House Resolution 21 PAG LIN 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. ____ 1 2 BY LENSING 1 3 A Resolution relating to the maintenance of the Iowa 1 4 Department of Elder Affairs as a separate department 1 5 within state government. 1 6 WHEREAS, around 19 percent of Iowa's population is 1 7 comprised of Iowans 60 years of age and older; and 1 8 WHEREAS, the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs is 1 9 the primary state agency dedicated to advocacy for 1 10 Iowans 60 years of age and older; and 1 11 WHEREAS, the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs 1 12 serves as the state unit on aging that each state is 1 13 required to have by the federal Older Americans Act; 1 14 and 1 15 WHEREAS, the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs' 1 16 responsibilities as the state unit on aging include 1 17 coordinating all state activities related to the 1 18 purposes of the federal Act to provide community=level 1 19 systems of services that meet the unique needs of 1 20 older persons, developing a state plan on aging, and 1 21 serving as an effective and visible advocate for older 1 22 persons before any agency, organization, association, 1 23 or individual representing the needs of elders; and 1 24 WHEREAS, the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs also 1 25 provides educational and prevention services to older 1 26 Iowans to ensure that they find Iowa a healthy, safe, 1 27 productive, and enjoyable place to live and work; and 1 28 WHEREAS, the 2002 Older Iowans Legislature 1 29 recognized that the responsibilities and functions of 1 30 the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs can best be 2 1 served by an independent agency dedicated solely to 2 2 the needs of older Iowans and thereby recommended 2 3 maintaining the department as a freestanding 2 4 department within state government; NOW THEREFORE, 2 5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2 6 That the House of Representatives agrees with the 2 7 delegates of the 2002 Older Iowans Legislature that 2 8 the best way to ensure that the needs of older Iowans 2 9 are well served is to maintain the Iowa Department of 2 10 Elder Affairs as a separate freestanding department 2 11 with an 11=member commission, seven of whom shall be 2 12 appointed by the Governor. 2 13 LSB 1557HH 80 2 14 ec/pj/5