2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 21 - The North Carolina Study Commission on Aging.

Article 21.

The North Carolina Study Commission on Aging.

§ 120‑180.  Commission; creation.

The North Carolina Study Commission on Aging is created to study and evaluate the existing system of delivery of State services to older adults and to recommend an improved system of delivery to meet the present and future needs of older adults.  This study shall be a continuing one and the evaluation ongoing, as the population of older citizens grows and as old problems faced by older citizens magnify and are augmented by new problems. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1)

 

§ 120‑181.  Commission; duties.

The Commission shall study the issues of availability and accessibility of health, mental health, social, and other services needed by older adults.  In making this study the Commission shall:

(1)       Study the needs of older adults in North Carolina;

(2)       Assess the current status of the adequacy and of the delivery of health, mental health, social, and other services to older adults;

(3)       Collect current and long range data on the older adult population and disseminate this data on an ongoing basis to agencies and organizations that are concerned with the needs of older adults;

(4)       Develop a comprehensive data base relating to older adults, which may be used to facilitate both short and long range agency planning for services for older adults and for delivery of these services;

(5)       Document and review requests of federal, State, regional, and local governments for legislation or appropriations for services for older adults, and make recommendations after review;

(6)       Evaluate long‑term health care and its non‑institutional alternatives;

(7)       Propose a plan for the development and delivery of State services for older adults that, if implemented, would, over 10 years, result in a comprehensive, cost‑effective system of services for older adults;

(8)       Study all issues and aspects of gerontological concerns and problems, including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease; and

(9)       Carry out any other evaluations the Commission considers necessary to perform its mandate. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1.)

 

§ 120‑182.  Commission; membership.

The Commission shall consist of 17 members, as follows:

(1)       The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services or his delegate shall serve ex officio as a non‑voting member;

(2)       Eight shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, five being members of the House of Representatives at the time of their appointment, and at least two being planners for or providers of health, mental health, or social services to older adults; and

(3)       Eight shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, five being members of the Senate at the time of their appointment, and at least two being planners for or providers of health, mental health, or social services to older adults.

Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority who made the initial appointment and by a person having the same qualifications. All initial appointments shall be made within one calendar month from the effective date of this Article. Members' terms shall last for two years. Members may be reappointed for two consecutive terms and may be appointed again after having been off the Commission for two years. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1; 1991, c. 739, s. 18; 1997‑443, s. 11A.118(a).)

 

§ 120‑183.  Commission; meetings.

The Commission shall have its initial meeting no later than October 1, 1987, at the call of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint a cochairman each from the membership of the Commission.  The Commission shall meet upon the call of the cochairmen. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1; 1991, c. 739, s. 19.)

 

§ 120‑184.  Commission; reimbursement.

The Commission members shall receive no salary as a result of serving on the Commission but shall receive necessary subsistence and travel expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 120‑3.1, G.S. 138‑5 and G.S. 138‑6, as applicable. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1.)

 

§ 120‑185.  Commission; public hearings.

The Commission may hold public meetings across the State to solicit public input with respect to the issues of aging in North Carolina. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1.)

 

§ 120‑186.  Commission; authority.

The Commission has the authority to obtain information and data from all State officers, agents, agencies and departments, while in discharge of its duties, pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 120‑19, as if it were a committee of the General Assembly.  The Commission shall also have the authority to call witnesses, compel testimony relevant to any matter properly before the Commission, and subpoena records and documents, provided that any patient record shall have patient identifying information removed.  The provisions of G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4 shall apply to the proceedings of the Commission as if it were a joint committee of the General Assembly.  In addition to the other signatures required for the issuance of a subpoena under this section, the subpoena shall also be signed by the cochairmen of the Commission.  Any cost of providing information to the Commission not covered by G.S. 120‑19.3 may be reimbursed by the Commission from funds appropriated  to it for its continuing study. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1.)

 

§ 120‑186.1.  Commission; Alzheimer's Subcommittee, Long‑Term Care Subcommittee, and other subcommittees.

(a)       The Commission cochairs shall appoint subcommittees as needed to assist with the completion of the work of the Commission. These subcommittees may include an Alzheimer's Subcommittee, a Long‑Term Care Subcommittee, or other special subject subcommittees. The cochairs shall appoint as members of any subcommittee not more than four Commission members and at least four but no more than eight non‑Commission members.

(b)       The Commission cochairs shall prescribe the duties of any subcommittee created. Duties of the Alzheimer's Subcommittee may include conducting studies on the availability and efficacy of currently existing geriatric or memory disorder services and programs, advising the Commission on matters regarding Alzheimer's services and programs, and recommending to the Commission solutions to related problems. Duties of the Long‑Term Care Subcommittee may include developing a long‑term care policy for the State that has at least the following elements:

(1)       Promotes elder independence, choice, and dignity;

(2)       Provides a seamless, uniform system of flexible and responsive services;

(3)       Provides single‑entry access;

(4)       Includes a wide range of home and community‑based services available to all elderly who need them but targeted primarily to the most frail, needy elderly;

(5)       Provides care and services at the least expense in the least confusing manner and based on the desires of the elder population and their families;

(6)       Expands Medicaid income eligibility to allow more services in the home and community;

(7)       Creates a single agency and budget stream to administer services to the elderly; and

(8)       Approaches long‑term care within the context of the entire health care system. (1989, c. 368, s. 1; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 583, s. 1; 1999‑76, s. 1.)

 

§ 120‑187.  Commission; reports.

The Commission shall report to the General Assembly and the Governor the results of its study and recommendations.  A written report shall be submitted to each bienniel session of the General Assembly at its convening. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1.)

 

§ 120‑188.  Commission; staff; meeting place.

The Commission may contract for clerical or professional staff or for any other services it may require in the course of its on‑going study. At the request of the Commission, the Legislative Services Commission may supply members of the staff of the Legislative Services Office and clerical assistance to the Commission as the Legislative Services Commission considers appropriate.

The Commission may, with the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, meet in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. (1987, c. 873, s. 13.1.)

 

§§ 120‑189 through 120‑194.  Reserved for future codification purposes.