Supporting Family Caregivers Act of 2019
This bill directs the Administration on Aging to provide technical assistance related to, and report specified information on, caregiver assessments, which gather information related to a caregiver's specific needs, barriers, and existing supports. State programs on aging may use these assessments to inform the services provided to support caregivers.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3782 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3782
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to support family caregivers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 16, 2019
Mr. Levin of Michigan (for himself and Ms. Stefanik) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to support family caregivers.
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 ``Supporting Family Caregivers Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--Section 372(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965
(42 U.S.C. 3030s(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively, and
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(1) Caregiver assessment.--The term `caregiver
assessment' means a systematic process of gathering information
about the situation of a caregiver who voluntarily participates
in such process to identify the caregiver's specific needs,
barriers, and existing supports as identified by the caregiver
that--
``(A) provides the opportunity for the recognized
caregiver to participate in such process;
``(B) requires direct contact with the caregiver
and is used to appropriately target and tailor support
services to the caregiver's unique needs; and
``(C) includes reassessment of such specific needs,
barriers, and existing supports conducted at
appropriate intervals, including to accommodate a
significant change in the caregiving situation.''.
(b) Program Authorized.--Section 373 of the Older Americans Act of
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030s-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by inserting ``which may be informed through the use of
caregiver assessments,'' after ``provided'',
(2) in the first sentence of subsection (e)(3) by inserting
``, including caregiver assessments used in the State,'' after
``mechanisms'', and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Technical Assistance for Caregiver Assessments.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Supporting Family
Caregivers Act of 2019, the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with
caregivers, older individuals, individuals with a disability who
receive care from an older relative caregiver, the aging network, and
other experts and stakeholders, and, as appropriate, potentially
informed by the strategy developed under the RAISE Family Caregivers
Act, shall provide technical assistance to promote and implement the
use of caregiver assessments. Such technical assistance shall include
sharing available tools and templates, comprehensive assessment
protocols, and best practices concerning--
``(1) conducting caregiver assessments and reassessments;
``(2) implementing such assessments that are consistent
across a planning and service area; and
``(3) implementing caregiver support service plans,
including referrals to and coordination of activities with
relevant State and local services.
``(i) Report on Caregiver Assessments.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of the Supporting Family Caregivers Act of 2019, the
Assistant Secretary shall issue a report on the use of
caregiver assessments by area agencies on aging, entities
contracting with such agencies, and Tribal organizations. Such
report shall include--
``(A) an analysis of the current use of caregiver
assessments, including a repository of caregiver
assessment tools or templates and comprehensive
assessment protocols, as of the date of the report;
``(B) an analysis of the potential impact of
caregiver assessments on--
``(i) family caregivers and older relative
caregivers; and
``(ii) the individuals to whom the
caregivers described in clause (i) provide
care;
``(C) an analysis of the potential impact of using
caregiver assessments on the aging network;
``(D) an analysis of how caregiver assessments are
being used to identify the specific needs, barriers,
and existing supports of family caregivers and older
relative caregivers;
``(E) recommendations for furthering the use of
caregiver assessments, including in rural or
underserved areas; and
``(F) recommendations for assisting State agencies
and area agencies on aging, particularly in rural or
underserved areas, in implementing the use of caregiver
assessments.
``(2) Submission.--Not later than 6 months after the
issuance of the report under paragraph (1), the Assistant
Secretary shall submit the report to the appropriate
legislative committees of the Senate and the House of
Representatives and to the Special Committee on Aging of the
Senate.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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