A5586

An Act establishing a permanent Age-Friendly State Advisory Council in the Department of Human Services and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is hereby established an Age-Friendly State Advisory Council in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the council shall be to advise State Executive branch departments and agencies on the development and implementation of policies, services, and structures related to the physical and social environment that are designed to support and enable older people to live in security, enjoy good health, and continue to participate fully in society.

b. The council shall consist of 15 members as follows:

(1) the Commissioners of Human Services, Community Affairs, Health, and Transportation, or their designees, who shall serve ex officio;

(2) seven public members to be appointed by the Governor, who shall include representatives from county and municipal governments or local authorities, community aging and inclusion stakeholders, the business community, and experts from the higher education community. The Governor may, as determined to be appropriate, appoint additional public members to the council;

(3) two public members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall include one representative from the business community and one representative from the higher education community; and

(4) two public members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who shall include one representative from county and municipal governments or local authorities and one representative from community aging and inclusion stakeholders.

c. Each public member shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the 11 members first appointed, the first four appointed shall serve three-year terms, the second four appointed shall serve for two-year terms, and the third three appointed shall serve for one-year terms. Each public member shall hold office for the term of appointment and until their successor is appointed and qualified.

d. Any vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner provided for the original appointment. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment to the council.

e. The council shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members. The Commissioner of Human Services shall serve as the chairperson. The council shall elect a vice-chairperson from among its members, and a secretary who need not be a member of the council. The council shall convene as often as needed to fulfill its responsibilities and as requested by the Governor or chairperson.

f. A majority of the membership of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of council business.

g. Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall be compensated and reimbursed for actual expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their official duties, and provided with office and meeting facilities required for the proper conduct of the council's business.

h. The Department of Human Services shall provide such staff support to the council as shall be necessary for the council to carry out its duties.

i. The council shall be authorized to call upon any Executive Branch department or agency to supply it with information or other assistance available to such agency as the council determines to be necessary to discharge its duties. Each Executive Branch department and agency shall be hereby required, to the extent consistent with law, to cooperate fully with the council within the limits of its statutory authority and to furnish such assistance on as timely a basis as is necessary to accomplish the duties of the council.

2. a. The objectives of the council shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of the following:

(1) Identifying opportunities for, and barriers to, the creation of livable communities for people of all ages across the State;

(2) Recommending best practices for age-friendly employment and civic participation among partners such as health and community services, business leaders, local and elected officials, advocacy organizations and volunteer groups, and innovative public-private partnerships; and

(3) Promoting age-friendly community inclusion and equitable outcomes by examining programs and practices to ensure that they address disparities experienced by older adults of every race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity.

b. The council may consult with experts and other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of the objectives outlined in subsection a. of the section.

3. The Department of Human Services, informed by the advice of the council, shall annually prepare and submit to the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature a report containing its findings and recommendations for advancing age-friendly practices across the State. The department shall also post the report on its Internet website in such a location that is easily accessible to the public.

4. This act shall take effect upon the submission of the a blueprint of best practices for advancing age-friendly practices to the Governor by the Age-Friendly State Advisory Council, established pursuant to Executive Order 227 of 2021.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the Age-Friendly State Advisory Council in the Department of Human Services. This bill is to take effect upon the submission of the a blueprint of best practices for advancing age-friendly practices to the Governor by the Age-Friendly State Advisory Council, established pursuant to Executive Order 227 of 2021. In doing so, this bill establishes a permanent council within the DHS following the completion of the Executive Order directive.

The purpose of the council is to advise State Executive branch departments and agencies on the development and implementation of policies, services, and structures related to the physical and social environment that are designed to support and enable older people to live in security, enjoy good health, and continue to participate fully in society.

The objectives of the council are to include, but not be limited to, consideration of the following:

1) Identifying opportunities for, and barriers to, the creation of livable communities for people of all ages across the State;

2) Recommending best practices for age-friendly employment and civic participation among partners such as health and community services, business leaders, local and elected officials, advocacy organizations and volunteer groups, and innovative public-private partnerships; and

3) Promoting age-friendly community inclusion and equitable outcomes by examining programs and practices to ensure that they address disparities experienced by older adults of every race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity.

The council may consult with experts and other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of these objectives.

The council is required to consist of 15 members as follows:

1) the Commissioners of Human Services, Community Affairs, Health, and Transportation, or their designees, who will serve ex officio;

2) seven public members to be appointed by the Governor, who are to include representatives from county and municipal governments or local authorities, community aging and inclusion stakeholders, the business community, and experts from the higher education community. The Governor may, as determined to be appropriate, appoint additional public members to the council;

(3) two public members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who are to include one representative from the business community and one representative from the higher education community; and

(4) two public members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who are to include one representative from county and municipal governments or local authorities and one representative from community aging and inclusion stakeholders.

Each public member is to serve for a term of three years, except that of the 11 members first appointed, the first four appointed shall serve three-year terms, the second four appointed shall serve for two-year terms, and the third three appointed shall serve for one-year terms. Each public member is to hold office for the term of appointment and until their successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the membership of the council is to be filled for the unexpired term in the manner provided for the original appointment, and public members are eligible for reappointment to the council.

Under the bill, the council is directed to organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members and convene as often as needed to fulfill its responsibilities and as requested by the Governor or chairperson, with the Commissioner of Human Services serving as the chairperson. The council is to elect a vice-chairperson from among its members, and a secretary who need not be a member of the council.

Members of the council are to serve without compensation, but will be compensated and reimbursed for actual expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their official duties, and provided with office and meeting facilities required for the proper conduct of the council's business. The Department of Human Services is directed to provide such staff support to the council as is be necessary for the council to carry out its duties.

Furthermore, the council is authorized to call upon any Executive Branch department or agency to supply it with information or other assistance available to such agency as the council determines to be necessary to discharge its duties.

The Department of Human Services, informed by the advice of the council, is required to annually prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report containing its findings and recommendations for advancing age-friendly practices across the State, and to post this report on its Internet website in such a location that is easily accessible to the public.