Bill > S368

This bill mandates the creation of a statewide master plan for assisted living facilities, which are housing options that provide a range of support services for individuals who need some assistance with daily living but do not require full-time nursing care. The plan will be developed by the Secretary of Elder Affairs and the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development, in collaboration with other state agencies. Key components of this plan will include an assessment of current and future needs for assisted living facilities across all income levels, the existing capacity of these facilities for residents of all incomes, and projections for expanding capacity over the next twenty-five years. The plan will also examine how individuals currently pay for assisted living, including through public programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and private insurance, and project the future availability of these payment methods for all income groups. Based on these assessments, the plan will outline strategies to address identified needs and ensure assisted living facilities are accessible to everyone in the state, covering aspects like capital infrastructure, program services, and both public and private financing. The bill also allocates at least $200,000 for these purposes and requires the completed plan, along with any legislative recommendations, to be submitted to the state legislature within two years of the bill's passage.