HB 911

AN ACT TO KNOWN AS THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT DUTIES ESTABLISHED IN THIS ACT SHALL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE DIVISION OF AGING AND ADULT SERVICES OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACT IS TO ADVISE, ASSIST AND PROTECT THE STATE'S OLDER ADULTS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT AND ENSURE THAT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OLDER ADULTS TO ASSIST THEM IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OR MAINTENANCE OF MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND MINIMUM LEVELS OF SOCIAL DEPENDENCE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF AGING AND ADULT SERVICES, IS DESIGNATED AS THE STATE UNIT ON AGING UNDER THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 AND SHALL EXERCISE ALL RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THAT ACT; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE DIVISION OF AGING AND ADULT SERVICES UNDER THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DIVISION SHALL ENSURE THAT EACH AREA AGENCY ON AGING OPERATES IN A MANNER TO ENSURE THAT THE OLDER ADULTS OF THIS STATE RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICES POSSIBLE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION TO RESCIND THE DESIGNATION OF AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING OR TAKE INTERMEDIATE MEASURES AGAINST THE AGENCY IF THE DIVISION MAKES CERTAIN FINDING REGARDING THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 43-9-1 THROUGH 43-9-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATED A STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE KNOWN AS THE MISSISSIPPI OLD AGE SECURITY LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.