COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, RECREATION AND SPORTS

BILL NO. 29-0159 Twenty-Ninth Legislature Of The Virgin Islands

August 5, 2011

An Act amending title 3, Chapter 1, Virgin Islands Code, to re-establish the Virgin Islands Commission on Aging within the Office of the Governor

PROPOSED BY:

Senator Louis Patrick Hill

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WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the increasing life span of Virgin Islands seniors and the increasing senior population require new strategies to ensure the future delivery of services to our elders; and WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the Virgin Islands Government, having jurisdiction and responsibility for the establishment, supervision, and monitoring of publicly funded programs which deal exclusively with the health and welfare of the aging, requires the input of advocacy groups whose focus is solely on the older adults in our community; and WHEREAS, the Legislature finds the Department of Human Services, through their Division of Senior Citizens Affairs, seeks to improve their community programs that address the challenges of our growing senior population and transform our community into a state of Elder Readiness and will benefit from the support of a Commission on Aging; Now, Therefore,

2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Elder Readiness Act of 2011. SECTION 2. Title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1, is amended by reenacting section 27f with amendments to read as follows: 27f. Virgin Islands Commission on Aging (a) The Virgin Islands Commission on Aging is established within the Office of the

Governor for budgetary purposes and shall be herein referred to for purposes of this section only as the Commission. (1) The Commission shall be composed of the Commissioner of Human

Services or his designee, the Administrator of the Division of Senior Citizen Affairs, the Administrator from the Office of Social Services; Administrator of the Office of Departmental and Elderly Nutrition Services; a representative from each of the Senior Centers on the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix; the Deputy Commissioners of Health from the Districts of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix; one representative from the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, Virgin Islands Office of Legal Services, Virgin Islands Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands. The Commission members shall serve for a period of two (2) years. The Commission shall select, from among its members, a Chairman who shall serve in this capacity, and the chairmanship shall alternate bi-annually from the each district. (2) The Commission shall meet monthly at a location to be determined by the

Chairman and shall utilize to its best efforts conferencing capabilities between both island districts. (b) Powers and Duties of the Commission. The Virgin Islands Commission on

Aging shall have the responsibility to:

3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 BR11-0958T/July 27, 2011/AA/reviewed by TF (1) (2) Identify issues of concern to older adults of the Virgin Island; Research legislative issues, analyze impact on the welfare of older adults,

and provide suggestion for legislators; and (3) Promote networking of organizations and individuals which support

services and opportunities for Senior Citizens, to include but not be limited to: Adult Protective Services, V. I. Family Caregiver Support Program, Foster Grandparents Program, Homemaker Services, Homes for the Aged in both districts, Information and Referral Services, Nutrition Program for the Elderly (Meals on Wheels), Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Senior Community Employment Program, and the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program. (c) Compensation

Members of the Commission shall be compensated in the form of reimbursement for travel expenditures only as authorized by the Chairman. An annual appropriation from the General Fund through the Office of the Governor shall be used for reimbursements. BILL SUMMARY This Bill reestablishes the Commission on Aging under the Office of the Governor for budgetary purposes and is codified in title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1, section 27f. Subsection (a) (1) establishes the composition of the board and the tenure of office. Subsection (b) delineates the powers and duties and responsibilities of the Commission and subsection (c) sets the amount of compensation to be paid to the Commission members.