46.85 Programs for older individuals.

(1) The department may establish and operate a Senior Companion Program modeled after the federal Senior Companion Program under 42 USC 5011 (b), in effect on April 30, 1980. If operated, the program shall engage the services of low-income persons aged 60 or over to provide supportive person-to-person assistance in health, education, recreation, welfare and related fields to persons aged 60 or over with special needs who reside in their own homes, and it may engage other persons aged 60 or older, regardless of income, as volunteers in similar activities. The department may also establish and operate a Retired Senior Volunteer Program modeled after the federal Retired Senior Volunteer Program under 42 USC 5001, in effect on April 30, 1980, to provide voluntary services in a community. If operated, the program shall engage persons aged 55 or older as volunteers.

(2) If the department establishes a program under this section, it shall promulgate rules for the operation of the program. Such rules shall include:

(a) A definition of “low income" which shall at least equal the guidelines of the federal ACTION program.

(b) A requirement that program units provide accident and liability insurance coverage during working hours for all program participants, including volunteers.

(c) A requirement that program units receiving federal funds establish advisory councils empowered according to, but not limited by, applicable federal guidelines. Council members may be reimbursed for transportation and other expenses incurred in service to the program.

(3m)

(a) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (dh), the department shall provide a state supplement to federally funded Senior Companion Program and Retired Senior Volunteer Program units that were in operation on December 1, 1988, and administered by qualified public and non-profit private agencies.

(b) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (dh), the department shall allocate funds, based on the percentage of the state's population of low-income persons over age 60 who reside in each county or are members of an American Indian tribe, and distribute the funds to counties and federally recognized tribal governing bodies to supplement any of the following:

1. Federally and nonfederally funded senior companion and retired senior volunteer programs.

2. Federal projects providing supportive services under 42 USC 3030d, congregate nutrition services under 42 USC 3030e, home-delivered meals under 42 USC 3030f and 3030g, in-home services for frail older individuals under 42 USC 3030h, 3030i, 3030j and 3030k and preventive health services under 42 USC 3030m, 3030n and 3030o.

(4) Low income older persons employed in a senior companion program shall be paid a stipend which compensates them for no more than 20 hours per week at an hourly rate not to exceed the federal minimum wage, and in addition shall receive reimbursement for the cost of one meal per working day.

(5) All persons engaged in a program under this section, whether for compensation or as volunteers, are eligible for:

(a) Transportation assistance, not to exceed mileage payments for 20 miles per day.

(b) Accident and liability insurance coverage during working hours.

History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 34, 221; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (20); 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2017 a. 59.