NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1977 SESSION
CHAPTER 242
HOUSE BILL 531
AN ACT CREATING A DIVISION OF AGING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND AMENDING STATUTES CREATING THE GOVERNOR'S COORDINATING COUNCIL ON AGING.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 143B-180 is rewritten to read as follows:
"PART 14.
"PROGRAMS ON AGING.
"§ 143B-180. Governor's Advisory Council on Aging: creation, powers and duties. — There is hereby created the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging of the Department of Human Resources. The Advisory Council on Aging shall have the following functions and duties:
(1) to make recommendations to the Secretary of Human Resources aimed at improving human services to the elderly;
(2) to study ways and means of promoting public understanding of the problems of the aging, to consider the need for new State programs in the field of aging, and to make recommendations to and advise the secretary on these matters;
(3) to advise the Department of Human Resources in the preparation of a plan describing the quality, extent and scope of services being provided, or to be provided, to elderly persons in North Carolina;
(4) to study the programs of all State agencies which provide services for elderly persons and to advise the Secretary of Human Resources on the coordination of programs to prevent duplication and overlapping of such services;
(5) to advise the Secretary of Human Resources upon any matter which the secretary may refer to it."
Sec. 2. G.S. 143B-181 as the same appears in the 1975 Cumulative Supplement to Volume 3C of the General Statutes is hereby amended by deleting the word "Coordinating" from the title of the section and from the first line of the text of the section and substituting therefor in both places the word "Advisory", and by deleting the word "Coordinating" from the twenty-ninth line of the text of the section and substituting therefor the word "Advisory".
Sec. 3. G.S. 143B-140 as the same appears in the 1975 Cumulative Supplement to Volume 3C of the General Statutes is hereby amended to insert in line 20 the words "the Division of Aging," immediately after the words "the Division of Institutional Services," and before the words "and such other".
Sec. 4. Part 14 of Article 3 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is hereby amended by adding the following new sections, 143B-181.1 and 143B-181.2, to read as follows:
"§ 143B-181.1. Division of Aging: creation, powers and duties. — There is hereby created within the office of the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources a division of aging, which shall have the following functions and duties:
(1) to maintain a continuing review of existing programs for the aging in the State of North Carolina, and periodically make recommendations to the Secretary of Human Resources for transmittal to the Governor and the General Assembly as appropriate for improvements in and additions to such programs;
(2) to study, collect, maintain, publish and disseminate factual data and pertinent information relative to all aspects of aging. These include the societal, economic, educational, recreational and health needs and opportunities of the aging;
(3) to stimulate, inform, educate and assist local organizations, the community at large, and older people themselves about aging, including needs, resources and opportunities for the aging, and about the role they can play in improving conditions for the aging;
(4) to serve as the agency through which various public and nonpublic organizations concerned with the aged can exchange information, coordinate programs, and be helped to engage in joint endeavors;
(5) to provide advice, information and technical assistance to North Carolina State government departments and agencies and to nongovernmental organizations which may be considering the inauguration of services, programs, or facilities for the aging, or which can be stimulated to take such action;
(6) to coordinate governmental programs with private agency programs for aging in order that such efforts be effective and that duplication and wasted effort be prevented or eliminated;
(7) to promote employment opportunities as well as proper and adequate recreational use of leisure for older people, including opportunities for uncompensated but satisfying volunteer work;
(8) to identify research needs, encourage research, and assist in obtaining funds for research and demonstration projects; and
(9) to establish or help to establish demonstration programs of services to the aging.
The division shall function under the authority of the Department of Human Resources and the Secretary of Human Resources as provided in the Executive Organization Act of 1973 and shall perform such other duties as are assigned by the secretary.
"§ 143B-181.2. Assistant Secretary for Aging: appointment and duties. — (a) The Secretary of Human Resources shall appoint an assistant secretary in the Department of Human Resources, whose title shall be the Assistant Secretary for Aging. The Assistant Secretary for Aging shall monitor all aging programs in the Department of Human Resources and shall have such powers and duties as are conferred on him by this Part and delegated to him by the Secretary of Human Resources.
(b) The Assistant Secretary for Aging, through the appropriate subunits of the Department of Human Resources, shall, at the request of the Secretary, identify program needs for the aging, recommend program changes, coordinate intra-departmental program efforts, represent the secretary in aging matters before boards and commissions, the General Assembly and the public, coordinate program contacts between the Department of Human Resources and private, State and federal agencies, initiate special studies on aging matters, and have the responsibility of assuring that services are delivered to the elderly of the State."
Sec. 5. This act shall become effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 21st day of April, 1977.