ARIZONA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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SB 1172: family caregivers; pilot; grant program |
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PRIME SPONSOR: Senator Carter, LD 15
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Establishes a Family Caregiver Grant
Program (Grant Program) and Grant Program Fund (Fund) to reimburse family
caregivers for 50% of qualifying expenses incurred up to $1,000 for each
qualifying member. Appropriates $1.5 million in FY 2020 from the state GF to
the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) for the Fund.
History
The Advisory Council on Aging (Council) advises all state departments deemed necessary on all matters and issues relating to aging and is required to submit an annual report of its recommendations regarding the state plan on aging to the governor and the legislature (A.R.S. § 46-184). The Council is required to encourage the governor and legislature to develop programs to deal with problems of the aging and stimulate more effective use of existing resources and available services for the aged and aging (A.R.S. § 46-182).
A.R.S. § 46-191 pertains to the Arizona Older Americans Act-nonmedical home and community based care. Home care services is defined as services provided to an individual who is functionally impaired and unable to perform activities of daily living. These services include case management, assessment of functional impairment and needed community services, home care, housekeeping chore services, home health-aid, personal care, visiting nurse services, adult day care, adult day health, respite care, attendant care and home delivered meals.
DES, in conjunction with other state and local government agencies, is required to identify services provided by state departments and agencies that are appropriate services to implement the goal of enabling older Arizonans to maintain the most independence and freedom, avoid institutional care and live in dignity. (A.R.S. § 46-192)
Provisions
Family Caregiver Grant Program
1. Establishes the Grant Program beginning January 1, 2020 for individuals who have qualifying expenses during a calendar year due to caring for and supporting a qualifying family member in the individual's home. (Sec. 1)
2. Instructs that to apply for the Grant Program:
a. An individual must submit an application to DES on a prescribed form;
b. An individual must be a resident of Arizona;
c. The individual's Arizona gross income in the taxable year, together with any Arizona gross income of each qualifying family member, may not exceed:
i. $75,000 in the case of a single person or a married person filing separately; or
ii. $150,000 for a married couple filing a joint return;
d. The individual must incur qualifying expenses during the calendar year in which the individual applies for the grant for the care of one or more qualifying family members; and
e. The individual must submit, with the claim for the grant, the qualifying family member's name and relationship to the individual. (Sec. 1)
3. Specifies that the amount of the grant is equal to 50% of the qualifying expenses incurred during the calendar year in which the individual applies for the Grant Program, but not more than $1,000 for each qualifying family member. (Sec. 1)
4. Stipulates that an individual who receives a grant is not eligible to apply for a grant again for three consecutive calendar years. (Sec. 1)
5. Requires DES to certify applications for the Grant Program on a first-come, first-served basis. (Sec. 1)
6. Prohibits DES from awarding grants that exceed in the aggregate $500,000 for any calendar year. (Sec. 1)
7. Directs DES to include questions in the application to help DES determine if the grants provided delayed or prevented a qualifying family member from entering a long-term care facility or assisted living facility in the calendar year of application or future calendar years. (Sec. 1)
8. Allows DES to use the Council to provide input on approval of applications for grants and whether an expense is a qualifying expense or other issues relating to the Grant Program as determined by DES. (Sec. 1)
Family Caregiver Grant Fund
9. Establishes the Fund, requires the director of DES administer the Fund and the Fund must consist of grants, gifts, donations and legislative appropriations. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated. (Sec. 1)
10. Provides that monies in the Fund may be spent only for grants provided to individuals who are caring for and supporting a qualifying family member in the individuals home. (Sec. 1)
11. Specifies expenditures from the Fund from the previous calendar year:
a. Must be reported to the legislature in DES' annual report; and
b. Must include aggregated data summarizing the qualifying expenses that were approved for:
i. Grants;
ii. The types of individual's that qualified for the grants; and
iii. Information about the ability for qualified family members to delay entering a long-term care facility or assisted living facility. (Sec. 1)
12. Requires the state treasurer to invest and divest monies in the Fund and monies earned from investment to be credited to the Fund. (Sec. 1)
13. Allows interest or other income derived from the fund to be used only for the Grant Program. (Sec. 1)
14. Prohibits the use of interest or other income derived from the Fund from being used to supplant other appropriations. (Sec.1)
Miscellaneous
15. Repeals the Grant Program and Fund on July 1, 2023. (Sec. 2)
16. Appropriates $1.5 million as a one time appropriation from the state GF in FY 2020 to DES for deposit in the Fund. (Sec. 3)
17. Makes the appropriation non-lapsing. (Sec. 3)
18. Defines department, director, qualifying expenses and qualifying family member. (Sec. 1)
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21. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------
22. Fifty-fourth Legislature SB 1172
23. First Regular Session Version 1: Appropriations
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