SB 396 Summary

• Requires the Department of Aging and Disability Services to disburse additional payments to area agencies on aging after they have expended 50% or more of initial funding, with disbursement within 30 days of documentation and transfer to vendors within 30 days of receipt.

• Mandates area agencies on aging to develop continuity of effort plans by January 1, 2025, in consultation with municipal officials and elderly persons' agents to minimize service disruptions when providers leave or demand increases significantly.

• Directs the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services to develop a plan by October 1, 2024, to streamline contracting, compliance reporting, and eligibility forms under the elderly nutrition program, including templates to reduce redundancies and automatic service approval based on eligibility assessment.

• Allows the Commissioner of Social Services to disclose information about supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients to the Department of Aging and Disability Services and area agencies on aging to identify eligible elderly nutrition program beneficiaries.

• Requires the Commissioner of Social Services to develop a plan by October 1, 2024, to maximize supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to support elderly nutrition services, including outreach to eligible persons and federally permissible uses of benefits for meals.