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SENATE BILL 113
O2 (6lr0225)
ENROLLED BILL
— Finance/Health —
Introduced by Chair, Finance Committee (By Request – Departmental – Aging)
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at __ ______________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
President.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Human Services – Department of Aging and Commission on Aging 2
(Longevity Ready Maryland Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Secretary of Aging to lead implementation of the 4
Longevity Ready Maryland Plan; repealing, adding, and altering certain duties of 5
the Secretary to enable the implementation, reporting, and evolution of the 6
Longevity Ready Maryland Plan; alter ing the membership and duties of the 7
Commission on Aging; requiring the Department of Aging to staff the Commission; 8
and generally relating to the Longevity Ready Maryland Plan, the Department of 9
Aging, and the Commission on Aging. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Human Services 12
Section 10–101 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
2 SENATE BILL 113
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 1
(As enacted by Chapters 33 and 34 of 2025) 2
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 3
Article – Human Services 4
Section 10–204, 10–206, and 10–208 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 9
Article – Human Services 10
10–101. 11
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 12
(b) “Area agency on aging” means the local agency that the Department 13
designates in accordance with the Older Americans Act of 1965 to administer the delivery 14
of a comprehensive and coordinated [plan] SYSTEM of social and other services and 15
activities for older adults in a planning and service area. 16
(c) “Community for a Lifetime” means a community certified under § 10 –804 of 17
this title. 18
(d) “Department” means the Department of Aging. 19
(E) “LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN” MEANS A MULTISECTOR PLAN 20
ON AGING THAT: 21
(1) TRANSFORMS PROGRAMS , SERVICES, POLICIES, INSTITUTIONS, 22
AND SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS THE GROWING POPULATION OF OLDER ADULTS; AND 23
(2) INCORPORATES STREAML INED, INNOVATIVE APPROACHE S TO 24
AGING SERVICES. 25
[(e)] (F) “Planning and service area” means an area of the State that the 26
Department designates in accordance with the Older Americans Act of 1965 for the 27
planning and administration of social, health, and other services for older adults. 28
[(f)] (G) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Aging. 29
10–204. 30
SENATE BILL 113 3
(a) The Secretary shall administer the programs and activities that the federal 1
government delegates to the State under the Older Americans Act of 1965 that are not 2
otherwise committed by law to another unit of State government. 3
(b) The Secretary: 4
(1) is a member of the Governor’s Executive Council; and 5
(2) shall cooperate with and receive the cooperation of State, federal, and 6
local governmental units to carry out the purposes of this title. 7
(c) The Secretary shall LEAD IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY READY 8
MARYLAND PLAN, WITH THE FOLLOWING GOALS: 9
(1) BUILDING A LONGEVITY ECOSYSTEM; 10
(2) PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY; 11
(3) PREPARING STATE RESIDENTS TO AFFORD LONGEVITY; AND 12
(4) OPTIMIZING HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND MOBILITY. 13
(D) TO IMPLEMENT THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN, THE 14
SECRETARY SHALL: 15
(1) evaluate the service needs of [seniors] OLDER ADULTS in the State; 16
(2) determine the extent to wh ich existing public and private programs 17
[meet the needs of seniors], POLICIES, INSTITUTIONS, AND SYSTEMS SUPPORT OLDER 18
ADULTS; 19
(3) establish priorities for meeting the needs of [seniors] OLDER ADULTS; 20
AND 21
(4) coordinate, subject to existing law, assess and evaluate, and educate the 22
public and professionals about all State and local programs and services, both public and 23
private, that: 24
(I) relate and are important to the well –being of [seniors] OLDER 25
ADULTS in the State[, including programs and services in the areas of: 26
(i) income maintenance; 27
(ii) public health; 28
4 SENATE BILL 113
(iii) mental health; 1
(iv) housing and urban development; 2
(v) employment; 3
(vi) education; 4
(vii) recreation; and 5
(viii) rehabilitation of seniors with physical or mental disabilities; and 6
(5) develop a statewide plan incorporating local plans for a comprehensive 7
and coordinated system of health, social, and community services for seniors, including 8
housing, and institutional and noninstitutional care]; AND 9
(II) ARE DESIGNED TO ASSI ST OLDER ADULTS AND FAMILY 10
CAREGIVERS IN LEADIN G INDEPENDENT AND DI GNIFIED LIVES IN THE IR OWN 11
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. 12
[(d)] (E) The Secretary shall: 13
(1) represent the interests of [seniors] OLDER ADULTS by serving as an 14
advocate FOR POLICY , SYSTEMS, AND INSTITUTIONAL CH ANGE at all levels of 15
government AND WITHIN THE PRIVA TE SECTOR IN SUPPORT OF THE LONGEVITY 16
READY MARYLAND PLAN; 17
(2) [consult with and advise the secretaries of the principal departments of 18
State government ] EMPHASIZE CROSS –SECTOR COLLABORATION , INCLUDING 19
CONSULTING AND ADVISING UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE BOARDS 20
AND COMMISSIONS about [the programs and services for seniors that are the primary 21
responsibility of those departments ] ANY ACTION THE UNIT , BOARD, OR COMMISSION 22
MAY TAKE TO ASSIST IN IMPLEMENTING THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; 23
(3) consult with the Commission on Aging on [all matters pertaining to 24
programs for seniors ] IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND 25
PLAN; 26
(4) provide consultation and technical assistance to [communities and civic 27
groups] ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES OR PERSONS developing local services 28
for [seniors] OLDER ADULTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND 29
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT; 30
(5) maintain a [clearinghouse of information ] SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES 31
INFORMATION, REFERRALS, AND COUNSELING FOR O LDER ADULTS AND THEI R 32
SENATE BILL 113 5
CAREGIVERS related to the interests of [seniors] OLDER ADULTS AND THE 1
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; and 2
(6) review and recommend [policies] LEGISLATION AND OTHER POLICY 3
ACTION to the Governor on publicly funded plans [and], programs, INSTITUTIONS, AND 4
SYSTEMS that affect [seniors] OLDER ADULTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E 5
LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; AND 6
(7) MAINTAIN A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE RESOURCE ON THE 7
DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE FOR MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY 8
READY MARYLAND PLAN; AND 9
(8) INCORPORATE STRATEGIES INCLUDED IN PLANS DE VELOPED BY 10
LOCAL AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND OTHER LOCAL ENTITIES. 11
[(e)] (F) The Secretary may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of law 12
that are within the jurisdiction of the Secretary. 13
10–206. 14
(a) On or before January 1 each year, the Secretary shall report to the Governor 15
and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly ON: 16
(1) THE ALLOCATION OF FU NDS MADE AVAILABLE F OR SENIOR 17
CITIZEN ACTIVITIES CENTERS DISTRIBUTED BY THE DEPARTMENT; AND 18
(2) A SUMMARY OF KEY ACT IVITIES FUNDED AT SE NIOR CITIZEN 19
ACTIVITIES CENTERS. 20
[(b) The report required under subsection (a) of this section that shall include: 21
(1) with the advice and recommendation of the Commission on Aging: 22
(i) a description of the senior citizen activities centers in each 23
county; 24
(ii) the allocation and use of funds made available for senior citizen 25
activities centers; 26
(iii) the results of any studies; and 27
(iv) any recommendations for legislation; and 28
6 SENATE BILL 113
(2) information regarding the operation and performance of accessible 1
housing services counseling provided by the Aging and Disability Resource Center 2
Program.] 3
(B) (1) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1 EACH YEAR, THE SECRETARY SHALL 4
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , SUBJECT TO § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 5
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 6
(2) THE REPORT REQUIRED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 7
SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE A SUMMARY OF: 8
(I) THE PROGRESS MADE DU RING THE IMMEDIATELY 9
PRECEDING YEAR TO IM PLEMENT THE MO ST RECENTLY PUBLISHE D 10
COMPREHENSIVE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; 11
(II) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATION, POLICY CHANGE , 12
OR OTHER RELATED PLANNING OR ADVOCACY EFFORTS MADE BY THE COMMISSION 13
ON AGING TO THE DEPARTMENT; 14
(III) ANY STUDY , SURVEY, OR OT HER FORM OF RESEARCH 15
CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR THE COMMISSION ON AGING; AND 16
(IV) ANY AVAILABLE RESEAR CH AND BEST PRACTICE S 17
REVIEWED BY THE COMMISSION ON AGING. 18
(C) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2029, AND EVERY 4 YEARS ON JULY 1 19
THEREAFTER, THE SECRETARY SHALL PROVIDE TO THE GOVERNOR AND, SUBJECT 20
TO § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 21
AN UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN THAT: 22
(1) COMPLIES WITH § 10–204 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 23
(2) INCLUDES PROGRESS MA DE ON EX ISTING GOALS , OBJECTIVES, 24
AND STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING LONGEVITY READY 25
MARYLAND PLAN; 26
(3) MAINTAINS EXISTING G OALS AND INCLUDES AN Y ADDITIONAL 27
GOALS; AND 28
(4) UPDATES OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES IF APP ROPRIATE BASED 29
ON EVOLVING CIRCUMSTANCES AND POPULATION PROJECTIONS; AND 30
SENATE BILL 113 7
(5) IS INFORMED BY THE STATE PLAN ON AGING AS REQUIRED BY 1
THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 AND OTHER RELEVANT STATE AND LOCAL 2
PLANS AND AGENCY COLLABORATIONS. 3
10–208. 4
(a) There is a Commission on Aging in the Department. 5
(b) (1) The Commission consists of [13] THE FOLLOWING members 6
[appointed by the Governor as follows]: 7
(i) [1 shall be a] ONE member of the Senate of Maryland, [who may 8
not vote] APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 9
(ii) [1 shall be a ] ONE member of the [Maryland] House of 10
Delegates, [who may not vote] APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; [and] 11
(iii) [11 shall be selected to reflect the geographic diversity of the 12
State and because of their interest in the needs of seni ors] THE SECRETARY OF AGING, 13
OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; AND 14
(IV) THE FOLLOWING MEMBER S, APPOINTED BY THE 15
GOVERNOR: 16
1. ONE DIRECTOR OF AN A REA AGENCY ON AGING , 17
SERVING AS THREE DIRECTORS OF A REA AGENCIES ON AGIN G, INCLUDING THE 18
PRESIDENT OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING; 19
2. THREE REPRESENTATIVE S OF ORGANIZATIONS 20
LOCATED IN THE STATE THAT ADVOCATE FOR OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS; 21
3. FIVE SIX EXPERTS ON AGING REP RESENTING THE 22
DISCIPLINES OF HEALTH CARE, TECHNOLOGY, ACADEMIA, INNOVATION, CONSUMER 23
PROTECTION, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PHILANTHROPY; AND 24
4. FIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH A DEMONSTRATED INTEREST 25
IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; AND 26
5. ONE VETERAN WITH A DEMONSTRATED INTEREST IN 27
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN. 28
(2) [At least 7 members shall be at least 55 years old ] TO THE EXTENT 29
PRACTICABLE, COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP SHALL REFLECT THE AG E, RACE, 30
ETHNICITY, DISABILITY, GENDER IDENTIT Y, SEXUAL ORIENTATION , IMMIGRANT 31
8 SENATE BILL 113
HERITAGE, LIVED AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND REGIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 1
REPRESENTATION DIVERSITY OF THE STATE. 2
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE COMMISSION. 3
[(c)] (D) (1) The term of a member of the Commission is 4 years. 4
(2) The terms of NEW members appointed under subsection [(b)(1)(iii)] 5
(B)(1)(IV) of this section are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of 6
the Commission on October 1, [2007] 2026. 7
(3) A member of the Commission appo inted under subsection [(b)(1)(iii)] 8
(B)(1)(IV) of this section may not serve more than two consecutive terms. 9
(4) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 10
appointed and qualifies. 11
(5) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 12
rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 13
(6) A MEMBER WHO FAILS TO ATTEND AT LEAST 50% OF THE 14
MEETINGS DURING ANY CONSECUTIVE 12–MONTH PERIOD SHALL B E CONSIDERED 15
TO HAVE RESIGNED. 16
(E) THE COMMISSION SHALL DETERMINE THE FREQUENCY, DATES, TIMES, 17
AND PLACES OF ITS MEETINGS. 18
[(d)] (F) (1) From among the members of the Commission, the [Governor] 19
SECRETARY: 20
(I) shall designate [a] THE chair OF THE COMMISSION; AND 21
(II) MAY DESIGNATE A VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. 22
(2) A MAJORITY OF THE MEMB ERS THEN SERVING ON THE 23
COMMISSION IS A QUORUM. 24
(3) THE CHAIR MAY ESTABLI SH SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE 25
COMMISSION. 26
(4) THE COMMISSION MAY CONSULT AND COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL 27
COMMISSIONS ON AGING. 28
[(e)] (G) A member of the Commission: 29
SENATE BILL 113 9
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 1
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 2
Travel Regulations as provided in the State budget. 3
[(f)] (H) The Commission shall: 4
(1) exercise the powers and perform the duties specified in this title; 5
(2) [review: 6
(i) ongoing statewide programs and activities for seniors; and 7
(ii) new statewide programs for seniors before the programs are 8
implemented; and 9
(3) make recommendations to the Secretary about statewide programs and 10
activities for seniors ] REVIEW AND ADVISE TH E DEPARTMENT ON THE LONGEVITY 11
READY MARYLAND PLAN AND OVERALL PROG RESS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND 12
MULTISECTOR PARTNERS IN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 13
MOST RECENTLY PUBLISHED LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; 14
(3) ADVISE THE SECRETARY ON LEGISLAT IVE, POLICY, AND OTHER 15
SYSTEMS CHANGES THAT COULD ASSIST WITH IM PLEMENTATION OF THE 16
LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; AND 17
(4) ADVISE THE SECRETARY ON ANY UPDATE TO T HE LONGEVITY 18
READY MARYLAND PLAN REQUIRED BY § 10–206 OF THIS SUBTITLE , INCLUDING 19
ANY UPDATE TO THE GO ALS, OBJECTIVES, AND STRATEGIES TO BE INCLUDED IN 20
SUBSEQUENT LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLANS. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 22
(a) The terms of the members of the Commission on Aging serving on October 1, 23
2026, shall continue until the expiration of the member’s term. 24
(b) The terms of the members of the Commission on Aging appointed in 25
accordance with § 10–208(b)(1)(iv) of the Human Services Article, as enacted by Section 1 26
of this Act, shall expire as follows: 27
(1) four in 2028; 28
(2) five in 2029; and 29
10 SENATE BILL 113
(3) five in 2030. 1
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 2
October 1, 2026. 3
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.