HB 717

This bill enacts the "Caring for Caregivers Act, which requires the department to establish and administer a family caregiver grant pilot program to provide grants to family careg ivers of eligible family members in each of the three grand divisions to offset eligible expenditures incurred by the family caregivers. Such expenditures do not include the carrying out of general household maintenance activities such as painting, plumb i ng, electrical repairs, or exterior maintenance. The pilot program must be operated from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028. As used in this bill, a ""family caregiver"" means an individual who provides care and support for an eligible family member; has incurred eligible expenditures; and, for each calendar year, has an annual adjusted income from all sources that does not exceed $37, 000. The adjusted income is determined by subtracting 50% of the cost of total eligible expenditures for the year from th e household income. An eligible family caregiver is such an individual who (i) requires assistance with at least two activities of daily living and is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and qualifies as an adult child, spouse, parent, o r other relative by blood or marriage to a family caregiver; and (ii) lives in a private residential home and not in an assisted living center, nursing facility, or residential care home. FAMILY CAREGIVER GRANT FUND This bill creates a separate fund wit hin the general fund to be known as the family caregiver grant fund to be composed of (i) funds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund; and (ii) gifts, grants, and other donations received by the department for the fund. Subject to the availab i lity of funds, the department must allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year of the pilot program period to family caregivers of eligible family members on a first-come, first-served basis. A grant awarded under this bill is limited to $6, 000 per fam i ly caregiver in a fiscal year. This bill provides that family caregivers continue to qualify for a grant while the eligible family member is temporarily relocated for health care to a hospital or skilled or intermediate care facility if the eligible fami ly member indicates an intent to return to the private residential home when recovered sufficiently. It is the legislative intent that an initial appropriation in the amount of $600, 000 be appropriated in fiscal year 2025-2026 in the general appropriatio n s act for awarding grants from the fund. ANNUAL ADJUSTED INCOME LIMIT This bill requires the annual adjusted income limit to be adjusted by the department on July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027, to reflect the cost-of-living adjustment for social security re cipients as determined by the social security administration and to be rounded to the nearest $10. The income attributable to the family caregiver applying for a grant is the income of the family caregiver and the income of the family caregiver's spouse, if applicable. REPORT On or before October 1, 2026, and by October 1 of each subsequent year, until the close of the pilot program period, this bill requires the department to submit a report to the chair of the health and welfare committee of the senat e and the chair of the committee in the house of representatives having jurisdiction over health-related matters on the status of the program and on the funds received and payments made by the family caregiver grant fund. RULEMAKING This bill authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rules to effectuate this bill. ON APRIL 21, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 717, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to extend the termination date for the Alzheimer's and dementia respite care pilot program from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026."