WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 33
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Chapter 33
(House Bill 36)
AN ACT concerning
Department of Aging – Aging Services – Program Repeal and Consolidation
FOR the purpose of repealing provisions of law requiring the Secretary of Aging to develop
certain congregate housing and assisted living programs for seniors; repealing the
Interagency Committee on Aging Services and transferring certain responsibilities
of the Committee to the Department of Aging; authorizing the Department to
perform certain duties to implement and coordinate services to older adults and to
collaborate with certain entities that establish local interagency committees;
requiring the Department to establish, coordinate, and supervise a program to
provide single points of entry within each planning and service area; authorizing
area agencies on aging to make agreements with certain entities and provide staff at
the single points of entry for certain purposes; requiring the Department to develop,
coordinate, and administer with area agencies on aging or other persons a certain
system to provide certain services to certain older adults; requiring the Department
to engage with key stakeholders to conduct certain transition planning and to
provide certain services to certain older adults; and generally relating to the
Department of Aging and aging services.
BY repealing
Article – Human Services
Section 10–209 through 10–211, 10–301 through 10–305, and 10–310
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Human Services
Section 10–101; and 10–306 through 10–309 to be under the amended subtitle
“Subtitle 3. Aging Services”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That Section(s) 10–209 through 10–211, 10–301 through 10–305, and 10–310 of
Article – Human Services of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read
as follows:
Article – Human Services
10–101. Ch. 33 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) “Area agency ON AGING” means the local agency that the Department
designates in accordance with the Older Americans Act of 1965 to administer the delivery
of a comprehensive and coordinated plan of social and other services and activities for
[seniors] OLDER ADULTS in a planning and service area.
(c) “Community for a Lifetime” means a community certified under § 10–804 of
this title.
(d) [“Congregate housing services” means services provided in an apartment
building that promote independent living for an eligible individual.
(e)] “Department” means the Department of Aging.
[(f) “Interagency Committee” means the unit established in § 10–301 of this title
to oversee the coordination and consolidation of services for seniors in the State.
(g)] (E) “Planning and service area” means an area of the State that the
Department designates in accordance with the Older Americans Act of 1965 for the
planning and administration of social, health, and other services for [seniors] OLDER
ADULTS.
[(h)] (F) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Aging.
Subtitle 3. [Interagency Committee on] Aging Services.
[10–306.] 10–301.
(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] DEPARTMENT
MAY ENTER INTO agreements and CONTRACTS, adopt regulations, AND ADOPT
POLICIES AND PROCEDU RES to[:
(1)] implement and coordinate services to [seniors consistent with the plan
developed under subsection (a) of this section;
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(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] OLDER ADULTS UNDER T HIS TITLE.
[(c) (1)] (B) The [Interagency Committee shall assist] DEPARTMENT MAY
COLLABORATE WITH county agencies [to], AREA AGENCIES ON AGI NG, NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS , OR OTHER PERSONS THA T 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.] 10–302.
(a) [(1)] The [Interagency Committee] DEPARTMENT shall establish [and],
coordinate, AND SUPERVISE 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 ON AGING shall operate a single point of entry program to
assess the needs of [seniors] 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 [senior] OLDER ADULT who
requests service;
(3) processing requests for service from [seniors] OLDER ADULTS ; Ch. 33 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(4) through widely publicized local outreach facilities and communications
systems, providing access to available public and private programs and services for
[seniors] 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 [seniors]
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 [a frail or health–impaired senior] OLDER ADULTS IN NEED OF
LONG–TERM SERVICES AND SU PPORTS.
(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] AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING shall make agreements [among themselves] WITH NONPROFIT ORGAN IZATIONS
OR OTHER PERSONS AS NEEDED and [with other agencies to] provide staff on a regular
basis at the single points of entry to: WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 33
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(1) provide information and services to [seniors] OLDER ADULTS ; and
(2) administer agency programs.
[10–308.] 10–303.
Each planning and service area shall have a telephone information and referral
service that is available on a 24–hour basis.
[10–309.] 10–304.
(a) [(1)] The [Interagency Committee] DEPARTMENT shall[:
(i)] develop, COORDINATE , AND ADMINISTER WITH AREA
AGENCIES ON AGING OR OTHER PERSONS 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] OLDER ADULTS IN NEED OF LONG–TERM SERVICES AND SU PPORTS TO
ALLOW OLDER ADULTS T O AGE IN A LOCATION SELECTED BY THE OLDE R ADULT
WITH APPROPRIATE SER VICES, SUPPORTS, AND HOUSING OPPORTUN ITIES.
(b) The services [shall] MAY include:
(1) integrated screening and evaluation;
(2) development of an individual plan of care;
(3) in–home services such as [minor] home repair OR OTHER HOME
MODIFICATIONS , shopping assistance, homemaking, CHORE SERVICES , personal care,
meal delivery or preparation, TRANSPORTAT ION SERVICES, HEALTH SERVICES , AND
OTHER supportive services [to group or shared living arrangements, transportation
services, and health services; and];
(4) [community] COMMUNITY –BASED services such as day care,
[congregate meals] FOOD AND OTHER MEAL COORDINATION , and other [programs]
EFFORTS to assist [seniors] OLDER ADULTS or adult caregivers [in providing care for
seniors];
(5) A SUBSIDY FOR THE CO STS OF AN ASSISTED L IVING PROGRAM AS
DEFINED IN § 19–1801 OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE; Ch. 33 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(6) ANY OTHER SERVICE THAT M AY MITIGATE THE RISK OF IMPACT
TO, OR IMPROVE RESILIENC E OF, HOUSING OR SERVICES OF OLDER ADULTS BY
NATURAL, TECHNOLOGICAL , OR HUMAN–MADE THREATS AND HAZ ARDS, INCLUDING
CLIMATE CHANGE ; AND
(7) ANY OTHER SERVICE AU THORIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
(c) To be eligible to participate in the system, a county, [or counties] AREA
AGENCY ON AGING , NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON, OR ANY OTHER PERSON 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]
COMPLY WITH DEPARTMENT STANDARDS .
[(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:
(1) a system to designate case managers to secure and manage necessary
services for each frail or health–impaired senior in need; and
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 33
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(2) guidelines, to establish local or regional committees to coordinate the
services system to implement this section.]
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, beginning in June 2025, the
Department of Aging shall engage with key stakeholders, including area agencies on aging,
to:
(1) conduct program transition planning and to co–design the new,
consolidated program required under Section 1 of this Act; and
(2) provide that individuals enrolled in the Senior Care, Senior Assisted
Living Subsidy, and Congregate Housing Services Programs at the time of the transition
required under Section 1 of this Act will receive a person–centered assessment, performed
by the appropriate area agency on aging for that jurisdiction, to determine an individual
transition plan that may include continued service delivery, or an alternative to ensure
appropriate care is maintained.
SECTION 3. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed
to apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or
application to any cause of action arising before the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 3 of this Act shall take
effect June 1, 2025.
SECTION 4. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That , except as provided in
Section 5 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
Approved by the Governor, April 8, 2025.