Establish the Healthy Aging Task Force

hb906_00_IN

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 906

2025-2026

Representatives Salvo, Sims

Cosponsor: Representative Troy

To

establish the Healthy Aging Task Force.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
(A)
The Healthy Aging Task Force is established in the Department of
Aging consisting of the following members:

(1)
Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate,
two from the majority party and one from the minority party;

(2)
Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, two from the majority party
and one from the minority party;

(3)
The Director of Aging or the Director's designee;

(4)
The Director of Health or the Director's designee;

(5)
The Director of Behavioral Health or the Director's designee;

(6)
The Director of Developmental Disabilities or the Director's
designee;

(7)
The following members appointed by the Director of Aging:

(a)
One unpaid family caregiver of an older adult who is aging in the
community;

(b)
One older adult aging in the community, selected in consultation with
Ohio's Area Agencies on Aging;

(c)
One older adult residing in a nursing facility or other long-term
care setting;

(d)
One individual representing an Area Agency on Aging from an urban
area;

(e)
One individual representing an Area Agency on Aging from a rural
area;

(f)
One individual representing a residential care facility serving older
adults, appointed to represent residential care facilities rather
than skilled nursing facilities;

(g)
One physician authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to
practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery
with experience in diagnosing and treating older adults, including
geriatric care;

(h)
One individual with research expertise in aging, gerontology, or
population health;

(i)
One individual representing a statewide organization that advocates
for older adults;

(j)
One individual representing Ohio businesses;

(k)
One individual representing home care services for older adults;

(l)
One individual representing rural or Appalachian aging perspectives.

(B)
When making appointments to the task force pursuant to division
(A)(7) of this section, the Director of Aging shall consider
geographic, professional, and experiential diversity and shall make
appointments that reflect a balance of perspectives from the public
and private sectors.

(C)
Appointments to the task force shall be made within thirty days after
the effective date of this section, and the task force shall meet not
later than thirty days after all members have been appointed. The
Director of Aging or the Director's designee shall serve as the
chairperson. Thereafter, the task force shall meet at the call of the
chairperson.

(D)
Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, except
that members who are not officers or employees of a public agency
shall be reimbursed for mileage expenses incurred pursuant to
fulfilling the member's task force duties.

(E)
The task force shall evaluate evidence and develop legislative
recommendations for short-term and long-term actions to promote
healthy aging and improve outcomes for Ohioans in response to the
state's changing demographic trends by focusing on the following five
dimensions of healthy aging:

(1)
The empowerment of Ohioans to live healthier lives across the
lifespan by utilizing strategies that do the following:

(a)
Promote physical, mental, and social well-being;

(b)
Prevent or delay chronic disease;

(c)
Reduce social isolation;

(d)
Support healthy behaviors;

(e)
Enable individuals to maintain independence and functional ability as
they age.

(2)
The potential impact of population aging on housing, transportation,
recreation, community design, and other infrastructure and
environmental factors that affect mobility, accessibility, safety,
social connection, and the ability of Ohioans to age in place;

(3)
The potential impact of population aging on the state's economy and
workforce, including labor force participation, unpaid caregiving,
workforce availability, productivity, employer impacts, and the
broader economic implications of an aging population;

(4)
The potential impact of population aging on the state's health care
system including access to care, quality of care, system capacity,
workforce availability, coordination of services, and the cost and
sustainability of health care delivery;

(5)
The potential impact of population aging on the state's long-term
care system including nursing facilities, residential care
facilities, home- and community-based supports, workforce capacity,
transitions of care, and quality outcomes.

(F)
In carrying out its duties pursuant to division (E) of this section,
the task force shall do both of the following:

(1)
Obtain and summarize expert and public perspectives on strategies and
short-term and long-term actions to improve nursing home quality,
safety, accountability, and resident outcomes;

(2)
Provide opportunities for public testimony and stakeholder input,
including public hearings or listening sessions, to inform its work.

(G)
Not later than September 30, 2027, the task force shall prepare and
submit a report to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House
of Representatives, and chairpersons of any committees that consider
legislation regarding aging detailing the task force's findings and
legislative recommendations. Upon submission of the report the task
force may continue to meet and provide guidance regarding the
implementation of its recommendations at the discretion of the
chairperson of the task force through December 31, 2027, after which
the task force ceases to exist.

(H)
The Department of Aging shall provide staffing, meeting space, and
administrative support required by the task force to carry out its
duties.