(5)' develop plans, conduct and arrange for research in the field of aging, and assist in the establishment of and carry out programs designed to meet the needs of older individuals for social services, including nutrition, hospitalization, preretirement training, continuing education, low-cost transportation and housing, and health services; (6) provide technical assistance and consultation to States and political subdivisions thereof with respect to programs for the aged and aging; (7) prepare, publish, and disseminate educational materials dealing with the welfare of older individuals; (8) gather statistics in the field of aging which other Federal agencies are not collecting; (9) stimulate more effective use of existing resources and available services for the aged and aging; (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) provide for the coordination of 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 nonprofit private organizations of 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 purposes 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 purposes 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 the elderly and the setting of standards for the * The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(b)(1), revised paragraph (5). It previously read: “develop plans, conduct and arrange for research and demonstration programs in the field of aging;". * The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(b)(2), added paragraphs (10) through (17). licensing of nursing homes, intermediate care homes, and other facilities providing care for older people; (16) provide information and assistance to private nonprofit organizations for the establishment and operation by them of programs and activities related to the purposes of this Act; and (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 purposes of this Act, and conduct and provide for the conducting of such training. (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 health systems agencies designated under section 1515 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 3002-4) (2) participate in all departmental and interdepartmental activities. which concern issues of institutional and noninstitutional long-term health care services development; and (3) review and comment on all departmental regulations and policies regarding community health and social service development for the elderly. (c) In executing his duties and functions under this Act and carrying out the programs and activities provided for by this Act, the Commissioner, in consultation with the Director of Action, shall take all possible steps to encourage and permit voluntary groups active in social 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. FEDERAL AGENCY CONSULTATION? SEC. 203. (a) The Commissioner, in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act, shall advise, consult, and cooperate with the head 'The 1978 Amendments, sec. 102(a)(2) inserted subsection (b). • The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(b)(3) added this as a new subsection of sec. 202. "The 1978 Amendments, sec. 102(b), completely revised sec. 203, which was added by the 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(c), as a new section of Title II. Between 1973 and 1978, it read as follows: Footnotes continued on next page of each Federal agency or department proposing or administering programs or services substantially related to the purposes of this Act, with respect to such programs or services. The head of each Federal agency or department proposing to establish programs and services substantially related to the purposes of this Act shall consult with the Commissioner prior to the establishment of such programs and services. The head of each Federal agency administering any program substantially related to the purpose of this Act, particularly administering any program set forth in subsection (b), shall, to achieve appropriate coordination, consult and cooperate with the Commissioner in carrying out such program. (b) For the purposes of subsection (a), programs related to the purpose of this Act shall include (1) the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973, (5) the United States Housing Act of 1937, (6) section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, (7) title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, (8) section 222(a)(8) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, (9) the community schools program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and (10) sections 3, 5, 9, and 16 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964. THE NATIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CLEARING HOUSE FOR THE AGING SEC. 204. (a) The Commissioner is authorized and directed to establish and operate a National Information and Resource Clearing House for the Aging which shall (1) collect, analyze, prepare, and disseminate information related to the needs and interests of older individuals, including information related to Footnotes continued from last page "SEC. 203. Federal agencies proposing to establish programs substantially related to the purposes of this Act shall consult with the Administration on Aging prior to the establishment of such services, and Federal agencies administering such programs shall cooperate with the Administration on Aging in carrying out such services.” II. • The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(c), added this as a new section of Title transportation services for older individuals offered by Federal, State, and local public agencies; ' (2) obtain information concerning older individuals from public and private agencies and other organizations serving the needs and interests of older individuals and furnish, upon request, information to such agencies and organizations, including information developed by Federal, State, and local public agencies with respect to programs of such agencies designed to serve the needs and interests of older individuals; (3) encourage the establishment of State and local information centers and provide technical assistance to such centers, including sources established under section 304(c)(3) 1o and section 305(a)(7), to assist older individuals to have ready access to information; and 10 10 (4) carry out a special program for the collection and dissemination of information relevant to consumer interests of older individuals in order that such older individuals may more readily obtain information concerning goods and services needed by them. (b) The Commissioner shall 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. To the extent practicable, the Commissioner shall carry out his functions under this subsection through the National Information and Resource Clearing House for the Aging. (c) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section, for fiscal years 1979, 1980, and 1981, such sums as may be necessary."1 FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING 12 SEC. 205. (a) There is established a Federal Council on the Aging to be composed of fifteen members appointed by the President with the advice The 1978 Amendments, sec. 102(c), inserted the phrase, “including information related to transportation services for older individuals offered by Federal, State, and local public agencies". 10 These references are to section numbers before the 1978 Amendments. The corresponding sections now are secs. 306(a)(4) and 307(a)(9). 11 The 1978 Amendments, sec. 102(d), revised sec. 204(c). 13 The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(c) added this as a new section of Title II. Sec. 202 of those Amendments repealed Title VIII of the Act, sec. 801 of which previously authorized an Advisory Committee on Older Americans and such technical advisory committees as the Secretary deemed appropriate for advising him in carrying out his functions under the Act. 13 and consent of the Senate for terms of three years without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code. Members shall be appointed so as to be representative of rural and urban older Americans, nationai organizations with an interest in aging, business, labor, and the general public. At least five of the members shall themselves be older individuals. No full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government may be appointed as a member of the Council.13 (b)(1) of the members first appointed, five shall be appointed for a term of one year, five shall be appointed for a term of two years, and five shall be appointed for a term of three years, as designated by the President at the time of appointment. (2) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. Members shall be eligible for reappointment and may serve after the expiration of their terms until their successors have taken office. (3) Any vacancy in the Council shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner by which the original appointment was made. (4) Members of the Council shall, while serving on business of the Council, be entitled to receive compensation at a rate not to exceed the daily rate specified for grade GS-18 in section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, including traveltime, and while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business, they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as the expenses authorized by section 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code, for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. (c) The President shall designate the Chairman from among the members appointed to the Council. The Council shall meet at the call of the Chairman but not less often than four times a year.14 14 (d) The Council shall (1) advise and assist the President on matters relating to the special needs of older Americans; (2) assist the Commissioner in making the appraisal of needs required by section 402; (3) review and evaluate, on a continuing basis, Federal policies regarding the aging and programs and other activities affecting the aging conducted or assisted by all Federal departments and agencies for the 13 The 1978 Amendments, sec. 102(e)(1) inserted "rural and urban" and added the last sentence of sec. 205(a). 14 The 1978 Amendments, sec. 102(e)(2), struck the final sentence of sec. 205(c), which read as follows: "The Secretary and the Commissioner on Aging shall be ex officio members of the Council." |