased by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 612c of title 7, shall be donated to a recipient of a grant or contract to be used for providing nutrition services in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(2) The Commodity Credit Corporation shall dispose of food commodities (including bonus commodities) under section 1431 of title 7 by donating them to a recipient of a grant or contract to be used for providing nutrition services in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(3) Dairy products (including bonus commodities) purchased by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1446a–1 of title 7 shall be used to meet the requirements of programs providing nutrition services in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(4) Among the commodities provided under this subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture shall give special emphasis to foods of high nutritional value to support the health of older individuals. The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary, is authorized to prescribe the terms and conditions respecting the provision of commodities under this subsection.
(d) Option to obtain commodities from Secretary of Agriculture
(1) Each State agency and each title VI [subchapter X] grantee shall be entitled to use all or any part of amounts allotted under subsection (b) to obtain, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), from the Secretary of Agriculture commodities available through any food program of the Department of Agriculture at the rates at which such commodities are valued for purposes of such program.
(2) The Secretary of Agriculture shall determine and report to the Secretary, by such date as the Secretary may require, the amount (if any) of its allotment under subsection (b) which each State agency and title VI [subchapter X] grantee has elected to receive in the form of commodities. Such amount shall include an amount bearing the same ratio to the costs to the Secretary of Agriculture of providing such commodities under this subsection as the value of commodities received by such State agency or title VI [subchapter X] grantee under this subsection bears to the total value of commodities so received.
(3) From the allotment under subsection (b) for each State agency and title VI [subchapter X] grantee, the Secretary shall transfer funds to the Secretary of Agriculture for the costs of commodities received by such State agency or grantee, and expenses related to the procurement of the commodities on behalf of such State agency or grantee, under this subsection, and shall then pay the balance (if any) to such State agency or grantee. The amount of funds transferred for the expenses related to the procurement of the commodities shall be mutually agreed on by the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture. The transfer of funds for the costs of the commodities and the related expenses shall occur in a timely manner after the Secretary of Agriculture submits the corresponding report described in paragraph (2), and shall be subject to the availability of appropriations. Amounts received by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to this section to make commodity purchases for a fiscal year for a State agency or title VI [subchapter X] grantee shall remain available, only for the next fiscal year, to make commodity purchases for that State agency or grantee pursuant to this section.
(4) Each State agency and title VI [subchapter X] grantee shall promptly and equitably disburse amounts received under this subsection to recipients of grants and contracts. Such disbursements shall only be used by such recipients of grants or contracts to purchase domestically produced foods for their nutrition projects.
(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any State agency or title VI [subchapter X] grantee to elect to receive cash payments under this subsection.
(e) Authorization of appropriations
(f) Dissemination of information
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 311, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1533; amended Pub. L. 97–115, § 9, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1600; Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 310, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1779; Pub. L. 99–269, §§ 2, 3(b), 4, Apr. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 78; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, § 122(c), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 933; Pub. L. 102–375, title I, § 102(b)(10)(A), title III, § 310, Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1202, 1236; Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(6), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1990; Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 309, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2246; Pub. L. 108–7, div. G, title II, § 217(a), Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 325; Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 309, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2545; Pub. L. 110–19, § 2, Apr. 23, 2007, 121 Stat. 84; Pub. L. 114–144, § 4(f), Apr. 19, 2016, 130 Stat. 339; Pub. L. 116–131, title II, § 203(b), Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 255.)
§ 3030b. Recapture of payments made for multipurpose senior centers
If, within 10 years after acquisition, or within 20 years after the completion of construction, of any facility for which funds have been paid under this subchapter—
(1) the owner of the facility ceases to be a public or nonprofit private agency or organization; or
(2) the facility ceases to be used for the purposes for which it was acquired (unless the Assistant Secretary determines, in accordance with regulations, that there is good cause for releasing the applicant or other owner from the obligation to do so);
the United States shall be entitled to recover from the applicant or other owner of the facility an amount which bears to the then value of the facility (or so much thereof as constituted an approved project or projects) the same ratio as the amount of such Federal funds bore to the cost of the facility financed with the aid of such funds. Such value shall be determined by agreement of the parties or by action brought in the United States district court for the district in which such facility is situated.
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 312, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1534; amended
§ 3030c. Audit; request for information
(a) The Assistant Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States or any of their duly authorized representatives shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records that are pertinent to a grant or contract received under this subchapter.
(b) State agencies and area agencies on aging shall not request information or data from providers which is not pertinent to services furnished pursuant to this chapter or a payment made for such services.
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 313, as added Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 103(b), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1535; amended Pub. L. 98–459, title III, § 311, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1779; Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1990.)
§ 3030c–1. Rights relating to in-home services for frail older individualsThe Assistant Secretary shall require entities that provide in-home services under this subchapter to promote the rights of each older individual who receives such services. Such rights include the following:
(1) The right—
(A) to be fully informed in advance about each in-home service provided by such entity under this subchapter and about any change in such service that may affect the well-being of such individual; and
(B) to participate in planning and changing an in-home service provided under this subchapter by such entity unless such individual is judicially adjudged incompetent.
(2) The right to voice a grievance with respect to such service that is or fails to be so provided, without discrimination or reprisal as a result of voicing such grievance.
(3) The right to confidentiality of records relating to such individual.
(4) The right to have the property of such individual treated with respect.
(5) The right to be fully informed (orally and in writing), in advance of receiving an in-home service under this subchapter, of such individual’s rights and obligations under this subchapter.
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 314, as added Pub. L. 102–375, title III, § 311, Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1237; amended Pub. L. 103–171, §§ 2(11), 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1989, 1990.)
§ 3030c–2. Consumer contributions
(a) Cost sharing
(1) In general
(2) Exception
The State is not permitted to implement the cost sharing described in paragraph (1) for the following services:
(A) Information and assistance, outreach, benefits counseling, or case management services.
(B) Ombudsman, elder abuse prevention, legal assistance, or other consumer protection services.
(C) Congregate and home delivered meals.
(D) Any services delivered through tribal organizations.
(3) Prohibitions
(4) Payment rates
(5) Requirements
If a State permits the cost sharing described in paragraph (1), such State shall require each area agency on aging in the State to ensure that each service provider involved, and the area agency on aging, will—
(A) protect the privacy and confidentiality of each older individual with respect to the declaration or nondeclaration of individual income and to any share of costs paid or unpaid by an individual;
(B) establish appropriate procedures to safeguard and account for cost share payments;
(C) use each collected cost share payment to expand the service for which such payment was given;
(D) not consider assets, savings, or other property owned by an older individual in determining whether cost sharing is permitted;
(E) not deny any service for which funds are received under this chapter for an older individual due to the income of such individual or such individual’s failure to make a cost sharing payment;
(F) determine the eligibility of older individuals to cost share solely by a confidential declaration of income and with no requirement for verification; and
(G) widely distribute State created written materials in languages reflecting the reading abilities of older individuals that describe the criteria for cost sharing, the State’s sliding scale, and the mandate described under subparagraph (E).
(6) Waiver
An area agency on aging may request a waiver to the State’s cost sharing policies, and the State shall approve such a waiver if the area agency on aging can adequately demonstrate that—
(A) a significant proportion of persons receiving services under this chapter subject to cost sharing in the planning and service area have incomes below the threshold established in State policy; or
(B) cost sharing would be an unreasonable administrative or financial burden upon the area agency on aging.
(b) Voluntary contributions
(1) In general
(2) Local decision
(3) Prohibited acts
(4) Required acts
The area agency on aging shall ensure that each service provider will—
(A) provide each recipient with an opportunity to voluntarily contribute to the cost of the service;
(B) clearly inform each recipient that there is no obligation to contribute and that the contribution is purely voluntary;
(C) protect the privacy and confidentiality of each recipient with respect to the recipient’s contribution or lack of contribution;
(D) establish appropriate procedures to safeguard and account for all contributions; and
(E) use all collected contributions to expand the service for which the contributions were given and to supplement (not supplant) funds received under this chapter.
(c) Participation
(1) In general
(2) Plans
(d) Evaluation
(e) Response to area agencies on aging
(1) In general
(2) Rule of construction
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 315, as added Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 310, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2247; amended Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 310, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 116–131, title II, § 212, Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 258.)
§ 3030c–3. Waivers
(a) In general
The Assistant Secretary may waive any of the provisions specified in subsection (b) with respect to a State, upon receiving an application by the State agency containing or accompanied by documentation sufficient to establish, to the satisfaction of the Assistant Secretary, that—
(1) approval of the State legislature has been obtained or is not required with respect to the proposal for which waiver is sought;
(2) the State agency has collaborated with the area agencies on aging in the State and other organizations that would be affected with respect to the proposal for which waiver is sought;
(3) the proposal has been made available for public review and comment, including the opportunity for a public hearing upon request, within the State (and a summary of all of the comments received has been included in the application); and
(4) the State agency has given adequate consideration to the probable positive and negative consequences of approval of the waiver application, and the probable benefits for older individuals can reasonably be expected to outweigh any negative consequences, or particular circumstances in the State otherwise justify the waiver.
(b) Requirements subject to waiver
The provisions of this subchapter that may be waived under this section are—
(1) any provision of sections 3025, 3026, and 3027 of this title requiring statewide uniformity of programs carried out under this subchapter, to the extent necessary to permit demonstrations, in limited areas of a State, of innovative approaches to assist older individuals;
(2) any area plan requirement described in section 3026(a) of this title if granting the waiver will promote innovations or improve service delivery and will not diminish services already provided under this chapter;
(3) any State plan requirement described in section 3027(a) of this title if granting the waiver will promote innovations or improve service delivery and will not diminish services already provided under this chapter;
(4) any restriction under paragraph (5) of section 3028(b) of this title, on the amount that may be transferred between programs carried out under part B and part C; and
(5) the requirement of section 3029(c) of this title that certain amounts of a State allotment be used for the provision of services, with respect to a State that reduces expenditures under the State plan of the State (but only to the extent that the non-Federal share of the expenditures is not reduced below any minimum specified in section 3024(d) of this title or any other provision of this subchapter).
(c) Duration of waiver
(d) Reports to Secretary
(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 316, as added Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 310, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2249.)