2023 -- H 5224 SUBSTITUTE A
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS PERT AINING TO SERVICES AND COORDINATION OF STATE
PROGRAMS RELATING TO OLDER ADULT RHODE ISLANDERS
Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Azzinaro, Noret, Donovan, Kazarian, Alzate,
Knight, Fogarty, and Ajello
Date Introduced: January 25, 2023
Referred To: House Health & Human Services
WHEREAS, Today, more than 240,000 Rhode Island residents are age 60 or older and by 1
2040, it is estimated that that figure will rise to almost 265,000, constituting an increase of nearly 2
75 percent over 30 years; and 3
WHEREAS, A collaborative study of Rhode Island's current services and 4
recommendations for potential initiatives that would help residents, agencies, providers, and the 5
government to better assist the growing population of older adults in our state achieve wellbeing 6
and maximum independence in ways that value, empower and engage them is essential to our 7
State's future resilience and prosperity; now, therefore be it 8
RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created 9
consisting of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island 10
House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by 11
the Speaker of the House; two (2) of whom shall be Rhode Island residents over the age of sixty-12
five (65), to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the 13
Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH), or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the 14
Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging, or designee; three (3) of whom shall be Directors from RI 15
Senior Center Director's Association, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom 16
shall be a Community Action Program Director from the Rhode Island Association of 17
Community Action Agencies, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be 18
the Director of the AARP Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the RI 19
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Long Term Care Coordinating Council (LTCCC), to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 1
one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Age-Friendly RI, or designee; one of whom shall 2
be the Director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI; or designee; and one of whom shall be a 3
member of a Rhode Island organization representing adults with disabilities, to be appointed by 4
the Speaker of the House. 5
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory 6
commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly 7
resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu 8
of a legislator. 9
The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of key statistics 10
and information about services for older adults in Rhode Island including, but not limited to: 11
1. Examine strengths, vulnerabilities, and demographic and financial statistics of older adult 12
Rhode Islanders; 13
2. Assess the current State, Federal and local services currently available to older adult 14
Rhode Islanders; 15
3. Examine any duplication of elderly services within the State; 16
4. Provide recommendations to institute, integrate, collaborate, and implement initiatives 17
that eliminate red tape, coordinate services within agencies, and focus on better 18
delivery of services and programs related to older adult Rhode Islanders, including 19
older adult housing options and various living arrangements, health status and 20
healthcare resources; 21
5. Provide recommendations for the creation of a portal to provide and coordinate aging 22
programs and services in the areas of employment, education, independent living, 23
accessibility and advocacy, as well as local older adult centers and services; 24
6. Provide recommendations on mental health, transportation, food access, and healthcare; 25
7. Review and provide recommendations for the funding of services through State, Federal, 26
and private grants and provide recommendations for more efficient distribution and 27
use of these dollars; and 28
8. Explore and provide recommendations for more regionalization of services. 29
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at 30
the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the 31
legislators. The commission shall hold two (2) of its meetings in local communities. 32
Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. 33
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. 34
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All departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information, 1
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or 2
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. 3
The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters 4
for said commission; and be it further 5
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the 6
House of Representatives no later than May 7, 2024, and said commission shall expire on August 7
7, 2024. 8
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIO NS PERTAINING TO SERVICES AND COORDINATION OF STATE
PROGRAMS RELATING TO OLDER ADULT RHODE ISLANDERS
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This resolution would create a sixteen (16) member special legislative study commission 1
whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and provide recommendations for 2
services and the coordination of state programs for older adult Rhode Islanders, and who would 3
report back to the House of Representatives no later than May 7, 2024, and whose life would 4
expire on August 7, 2024. 5
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