Legislative Watch: Governor signs bills affecting seniors

The 2011 Legislative Session is now history. Given the extremely difficult financial conditions facing state government, the Legislature spent most of its time dealing with budget and funding issues this session. There were 35 policy bills tracked, and several of these dealt with funding-related issues.

The good news is that the Aging and Disability Services Division received roughly the same funding they had for the current budget year $53,325,633. The total appropriations to the Division for FY2011-2012 are $53,579,198 and $55,295,579 for FY2012-2013. The Division will be undertaking a more expanded role in Elder Protective Services as they assume the responsibility for this program on a statewide basis. 

Also, the Division has been working with COPE providers to take over the Personal Assistance Services (PAS) program that St. Mary's dropped during June. While St. Mary's has discussed the possibility of giving up the PAS program for the last few years, it finally reached the point where they could no longer continue to subsidize the program. The PAS program provides home-based care for individuals that do not qualify for other resources, such as Medicaid. There are approximately 150 individuals in the program that are now being transitioned to other providers. What this will do to the funding for home and community-based services in the future has yet to be determined.

Here are some of the bills signed by the governor that have a positive impact on seniors, and are ones we supported.

• AB36: Makes various changes concerning the Fund for Hospital Care to Indigent Persons.

• AB50: Revises provisions relating to the licensure of medical and related health facilities.

• AB125: Revises provisions concerning the reporting of crimes against older persons.

• AB181: Provides for the involuntary civil commitment of sexually dangerous persons.

• AB533: Provides certain financial protections for residents of group homes and similar facilities.

• AB534: Increases penalties for operating certain group homes without a license.

• AB535: Revises provisions governing the referral of persons to residential facilities for groups.  

• SB79: Makes various changes relating to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

• SB128: Revises provisions governing guardianships.  

• B245: Creates the Statewide Alert System for the Safe Return of Missing Older Persons.

There are some other bills that we will get to in the next column.

All in all, there were some excellent bills for seniors. The Legislature didn't sweep the Tobacco Settlement Funds which allows Aging and Disability Services to fund programs that keep seniors at home and out of institutions. Also, an alert system was created for the safe return of missing older persons. This was supported by the Alzheimer's Association and our organization.

Again, the Legislature did a fine job given the difficult circumstances they were facing. Stay tuned.

• Janice Ayres is president Nevada Senior Corps Association.