Legislative Action on NCAOA 2008 Priorities

Support Legislation to Increase Home and Community Care Block Grant Funding An additional $2 Million was appropriated.

Make Increased Senior Center General Purpose Funds Recurring No action was taken, with funding levels reverting back to 2006-2007 levels.

Provide State Funding for the Family Support Program (specifically Project C.A.R.E.) $500,000 in non-recurring funds were appropriated.

Fund Adult Protective Services Pilot Project No action was taken.

Support Area Agencies on Aging to Help Counties Plan for the Growth in the Aging Population No specific action was taken to provide AAAs with extra funding for planning purposes, but the General Assembly did pass legislation to direct the Study Commission on Aging to study the state's readiness to respond to the increasing numbers of older adults residing in North Carolina. Specificially, the Commission is directed to identify information and resources to provide needs assessment, planning, and delivery of services and programs to current and future older adults; oversee the design and implementation of a consumer needs, assets and expectations assessment; oversee the design and implementation of a state and local awareness and preparedness assessment; and identify and secure studies of related issues, such as retirement migration patterns, that impact the planning process for NC's older adult population.

Funding for Local Human Services Agencies to Provide Guardianship Services No specific action was taken; however, in the same piece of legislation noted immediately above, a Joint Legislative Study Commission on State Guardianship Laws was created with a purpose of reviewing state laws regarding guardianship and its relationship to other pertinent state laws such as health care power of attorney, the right to a natural death, and durable power of attorney. The Director of the NC Division of Aging & Adult Services is a designated member of this Commission.