Protecting Older Americans from Social Isolation Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4859 To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to reduce social isolation among older individuals. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 24, 2019 Mr. TRONE (for himself and Mr. WALBERG) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to reduce social isolation among older individuals. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Older 4 Americans from Social Isolation Act of 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. INCREASED FOCUS OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY ON 6 HEALTH EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION. 7 Section 202(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 8 (42 U.S.C. 3012(a)) is amended— 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:03 Oct 30, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4859.IH H4859 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 4859 IH (1) in paragraph (30) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 1 inserting a semicolon; 2 (2) in paragraph (31) by striking the period at 3 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 4 (3) by adding at the end the following: 5 ‘‘(32) develop objectives, priorities, and a long- 6 term plan for supporting State and local efforts in- 7 volving education about, prevention of, detection of, 8 and response to negative health effects associated 9 with social isolation among older individuals.’’. 10 SEC. 3. ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF SO- 11 CIAL ISOLATION. 12 Section 202 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 13 U.S.C. 3012) is amended by adding at the end the fol- 14 lowing: 15 ‘‘(h)(1) The Assistant Secretary shall convene an ad- 16 visory council on negative health effects associated with 17 social isolation with aging network stakeholders, including 18 caregivers, and select members in a manner that ensures 19 geographic diversity of the members— 20 ‘‘(A) to review and evaluate efforts to address 21 negative health effects associated with social isola- 22 tion among older individuals; and 23 ‘‘(B) to identify challenges, solutions, and best 24 practices related to such efforts. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:03 Oct 30, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4859.IH H4859 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 4859 IH ‘‘(2) The advisory council convened under paragraph 1 (1) shall— 2 ‘‘(A) ensure consideration of consumer-directed 3 care models; and 4 ‘‘(B) submit a report to Congress on its find- 5 ings. 6 ‘‘(3) The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 7 App.) shall not apply with respect to the advisory council 8 convened under paragraph (1).’’. 9 SEC. 4. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SENIOR CENTERS. 10 Section 321(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 11 (42 U.S.C. 3030d(a)) is amended— 12 (1) in paragraph (24) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 13 end; 14 (2) by redesignating paragraph (25) as para- 15 graph (26); and 16 (3) by inserting after paragraph (24) the fol- 17 lowing: 18 ‘‘(25) services that promote or support social 19 connectedness and reduce negative health effects as- 20 sociated with social isolation; and’’. 21 SEC. 5. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. 22 (a) DEMONSTRATIONS.—Section 411(a) of the Older 23 Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3032(a)) is amended— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:03 Oct 30, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4859.IH H4859 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 4859 IH (1) in paragraph (13) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 1 end; 2 (2) by redesignating paragraph (14) as para- 3 graph (15); and 4 (3) by inserting after paragraph (13) the fol- 5 lowing: 6 ‘‘(14) projects that address negative health ef- 7 fects associated with social isolation among older 8 adults; and’’. 9 (b) REPEAL.—Section 416 of the Older Americans 10 Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3032e) is repealed. 11 SEC. 6. YOUNGER ONSET ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. 12 (a) DEFINITION OF ‘‘FAMILY CAREGIVER’’.—Section 13 302(3) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 14 3022(3)) is amended by inserting ‘‘of any age’’ after ‘‘an 15 individual’’. 16 (b) DEFINITION OF ‘‘RESIDENT’’.—Section 711(6) of 17 the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3058(6)) is 18 amended by inserting ‘‘of any age’’ after ‘‘individual’’. 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:03 Oct 30, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4859.IH H4859 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS