(8) gather statistics in the field of aging which other Federal agencies are not collecting, and take whatever action is necessary to achieve coordination of activities carried out or assisted by all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government with respect to the collection, preparation, and dissemination of information relevant to older individuals;

(9) stimulate more effective use of existing resources and available services for the aged and aging, including existing legislative protections with particular emphasis on the application of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967;

(10) develop basic policies and set priorities with respect to the development and operation of programs and activities conducted under authority of this Act;

(11) coordinate Federal programs and activities related to such purposes;

(12) coordinate, and assist in, the planning and development by public (including Federal, State, and local agencies) and private organizations or programs for older individuals with a view to the establishment of a nationwide network of comprehensive, coordinated services and opportunities for such individuals;

(13) convene conferences of such authorities and officials of public (including Federal, State, and local agencies) and nonprofit private organizations concerned with the development and operation of programs for older individuals as the Commissioner deems necessary or proper for the development and implementation of policies related to the objectives of this Act;

(14) develop and operate programs providing services and opportunities as authorized by this Act which are not otherwise provided by existing programs for older individuals;

(15) carry on a continuing evaluation of the programs and activities related to the objectives of this Act, with particular attention to the impact of medicare and medicaid, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and the programs of the National Housing Act relating to housing for older individuals and the setting of standards for the licensing of nursing homes, intermediate care homes, and other facilities providing care for such individuals;

(16) provide information and assistance to private organizations for the establishment and operation by them of programs and activities related to the objectives of this Act;

(17) develop, in coordination with other agencies, a national plan for meeting the needs for trained personnel in the field of aging, and for training persons for carrying out programs related to the objectives of this Act, and conduct and provide for the conducting of such training;

(18) consult with national organizations representing minority individuals to develop and disseminate training packages and to provide technical assistance efforts designed to as

sist State and area agencies, and service providers,1 on aging in providing services to older individuals with greatest economic need or individuals with greatest social need, with particular attention to and specific objectives for providing services to low-income minority individuals;

(19) collect for each fiscal year, for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1988, directly or by contract, statistical data regarding programs and activities carried out with funds provided under this Act, including

(A) with respect to each type of service or activity provided with such funds

(i) the aggregate amount of such funds expended to provide such service or activity;

(ii) the number of individuals who received such service or activity; and

(iii) the number of units of such service or activity provided;

(B) the number of senior centers which received such funds; and

(C) the extent to which each area agency on aging designated under section 305(a) satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (5)(A) of section 306(a);

(20) obtain from

(A) the Department of Agriculture information explaining the requirements for eligibility to receive benefits under the Food Stamp Act of 1977; and

(B) the Social Security Administration information explaining the requirements for eligibility to receive supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act (or assistance under a State plan program under title XVI of that Act);

and distribute such information, in written form, to State agencies, for redistribution to area agencies on aging, to carry out outreach activities and application assistance;

(21)(A) establish and operate the National Ombudsman Resource Center (in this paragraph referred to as the "Center"), under the administration of the Associate Commissioner for Ombudsman Programs, that will

(i) by grant or contract

(I) conduct research;

(II) provide training, technical assistance, and information to State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen;

(III) analyze laws, regulations, programs, and practices; and

(IV) provide assistance in recruiting and retaining volunteers for State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs by establishing a national program for recruitment efforts that utilizes the organizations that have established a successful record in recruiting and retaining volunteers for ombudsman or other programs;

1Error in amendment made by section 202(a)(3)(A) of Public Law 102-375. Should strike “, and service providers," here and insert ", and service providers," after “aging".

relating to Federal, State, and local long-term care ombudsman policies; and

(ii) assist State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen in the implementation of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs; and

(B) make available to the Center not less than the amount of resources made available to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman National Resource Center for fiscal year 1990;

(22) issue regulations, and conduct strict monitoring of State compliance with the requirements in effect, under this Act to prohibit conflicts of interest and to maintain the integrity and public purpose of services provided and service providers, under this Act in all contractual and commercial relationships, and include in such regulations a requirement that as a condition of being designated as an area agency on aging such agency shall

(A) disclose to the Commissioner and the State agency involved

(i) the identity of each nongovernmental entity with which such agency has a contract or commercial relationship relating to providing any service to older individuals; and

(ii) the nature of such contract or such relationship;

(B) demonstrate that a loss or diminution in the quantity or quality of the services provided, or to be provided, under this Act by such agency has not resulted and will not result from such contract or such relationship;

(C) demonstrate that the quantity or quality of the services to be provided under this Act by such agency will be enhanced as a result of such contract or such relationship; and

(D) on the request of the Commissioner or the State, for the purpose of monitoring compliance with this Act (including conducting an audit), disclose all sources and expenditures of funds received or expended to provide services to older individuals;

(23) encourage, and provide technical assistance to, States and area agencies on aging to carry out outreach to inform older individuals with greatest economic need who may be eligible to receive, but are not receiving, supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) (or assistance under a State plan program under such title), medical assistance under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), and benefits under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), of the requirements for eligibility to receive such benefits and such assistance;

(24) establish information and assistance services as priority services for older individuals;

(25) develop guidelines for area agencies on aging to follow in choosing and evaluating providers of legal assistance;

(26) develop guidelines and a model job description for choosing and evaluating legal assistance developers referred to in sections 307(a)(18) and 731(b)(2);

(27)(A) conduct a study to determine ways in which Federal funds might be more effectively targeted to low-income minority older individuals, and older individuals residing in rural areas, to better meet the needs of States with a disproportionate number of older individuals with greatest economic need and older individuals with greatest social need;

(B) conduct a study to determine ways in which Federal funds might be more effectively targeted to better meet the needs of States with disproportionate numbers of older individuals, including methods of allotting funds under title III, using the most recent estimates of the population of older individuals; and

(C) not later than January 1, 1994, submit a report containing the findings resulting from the studies described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate;

(28) provide technical assistance, training, and other means of assistance to State agencies, area agencies on aging, and service providers regarding State and local data collection and analysis;

(29) design and implement, for purposes of compliance with paragraph (19), uniform data collection procedures for use by State agencies, including

(A) uniform definitions and nomenclature;

(B) standardized data collection procedures;

(C) a participant identification and description system; (D) procedures for collecting information on gaps in services needed by older individuals, as identified by service providers in assisting clients through the provision of the supportive services; and

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(E) procedures for the assessment of unmet needs for services under this Act; and

(30) require that all Federal grants and contracts made under this title and title IV be made in accordance with a competitive bidding process established by the Commissioner by regulation.

(b) In order to strengthen the involvement of the Administration in the development of policy alternatives in long-term care and to insure that the development of community alternatives is given priority attention, the Commissioner shall

(1) develop planning linkages with utilization and quality control peer review organizations under title XI of the Social Security Act, with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities;

(2) participate in all departmental and interdepartmental activities which concern issues of institutional and noninstitutional long-term health care services development;

(3) review and comment on all departmental regulations and policies regarding community health and social service development for older individuals; and

(4) participate in all departmental and interdepartmental activities to provide a leadership role for the Administration, State agencies, and area agencies on aging in the development

and implementation of a national community-based long-term care program for older individuals.

(c)(1) In executing the duties and functions of the Administration under this Act and carrying out the programs and activities provided for by this Act, the Commissioner, in consultation with the Director of the ACTION Agency, shall take all possible steps to encourage and permit voluntary groups active in supportive services, including youth organizations active at the high school or college levels, to participate and be involved individually or through representative groups in such programs or activities to the maximum extent feasible, through the performance of advisory or consultative functions, and in other appropriate ways.

(2)(A) In executing the duties and functions of the Administration under this Act and in carrying out the programs and activities provided for by this Act, the Commissioner shall act to encourage and assist the establishment and use of

(i) area volunteer service coordinators, as described in section 306(a)(12), by area agencies on aging; and

(ii) State volunteer service coordinators, as described in section 307(a)(31), by State agencies.

(B) The Commissioner shall provide technical assistance to the area and State volunteer services coordinators.

(d)(1) The Commissioner shall establish and operate the National Center on Elder Abuse (in this subsection referred to as the "Center").

(2) In operating the Center, the Commissioner shall—

(A) annually compile, publish, and disseminate a summary of recently conducted research on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

(B) develop and maintain an information clearinghouse on all programs (including private programs) showing promise of success, for the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

(C) compile, publish, and disseminate training materials for personnel who are engaged or intend to engage in the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

(D) provide technical assistance to State agencies and to other public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to assist the agencies and organizations in planning, improving, developing, and carrying out programs and activities relating to the special problems of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and

(E) conduct research and demonstration projects regarding the causes, prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

(3)(A) The Commissioner shall carry out paragraph (2) through grants or contracts.

(B) The Commissioner shall issue criteria applicable to the recipients of funds under this subsection. To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under subparagraph (A), an entity shall submit an application to the Commissioner at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commissioner may require.