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(0) RESERVE FUND.-The Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent of the amounts made available in each fiscal year to supplement grants awarded to owners under this section when, in the determination of the Secretary, such supplemental adjustments are required to maintain adequate levels of services to eligible residents. [42 U.S.C. 8011]

(p) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.-Section 9(a)(3)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 is amended

CONGREGATE HOUSING SERVICES ACT OF 1978

EXCERPT FROM HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
AMENDMENTS OF 1978

[Public Law 95-557; 92 Stat. 2104; 42 U.S.C. 8001 et seq.]

TITLE IV-CONGREGATE SERVICES

SHORT TITLE

SEC. 401. This title may be cited as the "Congregate Housing Services Act of 1978". [42 U.S.C. 8001 note]

FINDINGS

SEC. 402. The Congress finds that

(1) congregate housing, coordinated with the delivery of supportive services, offers an innovative, proven, and cost-effective means of enabling temporarily disabled or handicapped individuals to maintain their dignity and independence and to avoid costly and unnecessary institutionalization;

(2) a large and growing number of elderly and handicapped residents of public housing projects and of nonprofit projects for the elderly and handicapped face premature and unnecessary institutionalization because of the absence of or deficiencies in the availability, adequacy, coordination, or delivery of the supportive services required for the successful development of adequate numbers of congregate housing projects; and

(3) supplemental supportive services, available on a secure and continuing basis, are essential to a successful congregate housing program. [42 U.S.C. 8001]

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 403. For the purpose of this title

(1) the term "congregate housing" means (A) low-rent housing which, as of January 1, 1979, was built or under construction, with which there is connected a central dining facility where wholesome and economical meals can be served to such occupants; or (B) low-rent housing constructed after, but not under construction prior to, January 1, 1979, connected with which there is a central dining facility to provide wholesome and economical meals for such occupants;

(2) the term "congregate services programs" means programs to be undertaken by a public housing agency or a nonprofit corporation to provide assistance, including personal assistance and nutritional meals, to eligible project residents who, with such assistance, can remain independent and avoid unnecessary institutionalization;

(3) the term "elderly" means sixty-two years of age or over; (4) the term "eligible project resident" means elderly handicapped individuals, nonelderly handicapped individuals, or temporarily disabled individuals, who are residents of congregate housing projects administered by a public housing agency or by a nonprofit corporation;

(5) the term "handicapped" means having an impairment which (A) is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration, and (B) substantially impedes an individual's ability to live independently unless the individual receives supportive congregate services; such impairment may include a functional disability or frailty which is a normal consequence of the human aging process;

(6) the term "personal assistance" means service provided under this title which may include, but is not limited to, aid given to eligible project residents in grooming, dressing, and other activities which maintain personal appearance and hygiene;

(7) the term "professional assessment committee" means a group of at least three persons appointed by a local public housing agency or a nonprofit corporation and shall include qualified medical professionals and other persons professionally competent to appraise the functional abilities of elderly or permanently disabled adult persons, or both, in relation to the performance of the normal tasks of daily living;

(8) the term "temporarily disabled" means an impairment which (A) is expected to be of no more than six months' duration, and (B) substantially impedes an individual's ability to live independently unless the individual receives supportive congregate services; and

(9) the term "nonprofit corporation" means any corporation responsible for a housing project assisted under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959. [42 U.S.C. 8002]

AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS

SEC. 404. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") is authorized to enter into contracts with local public housing agencies under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (hereinafter referred to as "public housing agencies") and with nonprofit corporations, utilizing sums appropriated under this title, to provide congregate services programs for eligible project residents in order to promote and encourage maximum independence within a home environment for such residents capable of self-care with appropriate supportive congregate services. Each contract between the Secretary and a public housing agency or nonprofit corporation shall be for a term of not less than three years or more than five years and shall be renewable at the expiration of such term. Each public housing agency or nonprofit corporation entering into such a contract shall be reserved a sum equal to its total approved contract amount from the moneys authorized and appropriated for the fiscal year in which the notification date of funding approval falls. [42 U.S.C. 8003]182Sec. 404

CONGREGATE SERVICES PROGRAM

SEC. 405. (a) Congregate services programs assisted under this title must include full meal service adequate to meet nutritional needs, and may also include housekeeping aid, personal assistance, and other services essential for maintaining independent living.

(b) No services funded under this title may duplicate services which are already affordable, accessible, and sufficiently available on a long-term basis to eligible project residents under programs administered by or receiving appropriations through any department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government or any other public or private department, agency, or organization.

(c) A public housing agency or nonprofit corporation applying for assistance to provide congregate services to elderly residents shall consult with the Area Agency on Aging (or, where no Area Agency on Aging exists, with the appropriate State agency under the Older Americans Act of 1965) in determining the means of providing services under this title and in identifying alternative available sources of funding for such services.

(d) Prior to the submission of a final application for either new or renewed funding under this title for the provision of congregate services to elderly residents, a public housing agency and a nonprofit corporation shall present a copy of a proposed application to the Area Agency on Aging (or, where no Area Agency on Aging exists, to the appropriate State agency under the Older Americans Act of 1965) for review and comment. Such agency and nonprofit corporation shall consider such review and comment in the development of any final application for either new or renewed funding under this title.

(e)(1) A public housing agency or nonprofit corporation applying for assistance to provide congregate services to nonelderly handicapped residents shall consult with the appropriate agency, if any, designated by applicable State law as having responsibility for the development, provision, or identification of social services to permanently disabled adults, for the purpose of determining the means of providing services under this title and of identifying alternative available sources of funding for such services.

(2) Such public housing agency and nonprofit corporation shall also, prior to the submission of a final application for either new or renewed funding under this title, present a copy of the proposed application to such appropriate agency for review and comment. The public housing agency and nonprofit corporation shall consider such review and comment in the development of any final application for either new or renewed funding under this title.

(f) Any nonprofit corporation or public housing agency receiving assistance under this title may provide congregate services directly to eligible project residents or may, by contract or lease, provide such services through other appropriate agencies or providers.

(g) Nonprofit corporations and public housing agencies receiving assistance for congregate services programs under this title shall be required to maintain the same dollar amount of annual contribution which they were making, if any, in support of the provision of services eligible for assistance under this title before the date of the submission of the application for such assistance unless the

Secretary determines that the waiver of this requirement is necessary for the maintenance of adequate levels of services to eligible project residents. If any contract or lease entered into by a public housing agency or nonprofit corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section provides for adjustments in payments for services to reflect changes in the cost of living, then the amount of annual contribution required to be maintained by such public agency or nonprofit corporation under the preceding sentence shall be readjusted in the same manner.

(h) Each nonprofit corporation and public housing agency shall establish fees for meal service and other appropriate services provided to eligible project residents. These fees shall be reasonable, may not exceed the cost of providing the service, and shall be calculated on a sliding scale related to income which permits the provision of services to such residents who cannot afford meal and service fees. When meal services are provided to other project residents, fees shall be reasonable and may not exceed the cost of providing the meal service.

(i) The Secretary shall establish standards for the provision of services under this title, and, in developing such service standards, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and with appropriate organizations representing the elderly and handicapped, as determined by the Secretary. [42 U.S.C. 8004]

ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES

SEC. 406. (a) The identification of project residents eligible to participate in a congregate services program assisted under this title, and the designation of the services appropriate to their individual functional abilities and needs, shall be made by a professional assessment committee. Such committee shall utilize procedures which insure that the process of determining eligibility of individuals for services under this title shall accord such individuals fair treatment and due process and a right of appeal of such determination of eligibility, and shall also assure the confidentiality of personal and medical records.

(b) Other residents may participate in a congregate meal service program assisted under this title if the local public housing agency or nonprofit corporation determines that the participation of these individuals will not adversely affect the cost-effectiveness or operation of the program.

(c) Any public housing agency or nonprofit corporation receiving assistance under this title shall notify the Secretary of any change in the membership of the professional assessment committee within thirty days of such change. Such notification shall list the names and professional qualifications of new members of the committee.

(d) Procedures shall be established to insure that changes in the membership of the professional assessment committee are consistent with the requirements of section 403(7) of this title. [42 U.S.C. 8005]

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