Chapter 5. Programs for Older Citizens.
Subchapter I. Office on Aging and Commission on Aging.
Part A. Purpose.
§ 7–501.01. Purpose.
It is the intent of the Council of the District of Columbia that the District government shall insure a full range of health, education, employment, and social services shall be available to the aged in the District of Columbia, and the planning and operation of such programs will be undertaken as a partnership of older citizens, families, community leaders, private agencies, and the District of Columbia government.
Part B. Definitions.
§ 7–502.01. Definitions.
For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:
(1) "Aged" means a person 60 years of age or older.
(2) "Commission" means the Commission on the Aging created by § 7-504.01.
(3) "Department" means the Department of Aging and Community Living created by § 7-503.01.
(4) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Aging and Community Living.".
(4A) Not Funded.
(5) "Services to the aged" means those services designed to provide assistance to the aged, including nutritional programs, transportation and legal services, health and financial assistance, employment and housing programs, recreational opportunities, and information, referral, and counseling services.
Part C. Department of Aging and Community Living.
§ 7–503.01. Establishment of the Department of Aging and Community Living.
(a) There is established a Department of Aging and Community Development. All the functions of the Office on Aging are hereby transferred to the Department. The Department shall provide within the District government a single administrative unit, responsible to the Mayor, to administer the provisions of the Older Americans Act (P.L. 89-73, as amended), and such other programs as shall be delegated to it by the Mayor or the Council of the District of Columbia, and to promote the welfare of the aged.
(b) The mission of the District of Columbia Department of Aging and Community Living is the following:
(1) To advocate, plan, implement, and monitor programs in health, education, and social services for the elderly;
(2) To promote longevity, independence, dignity, and choice for aged District residents, District residents with disabilities regardless of age, and caregivers;
(3) To ensure the rights of older adults and their families, and prevent their abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
(4) To uphold the core values of service excellence, respect, compassion, integrity, and accountability; and
(5) To lead efforts to strengthen service delivery and capacity by engaging community stakeholders and partners to leverage resources.
§ 7–503.02. Director.
(a) The Department shall be headed by a Director ("Director"), who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, from a list of not more than 3 names submitted to the Mayor by the Commission.
(b) The Director shall be devoted full time to the duties of the office.
(c) The Director shall be in the Executive Service.
(d) The Director shall have such staff as is approved in the current District government budget and federal grants, plus any temporary staff .
§ 7–503.03. Executive Director — Duties.
In order to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, the Director shall:
(1) Serve as an advocate for the aged in the District of Columbia;
(2) Contract with, and make grants to, public and private agencies using Older Americans Act funds, other federal funds received by the Department, and District government appropriated funds;
(3) Provide information and technical assistance with respect to programs and services for the aged to the Mayor, the Commission on Aging, the Council of the District of Columbia, other District government agencies and departments, and the community, including, when necessary, contracting for consultant assistance outside the District government;
(3A) Provide information, through the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, to District of Columbia residents on prescription drug savings available under and eligibility for the AccessRx program established by subchapter I of Chapter 8A of Title 48 [§ 48-831.01 et seq.];
(4) Consider the advice and recommendations of the Commission in carrying out his responsibilities under this subchapter;
(5) File an annual report on the operation of the Department and an analysis of the needs of the aged with the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia, and make it available to the public;
(6) Publish a directory of services available to the aged through the District government and including, to the maximum extent possible, sources of nonpublic assistance and programs for the aged in the District of Columbia that directory shall be revised at least every 2 years;
(7) Identify areas of need for service or improvement of service and bring them to the attention of the Mayor and Commission, with suggestions for meeting such needs, including conducting or funding research and demonstration projects to test such suggestions;
(8) Carry responsibility for assuring necessary control, evaluation, audit, and reporting on programs funded through the Department;
(9) Prepare in timely fashion the state plan required under the Older Americans Act and forward it to the Commission for comment and Mayor for approval;
(10) Develop, with the advice of the Commission, a 5-year plan of policies, programs, services and activities to benefit aged residents of the District of Columbia. Such plan shall be reviewed and updated annually;
(11) Review and comment on proposed District and federal legislation, regulations, policies, and programs and make policy recommendations on issues affecting the health, safety, and welfare of the aged.
§ 7–503.04. Impact statements.
All heads of departments and agencies of the District government are required at least 30 days prior to implementation of any proposed policies or programs that will have a major impact on the aged to submit such proposals to the Director for comment. If the impact of the proposal is determined by the Director to be adverse, he shall file a statement of this finding with the Mayor, the Commission, and the Council of the District of Columbia, as well as the originating department or agency.
§ 7–503.05. Standards for grant and contract awards.
After consultation with the Commission on Aging established by § 7-504.01 the Director shall develop and publish the standards that the Department will use in making decisions on the award of grants and contracts.
§ 7–503.06. Transfer of funds and positions from Division of Services to the Aging.
The Division of Services to the Aging presently located within the Department of Human Resources, and all positions and unexpended funds presently allocated to this Division are hereby transferred to the Department created under § 7-503.01.
§ 7–503.07. Senior Strategic Plan. [Repealed]
Repealed.
§ 7–503.08. Transfer of functions and duties from the Department of Human Services.
All positions, personnel, property, records, equipment, and unexpended balances available or to be made available of appropriations, allocations, and other funds of the Department of Human Services dedicated to the implementation of Chapter 19 of this title are hereby transferred to the Department of Aging and Community Living.
§ 7–503.09. LGBTQ seniors and seniors with HIV.
(a) For the purposes of administering the provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965, approved July 14, 1965 (Pub. L. No. 89-73; 79 Stat. 218), the Department shall interpret the term "greatest social need," as defined in section 102(24) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, approved September 30, 1992 (106 Stat. 1199; 42 U.S.C. § 3002(24)), to include LGBTQ seniors and seniors with HIV.
(b) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall promulgate rules to carry out the purposes of this section. The rules shall be promulgated within 210 days of December 23, 2020.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term:
(1) "HIV" means the human immunodeficiency virus.
(2) "LGBTQ" means an individual who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, is questioning or exploring their sexuality or sexual identity, or is concerned about applying a social label to themselves related to their sexuality or sexual identity, and who is a resident of the District of Columbia.
(3) "Senior" means an individual who is 60 years of age or older.
§ 7–503.10. Wards 2 and 3 Senior Wellness Center Feasibility and Planning Task Force.
(a) There is established a Senior Wellness Center Feasibility and Planning Task Force ("Task Force") that shall evaluate and comment on the feasibility study and planning of 2 senior wellness centers, one to be located within Ward 2 and the other to be located within Ward 3. The Task Force shall advise and guide the Mayor, the Council, and the Department on the development of new wellness centers to serve residents of Wards 2 and 3, and review programs and services to address senior needs in those communities.
(b) The Task Force shall be composed of:
(1) One member representing the Department on Aging, appointed by the Mayor;
(2) One member representing the Department of Health, appointed by the Mayor;
(3) One member representing the Department of Parks and Recreation, appointed by the Mayor;
(4) Two current ANC members representing Ward 2, appointed by the Ward 2 Councilmember;
(5) Two current ANC members representing Ward 3, appointed by the Ward 3 Councilmember;
(6) One member of the community residing in Ward 2, appointed by the Ward 2 Councilmember;
(7) One member of the community residing in Ward 3, appointed by the Ward 3 Councilmember;
(8) Two members of the community residing in Ward 2, appointed by the Council committee with oversight over matters concerned with services to the senior community ("Committee"); and
(9) Two members of the community residing in Ward 3, appointed by the Committee.
(c) The Chairperson of the Committee shall appoint:
(1) A Chairperson of the Task Force with design and planning experience, preferably an architect;
(2) One member representing the University of the District of Columbia;
(3) Two members representing Wards 2 and 3 Senior Villages;
(4) One member who is a current participant of social services in Ward 2; and
(5) One member who is a current participant of senior programming sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation;
(d) The members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation and shall either reside or work within the District.
(e) The members of the Task Force shall serve 2-year terms.
(f) The Task Force shall, at a minimum:
(1) Conduct bi-monthly meetings to evaluate and be engaged in the planning and stages of development of the 2 wellness centers described in subsection (a) of this section;
(2) Provide quarterly reports to the Committee, Mayor, and Department on the progress, findings, and recommendations from the meetings; and
(3) By December 31, 2024, prepare separate plans for Ward 2 and Ward 3 that:
(A) Describe the state of the needs for the senior population within the ward, including a description of the food insecure, homebound, and isolated individuals by neighborhoods and demographics, root causes of the issues, and specific identifiable risks for the senior population, as well as descriptions of any subcategories and the unique needs of such subcategories;
(B) Provide the Task Force's recommendations on at least 3 possible locations for each wellness center and the necessary space and facilities within each wellness center;
(C) Identify the Task Force's findings and recommendations on programming to serve each ward community; and
(D) Provide non-binding advisory approval of the design and planning of each project.
§ 7–503.11. Nutritional services. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.12. Housing resources and program referrals. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.13. Home health aides. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.14. Senior wellness check programs. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.15. Routine mailer distribution. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.16. Establishment of Community-Led Task Group. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.17. Adult protective services. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.18. Assisted living and nursing facilities. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.19. Senior nutrition services communications plan. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.20. Nutrition services. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–503.21. Senior Food Security Interagency Taskforce. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
Part D. Commission on Aging.
§ 7–504.01. Establishment.
There is hereby established a Commission on Aging to advise the Mayor, the Director of the Department of Aging and Community Living, the Council of the District of Columbia, and the public concerning the views and needs of the aged in the District of Columbia.
§ 7–504.02. Membership of Commission.
The Commission shall consist of 15 public (voting) members appointed by the Mayor. At least one-half of the membership of the Commission shall consist of actual consumers of services under this program, including low income and minority older persons, at least in proportion to the number of minority older persons in the District of Columbia. There shall also be the following ex officio members: the Directors of the Department of Human Services, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Recreation, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Employment Services, the Public Library, the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (or the Director or Chief of such successor agencies), and a member of the Council of the District of Columbia.
§ 7–504.03. Qualifications.
Members shall be appointed with due consideration for fair geographical distribution, representation from organizations of older persons, public and voluntary agencies concerned with the aged, and members of the general public who have given evidence of particular dedication to and understanding of the needs of the aged. At least 8 members shall be 60 years of age or over, and all must be residents of the District of Columbia.
§ 7–504.04. Term of office.
Members of the Commission shall serve terms not to exceed 3 years, which shall regularly commence on October 29th in the year of appointment and expire on October 28th 3 years later. The terms shall be staggered so that 5 terms expire each year on October 28th. Members may be reappointed but may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms.
§ 7–504.05. Appointments to vacancies.
When a vacancy develops on the Commission, the Mayor may appoint a successor to fill the unexpired portion of a term.
§ 7–504.06. Rules of procedure.
The Commission shall develop its own rules of procedure, except they shall provide that the Commission shall meet at least every other month.
§ 7–504.07. Chairperson.
The Commission shall select its own Chairperson, by vote.
§ 7–504.08. Compensation; expenses.
All members shall serve without compensation, but expenses incurred by the Commission as a whole, or by its individual members, when duly authorized, will become an obligation against appropriate District government and federal funds designated for that purpose.
§ 7–504.09. Staff; technical assistance.
Necessary staff services shall be supplied in accordance with positions and funding approved in the current District government budget. In addition, the Director of the Department of Aging and Community Living shall provide information and technical assistance as required under § 7-503.03.
§ 7–504.10. Duties.
The Commission on Aging shall:
(1) Serve as an advocate for older persons in the District of Columbia;
(2) Review and submit to the Mayor, the Council of the District of Columbia, and the Department of Aging and Community Living, an annual report including comments on the analysis of the needs of the aged in the District of Columbia made in the report of the Director;
(3) Advise the Director on cooperation with federal, state, and private agencies concerned with activities pertaining to the aged;
(4) Review and comment on the annual state plan required under the Older Americans Act. The statement of the Commission shall be transmitted to the Department of Health and Human Services with the plan;
(5) Develop a list of not more than 3 persons the Commission recommends for the position of Director of the Department of Aging and Community Living, whenever that position is vacant, and submit that list to the Mayor;
(6) Conduct or participate in public hearings and other forums to determine views of older persons and other members of the public on matters affecting the health, safety and welfare of the aged in the District of Columbia;
(7) Bring to the attention of the Mayor and the Department of Aging and Community Living cases of neglect and abuse of the aged and incidents of bias against the aged in the administration of the laws of the District of Columbia;
(8) Review and comment on the Director’s review of proposed District and federal legislation, regulations, policies and programs, and comment on the Director’s policy recommendations on issues affecting the health, safety, and welfare of the aged;
(9) Provide a continuing review of the activities of the Department of Aging and Community Living and issue reports thereon at least annually.
Subchapter I-A. Office on Aging reporting requirements.
§ 7–521. Department of Aging and Community Living reporting requirements.
The Mayor shall submit biannual reports to the Council, no later than 30 days after the end of the 2nd and 4th quarters of each fiscal year, beginning October 1, 2017, on programs and operations within the Department of Aging and Community Living. Each report shall include the following information:
(1) The number of persons served through the Aging and Disability Resource Center, including the ages of those persons served and the types of services received;
(2) The number of new applications for sub-grants;
(3) A listing of current contracts and sub-grants by category;
(4) A comprehensive listing of senior wellness centers (by center), including the number of seniors who utilize each location per quarter;
(5) A complete listing of transportation services and the number of seniors who utilize transportation services, including the number of transports that originate from each ward;
(6) The number of seniors in each ward who utilize home meal delivery services;
(7) The locations of congregate meal services and the number of persons who utilize such services by ward; and
(8) The total funds expended for each program area of operations included in the report.
Subchapter II. Volunteer Service Credit Program.
§ 7–531.01. Definitions.
For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:
(1) “District” means the District of Columbia.
(2) “Eligible person” means an individual who is 60 years of age or older or is mentally or physically ill, infirm, or has a disability.
(3) “Service credit” means the unit of exchange upon which the volunteer service credit program operates.
(4) “Sponsor” means a nonprofit organization or a consortium of nonprofit organizations that receives and dispenses service credits on behalf of eligible persons and is designated by the Mayor to perform the administrative tasks necessary to implement this subchapter.
(5) “Targeted service” means a task for which service credits may be earned when performed by a volunteer for an eligible person.
(6) “Volunteer” means an individual who earns service credits by:
(A) Providing targeted services to an eligible person not related to him or her by blood, marriage, guardianship, or adoption;
(B) Providing services under a demonstration project;
(C) Participating in pre-service or in-service training under the volunteer service credit program or a demonstration project; or
(D) Performing administrative tasks in direct support of the volunteer service credit program or a demonstration project.
§ 7–531.02. Establishment of pilot volunteer service credit program.
(a) Within 8 months after September 13, 1986, the Mayor shall establish a 3-year pilot volunteer service credit program (“program”) through which individuals may volunteer targeted services and in return earn service credits that may be subsequently exchanged for targeted services. To implement the program, the Mayor may award grants and contracts to approved sponsors. The Mayor shall widely publicize a description of the program and a contact telephone number and address for those who may wish to participate.
(b)(1) The Mayor shall ensure that the District government or a sponsor maintains a computerized, District-wide register containing:
(A) The names of participating volunteers, services for which they are available, and any other personal information relevant to the program;
(B) An accounting system with the capacity to make available to the Mayor, each sponsor, and each volunteer a monthly balance of service credits earned and used; and
(C) Any other data that may be needed to monitor and administer the program and any demonstration projects undertaken pursuant to § 7-531.07.
(2) The register required by this subsection shall be used solely to match volunteers with eligible persons and to accomplish other tasks consistent with the purposes of this subchapter.
§ 7–531.03. Targeted services.
Targeted services shall consist of those tasks that the Mayor has determined will foster the independence, self-sufficiency, and noninstitutionalized living of eligible persons and shall fall within the following categories:
(1) Those tasks, such as respite care, personal grooming, and meal preparation, that, when performed in the home, address the personal care needs of an eligible person;
(2) Those tasks, such as light housekeeping, heavy cleaning, and minor repairs, that, when performed in or around the home, address the environmental needs of an eligible person;
(3) Those tasks, such as exercise and recreational therapy, that address the physical or rehabilitative needs of an eligible person; and
(4) Those tasks, such as transportation and escort, that address the ability of an eligible person to function outside the home.
§ 7–531.04. Service credits.
(a) To initiate the program, the Mayor shall establish a pool of service credits to be awarded to eligible persons who are in need of targeted services. The Mayor may award credits to eligible persons directly from this pool or may distribute all or part of these credits to sponsors who shall in turn be authorized to award them. The awarding of credits to eligible persons shall be commensurate with the availability of volunteers.
(b) In addition to the pool of service credits established under subsection (a) of this section, a sponsor may, with the prior written approval of the Mayor, establish its own pool of service credits to be awarded to eligible persons. In order to receive this approval, a sponsor shall satisfy the Mayor that it has resources and contingency plans sufficient to meet the obligations imposed by § 7-531.05.
(c)(1) Volunteers who provide targeted services shall earn 1 service credit for each hour of targeted services provided.
(2) If authorized by the Mayor, volunteers may also earn service credits for the completion of pre-service and in-service training and for the performance of administrative tasks in direct support of the program. Service credits earned in this manner shall be computed at a rate of 1 credit for every 2 hours of training or administrative service.
(d)(1) A volunteer who has service credits may transfer all or part of those credits, either directly or through a sponsor, to an eligible person. Credits thus transferred may not be retransferred.
(2) A volunteer who has service credits may transfer all or part of those credits to the Mayor or a sponsor for the purpose of replenishing a pool of service credits established under subsection (a) or (b) of this section.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by § 7-531.05 or the rules issued by the Mayor under § 7-531.10, an eligible person may at any time exchange service credits that he or she has earned, received by transfer, or been awarded for an equal number of hours of any targeted service. The Mayor or a sponsor shall determine whether a requested service is a targeted service and whether the requestor is an eligible person.
§ 7–531.05. Service credit guarantee.
(a) To ensure that outstanding service credits are promptly honored when exchanged for targeted services, the Mayor and each sponsor shall develop contingency plans and engage in diligent volunteer recruitment. Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Mayor shall guarantee all outstanding credits from the pool of service credits established under § 7-531.04(a), and a sponsor shall guarantee all outstanding credits from any pool of service credits it has established under § 7-531.04(b). Under these guarantees the Mayor or a sponsor shall ensure the provision of a targeted service, even if a volunteer is unavailable, within 10 days after an eligible person with service credits requests that service.
(b) If the program expires or is terminated, the Mayor shall promptly give written notice to all sponsors and persons known to have outstanding credits from the pool of service credits established under § 7-531.04(a). Each sponsor shall promptly give written notice of the expiration or termination to all persons known to have outstanding credits from any pool of service credits it has established under § 7-531.04(b). The guarantees required by subsection (a) of this section shall cover all requests for targeted services made within 6 months after written notice is given under this subsection.
(c) Service credit guarantees established by this section shall not apply to those requested services that are required by District law to be performed by licensed individuals.
§ 7–531.06. Advisory committees.
Each sponsor shall have an advisory committee composed of persons skilled in the provision of targeted services and persons who represent or advocate the interests of eligible persons. An advisory committee shall monitor the sponsor’s compliance with program requirements, make recommendations to the sponsor on program implementation, and carry out any other program-related tasks that the Mayor deems appropriate.
§ 7–531.07. Demonstration projects.
In addition to the volunteer service credit program, the Mayor may establish service credit demonstration projects, such as an intergenerational service program involving recipients who would not otherwise qualify as “eligible persons” under § 7-531.01(2). Services provided through these demonstration projects shall earn service credits but shall not be covered by the provisions of § 7-531.05.
§ 7–531.08. Status of volunteers; reimbursement.
Volunteers shall not, by virtue of their participation in the program or a demonstration project, be entitled to monetary compensation or considered for any purpose to be employees or agents of either the District or a sponsor. Sponsors may reimburse volunteers for necessary expenses incident to their provision of targeted or demonstration project services, attendance at pre-service or in-service training, or performance of administrative tasks in direct support of the program or demonstration project.
§ 7–531.09. Qualified immunity.
With respect to their participation in the program or a demonstration project, the District government and its agencies, officials, and employees and sponsors and their advisory committees, officials, and employees shall be immune from civil or criminal liability if they have acted in good faith. This immunity shall not apply to volunteers.
§ 7–531.10. Rules.
The Mayor shall, within 8 months after September 13, 1986, and pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue all rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. These rules may include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, standards and procedures with respect to the following:
(1) Volunteer qualifications, screening, pre-service and in-service training, monitoring, and termination;
(2) Minimum liability and accident insurance for volunteers;
(3) Sponsor qualifications;
(4) The awarding of service credits;
(5) Minimum hours that a volunteer must be available;
(6) Weekly and annual limits on the number of service credits a volunteer may earn;
(7) The delayed vesting of or ability to use service credits earned for pre-service training or the performance of administrative tasks;
(8) Mayoral and sponsor notification of service credit transfers;
(9) Contingency planning and volunteer reserves;
(10) Program evaluation and the responsibilities of sponsor advisory committees; and
(11) Demonstration projects.
§ 7–531.11. Reporting to Council.
The Mayor shall prepare and submit to the Council annual reports on the volunteer service credit program and any demonstration projects established under § 7-531.07. These reports shall at a minimum include:
(1) A description of the participating population, including the number or persons served and the services provided;
(2) The number of service credits outstanding at the conclusion of the reporting period;
(3) Program costs, including the cost to the District government of honoring service credits when volunteers have been unavailable;
(4) A description of any positive or negative effects on other volunteer activities;
(5) A program evaluation, including an assessment of the quality of services provided, participant satisfaction, and the need to increase or decrease the categories of targeted services or the hours of service availability; and
(6) Recommendations regarding continuation of the program or amendments to this subchapter.
Subchapter II-A. Senior Dental Services Program. [Repealed]
§ 7–533.01. Definitions. [Repealed]
Repealed.
§ 7–533.02. Senior Dental Services Program. [Repealed]
Repealed.
§ 7–533.03. Annual report. [Repealed]
Repealed.
§ 7–533.04. Rules. [Repealed]
Repealed.
§ 7–533.05. Applicability. [Repealed]
Repealed.
Subchapter III. Safe at Home Program.
§ 7–551.01. Home accessibility modification grant program.
(a) For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:
(1) "Accessibility modification" means the construction or modification of a principal place of residence to enable or increase independent living for a person with a disability or who is 60 years of age or more.
(2) "Disability" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 2-1431.01(4).
(3) "Dwelling unit" means any room or group of rooms forming a single unit that is used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, and the preparation or eating of meals that is located within a building that is wholly or partially used or intended to be used for living and sleeping by a human occupant.
(4) "Principal place of residence" means a dwelling unit in the District of Columbia in which an individual lives more than 50% of the calendar year.
(b) There is established a home accessibility modification grant program, the Safe at Home Program, to be administered by the Mayor for the purpose of assisting eligible residents to reduce risks of falls and to help ameliorate mobility issues by providing accessibility modifications to their principle places of residence. The Mayor may issue grants up to $6,000 per residence and the grants shall be exempt from District income taxation.
(c) Accessibility modifications may include:
(1) Furniture risers;
(2) Handrails;
(3) Grab bars;
(4) Shower seats;
(4A) Bathtub cuts;
(5) Chair lifts;
(6) Ramps;
(7) Doors usable by a person in a wheelchair; and
(8) Other modifications to improve accessibility and enhance independent living.
(d) To be eligible for the Safe at Home Program, an applicant shall:
(1) Be a resident of the District of Columbia who is at least 18 years of age;
(2) Provide proof of the applicant's principal place of residence and proof that the applicant owns the principal place of residence, or that the owner of the principal place of residence has given the applicant permission to make an accessibility modification to the property;
(3) Provide proof of a disability; except, that a person 60 years of age or more shall be exempt from this requirement;
(4) Meet household income-eligibility limitations, as prescribed by the Mayor by rule; and
(5) Complete an assessment, performed by a licensed occupational therapist approved by the Department of Aging and Community Living, designed to measure functional ability.
(e) The Mayor shall:
(1) Develop a grant application form specific to the Safe at Home Program that shall require the minimum information and documentation necessary to determine eligibility for the program;
(2) Provide written notification to an applicant of approval or denial of a grant application within 60 days after receipt of a completed application, and if denied, include the reason for the denial and the process for reconsideration; and
(3) Ensure that only fully licensed, certified contractors perform work authorized by the Safe at Home Program.
(4) Repealed.
(f) The Mayor may, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to implement the provisions of this section, including rules establishing:
(1) Household income eligibility;
(2) Guidelines for installation projects consistent with current ADA Accessibility Guidelines (28 C.F.R. Part 36, Subpart D and 36 C.F.R. Part 1191, Appendices B and D) as published in Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Department of Justice, September 15, 2010;
(3) Standards to ensure that accessibility modifications funded by grants issued pursuant to this section meet the needs of the applicant;
(4) Standards for the assessments required by subsection (d)(5) of this section; and
(5) Standards for licensed occupational therapists to be approved to conduct the assessments required by subsection (d)(5) of this section.
Subchapter IV. All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Program. [Not Funded]
§ 7–571.01. Definitions. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–571.02. Establishment of PACE. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–571.03. Administration of PACE. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–571.04. PACE organization certification; provision of services. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
§ 7–571.05. Rules. [Not Funded]
Not Funded.
