Building Age-Friendly Communities Act
This bill modifies an existing committee and makes other changes to incorporate age-friendly communities in federal programs and services for older adults. The bill defines age-friendly communities as those that (1) are taking steps to meet local needs for accessible housing, transportation, and public spaces, as well as for civic participation and social connectedness; and (2) have a plan to guide those efforts.
Specifically, the bill renames the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Aging as the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Age-Friendly Communities and more specifically focuses the committee's work on promoting and developing these communities. The committee must also work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and relevant federal agencies to develop recommendations for evidence-based prevention programs and home modifications to reduce and prevent falls among older adults.
In addition, the Administration on Aging may provide technical assistance to state and local governments and others on age-friendly communities.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4827 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4827
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to enhance age-friendly
communities for older individuals.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 23, 2019
Mr. Crist 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 enhance age-friendly
communities for older individuals.
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 ``Building Age-Friendly Communities
Act''.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES.
Section 203 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3013) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (18) by striking ``and'' at the
end,
(B) in paragraph (19) by striking the period at the
end, and inserting ``, and'', and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(20) section 393D of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280b-1f), relating to safety of seniors.'', and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Aging'' and inserting
``Age-Friendly Communities'', and
(ii) by inserting ``to support the ability
of older individuals to age in place, including
through the provision of homelessness
prevention services, support the ability of
older individuals to access preventive health
care, promote age-friendly communities, and
address the ability of older individuals to
access long-term care supports, including
access to caregivers and home- and community-
based services'' before the period at the end,
(B) in paragraph (4) by inserting ``, except that
the first term of a member appointed to the Interagency
Coordinating Committee on Age-Friendly Communities
shall begin not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of the effective date of this exception''
before the period at the end,
(C) in paragraph (5) by striking ``once each year''
and inserting ``semiannually'',
(D) in paragraph (6)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in clause (iii) by striking
``and'' at the end,
(II) in clause (iv) by adding
``and'' at the end, and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(v) identifying best practices for connecting
older individuals to services for which they may be
eligible;'',
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B)(ii) to
read as follows:
``(ii) innovations in technology applications
(including assistance technology devices and assistance
technology services) that--
``(I) promote safe and accessible
independent living environments; and
``(II) give older individuals access to
information on available services or help in
providing services to older individuals;'',
(E) in subparagraph (E) by striking
``nongovernmental experts and organizations, including
public health interest and research groups and
foundations'' and inserting ``nongovernmental
organizations, academic or research institutions,
community-based organizations, and philanthropic
organizations'',
(F) by redesignating subparagraphs (E), (F), and
(G) as subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H), respectively,
(G) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the
following:
``(E) work with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the National Institute on Aging, Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Housing and Urban
Development Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes,
and other Federal agencies as appropriate, to develop
recommendations, in accordance with paragraph (1), to reduce
falls among older individuals that incorporate evidence-based
falls prevention programs and home modifications to reduce and
prevent falls;'', and
(H) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) In this subsection, the term `age-friendly community' means a
community that---
``(A) is taking steps--
``(i) to include accessible housing, accessible
spaces and buildings, safe and secure paths, variable
route transportation services, and programs and
services designed to maintain health and well-being;
``(ii) to respect and include older individuals in
social opportunities, civic participation,
volunteerism, and employment; and
``(iii) to facilitate access to supportive services
for older individuals; and
``(B) has a plan in place to meet local needs for housing,
transportation, civic participation, social connectedness, and
accessible spaces.''.
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES.
Section 205(a)(2) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3016(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D),
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) The Assistant Secretary may provide technical assistance,
including through the regional offices of the Administration, to State
agencies, area agencies on aging, local government agencies, or leaders
in age-friendly communities (as defined in section 203(c)(9))
regarding--
``(i) dissemination of, or consideration of ways to
implement, best practices and recommendations from the
Interagency Coordinating Committee on Age-Friendly Communities
established under section 203(c); and
``(ii) methods for managing and coordinating existing
programs to meet the needs of growing age-friendly
communities.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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