46.82 Aging unit.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Aging unit" means an aging unit director and necessary personnel, directed by a county or tribal commission on aging and organized as one of the following:

1. An agency of county or tribal government with the primary purpose of administering programs of services for older individuals of the county or tribe.

2. A unit, within a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23, with the primary purpose of administering programs of services for older individuals of the county.

3. A private corporation that is organized under ch. 181 and that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17).

(b) “Area agency on aging" means an agency designated as specified in 42 USC 3025 (a) (2) (A).

(c) “Older individual" means an individual who is 60 years of age or older.

(2) Aging unit; creation. A county board of supervisors of a county, the county boards of supervisors of 2 or more contiguous counties or an elected tribal governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state may choose to administer, at the county or tribal level, programs for older individuals that are funded under 42 USC 3001 to 3057n, 42 USC 5001 and 42 USC 5011 (b). If this is done, the county board or boards of supervisors or tribal governing body shall establish by resolution a county or tribal aging unit to provide the services required under this section. If a county board of supervisors or a tribal governing body chooses, or the county boards of supervisors of 2 or more contiguous counties choose, not to administer the programs for older individuals, the department shall direct the area agency on aging that serves the relevant area to contract with a private, nonprofit corporation to provide for the county, tribe or counties the services required under this section.

(3) Aging unit; powers and duties. In accordance with state statutes, rules promulgated by the department and relevant provisions of 42 USC 3001 to 3057n and as directed by the county or tribal commission on aging, an aging unit:

(a) Duties. Shall do all of the following:

1. Work to ensure that all older individuals, regardless of income, have access to information, services and opportunities available through the county or tribal aging unit and have the opportunity to contribute to the cost of services and that the services and resources of the county or tribal aging unit are designed to reach those in greatest social and economic need.

2. Plan for, receive and administer federal, state and county, city, town or village funds allocated under the state and area plan on aging to the county or tribal aging unit and any gifts, grants or payments received by the county or tribal aging unit, for the purposes for which allocated or made.

3. Provide a visible and accessible point of contact for individuals to obtain accurate and comprehensive information about public and private resources available in the community which can meet the needs of older individuals.

4. As specified under s. 46.81, provide older individuals with services of benefit specialists or appropriate referrals for assistance.

5. Organize and administer congregate programs, which shall include a nutrition program and may include one or more senior centers or adult day care or respite care programs, that enable older individuals and their families to secure a variety of services, including nutrition, daytime care, educational or volunteer opportunities, job skills preparation and information on health promotion, consumer affairs and civic participation.

6. Work to secure a countywide or tribal transportation system that makes community programs and opportunities accessible to, and meets the basic needs of, older individuals.

7. Work to ensure that programs and services for older individuals are available to homebound, disabled and non-English speaking persons, and to racial, ethnic and religious minorities.

8. Identify and publicize gaps in services needed by older individuals and provide leadership in developing services and programs, including recruitment and training of volunteers, that address those needs.

9. Work cooperatively with other organizations to enable their services to function effectively for older individuals.

10. Actively incorporate and promote the participation of older individuals in the preparation of a county or tribal comprehensive plan for aging resources that identifies needs, goals, activities and county or tribal resources for older individuals.

11. Provide information to the public about the aging experience and about resources for and within the aging population.

12. Assist in representing needs, views and concerns of older individuals in local decision making and assist older individuals in expressing their views to elected officials and providers of services.

14. If the department is so requested by the county board of supervisors, administer the pilot projects for home and community-based long-term support services under s. 46.271.

15. If designated under s. 46.90 (2), administer the elder abuse reporting system under s. 46.90.

16. If designated under s. 46.87 (3) (c) or (d), administer the Alzheimer's disease family and caregiver support program under s. 46.87.

17. If designated by the county or in accordance with a contract with the department, operate the specialized transportation assistance program for a county under s. 85.21.

18. Advocate on behalf of older individuals to assist in enabling them to meet their basic needs.

19. If an aging unit under sub. (1) (a) 1. or 2. and if authorized under s. 46.283 (1) (a) 1., apply to the department to operate a resource center under s. 46.283 and, if the department contracts with the county under s. 46.283 (2), operate the resource center.

20. If an aging unit under sub. (1) (a) 1. or 2. and if authorized under s. 46.284 (1) (a) 1., apply to the department to operate a care management organization under s. 46.284 and, if the department contracts with the county under s. 46.284 (2), operate the care management organization and, if appropriate, place funds in a risk reserve.

(b) Powers. May perform any other general functions necessary to administer services for older individuals.

(4) Commission on aging.

(a) Appointment.

1. Except as provided under subd. 2., the county board of supervisors in a county that has established a single-county aging unit, the county boards of supervisors in counties that have established a multicounty aging unit or the elected tribal governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band that has established a tribal aging unit shall, before qualification under this section, appoint a governing and policy-making body to be known as the commission on aging.

2. In any county that has a county executive or county administrator and that has established a single-county aging unit, the county executive or county administrator shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the county board of supervisors, the commission on aging. A member of a commission on aging appointed under this subdivision may be removed at pleasure by the county executive or county administrator.

(b) Composition. A commission on aging, appointed under par. (a) shall be one of the following:

1. For an aging unit that is described in sub. (1) (a) 1. or 2., organized as a committee of the county board of supervisors, composed of supervisors and, beginning January 1, 1993, advised by an advisory committee, appointed by the county board. Older individuals shall constitute at least 50 percent of the membership of the advisory committee and individuals who are elected to any office may not constitute 50 percent or more of the membership of the advisory committee.

2. For an aging unit that is described in sub. (1) (a) 1. or 2., composed of individuals of recognized ability and demonstrated interest in services for older individuals. Older individuals shall constitute at least 50 percent of the membership of this commission and individuals who are elected to any office may not constitute 50 percent or more of the membership of this commission.

3. For an aging unit that is described in sub. (1) (a) 3., the board of directors of the private, nonprofit corporation. Older individuals shall constitute at least 50 percent of the membership of this commission and individuals who are elected to any office may not constitute 50 percent or more of the membership of this commission.

(c) Terms. Members of a county or tribal commission on aging shall serve for terms of 3 years, so arranged that, as nearly as practicable, the terms of one-third of the members shall expire each year, and no member may serve more than 2 consecutive 3-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. A tribal commission on aging member appointed under par. (a) 1. may be removed from office for cause by a two-thirds vote of each tribal governing body participating in the appointment, on due notice in writing and hearing of the charges against the member. A county commission on aging member appointed under par. (a) 1. may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of each county board of supervisors participating in the appointment, on due notice in writing.

(d) Powers and duties. A county or tribal commission on aging appointed under sub. (4) (a) shall, in addition to any other powers or duties established by state law, plan and develop administrative and program policies, in accordance with state law and within limits established by the department of health services, if any, for programs in the county or for the tribe or band that are funded by the federal or state government for administration by the aging unit. Policy decisions not reserved by statute for the department of health services may be delegated by the secretary to the county or tribal commission on aging. The county or tribal commission on aging shall direct the aging unit with respect to the powers and duties of the aging unit under sub. (3).

(5) Aging unit director; appointment. A full-time aging unit director shall be appointed on the basis of recognized and demonstrated interest in and knowledge of problems of older individuals, with due regard to training, experience, executive and administrative ability and general qualification and fitness for the performance of his or her duties, by one of the following:

(a)

1. For an aging unit that is described in sub. (1) (a) 1., except as provided in subd. 2., a county or tribal commission on aging shall make the appointment, subject to the approval of and to the personnel policies and procedures established by each county board of supervisors or the tribal governing body that participated in the appointment of the county or tribal commission on aging.

2. In any county that has a county executive or county administrator and that has established a single-county aging unit, the county executive or county administrator shall make the appointment, subject to the approval of and to the personnel policies and procedures established by each county board of supervisors that participated in the appointment of the county commission on aging.

(b) For an aging unit that is described in sub. (1) (a) 2., the director of the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 of which the aging unit is a part shall make the appointment, subject to the personnel policies and procedures established by the county board of supervisors.

(c) For an aging unit that is described in sub. (1) (a) 3., the commission on aging under sub. (4) (b) 3. shall make the appointment, subject to ch. 181.

History: 1991 a. 235; 1993 a. 213; 1995 a. 27 ss. 2332, 9126 (19); 1997 a. 79; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2015 a. 273; 2017 a. 150; 2019 a. 9.