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2021 Special Session I

Budget Amendments - SB1100 (Committee Approved)

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Working Group to Establish a New Agency for Aging Services (language only)

Item 291 #2s

Item 291 #2s

Health and Human Resources
Secretary of Health and Human Resources

Language

Page 318, after line 53, insert:

"F.1.  It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Virginia Department for the Aging (VDA) be reestablished as an agency of the Commonwealth under the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources beginning July 1, 2022.  This agency shall oversee policies and programs impacting older Virginians and provide a leadership role across state government in evaluating the impact the aging population has on state services.

2. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources, or his designee, shall convene a workgroup that includes representatives from the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Area Agencies on Aging, the Department of Planning and Budget, the Division of Legislative Services, appropriate staff from the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and other appropriate stakeholders.  The workgroup shall: (i) review other state aging departments and best practices for establishing an agency fully capable of leading across state government with regard to impacts from an aging population; (ii) review and develop an optimal organizational structure for the new agency; (iii) develop a transition plan for transferring staff, funding and making other operational changes to establish the new agency; (iv) draft legislation for consideration by the 2022 General Assembly; (v) determine potential costs to create the new agency; and (vi) develop draft changes to the Appropriation Act.   The workgroup shall at a minimum evaluate transitioning aging services, adult services, adult protective services and auxiliary grant programs to the new agency.  In addition, the workgroup shall examine any other aging-related programs in the Health and Human Resources Secretariat and make recommendations for inclusion in the new agency.

3.  The workgroup shall provide all deliverables and report on its findings by October 1, 2021, to the Governor, the Department of Planning and Budget, and the Chairs of  House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees.  The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall provide this information to the Governor to be considered for inclusion in the 2022-2024 introduced budget."



Explanation

(This amendment provides that it is the intent of the General Assembly that a new agency for aging services be established as an agency of the Commonwealth under the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, beginning July 1, 2022. The language creates a workgroup to consider the details of such a transition and to make the appropriate recommendations to the General Assembly.)