Aging: Elder Economic Security Standard Index.

Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, creates the California Department of Aging, with prescribed duties, including the development of the state plan on aging. This bill would require, if specified conditions are met, the department to report data from the Elder Economic Security Standard Index (Elder Index) , as defined, for each service area included in the state plan. Existing law establishes area agencies on aging with specified duties, including creation of a plan for the agencies that considers available data and population trends, assesses the need for services, identifies sources of funding for services, and develops and implements a plan for the delivery of services based on the need. This bill would also require, if specified conditions are met, that the plan utilize the Elder Index to specify the cost of meeting basic needs for elders in each planning and service area, and identify the number or percentage of elders who are living at or below the Elder Index. Existing law, the federal Older Americans Act, provides for various programs, including the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) , an employment and training program for employed, low-income seniors. This program is locally administered by area agencies on aging. This bill would require, if specified conditions are met, that the area agencies on aging use the Elder Index to track state-administered SCSEP participants progress toward economic sustainability.