SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 10

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAHLGREN

(COAUTHOR SENIOR SENATOR COX)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 10: SENIOR CENTER MONTH.

EXISTING LAW, THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965, ESTABLISHES THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF SENIORS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROCLAIM FEBRUARY AS “SENIOR CENTER MONTH” IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO RECOGNIZE THAT SENIOR CENTERS ARE THE FOCAL POINT FOR OLDER ADULT SERVICES, AND THAT THEY ARE A “ONE-STOP SHOP” CONNECTING OUR SENIORS, THEIR CARETAKERS AND FAMILIES TO VITAL RESOURCES.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 10: RELATING TO SENIOR CENTER MONTH

WHEREAS, THE MISSION OF THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING IS TO HELP ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS MAINTAIN THEIR DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED, AND COST-EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS OF LONG-TERM CARE, AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES; AND

WHEREAS, THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE’S VISION FOR OLDER PEOPLE IS EMBODIED IN THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 AND IS BASED ON THE AMERICAN VALUE THAT DIGNITY IS INHERENT TO ALL INDIVIDUALS IN OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, AS WELL AS THE BELIEF THAT OLDER PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY LIFE, BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE, AND REMAIN IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE; AND

WHEREAS, ON FEBRUARY 3, 2009, GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNED A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 2009 “SENIOR CENTER MONTH” IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE PURPOSE OF CELEBRATING THE ROLE SENIOR CENTERS PLAY IN SERVING THE LARGEST OLDER ADULT POPULATION IN THE NATION; AND

WHEREAS, SENIOR CENTERS ACT AS A CENTRAL PLACE FOR OLDER AMERICANS TO LEARN HOW TO MAINTAIN THEIR WELL-BEING AND TO PARTICIPATE IN STIMULATING SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES NOT OFFERED ANYWHERE ELSE; AND

WHEREAS, OLDER RESIDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE SAFE AND CARING PLACES TO ENJOY THEMSELVES; AND

WHEREAS, SENIOR CENTERS PROVIDE A PLACE FOR SENIORS TO VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICES, AS WELL AS A PLACE FOR THESE VOLUNTEERS TO BE RECOGNIZED; AND

WHEREAS, THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING HOSTED A “SENIOR CENTER STAKEHOLDER FORUM” IN FEBRUARY 2009, REVIEWING TOPICS SUCH AS “A NEW VISION FOR SENIOR CENTERS,” “BUILDINGS FOR THE FUTURE,” “COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION,” “CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/VOLUNTEERS,” AND “RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT”; AND

WHEREAS, THE TRIPLE-A COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA AND CALIFORNIA AREA AGENCY ON AGING ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA PARK AND RECREATION SOCIETY, WERE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SENIOR CENTER FORUM; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2009 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY BE PROCLAIMED “SENIOR CENTER MONTH” TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SENIOR CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

RN 09 16548

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