GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 279

Short Title:  Aging Programs Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Perdue; Anderson, Barnes, Blue, Bowman, Buchanan, Edwards, L. Etheridge, Fitch, Hackney, Jack Hunt, Judy Hunt, James, Lineberry, Locks, Redwine, Rogers, R. Thompson, Warren, P. Wilson, Wiser, and Wood.
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Referred to:  Human Resources.
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February 20, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED BY CHAPTER 1095 OF THE 1987 SESSION LAWS.
Whereas, by the year 2000, there will be nearly one million North Carolinians 65 years of age and older; and
Whereas, the group of older adults needing the most assistance, those of 85 years of age and older, is increasing at a rate twice as fast as the group 65 years of age and older; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina spends about five times more on institutional care for the elderly than on community-based care, even though four of every five frail elderly persons live at home, dependent upon family members, church groups, and other informal caregivers; and
Whereas, more than 130 older adults, caregivers, providers, and advocates testified at four public hearings held by the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging across the State in February and March 1988, and stressed the urgency of the need for more in-home services, for adequate transportation services, and for more support for family members and other caregivers; and
Whereas, North Carolina prior to the enactment of Chapter 1095 of the 1987 Session Laws did not have a well coordinated full-service system of in-home and community-based services for the elderly, whether subsidized or fee-supported, nor has the State developed a management system for a full-fledged service system for older adults; and
Whereas, the legislation addressed in Chapter 1095 of the 1987 Session Laws, developed as a package, is designed to lead to a more coordinated and more visionary system of in-home and community-based care for older adults, as explained fully in the Report of the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging to the 1989 General Assembly; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Aging, Department of Human Resources, the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 1990-91 fiscal year, to continue the implementation of sections two through eight of Chapter 1095 of the 1987 Session Laws.
Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.