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 must be operated from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029. ""ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER"" DEFINED As used in this bill, an ""eligible family member"" means an individual who (i) requires 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, spou se, parent, or 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. ""Activities of daily living"" mean ambulating, feedin g, 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) funds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund and (ii) gifts, grants, and other donations received by the dep artment for the fund. GRANTS Subject to the availability of funds, this bill requires the department 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 individuals or family unit s whose income does not exceed 80% 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 50% 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 private residential home when recovered sufficiently. ""FAMILY CAREGIVER"" AND ""ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES"" DEFINED As used in this bill, a ""family caregiver"" means an individual who (i) provides care and support for an eligible family member, (ii) has incurred eligible expenditures, and, for calendar year 2027, and each subsequent year, (iii) has an annual adjusted i ncome from all sources that does not exceed the area or state median income, whichever is greater, adjusted for family size. For this bill, ""adjusted income"" means household income minus 50% of the cost of total eligible expenditures for the year, which ar e 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) the improvemen t or alteration to the family caregiver'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) the family caregiver's purchase or lease of equipment, in cluding 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) respite care. However, they do not include the carrying out of general household m aintenance activities such as painting, plumbing, electrical repairs, or exterior maintenance. ANNUAL ADJUSTED INCOME LIMIT This bill requires the 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 b e 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 th e 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. ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND 2, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1443, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:  Changes the definition of ""activities of daily living"" or ""ADL, as used in this bill, to include a mbulating, which is the ability of an individual to move or walk from one place to another independently without assistance or the aid of adaptive equipment or devices .  Adds n ecessary medical supplies for an eligible family member, including diapers and air mattresses to the definition of "" e ligible expenditures, "" as used in this bill.  Changes the definition of an "" e ligible family member, "" as used in this bill, to include an individual who presents with symptoms or cognition impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and the individual's primary care physician has signed a written statement acknowledging such symptoms or impairment.  Clarifies that "" p hysician, as used in this bill, means a person licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine. AMENDMENT #2 makes the following changes:  Limits the definition of a ""family caregiver, as used in this bill, by providing that for calendar year 2027, such person 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.  Changes the ending date for when the f amily caregiver grant pilot program must be operated from December 31, 2029, to December 31, 2027.  Removes that the annual adjusted income limit in the bill must be adjusted by the department of disability and aging on July 1, 2028, making it only required to be adjusted by the department on July 1, 2027, 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 ten dollars.  Changes the date o n which the department must submit a report to the chair of the health and welfare committee of the senate 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 to on or before January 15, 2028.  Changes the legislative intent from an initial appropriation amount of $600, 000 to be appropriated in fiscal year 2026-2027, to a nonrecurring appropriation in the amount of $200, 000 to be appropriated in fiscal year 2026-2027."