SF 2028 (LSB 5143XS (2) 85)

SENATE FILE 2028

BY  BOLKCOM

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the establishment of a senior living coordinating unit within the department on aging.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 231.58, Code 2014, is amended by striking the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
   231.58  Senior living coordinating unit.
   1.  A senior living coordinating unit is created within the department. The membership of the coordinating unit consists of:
   a.  The director of human services.
   b.  The director of the department on aging.
   c.  The director of public health.
   d.  The director of the department of inspections and appeals.
   e.  Two consumer members appointed by the governor.
   f.  Four ex officio, nonvoting legislative members consisting of the following:
   (1)  Two state senators, one appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
   (2)  Two state representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
   2.  Nonlegislative members shall receive actual expenses incurred while serving in their official capacity and may also be eligible to receive compensation as provided in section 7E.6. Legislative members shall receive compensation pursuant to section 2.12. 
   3.  The senior living coordinating unit shall do all of the following:
   a.  Develop, for legislative review, the mechanisms and procedures necessary to implement a case-managed system of long-term care based on a uniform comprehensive assessment tool. 
   b.  Develop common intake and release procedures for the purpose of determining eligibility at one point of intake and determining eligibility for programs administered by the departments of human services, public health, and aging, such as the medical assistance program, federal food stamp program, homemaker-home health aide programs, and the case management program for frail elders administered by the department on aging. 
   c.  Develop common definitions for long-term care services.
   d.  Develop procedures for coordination at the local and state level among the providers of long-term care. 
   e.  Prepare a long-range plan for the provision of long-term care services within the state.
   f.  Propose rules and procedures for the development of a comprehensive long-term care system. 
   g.  Submit a report of its activities to the governor and general assembly on January 15 of each year. 
   h.  Consult with the state universities and other institutions with expertise in the area of issues affecting older individuals and the long-term care continua.
EXPLANATION
   This bill reestablishes the senior living coordinating unit within the department on aging. The senior living coordinating unit was eliminated in 2009 and replaced with a directive to the director of the department on aging to convene the directors of human services, public health, and inspections and appeals to meet as necessary to assist in the coordination of policy, service delivery, and long-range planning relating to the long-term living system and older Iowans in the state. The bill specifies the membership and duties of the unit.