SB 1777

This bill enacts the "Caring for Caregivers Act, "" which requires the department of disability and aging (""department"") to establish and administer a family caregiver grant pilot program to provide grants to family caregivers of eligible family members in each of the three grand divisions to offset eligible expenditures incurred by the family caregivers. The pilot program mu st be operated from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029. ""ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER"" DEFINED As used in this bill, an ""e ligible family member"" means an individual who (i) r equires assistance with at least two activities of daily living ( ADLs ), (ii) is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia, (iii) qualifies as an adult child, spouse, parent, or other relative by blood or marriage to a family caregiver, and (ii) l ives in a private residential home and not in an assisted living center, nursing facility, or residential care home . ""Activities of daily living"" mean ambulating, feeding, dressing, personal hygiene, continence, and toileting. FAMILY CAREGIVER GRANT FUND This bill creates a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the family caregiver grant fund. The fund is composed of (i) f unds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund and (ii) g ifts, grants, and other donations received by the department for the fund. GRANTS Subject to the availability of funds, th is bill requires the d epartment to allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year of the pilot program period to family caregivers of eligible family members giving (i) primary priority to individual s or family unit s whose income does not exceed 8 0% of the area or state median income, whichever is greater, adjusted for family size, and (ii) secondary priority to those whose income does not exceed 5 0% of the area or state median income, whichever is greater, adjusted f or family size . A grant is limited to $6, 000 per family caregiver in a fiscal year. Family caregivers must 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 family member indicates an intent to return to the priv ate residential home when recovered sufficiently. ""FAMILY CAREGIVER"" AND ""ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES"" DEFINED As used in this bill, a "" f amily caregiver"" means an individual who (i) p rovides care and support for an eligible family member, (ii) h as incurred eligible expenditures, and, f or calendar year 2027, and each subsequent year, (iii) has an annual adjusted income from all sources that does not exceed the area or state median income, whichever is greater, adjusted for family size . For this bill, ""a djusted income"" means household income minus 50% of the cost of total eligible expenditures for the year, which are the uncompensated expenses paid or incurred by a family caregiver that are directly related to assisting the family caregiver in providing care to an eligible family member . Eligible expenditures include expenses paid or incurred for (i) t he improvement or alteration to the family caregiv er's or eligible family member's primary residence to permit the eligible family member to live in the residence and to remain mobile, safe, and independent; (ii) t he family caregiver's purchase or lease of equipment, including healthcare equipment, durable medical equipment, or technology that is necessary to assist an eligible family member in carrying out one (1) or more ADLs; or (iii) r espite care . However, they do not include the carrying out of general household maintenance activities such as paintin g, plumbing, electrical repairs, or exterior maintenance . ANNUAL ADJUSTED INCOME LIMIT This bill requires t he annual adjusted income limit to be adjusted by the department on July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028, to reflect the cost-of-living adjustment for social security recipients as determined by the social security administration and must 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. RULEMAKING This bill authorizes the commissioner of disability and aging to promulgate rules to effectuate this bill. REPORT On or before October 1, 2027, 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 chairs of legislative committees 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. INITIAL APPROPRIATION This bill clarifies that it is the legislative intent that an initial appropriation in the amount of $600, 000 be appropriated in fiscal year 2026-2027 in the general appropriations act for awarding grants from the fund."