Vermont H 800: An act relating to a single, statewide area agency on aging

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.800
2026 Page 1 of 8

VT LEG #385488 v.1
H.800 1
Introduced by Representatives Cole of Hartford, Maguire of Rutland City, 2
McFaun of Barre Town, and McGill of Bridport 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Human services; older Vermonters; area agencies on aging 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require a 7
single, statewide area agency on aging for the State of Vermont and to revise 8
the agency’s duties to include a focus on coordinating with other service 9
providers in delivering services and supports to older Vermonters. 10
An act relating to a single, statewide area agency on aging 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
* * * Single Area Agency on Aging * * * 13
Sec. 1. 33 V.S.A. § 6203 is amended to read: 14
§ 6203. DEFINITIONS 15
As used in this subchapter: 16
(1) “Area agency on aging” means an the organization designated by the 17
State to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated system of 18
services, supports, and protections for older Vermonters, family caregivers, 19

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.800
2026 Page 2 of 8

VT LEG #385488 v.1
and kinship caregivers within a defined planning and service area of across the 1
State. 2
* * * 3
(13) “State Plan on Aging” means the plan required by the Older 4
Americans Act that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the State and the 5
area agencies agency on aging in administering and carrying out the Older 6
Americans Act. 7
* * * 8
Sec. 2. 33 V.S.A. § 6205 is amended to read: 9
§ 6205. AREA AGENCIES AGENCY ON AGING; DUTIES 10
(a) Consistent Vermont shall have a single, statewide area agency on aging, 11
which, consistent with the Older Americans Act and in consultation with local 12
home- and community-based service providers, each area agency on aging 13
shall: 14
(1) develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated system of 15
services, supports, and protections for older Vermonters, family caregivers, 16
and kinship caregivers within the agency’s designated service area across 17
Vermont, in alignment with the Vermont Action Plan for Aging Well 18
developed pursuant to 2020 Acts and Resolves No. 156, Sec. 3; 19

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.800
2026 Page 3 of 8

VT LEG #385488 v.1
(2) concentrate resources on direct services, including case 1
management, and target services and supports to older Vermonters with the 2
greatest economic and social need; 3
(3) perform regional needs assessments to identify existing resources 4
and gaps; 5
(4) develop an area plan with goals, objectives, and performance 6
measures, and a corresponding budget, and submit them to the State Unit on 7
Aging for approval; 8
(5) concentrate resources, build community partnerships, and enter into 9
cooperate agreements with agencies and organizations for delivery of services, 10
including coordinating with senior centers, Meals on Wheels programs, and 11
community action agencies and collaborating with Vermont’s parent-child 12
centers in providing supports to Vermonters who are caring for their aging 13
parents while raising their own children; the cooperate agreements shall 14
require minimal administrative costs and include a clear accounting of the use 15
of funds received pursuant to the Older Americans Act; 16
(6) coordinate services with the Agency of Human Services field offices 17
to utilize existing administrative infrastructure and ensure that services and 18
supports are available throughout the State; 19
(7) designate community focal points for colocation of supports and 20
services for older Vermonters; 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.800
2026 Page 4 of 8

VT LEG #385488 v.1
(8) notify relevant providers when applying for direct service waivers; 1
(9) develop and implement clear and understandable statewide 2
eligibility criteria for home-delivered and congregate meals, in consultation 3
with providers of these services, which shall include applicable funding 4
formulas and analyses of meal costs; and 5
(7)(10) conduct outreach activities to identify individuals eligible for 6
assistance. 7
(b) In addition to the duties described in subsection (a) of this section, the 8
area agencies agency on aging shall: 9
(1) promote the principles established in section 6202 of this subchapter 10
across the agencies’ agency’s programs and shall collaborate with stakeholders 11
to educate the public about the importance of each principle; 12
(2) promote collaboration with a network of service providers to provide 13
a holistic approach to improving health outcomes for older Vermonters; and 14
(3) use their existing area plans to facilitate awareness of aging issues, 15
needs, and services and to promote the system principles expressed in section 16
6202 of this subchapter; 17
(4) ensure that any marketing or fundraising materials issued by or on 18
behalf of the agency recognize the efforts of the direct service providers with 19
whom the agency contracts to deliver services;