[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3827 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3827

   To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Assistant 
   Secretary for Aging to award grants to States, Indian tribes, and 
tribal organizations to create or implement Multisector Plans for Aging 
          and Aging with a Disability, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 28, 2024

 Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself and Mr. Casey) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Assistant 
   Secretary for Aging to award grants to States, Indian tribes, and 
tribal organizations to create or implement Multisector Plans for Aging 
          and Aging with a Disability, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strategic Plan for Aging Act''.

SEC. 2. SUPPORTING MULTISECTOR PLANS FOR AGING AND AGING WITH A 
              DISABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Part A of IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 
(42 U.S.C. 3032 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 423. SUPPORTING MULTISECTOR PLANS FOR AGING AND AGING WITH A 
              DISABILITY.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Aging and disability stakeholders.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `aging and disability 
                stakeholders' means a group of individuals with 
                experience or expertise in aging or disability issues, 
                which shall consist of--
                            ``(i) representatives from area agencies on 
                        aging;
                            ``(ii) covered individuals; and
                            ``(iii) representatives from not less than 
                        3 of the groups described in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Additional groups.--The groups described in 
                this subparagraph are the following:
                            ``(i) Advocates for covered individuals.
                            ``(ii) Academics with expertise in aging or 
                        disability issues.
                            ``(iii) Philanthropic organizations with 
                        experience in supporting aging or disability 
                        initiatives.
                            ``(iv) Individuals and community partners 
                        serving older individuals, including 
                        individuals employed by area agencies on aging 
                        or by multipurpose senior centers.
                            ``(v) Providers of aging or disability 
                        services.
                            ``(vi) Any other group of individuals 
                        serving or representing covered individuals, as 
                        determined appropriate by the Assistant 
                        Secretary.
            ``(2) Covered individuals.--The term `covered individuals' 
        means--
                    ``(A) older individuals, including older 
                individuals with disabilities;
                    ``(B) individuals who are family members of older 
                individuals, including family members of older 
                individuals with disabilities;
                    ``(C) paid caregivers, and unpaid caregivers, of 
                older individuals, including any such caregivers of 
                older individuals with disabilities; and
                    ``(D) older relative caregivers.
            ``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
        State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization.
            ``(4) Multisector plan for aging and aging with a 
        disability; master plan for aging; plan.--The terms 
        `Multisector Plan for Aging and Aging with a Disability', 
        `Master Plan for Aging', and `Plan' mean a multi-year planning 
        process, administered by an eligible entity, that convenes 
        cross-sector stakeholders, including aging and disability 
        stakeholders, to collaboratively address the diverse needs of 
        covered individuals.
            ``(5) Older individual with a disability.--The term `older 
        individual with a disability' means an individual who--
                    ``(A) is an older individual; and
                    ``(B) is an individual with a disability, as 
                defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities 
                Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
            ``(6) Older relative caregiver.--The term `older relative 
        caregiver' has the meaning given such term in section 372.
            ``(7) Qualified leader.--The term `qualified leader', with 
        respect to an eligible entity, means--
                    ``(A) the head of the eligible entity, or the head 
                of an agency or department of the eligible entity;
                    ``(B) a legislative committee of the eligible 
                entity; or
                    ``(C) another leader of the eligible entity, as 
                determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary.
            ``(8) Targeted subgroup.--The term `targeted subgroup' 
        means a subgroup of older individuals (including older 
        individuals with disabilities) who are older individuals with 
        greatest social need, or greatest economic need, as a result of 
        geographic location, disability status, sexual orientation, 
        gender identity, sex characteristics, socioeconomic status, 
        language, immigration status, or other factors determined 
        appropriate by the Assistant Secretary.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide eligible 
entities with resources to create, coordinate, implement, and evaluate 
cross-sector plans to improve the health, well-being, and quality of 
life of covered individuals, including targeted subgroups.
    ``(c) Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall award 
        grants on a competitive basis in accordance with this section 
        to eligible entities to each create or implement a Multisector 
        Plan for Aging and Aging with a Disability (also known as a 
        `Master Plan for Aging') that meets the requirements under 
        paragraph (2). Such grants may be used in the creation or 
        implementation stage of such a Plan.
            ``(2) Plans.--A Plan created or implemented by an eligible 
        entity through a grant under this section shall--
                    ``(A) have a creation or implementation process 
                that is informed or led by a working group of aging and 
                disability stakeholders that reflects the diversity and 
                demographics of the population in the jurisdiction of 
                the eligible entity;
                    ``(B) serve as a strategic planning resource that 
                helps the eligible entity work across agencies or 
                departments of the eligible entity (including political 
                subdivisions of the eligible entity), and through 
                collaborations with other eligible entities receiving 
                such a grant to serve an area in the jurisdiction of 
                the first eligible entity, to transform the 
                infrastructure and coordination of key services, 
                supports, and initiatives described in paragraph (3) 
                for covered individuals, through public or private 
                programs operating in the jurisdiction of the eligible 
                entity;
                    ``(C) enable a qualified leader of the eligible 
                entity to communicate a clear vision, and priorities, 
                for a period of not less than 10 years for the eligible 
                entity with respect to the transformation described in 
                subparagraph (B);
                    ``(D) guide policy of the eligible entity 
                (including a political subdivision of the eligible 
                entity), including through public or private programs, 
                and through funding priorities, to assist people in the 
                jurisdiction of the eligible entity in aging with 
                dignity and autonomy;
                    ``(E) include at least one goal for each of the key 
                aging issues described in paragraph (4) and develop 
                initiatives to carry out each such goal;
                    ``(F) be more comprehensive than the area plans 
                approved under section 306 by the State agency prior to 
                the date of the creation of the Plan;
                    ``(G) be more comprehensive than the State plans 
                approved under section 307 by the Assistant Secretary 
                prior to the date of the creation of the Plan; and
                    ``(H) be created through a planning process that 
                builds on the planning processes for the area plans 
                described in subparagraph (F) and the State plans 
                described in subparagraph (G).
            ``(3) Key services, supports, and initiatives.--The key 
        services, supports, and initiatives described in this paragraph 
        may include--
                    ``(A) disease prevention and health promotion 
                services, long-term care services and supports, human 
                services, and any other public health or health care, 
                services, supports, or initiatives;
                    ``(B) services, supports, and initiatives with 
                respect to--
                            ``(i) retirement;
                            ``(ii) nutrition and food security;
                            ``(iii) economic security, including 
                        benefits access and job training and placement;
                            ``(iv) elder rights protection and 
                        autonomy;
                            ``(v) housing;
                            ``(vi) education;
                            ``(vii) transportation;
                            ``(viii) social engagement; and
                            ``(ix) broadband access;
                    ``(C) services, supports, and initiatives for 
                assisting covered individuals during a major disaster 
                or emergency declared by the President under section 
                401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
                and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191), or 
                any other natural disaster declared by the Governor of 
                the applicable State; and
                    ``(D) any other services, supports, or initiatives 
                with respect to covered individuals, as determined 
                appropriate by the eligible entity.
            ``(4) Key aging issues.--The key aging issues described in 
        this paragraph are each of the following:
                    ``(A) Supporting the ability of older individuals 
                to be stably and safely housed, which may include 
                supporting their ability to age well in the setting of 
                their choice and to access homelessness prevention 
                services.
                    ``(B) Expanding access to disease prevention and 
                health promotion services and health care, including 
                behavioral health care and substance use disorder 
                services.
                    ``(C) Promoting age-friendly communities, as 
                defined in section 203(c)(9).
                    ``(D) Addressing the ability of older individuals 
                to access long-term services and supports, including 
                access to caregivers and home and community-based 
                services.
                    ``(E) Expanding access to services that promote 
                elder justice and reduce elder abuse, neglect, and 
                exploitation.
                    ``(F) Promoting economic security and retirement 
                security and reducing poverty for covered individuals.
                    ``(G) Promoting social connection and reducing 
                social isolation and loneliness for covered 
                individuals.
                    ``(H) Improving equity for covered individuals.
                    ``(I) Ensuring public spaces are accessible to, 
                including safe for, older individuals, including older 
                individuals with disabilities.
                    ``(J) Ensuring access to healthy and affordable 
                foods and reducing food insecurity, hunger, and 
                malnutrition.
    ``(d) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, 
an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Assistant 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
as the Assistant Secretary may require, including--
            ``(1) information demonstrating the commitment of the 
        eligible entity to creating or implementing a Plan, as 
        evidenced by--
                    ``(A) an Executive order issued by the head of the 
                eligible entity, or legislation enacted in the 
                jurisdiction of the eligible entity, authorizing a 
                Plan;
                    ``(B) a letter from a qualified leader of the 
                eligible entity demonstrating the commitment of the 
                eligible entity to working across government agencies 
                or departments of the eligible entity, as well as with 
                aging and disability stakeholders and other 
                stakeholders in the public and private sectors, to 
                create or implement a Plan; and
                    ``(C) any other declarations, activities, or 
                actions as determined appropriate by the Assistant 
                Secretary;
            ``(2) a description of--
                    ``(A) the working group described in subsection 
                (c)(2)(A) that the eligible entity has convened or 
                plans to convene; and
                    ``(B) any other anticipated activities and programs 
                (such as public hearings, public comment periods, or 
                listening sessions) to support creating or implementing 
                a Plan that reflects demonstrated input from aging and 
                disability stakeholders, including covered individuals, 
                and other members of the public, including input from 
                members of Indian Tribes or tribal organizations;
            ``(3) an assessment of the needs of covered individuals, 
        including targeted subgroups, served by the eligible entity;
            ``(4) a consideration of varying needs of populations 
        across different types of geographies in the jurisdiction of 
        the eligible entity, including urban, rural, and frontier, as 
        applicable; and
            ``(5) details on how the Plan will comply with 
        subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H) of subsection (c)(2).
    ``(e) Awards.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall award not 
        more than 65 grants under this section during the 5-year period 
        beginning on the date of enactment of this section.
            ``(2) Set aside.--Of the grants awarded under paragraph 
        (1), the Assistant Secretary shall award not less than 10 
        grants to eligible entities that are Indian Tribes or tribal 
        organizations.
            ``(3) Process.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish a 
        process for--
                    ``(A) selecting, including for prioritizing, 
                eligible entities to receive a grant under this 
                section; and
                    ``(B) subject to paragraph (4), determining the 
                amount of each such grant, which shall include a tiered 
                system depending on the population in the jurisdiction 
                of the eligible entity.
            ``(4) Maximum amount.--No grant awarded under this section 
        to an eligible entity shall exceed $500,000.
            ``(5) Terms.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a 
                grant under this section shall--
                            ``(i) receive a total amount for the grant 
                        as a lump sum; and
                            ``(ii) subject to subparagraph (B), 
                        obligate and expend such total amount in 
                        accordance with this section not later than 3 
                        years after receiving such lump sum.
                    ``(B) Extension of availability.--An eligible 
                entity may, pursuant to an agreement with the Assistant 
                Secretary, obligate and expend amounts from a grant 
                under this section in accordance with the requirements 
                of this section after the 3-year period described in 
                subparagraph (A)(ii).
    ``(f) Deadline.--In the case of a grant awarded under this section 
to create a Plan, the eligible entity receiving the grant shall create 
the Plan and begin implementing the Plan not later than 2 years after 
receiving the grant.
    ``(g) Assessment and Evaluation Process.--
            ``(1) Developmental assessment.--Not later than 1 year 
        after receiving a grant under this section, the eligible entity 
        receiving the grant shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a 
        developmental assessment. Such assessment may include--
                    ``(A) 3 or more goals with respect to the Plan that 
                the eligible entity commits to addressing in the final 
                Plan described in paragraph (2)(A);
                    ``(B) demonstrated use of data metrics to inform 
                the goals of the Plan, which data metrics are derived 
                from--
                            ``(i) datasets or qualitative data with 
                        respect to the population in the jurisdiction 
                        of the eligible entity; and
                            ``(ii) nationwide datasets or qualitative 
                        data, with an awareness that national datasets 
                        may not include data with respect to Indian 
                        tribes and tribal organizations;
                    ``(C) demonstrated involvement with 3 or more 
                governmental departments or agencies of the eligible 
                entity on creation or implementation of the Plan;
                    ``(D) demonstrated input from--
                            ``(i) the working group described in 
                        subsection (c)(2)(A) convened by the eligible 
                        entity; and
                            ``(ii) any other aging and disability 
                        stakeholders;
                    ``(E) demonstrated input from other individuals who 
                will be impacted by the Plan;
                    ``(F) as applicable, demonstrated incorporation of 
                aging, disability, and older relative caregiver plans 
                and initiatives existing on the day before the receipt 
                of the grant in the jurisdiction of the eligible 
                entity, which may include such existing age-friendly 
                plans, Tribal plans and resolutions, initiatives in 
                area plans submitted under section 306 and State plans 
                submitted under section 307, and working groups or task 
                forces related to aging, disability, or older relative 
                caregiver initiatives;
                    ``(G) demonstrated assurances that the eligible 
                entity agrees to make available (directly or through 
                public or private entities) non-Federal contributions 
                towards the costs of the Plan; and
                    ``(H) as applicable, a timeline and working plan 
                for finalizing the Plan and beginning implementation of 
                the Plan not later than 2 years after the grant is 
                awarded.
            ``(2) Implementation assessment.--Not later than 2 years 
        after receiving a grant under this section, the eligible entity 
        receiving the grant shall submit to the Assistant Secretary an 
        implementation assessment. Such assessment shall include--
                    ``(A) a final Plan, including 3 or more goals for 
                the Plan and short- and long-term priorities or 
                initiatives to meet each of those goals;
                    ``(B) an update regarding all matters included in 
                the developmental assessment submitted under paragraph 
                (1);
                    ``(C) for each priority or initiative described in 
                subparagraph (A), identified benchmarks or data metrics 
                that are identified in a publicly accessible way such 
                as through a data dashboard or in a report;
                    ``(D) a plan for accountability that includes--
                            ``(i) demonstrated commitment of a 
                        qualified leader of the eligible entity to 
                        execute and oversee such plan for 
                        accountability, as evidenced by information 
                        determined appropriate by the Assistant 
                        Secretary;
                            ``(ii) one or more departments or agencies 
                        of the eligible entity listed as accountable 
                        for each priority or initiative described in 
                        subparagraph (A);
                            ``(iii) a plan to continue to engage aging 
                        and disability stakeholders, and other key 
                        players or partners as determined by the 
                        eligible entity, through advisory groups, 
                        public hearings held by the implementation 
                        committee as described in clause (iv)(II)(cc), 
                        or other means;
                            ``(iv) the establishment of an 
                        implementation committee, which shall--
                                    ``(I) consist of the working group 
                                described in subsection (c)(2)(A) 
                                convened by the eligible entity and as 
                                applicable other regional, State, 
                                local, or Tribal participants as 
                                determined appropriate by the eligible 
                                entity; and
                                    ``(II) be responsible for--
                                            ``(aa) assisting in 
                                        ensuring that the goals of the 
                                        Plan described in subparagraph 
                                        (A) are implemented;
                                            ``(bb) participating in the 
                                        development of the progress 
                                        report described in 
                                        subparagraph (E); and
                                            ``(cc) holding public 
                                        hearings, with an opportunity 
                                        for public comment, for the 
                                        purposes described in clause 
                                        (iii); and
                            ``(v) a plan for identifying and responding 
                        to any disparities in access to key services, 
                        supports, and initiatives in the jurisdiction 
                        of the eligible entity as described in 
                        subsection (c)(3); and
                    ``(E) a progress report schedule that includes--
                            ``(i) an established process for bi-yearly 
                        updates to the Plan throughout a 10-year 
                        period; and
                            ``(ii) opportunities for input from aging 
                        and disability stakeholders and any other 
                        individuals impacted by the Plan.
    ``(h) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Assistant 
Secretary shall consult the Interagency Coordinating Committee on 
Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities established under section 
203(c).
    ``(i) Technical Assistance.--The Assistant Secretary shall provide 
technical assistance to eligible entities who are seeking or have 
received a grant under this section in complying with the requirements 
of this section or otherwise creating or implementing a Plan.
    ``(j) Funding.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 
        to the Assistant Secretary to remain available until expended 
        $6,500,000 to carry out this section.
            ``(2) Administrative costs.--Of the amounts appropriated 
        under this section for a year, the Assistant Secretary shall 
        use not more than 3 percent to carry out subsection (i) and for 
        any other administrative costs.''.
    (b) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-
Friendly Communities.--Section 203(c)(1) of the Older Americans Act of 
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3013(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``with respect to 
aging issues and'' and inserting ``with respect to aging issues, 
advising the Assistant Secretary on carrying out the grant program 
under section 423, and''.
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