SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 1

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER AGOR

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER MACALLISTER)

(COAUTHORS: SENIOR SENATORS ERMAN AND LEVY)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 1: THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 FUNDS SOCIAL AND NUTRITION SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS THROUGH A NATIONAL NETWORK OF STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES; PROVIDES COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT FOR LOW-INCOME OLDER AMERICANS; SUPPORTS TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND DEMONSTRATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF AGING; AND PROVIDES FOR VULNERABLE ELDER RIGHTS PROTECTION ACTIVITIES.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REAUTHORIZE THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 1: RELATING TO THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT

WHEREAS, IN 2006 CONGRESS REAUTHORIZED THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 (42 U.S.C. SEC. 3001 ET SEQ.) IN ITS ENTIRETY, EFFECTIVE THROUGH THE 2011 FISCAL YEAR (PUBLIC LAW 109-365); AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 HAS NOT BEEN REAUTHORIZED SINCE 2006, ALTHOUGH IT WAS UPDATED IN 2009 AND FUNDING FOR ITS PROGRAMS HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED SINCE THAT DATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS; AND

WHEREAS, THE CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS STAFF CONTINUE TO STRESS THE TIGHT SPENDING CAPS ON DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS IMPOSED BY THE BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 1997 (PUBLIC LAW 105-33); AND

WHEREAS, A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF SENIORS LIVING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WILL BE AT RISK IF THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT; AND

WHEREAS, FURTHER DELAY IN THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 WILL ERODE THE CAPACITY OF THE ACT’S VARIOUS STRUCTURES TO DELIVER SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OLDER AMERICANS; AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE REAUTHORIZED TO PRESERVE THE AGING NETWORK’S ROLE IN HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, MAINTAIN THE ADVOCACY AND CONSUMER DIRECTED FOCUS OF THE ACT, AND GIVE AREA AGENCIES ON AGING INCREASED FLEXIBILITY IN PLANNING AND DELIVERING SERVICES TO VULNERABLE OLDER AMERICANS; AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 SHOULD BE FUNDED IN THE SAME MANNER IN WHICH THE ACT HAS BEEN FUNDED FOR THE PAST 47 YEARS; 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 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 BE REAUTHORIZED; 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.

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RN 12 16407