Older Americans Act: Grants to State and Community Programs on Aging; Grants to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Grantees for Supportive, Nutrition, and Caregiver Services; Grants for Supportive and Nutritional Services to Older Hawaiian Natives; and Allotments for Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Activities

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES <SUBAGY>Administration for Community Living</SUBAGY> <CFR>45 CFR Parts 1321, 1322, 1323, and 1324</CFR> <RIN>RIN 0985-AA17</RIN> <SUBJECT>Older Americans Act: Grants to State and Community Programs on Aging; Grants to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Grantees for Supportive, Nutrition, and Caregiver Services; Grants for Supportive and Nutritional Services to Older Hawaiian Natives; and Allotments for Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Activities</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or “the Department”). <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> ACL is issuing this final rule to modernize the implementing regulations of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (“the Act” or OAA). These changes advance the policy goals of the Act as articulated by Congress, including equity in service delivery, accountability for funds expended, and clarity of administration for ACL and its grantees. This final rule ultimately facilitates improved service delivery and enhanced benefits for OAA participants, particularly those in greatest economic need and greatest social need consistent with the statute. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> <E T="03">Effective date:</E> This final rule is effective on March 15, 2024. <E T="03">Compliance date:</E> October 1, 2025. </EFFDATE> <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Amy Wiatr-Rodriguez, Director of Regional Operations, Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201. Email: <E T="03">amy.wiatr-rodriguez@acl.hhs.gov,</E> Telephone: (312) 938-9858. Alice Kelsey, Deputy Director for the Administration on Aging, Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201. Email: <E T="03">alice.kelsey@acl.hhs.gov,</E> Telephone: (202) 795-7342. <E T="03">Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking Record:</E> Upon request, the Department will provide an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public rulemaking record for the regulations. To schedule an appointment for this type of accommodation or auxiliary aid, please call (312) 938-9858 or email <E T="03">amy.wiatr-rodriguez@acl.hhs.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Statutory and Regulatory History</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Overview of the Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Severability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Provisions of the Final Rule and Analysis and Responses to Public Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Part 1321: Grants to State and Community Programs on Aging</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Provisions Revised To Reflect Statutory Changes and/or for Clarity</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart A—Introduction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.1 Basis and Purpose of This Part</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1321.3 Definitions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart B—State Agency Responsibilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.5 Mission of the State Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1321.7 Organization and Staffing of the State Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1321.9 State Agency Policies and Procedures</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. § 1321.11 Advocacy Responsibilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. § 1321.13 Designation of and Designation Changes to Planning and Service Areas</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. § 1321.15 Interstate Planning and Service Area</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">7. § 1321.17 Appeal to the Departmental Appeals Board on Planning and Service Area Designation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">8. § 1321.19 Designation of and Designation Changes to Area Agencies</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">9. § 1321.21 Withdrawal of Area Agency Designation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">10. § 1321.25 Duration, Format, and Effective Date of the State Plan</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">11. § 1321.27 Content of State Plan</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">12. § 1321.29 Public Participation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">13. § 1321.31 Amendments to the State Plan</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">14. § 1321.33 Submission of the State Plan or Plan Amendment to the Assistant Secretary for Aging for Approval</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">15. § 1321.35 Notification of State Plan or State Plan Amendment Approval or Disapproval for Changes Requiring Assistant Secretary for Aging Approval</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">16. § 1321.39 Appeals to the Departmental Appeals Board Regarding State Plan on Aging</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">17. § 1321.41 When a Disapproval Decision Is Effective</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">18. § 1321.43 How the State Agency May Appeal the Departmental Appeals Board's Decision</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">19. § 1321.45 How the Assistant Secretary for Aging May Reallot the State Agency's Withheld Payments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">20. § 1321.49 Intrastate Funding Formula</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">21. § 1321.51 Single Planning and Service Area States</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart C—Area Agency Responsibilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.55 Mission of the Area Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1321.57 Organization and Staffing of the Area Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1321.61 Advocacy Responsibilities of the Area Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. § 1321.63 Area Agency Advisory Council</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. § 1321.65 Submission of an Area Plan and Plan Amendments to the State Agency for Approval</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart D—Service Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.71 Purpose of Services Allotments Under Title III</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1321.73 Policies and Procedures</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1321.75 Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. § 1321.79 Responsibilities of Service Providers Under State and Area Plans</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. § 1321.83 Client and Service Priority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. § 1321.93 Legal Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. New Provisions Added To Clarify Responsibilities and Requirements Under Grants to State and Community Programs on Aging</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart B—State Agency Responsibilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.23 Appeal to the Departmental Appeals Board on Area Agency on Aging Withdrawal of Designation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1321.37 Notification of State Plan Amendment Receipt for Changes Not Requiring Assistant Secretary for Aging Approval</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1321.47 Conflicts of Interest Policies and Procedures for State Agencies</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. § 1321.53 State Agency Title III and Title VI Coordination Responsibilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart C—Area Agency Responsibilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.59 Area Agency Policies and Procedures</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1321.67 Conflicts of Interest Policies and Procedures for Area Agencies on Aging</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1321.69 Area Agency on Aging Title III and Title VI Coordination Responsibilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart D—Service Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.77 Purpose of Services—Person- and Family-Centered, Trauma-Informed</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1321.81 Client Eligibility for Participation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1321.85 Supportive Services</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. § 1321.87 Nutrition Services</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. § 1321.89 Evidence-Based Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Services</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. § 1321.91 Family Caregiver Support Services</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">7. § 1321.95 Service Provider Title III and Title VI Coordination Responsibilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart E—Emergency and Disaster Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.97 Coordination With State, Tribal, and Local Emergency Management</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1321.99 Setting Aside Funds To Address Disasters</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1321.101 Flexibilities Under a Major Disaster Declaration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. § 1321.103 Title III and Title VI Coordination for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. § 1321.105 Modification During Major Disaster Declaration or Public Health Emergency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Deleted Provisions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart A—Introduction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.5 Applicability of Other Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart D—Service Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1321.75 Licenses and Safety</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2"> Part 1322: Grants to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Grantees for Supportive, Nutrition, and Caregiver Services </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Provisions Revised To Reflect Statutory Changes and/or for Clarity</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart A—Introduction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1322.1 Basis and Purpose of This Part</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1322.3 Definitions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart B—Application</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1322.5 Application Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1322.7 Application Approval</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1322.9 Hearing Procedures</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Subpart C—Service Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. § 1322.13 Policies and Procedures</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. § 1322.15 Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. § 1322.25 Supportive Services</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. § 1322.27 Nutrition Services</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. 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