(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Nursing home" means comprehensive care facilities and extended care facilities. (3) "Unclaimed deceased nursing home resident" means a resident of a nursing home: (i) who has not prearranged and prepaid for the disposal of the resident's body; and (ii) for whom no person has claimed the body and assumed funeral or burial responsibility on the death of the resident. (b) The Secretary shall adopt regulations establishing guidelines for nursing home administrators regarding funeral and burial arrangements for unclaimed deceased nursing home residents: (1) consistent with § 5-406 of the Health - General Article; and (2) with the cooperation of the State Anatomy Board. (c) A nursing home administrator shall: (1) immediately notify the Department of the death of an unclaimed deceased nursing home resident; and (2) obtain the approval of the Department before burying or making funeral arrangements for the unclaimed deceased nursing home resident. §10-301. IN EFFECT There is an Interagency Committee on Aging Services in the Executive Department. §10-301. ** TAKES EFFECT JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** (a) The Department may enter into agreements and contracts, adopt regulations, and adopt policies and procedures to implement and coordinate services to older adults under this title. (b) The Department may collaborate with county agencies, area agencies on aging, nonprofit organizations, or other persons that establish local interagency committees. §10-302. IN EFFECT (a) The Interagency Committee consists of the following members: (1) the Secretary of Aging; (2) the Secretary of Disabilities; (3) the Secretary of Health; (4) the Secretary of Housing and Community Development; (5) the Secretary of Human Services; (6) the Secretary of Labor; (7) the Secretary of Transportation; (8) the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families; (9) the Director of the Governor's Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; (10) the Chair of the Commission on Aging; (11) a representative from an area agency appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by the Maryland Association of Area Agencies on Aging; and (12) a member of the public appointed by the Governor. (b) (1) The term of a member appointed by the Governor under subsection (a)(11) or (12) of this section is 2 years. (2) A member appointed by the Governor under subsection (a)(11) or (12) of this section may not be reappointed for more than 2 additional terms. §10-302. ** TAKES EFFECT JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** (a) The Department shall establish, coordinate, and supervise a program to provide single points of entry within each planning and service area. (b) Each area agency on aging shall operate a single point of entry program to assess the needs of older adults and their caregivers and provide appropriate services. (c) The following services shall be provided through a single point of entry: (1) providing current information on available programs, services, or benefits; (2) determining the service needs of each older adult who requests service; (3) processing requests for service from older adults; (4) through widely publicized local outreach facilities and communications systems, providing access to available public and private programs and services for older adults, including: (i) transportation services; (ii) health and nutrition services; (iii) financial assistance; (iv) social services; (v) educational services; (vi) services available through volunteer organizations or private agencies; (vii) appropriate housing arrangements; (viii) health insurance counseling; (ix) employment and volunteer opportunities; (x) respite care services; and (xi) other programs, information, counseling, or benefits for older adults; (5) monitoring the outcome of requests for service or information; and (6) arranging with other agencies for individual assessment to determine the service needs of older adults in need of long-term services and supports. (d) To the extent possible, each single point of entry shall be: (1) located in a senior citizen center; and (2) available for access at least 5 days a week. (e) Area agencies on aging shall make agreements with nonprofit organizations or other persons as needed and provide staff on a regular basis at the single points of entry to: (1) provide information and services to older adults; and (2) administer agency programs. §10-303. IN EFFECT The Governor shall appoint the chair of the Interagency Committee from among the members listed in § 10-302(a)(1) through (7) of this subtitle. §10-303. ** TAKES EFFECT JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** Each planning and service area shall have a telephone information and referral service that is available on a 24-hour basis. §10-304. IN EFFECT (a) The Department shall develop, coordinate, and administer with area agencies on aging or other persons a system to provide services to older adults in need of long-term services and supports to allow older adults to age in a location selected by the older adult with appropriate services, supports, and housing opportunities. (b) The services may include: (1) integrated screening and evaluation; (2) development of an individual plan of care; (3) in-home services such as home repair or other home modifications, shopping assistance, homemaking, chore services, personal care, meal delivery or preparation, transportation services, health services, and other supportive services; (4) community-based services such as day care, food and other meal coordination, and other efforts to assist older adults or adult caregivers; (5) a subsidy for the costs of an assisted living program as defined in § 19-1801 of the Health - General Article; (6) any other service that may mitigate the risk of impact to, or improve resilience of, housing or services of older adults by natural, technological, or human-made threats and hazards, including climate change; and (7) any other service authorized by the Department. (c) To be eligible to participate in the system, a county, area agency on aging, nonprofit organization, or any other person shall comply with Department standards. §10-304. ** TAKES EFFECT JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** (a) The Department shall develop, coordinate, and administer with area agencies on aging or other persons a system to provide services to older adults in need of long-term services and supports to allow older adults to age in a location selected by the older adult with appropriate services, supports, and housing opportunities. (b) The services may include: (1) integrated screening and evaluation; (2) development of an individual plan of care; (3) in-home services such as home repair or other home modifications, shopping assistance, homemaking, chore services, personal care, meal delivery or preparation, transportation services, health services, and other supportive services; (4) community-based services such as day care, food and other meal coordination, and other efforts to assist older adults or adult caregivers; (5) a subsidy for the costs of an assisted living program as defined in § 19-1801 of the Health - General Article; (6) any other service that may mitigate the risk of impact to, or improve resilience of, housing or services of older adults by natural, technological, or human-made threats and hazards, including climate change; and (7) any other service authorized by the Department. (c) To be eligible to participate in the system, a county, area agency on aging, nonprofit organization, or any other person shall comply with Department standards. §10-305. IN EFFECT ** IN EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** (a) The Interagency Committee shall meet at least quarterly. (b) The chair shall designate at least one meeting each year as an executive meeting. (c) A member of the Interagency Committee may send a designee to represent the member at any meeting that is not an executive meeting. §10-306. IN EFFECT ** IN EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** (a) (1) The Interagency Committee shall develop and update annually a plan for providing coordinated health services, social services, transportation, housing, and employment services to seniors in the State consistent with the priorities that the Department establishes. (2) If the members of the Interagency Committee cannot agree on a plan, the chair shall refer the matter to the Governor for resolution. (b) The Interagency Committee shall establish interagency agreements and adopt regulations to: (1) implement and coordinate services to seniors consistent with the plan developed under subsection (a) of this section; (2) maximize the sharing of resources among units of State government for services to seniors; (3) consolidate planning and evaluation efforts at the State and local levels; and (4) coordinate and expedite the delivery of services to seniors by providing technical assistance to local agencies. (c) (1) The Interagency Committee shall assist county agencies to establish local interagency committees composed of: (i) the directors of the local health department, local department of social services, and area agency; and (ii) officials from housing, transportation, mental health, employment, and economic development agencies. (2) Local interagency committees shall coordinate and expedite the delivery of services to seniors at the local level. §10-307. IN EFFECT ** IN EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** (a) (1) The Interagency Committee shall establish and coordinate a program to provide single points of entry within each planning and service area. (2) The Department shall supervise the program for the Interagency Committee. (b) Each area agency shall operate a single point of entry program to assess the needs of seniors and their caregivers and provide appropriate services. (c) The following services shall be provided through a single point of entry: (1) providing current information on available programs, services, or benefits; (2) determining the service needs of each senior who requests service; (3) processing requests for service from seniors; (4) through widely publicized local outreach facilities and communications systems, providing access to available public and private programs and services for seniors, including: (i) transportation services; (ii) health and nutrition services; (iii) financial assistance; (iv) social services; (v) educational services; (vi) services available through volunteer organizations or private agencies; (vii) appropriate housing arrangements; (viii) health insurance counseling; (ix) employment and volunteer opportunities; (x) respite care services; and (xi) other programs, information, counseling, or benefits for seniors; (5) monitoring the outcome of requests for service or information; and (6) arranging with other agencies for individual assessment to determine the service needs of a frail or health-impaired senior. (d) To the extent possible, each single point of entry shall be: (1) located in a senior citizen center; and (2) available for access at least 5 days a week. (e) Local interagency committees on services to seniors shall make agreements among themselves and with other agencies to provide staff on a regular basis at the single points of entry to: (1) provide information and services to seniors; and (2) administer agency programs. §10-308. IN EFFECT ** IN EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** Each planning and service area shall have a telephone information and referral service that is available on a 24-hour basis. §10-309. IN EFFECT ** IN EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** (a) (1) The Interagency Committee shall: (i) develop a system to provide services to frail or health- impaired seniors at risk of institutionalization; and (ii) coordinate the system among the agencies represented on the Interagency Committee. (2) The Department shall administer the system for the Interagency Committee. (b) The services shall include: (1) integrated screening and evaluation; (2) development of an individual plan of care; (3) in-home services such as minor home repair, shopping assistance, homemaking, personal care, meal delivery or preparation, supportive services to group or shared living arrangements, transportation services, and health services; and (4) community services such as day care, congregate meals, and other programs to assist seniors or adult caregivers in providing care for seniors. (c) To be eligible to participate in the system, a county or counties shall establish a community-based plan that: (1) is developed by a local or regional committee composed of: (i) the directors of the local health department, local department of social services, and area agency; and (ii) officials of other relevant agencies, such as local housing, transportation, employment, and economic development officials; (2) is consistent with the plan developed under § 10-306(a) of this subtitle; (3) specifies administrative arrangements to evaluate and develop care plans for frail or health-impaired seniors; (4) encourages further coordination of service delivery; (5) fosters individual contributions for services provided; (6) fosters the development of innovative service delivery; (7) fosters the development of services in conjunction with the private sector; and (8) fosters community involvement through the use of volunteers. (d) The Interagency Committee, through the Department, shall work with local health departments, local departments of social services, area agencies, and local housing, transportation, economic development, and employment development officials to develop: (1) a system to designate case managers to secure and manage necessary services for each frail or health-impaired senior in need; and (2) guidelines to establish local or regional committees to coordinate the services system to implement this section. §10-310. IN EFFECT ** IN EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 33 AND 34 OF 2025 ** Subject to § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the Interagency Committee shall present a report before each legislative session to the General Assembly on: (1) the plan developed under § 10-306(a) of this subtitle; (2) the activities of the Interagency Committee; and (3) the status of services to seniors in the State.
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