THE GOVERNOR
Title 4—ADMINISTRATION
PART I. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
[4 PA. CODE CH. 5]
[EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2023-09]
[53 Pa.B. 3531]
[Saturday, July 8, 2023]
Pennsylvania's Master Plan for Older Adults May 25, 2023
Whereas, Pennsylvania values older adults and is committed to building and maintaining an age-friendly Commonwealth so that all Pennsylvanians may live with dignity and independence; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania is committed to supporting older adults, who choose to remain in their communities; and
Whereas, meaningful assistance for this commitment involves a broad range of public and private programs and resources including, but not limited to, physical and behavioral health, long-term services and supports, food and nutrition, housing, transportation, and community infrastructure; and
Whereas, older Pennsylvanians are vital contributors to our communities through shared experiences, quality employment, creativity, and cultural engagement; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania is home to innovators in all sectors of government, education, and industry, who have the skills, creativity, and ingenuity to design and implement progressive aging policies, programs, services, and infrastructure that would support older adults of all income levels to help them achieve good health, well-being, and a high quality of life; and
Whereas, the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.C.S. §§ 3001—3058ff, tasks the Department with the responsibility for all matters affecting older adults across the Commonwealth, and for establishing programs aimed at promoting and ensuring the health, well-being, and independence of older adults; and
Whereas, pursuant to the Older Adult Protective Services Act, 35 P.S. §§ 10225.101—10225.5102, the Department, in coordination with other state agencies and stakeholders, is responsible for establishing and maintaining a statewide system of protective services for older adults and for developing and maintaining an ongoing program of public information and education to promote general knowledge of, and informed responses to, the protective services needs of older adults; and
Whereas, policies and programs that promote and support good health, well-being, and a high quality of life require active engagement with older adults, their families, caregivers, communities, and stakeholders to understand their needs and preferences; and
Whereas, it is in the best interest of older adults to establish a coordinated Commonwealth-wide initiative, consistent with leading policies and practices, in the public and private sectors that builds upon the core principles of transparency; diversity, equity, and inclusion; person-centeredness; and independent living.
Now, Therefore, I, Josh Shapiro, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other laws of the Commonwealth, do hereby order and direct as follows:
Governor
Fiscal Note: GOV-2023-09. (1) Lottery Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2022-23 is $959,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2023-24 is $150,000; 2nd Succeeding Year 2024-25 through 5th Succeeding Year 2027-28 are $0; (4) 2021-22 Program—$10,171,000; 2020-21 Program—$9,966,000; 2019-20 Program—$8,743,000; (7) Department of Aging General Government Operations; (8) recommends adoption. The Department of Aging General Government Operations appropriation is able to absorb this increase.
Annex A
TITLE 4. ADMINISTRATION
PART I. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
CHAPTER 5. COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES
Subchapter ZZZ. PENNSYLVANIA'S MASTER PLAN
FOR OLDER ADULTSSec.
5.1071. Purpose. 5.1072. Responsibilities. 5.1073. Commonwealth Master Plan for Older Adults. 5.1074. Relationships with other agencies. 5.1075. General provisions. 5.1076. Effective date. § 5.1071. Purpose.
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (Department) shall evaluate issues facing older residents of this Commonwealth to set forth a Commonwealth Master Plan for Older Adults, which shall contain goals, objectives and initiatives that promote the health, well-being and quality of life of this Commonwealth's aging population and shall prepare the Commonwealth to deal with the continual changes related thereto.
§ 5.1072. Responsibilities.
(a) The Department shall do all of the following:
(1) Gather data and develop a data-driven Commonwealth Master Plan for Older Adults (Master Plan) that includes a comprehensive framework of policies and programs that seek to improve and support the health, wellbeing and quality of life of this Commonwealth's older adults.
(2) Identify services to older residents of this Commonwealth provided by other agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction.
(3) Identify agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction that may have information that will assist the Department in the creation of the Master Plan and gather that information, as necessary and permitted by law.
(4) Work in partnership with traditionally disadvantaged or underserved communities to understand their specific needs as older residents of this Commonwealth and where gaps in services may exist.
(5) Conduct outreach to independent State agencies, Federal, State and local partners, and where feasible, private entities to gather additional information that may assist in the development of the Master Plan, as permitted by law.
(b) The Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council (Council).
(1) The Secretary of the Department of Aging (Secretary) may establish an executive working group (working group) to assist with the Master Plan, as deemed appropriate by the Secretary.
(i) The working group will consist of a multi-disciplinary team of members of the Council chosen by the Secretary or the Secretary's designee.
(ii) The Secretary or the Secretary's designee may form committees or sub-committees from the working group, as necessary, to support its goals.
(iii) Members of the Council may volunteer to participate in committees, sub-committees or participate, as determined and approved by the Secretary.
(2) The working group is responsible for assisting the Department in gathering, reviewing and studying data necessary for the Master Plan and for all of the following:
(i) Identifying new programs or policies that could be developed to aid older adult residents in this Commonwealth.
(ii) Identifying ways to eliminate barriers to advancement for older adult residents in this Commonwealth.
(iii) Identifying where gaps in services, programs or initiatives exist that negatively affect older adult residents in this Commonwealth.
(iv) Determining where coordination of existing programs can promote, improve or expand services for older adult residents in this Commonwealth.
§ 5.1073. Commonwealth Master Plan for Older Adults.
(a) The Department shall prepare the Commonwealth Master Plan for Older Adults (Master Plan) and present it to the Governor for his consideration on or before February 1, 2024.
(b) The Master Plan will set forth strategic planning over the next 10 years aimed at transforming the infrastructure and coordination of services with State agencies, as required by the Older Adult Protective Services Act (35 P.S. §§ 10225.101—10225.5102), for older adult populations in this Commonwealth.
(c) The Master Plan shall identify goals with measurable outcomes, available resources and other items the Department believes may be necessary for achieving the goals set forth in the Master Plan.
(d) The Department may provide the Governor updates regarding progress on the Master Plan on a quarterly basis.
§ 5.1074. Relationships with other agencies.
Commonwealth departments, boards, offices, commissions and other agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction shall cooperate with and provide assistance to the Department with respect to its purpose and responsibilities, as set forth in this subchapter.
§ 5.1075. General provisions.
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, office, board, commission or council, or the head thereof. This subchapter shall be implemented consistent with applicable law. This subchapter is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the Commonwealth, its departments, agencies or entities, its officers, employees or agents, or any other person.
§ 5.1076. Effective date.
This subchapter is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the Commonwealth Master Plan for Older Adults is presented to the Governor for his consideration on or before February 1, 2024.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-875. Filed for public inspection July 7, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]
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