Arizona Advisory Council on Aging

Revision Date: 
Friday, June 15, 2018

Authority

The Arizona Advisory Council on Aging (Council) was established in 1972. Current statutory authority is found at A.R.S. §46-181 through §46-184.

Function

The Council advises state departments as necessary on matters related to aging, including administration of the state plan on aging; provides written recommendations to the Governor and Legislature regarding the state plan on aging; and through its subcommittee on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, provides written recommendations based on data collected from long-term care providers, families and victims of the disease.

The Council consists of 15 members, appointed by the Governor to three-year terms.

History

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) established in 1972, assumed the responsibilities of several separate state agencies to administer a broad range of programs related to Arizona’s children, adults and families. Laws 1972, Chapter 142 also created the Section on Aging within DES to carry out the provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-73). The Section was required to: cooperate with the federal commissioner on aging; assist DES with preparing a state plan to administer the provisions of the federal act; serve as a clearing house for information, studies and programs related to aging; conduct and arrange for research and demonstration programs; provide assistance to public and private organizations which serve the aging; disseminate educational material and stimulate public awareness regarding health, welfare and problems of the aged; and promote effective use of resources and services related to aging by other public and private entities.

The 1972 measure established the Advisory Council on Aging to provide advice to the DES Director, outlined the duties of the Council; and specified its members, appointment and terms of office.

Executive Order No. 77-4, issued by Governor Castro, provided that the Council would serve an advisory role to the Governor, in addition to the council’s other duties and specifically directed the Council to encourage participation in “retirement and preretirement programs; and work with the Governor to plan for Arizona’s future to include the needs and capabilities of older persons.”

Laws 1980, Chapter 150 modified qualifications and selection for appointment to the Council; expanded the Council’s advisory duties to include all state departments rather than just DES; required the Council to provide an annual report of recommendations regarding the state plan on aging to the Governor and Legislature; and required the Council to meet at least four times per year, increased from at least two times per year.

Also enacted in 1980, the “Arizona Older Americans Act” was written to provide a “wide variety of coordinated services that enable older Arizonans to maintain an independent lifestyle of their own choice, avoid premature and unnecessary institutional care, and live in dignity.” Laws 1980, Chapter 151 required DES to identify services and develop a basic plan to coordinate services for older Arizonans.

Laws 1988, Chapter 26 established an Advisory Committee on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, prescribed membership, outlined duties and appropriated $15,000 from the state general fund to DES to employ support staff for the Committee. The measure included a repeal date for the Committee of August 2, 1990.

Laws 1990, Chapter 78 provided that Council members and the chairman of the Council would be appointed by the Governor, rather than by the Director of DES. The measure also authorized the Governor to appoint an executive director for the Council.

A second enactment in 1990 required the Council chairman to appoint a subcommittee on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders to collect data from long-term care providers, families and victims of the disease and to prepare recommendations based on the data. The measure also appropriated $15,000 from the state general fund to DES in order to provide administrative support to the subcommittee. See Laws 1990, Chapter 155.

A third enactment in 1990 corrected an error in order to allow separate amendments to A.R.S. §46-183 to be blended. See Laws 1990, Chapter 363.

In 1998, the Legislature appropriated $1,000,000 to the Arizona Department of Health Services for distribution to universities, hospitals and research centers in the state for dollar-for-dollar matching grants to support Alzheimer’s disease research. See Laws 1998, Chapter 245.

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