SF 769

as introduced - 79th Legislature (1995 - 1996) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the board on aging; creating a new 
  1.3             position to develop a statewide service system for 
  1.4             Indian elders, and also coordinate efforts with the 
  1.5             National Indian Council on Aging; appropriating money; 
  1.6             amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 256.976, by 
  1.7             adding a subdivision. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 256.976, is 
  1.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 5.  [INDIAN ELDERS POSITION.] The Minnesota board on 
  1.12  aging shall create an Indian elders coordinator position, and 
  1.13  shall hire staff as appropriations permit for the purposes of 
  1.14  coordinating efforts with the National Indian Council on Aging 
  1.15  and developing a comprehensive statewide service system for 
  1.16  Indian elders.  An Indian elder is defined for purposes of this 
  1.17  subdivision as an Indian enrolled in a band or tribe who is 55 
  1.18  years or older.  The statewide service system must include the 
  1.19  following components: 
  1.20     (1) an assessment of the program eligibility, examining the 
  1.21  need to change the age-based eligibility criteria to need-based 
  1.22  eligibility criteria.  The coordinator is also responsible for 
  1.23  promoting and advocating lowering the age of eligibility to 55, 
  1.24  which is more appropriate for Indian communities, and also other 
  1.25  communities throughout the state; 
  1.26     (2) a planning system that would grant or make 
  2.1   recommendations for granting federal and state funding for 
  2.2   services; 
  2.3      (3) a plan for service focal points, senior centers, or 
  2.4   community centers for socialization and service accessibility 
  2.5   for Indian elders; 
  2.6      (4) a plan to develop and implement education and public 
  2.7   awareness campaigns including awareness programs, sensitivity 
  2.8   cultural training, and public education on Indian elder needs; 
  2.9      (5) a plan for information and referral services including 
  2.10  trained advocates and an Indian elder newsletter; 
  2.11     (6) a plan for a coordinated health care system including 
  2.12  health promotion/prevention, in-home service, long-term care 
  2.13  service, and health care services; 
  2.14     (7) a plan for ongoing research involving Indian elders 
  2.15  including needs assessment and needs analysis; 
  2.16     (8) information and referral services for legal advice or 
  2.17  legal counsel; and 
  2.18     (9) a plan to coordinate and network with existing 
  2.19  organizations including the council of Indian affairs, the 
  2.20  Minnesota Indian council of elders, the Minnesota board on 
  2.21  aging, and tribal governments. 
  2.22     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  2.23     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the board 
  2.24  on aging for the purposes of section 1 to be available until 
  2.25  June 30, 1996.