118 S4733 IS: Family Caregiver Peer Support Act
U.S. Senate
2024-07-23
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II
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4733
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 23, 2024
Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Welch) 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 authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to develop or expand in-person and virtual peer support programs for family caregivers.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Family Caregiver Peer Support Act”.
2.

Peer support programs for family caregivers
Title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 414 (42 U.S.C. 3032c) the following:
“415.

Peer support programs for family caregivers
(a)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Disability
The term disability has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
(2)

Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means—
(A)
a State;
(B)
a nonprofit organization;
(C)
an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001));
(D)
an aging and disability network entity;
(E)
a junior or community college (as defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f));
(F)
an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); or
(G)
a Tribal organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
(3)

Family caregiver
The term family caregiver has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act (42 U.S.C. 3030s note) and includes paid and unpaid family caregivers.
(4)

Immigrant
The term immigrant has the meaning given the term alien in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
(5)

Peer support program
The term peer support program includes a program, to assist family caregivers, that—
(A)
is carried out with the best practices identified under section 373(e);
(B)
consists of activities of national significance described in or conducted under section 373(i); or
(C)
consists of activities described in or conducted under section 411(a)(11) or 417(a)(1)(F).
(b)

Grants
The Secretary may make grants to eligible entities to develop or expand in-person and virtual peer support programs for family caregivers.
(c)

Use of funds
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use the funds awarded through such grant—
(1)
to develop or expand in-person and virtual peer support programs, including programs under which family caregivers assist other family caregivers with navigating administrative or financial forms, policies, and processes and provide emotional support;
(2)
to carry out workforce development, recruitment, and retention activities to train, recruit, and retain certified peer support specialists; and
(3)
to develop, expand, or improve virtual, peer, mental, and behavioral health support services for family caregivers carried out by the entity, including language access services, including translation and interpretation services for family caregivers—
(A)
for whom English is not their primary language; or
(B)
who use American Sign Language.
(d)

Identification of underserved communities
The Secretary shall identify regions and populations that are underserved with respect to peer support programs for family caregivers.
(e)

Priority
In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that propose to serve or currently serve—
(1)
underserved regions and populations identified under subsection (d);
(2)
low-income communities;
(3)
underserved racial and ethnic communities;
(4)
communities with a high number of immigrants;
(5)
communities with a high number of individuals for whom English is not their primary language;
(6)
the LGBTQ+ community;
(7)
family caregivers younger than age 35; or
(8)
family caregivers with a disability.
(f)

Outreach program
The Secretary shall conduct outreach to family caregivers to increase awareness about the availability of grants under this section.
(g)

Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.”.