Bill Text: NJ A353 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" pilot program; appropriates $250,000.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-09-20 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [A353 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A353-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" pilot program; appropriates $250,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act establishing a "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" pilot program and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Elderly residents of this State are aging in place in their communities and they prefer to remain in their familiar surroundings, near families and friends, and receive services in their communities;
b. A residential area with a high concentration of elderly residents who are aging in place is known as a "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" or "NORC";
c. The housing in a NORC differs from senior-designated housing because it was not originally built as housing for the elderly; NORC housing is age-integrated but more than 50% of the households are headed by a person who is 60 years of age or older;
d. NORC programs are intended for persons with moderate or low incomes and, by their nature, are proactive and take a holistic, preventive approach to the health and well-being of elderly residents; and
e. The establishment and implementation of a NORC pilot program that addresses the needs of elderly residents by providing a wide array of social, health care, mental health and other support services at a senior center or one or more moderate or low-income apartment buildings or housing complexes would help some State residents age in place and serve as a model to expand the program Statewide.
2. a. There is established a "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" or "NORC" pilot program in the Division of Aging and Community Services in the Department of Health and Senior Services.
b. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall provide a grant to either a senior center in Mercer County or one or more moderate or low-income apartment buildings or housing complexes in Mercer County in which at least 50% of the households are headed by a person who is 60 years of age or older, or both, to implement the pilot program pursuant to the provisions of this act.
c. The pilot program shall provide:
(1) social services, including, but not limited to, on-site assessments, information and referral services, case management, counseling, recreation and socialization programs, management of volunteer programs, support groups and education programs that help elderly residents preserve their health;
(2) health care services, including, but not limited to: on-site nursing and physician services; health screenings and monitoring; and medication management;
(3) mental health services, including, but not limited to: a consulting psychiatrist to assess, diagnose and treat residents and educate other professional staff, patients, caregivers and families to detect and assess mental health needs; and mental health screening by a social worker or registered professional nurse; and
(4) support services, including, but not limited to, transportation services and assistance with shopping and financial management.
d. The commissioner shall require the senior center or moderate or low-income apartment building or housing complex to periodically report to the commissioner on the establishment of the pilot program and the impact of the pilot program on the well-being of the residents.
e. The commissioner shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on the pilot program within two years of its implementation and make any recommendations the commissioner deems appropriate to expand the program to other counties in the State.
3. There is appropriated $250,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Senior Services to provide a grant to either a senior center or one or more moderate or low-income apartment buildings or housing complexes in Mercer County, or both, to implement the NORC pilot program established pursuant to this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the submission of the report by the commissioner pursuant to section 2 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" or "NORC" pilot program in the Division of Aging and Community Services in the Department of Health and Senior Services. A NORC is a residential area with a high concentration of elderly residents who are aging in place in their communities. The housing in a NORC is moderate or low-income housing and differs from senior-designated housing because it was not originally built as housing for the elderly; NORC housing is age-integrated but more than 50% of the households are headed by a person 60 years of age or older.
Under the provisions of the bill, the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services would provide a grant to either a senior center in Mercer County or one or more moderate or low-income apartment buildings or housing complexes in Mercer County in which at least 50% of the households are headed by a person who is 60 years of age or older, or both.
The pilot program would provide:
-- social services, including, but not limited to, on-site assessments, information and referral services, case management, counseling, recreation and socialization programs, management of volunteer programs, support groups, and education programs that help elderly residents preserve their health;
-- health care services, including, but not limited to: on-site nursing and physician services; health screenings and monitoring; and medication management;
-- mental health services, including, but not limited to: a consulting psychiatrist to assess, diagnose and treat residents and educate other professional staff, patients, caregivers and families to detect and assess mental health needs; and mental health screening by a social worker or registered professional nurse; and
-- support services, including, but not limited to, transportation services and assistance with shopping and financial management.
The bill requires the senior center or moderate or low-income apartment building or housing complex to periodically report to the commissioner on the establishment of the pilot program and its impact on the well-being of the residents. The commissioner would report to the Governor and the Legislature on the pilot program within two years of its implementation and make any recommendations to expand the program to other counties in the State.
The bill provides a $250,000 appropriation from the General Fund to the department to award a grant under the bill.
