FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 7
90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BANKS.
Pre-filed December 1, 1998, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
S0195.01I
AN ACT
To repeal sections 208.530 and 208.535, RSMo 1994, and section 208.533, RSMo Supp. 1998, relating to the special health, psychological, and social needs of minority older individuals, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to the same subject.
Section A. Sections 208.530 and 208.535, RSMo 1994, and section 208.533, RSMo Supp. 1998, are repealed and three new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 208.530, 208.533 and 208.535, to read as follows:
208.530. As used in sections 208.530 to 208.535, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Commission", the commission on the special health, psychological and social needs of minority older individuals established in section 208.533;
(2) "Minority older individual", an individual who is sixty years of age or older and a member of a racial minority group;
(3) "Racial minority group":
(a) Blacks or African Americans;
(b) Native Americans;
(c) Hispanics;
(d) Asian Americans; and
(e) Other similar racial minority groups.
208.533. 1. There is hereby established a twenty-member "Commission on the Special Health, Psychological and Social Needs of Minority Older Individuals" under the division of aging. The commission shall consist of the following members:
(1) The directors of the departments of health, mental health and social services or their designees;
(2) The directors of the office of minority health and the division of aging who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission;
(3) Two members of the Missouri house of representatives, one from each major political party represented in the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house who shall serve in a nonvoting, advisory capacity;
(4) Two members of the senate, one from each major political party represented in the senate, appointed by the president pro tem of the senate who shall serve in a nonvoting, advisory capacity;
(5) A representative of the office of the lieutenant governor who shall serve in a nonvoting, advisory capacity; and
(6) Ten individuals appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate who are currently working in the field of minority elderly health, psychological or social problems who have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: treatment of cardiovascular, cancer and diabetic conditions; nutrition; community-based health services; legal services; elderly consumer advocacy; gerontology or geriatrics; social work and other related services including housing. At least two of the individuals appointed by the governor shall be minority older individuals. The members appointed by the governor shall be residents of Missouri. Any vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
2. Members appointed by the governor shall serve for three-year terms. Other members, except legislative members, shall serve for as long as they hold the position which made them eligible for appointment. Legislative members shall serve during their current term of office but may be reappointed.
3. Members of the commission shall not be compensated for their services, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The office of administration and the departments of health, mental health and social services shall provide such support as the commission requires to aid it in the performance of its duties.
208.535. The responsibilities of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) The commission shall annually prepare a report identifying the special needs of the minority older population in Missouri as compared to the older population at-large and make recommendations for meeting those needs. The report shall be completed no later than October first of each year, beginning in 1999, and copies transmitted to the governor, the general assembly and appropriate state agencies. The report shall, at a minimum:
(a) Contain an overview of the special health, psychological and social needs of minority older Missourians with particular attention to low-income minority older individuals;
(b) Identify specific diseases and health conditions for which minority older individuals are at greater risk than the general population;
(c) Identify problems experienced by minority older individuals in obtaining services from governmental agencies;
(d) Identify programs at the state and local level designed to specifically meet the needs of minority older individuals; and
(e) Recommend program improvements and services at the state and local level designed to address the special unmet needs of the minority older population;
(2) In preparing the report required by this section, the commission shall solicit and consider the input of individuals and organizations representing the concerns of the minority older population, with particular attention to the service needs of those with incomes below the federal poverty level, concerning:
(a) Programs and services needed by minority older individuals;
(b) The extent to which existing programs do not meet the needs of minority older individuals;
(c) The accessibility of existing programs to minority older individuals;
(d) The availability and adequacy of information regarding existing services;
(e) Health problems that minority older individuals experience at a higher rate than the nonminority older population; and
(f) Financial, social and other barriers experienced by minority older individuals in obtaining needed services;
(3) Conduct an outreach program that provides information to minority older Missourians about health, psychological and social problems experienced by minority older individuals and available programs to address those problems, as identified in the report prepared pursuant to this section.
[208.530. As used in sections 208.530 to 208.535, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Commission", the commission on the special health, psychological and social needs of minority older individuals established in section 208.533;
(2) "Minority older individual", an individual who is sixty years of age or older and a member of a racial minority group;
(3) "Racial minority group":
(a) Blacks or African Americans;
(b) Native Americans;
(c) Hispanics;
(d) Asian Americans; and
(e) Other similar racial minority groups.][208.533. 1. There is hereby established a twenty-member "Commission on the Special Health, Psychological and Social Needs of Minority Older Individuals" under the division of aging. The commission shall consist of the following members:
(1) The directors of the departments of health, mental health and social services or their designees;
(2) The directors of the office of minority health and the division of aging who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission;
(3) Two members of the Missouri house of representatives, one from each major political party represented in the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house who shall serve in a nonvoting, advisory capacity;
(4) Two members of the senate, one from each major political party represented in the senate, appointed by the president pro tem of the senate who shall serve in a nonvoting, advisory capacity;
(5) A representative of the office of the lieutenant governor who shall serve in a nonvoting, advisory capacity; and
(6) Ten individuals appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate who are currently working in the field of minority elderly health, psychological or social problems who have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: treatment of cardiovascular, cancer and diabetic conditions; nutrition; community-based health services; legal services; elderly consumer advocacy; gerontology or geriatrics; social work and other related services including housing. At least two of the individuals appointed by the governor shall be minority older individuals. The members appointed by the governor shall be residents of Missouri. Any vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
2. Members appointed by the governor shall serve for terms which are limited to November 1, 1998. Other members, except legislative members, shall serve for as long as they hold the position which made them eligible for appointment. Legislative members shall serve during their current term of office but may be reappointed.
3. Members of the commission shall not be compensated for their services, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The office of administration and the departments of health, mental health and social services shall provide such support as the commission requires to aid it in the performance of its duties.][208.535. 1. The responsibilities of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) The commission shall annually prepare a report identifying the special needs of the minority older population in Missouri as compared to the older population at-large and make recommendations for meeting those needs. The report shall be completed no later than October first of each year, beginning in 1995, and copies transmitted to the governor, the general assembly and appropriate state agencies. The report shall, at a minimum:
(a) Contain an overview of the special health, psychological and social needs of minority older Missourians with particular attention to low-income minority older individuals;
(b) Identify specific diseases and health conditions for which minority older individuals are at greater risk than the general population;
(c) Identify problems experienced by minority older individuals in obtaining services from governmental agencies;
(d) Identify programs at the state and local level designed to specifically meet the needs of minority older individuals; and
(e) Recommend program improvements and services at the state and local level designed to address the special unmet needs of the minority older population;
(2) In preparing the report required by this section, the commission shall solicit and consider the input of individuals and organizations representing the concerns of the minority older population, with particular attention to the service needs of those with incomes below the federal poverty level, concerning:
(a) Programs and services needed by minority older individuals;
(b) The extent to which existing programs do not meet the needs of minority older individuals;
(c) The accessibility of existing programs to minority older individuals;
(d) The availability and adequacy of information regarding existing services;
(e) Health problems that minority older individuals experience at a higher rate than the nonminority older population; and
(f) Financial, social and other barriers experienced by minority older individuals in obtaining needed services;
(3) Conduct an outreach program that provides information to minority older Missourians about health, psychological and social problems experienced by minority older individuals and available programs to address those problems, as identified in the report prepared pursuant to this section.
2. Sections 208.530 to 208.535 shall expire November 1, 1998.]