CHAPTER 74
AN ACT CREATING A DIVISION OF THE AGING IN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE STATE WELFARE HOME AND HOSPITAL FOR THE CHRONICALLY ILL AT SMYRNA; ESTABLISHING A DELAWARE CITIZENS' COUNCIL FOR THE AGING; MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES.
WHEREAS, in recent years there has developed a general awareness of the special needs and problems of the aged as older persons come to comprise an increasingly larger proportion of our population; and
WHEREAS, economic and social changes that have taken place in the United States have altered the position of the aged, posing problems for public and private agencies; and
WHEREAS, Public Law 908 of the 85th Congress provides that the President shall call a White House Conference on Aging in January 1961, and also provides for the assistance to the several states in conducting similar conferences on aging prior to the White House Conference, and for certain funds to be made available to assist the states in conducting similar conferences on aging prior to the White House Conference on Aging; and
WHEREAS, legislation is desirable for the enlargement of the mission of the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home and Hospital for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna,
NOW, THEREFORE
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Delaware:
Section 1. There is hereby established in the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home and Hospital for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna, a Division of the Aging, of the residents of the State of Delaware, consisting of a Director, the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home and Hospital for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna and the Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging.
Section 2. The Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home and Hospital for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna and shall serve for terms of five years and until their successors are chosen. The Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging shall consist of such membership as may be determined by the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home and Hospital for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna and may consist of representatives of those agencies of the State of Delaware concerned directly or indirectly with the problems of the aged. The Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging shall foster the formation of local community councils on aging and provide for cooperation with such community councils on aging as may be formed. The Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging shall provide for the issuance of reports and wide spread public dissemination of its activities.
Section 3. The Director shall be a person qualified for the position by virtue of his education, training and extensive professional experience with the aged. The appointment of the Director, his salary and duties shall be determined by the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home and Hospital for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna. The Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home and Hospital for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna may appoint such professional and technical and clerical assistants and employees as may be necessary to enable the Division of the Aging to perform the duties imposed upon it by this Act.
In addition to the duties herein set forth the Director shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna and shall be the liaison official between the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna and the Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging. The Director shall be a member ex officio of the Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging.
Section 4. The members of the Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging shall serve without compensation but they shall be entitled to be reimbursed for the necessary expenses including travel incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging.
Section 5. The Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging shall meet at least four times annually or oftener in its discretion and issue reports. The time and place of such meetings shall be fixed by resolution of the Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging. The Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging may adopt by-laws for the regulation of its affairs and shall organize by the selection from its membership a chairman, vice chairman, secretary and treasurer.
Section 6. The Division of the Aging and the Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna shall:
(1) Maintain a continuous study, analysis and interpretation of all information, data, programs and developments pertaining to the aging processes and the needs of the older residents of Delaware;
(2) Maintain a continuous inventory of resources in any way available which can be drawn upon to carry out the program of the Division in the performance of its functions and duties;
(3) Serve as the central permanent agency for the coordination of programs and services for the older residents in the State, particularly in respect to those to which multiple governmental agencies or private organizations may contribute;
(4) Provide leadership and administrative direction to such efforts from one central source so that those who need help or who may provide help on any of the aspects of aging shall have a central point of contact;
(5) Serve as a communications clearing house for information in the large and complex fields of human relationships in respect to aging;
(6) Shall have full and broad authority to provide adequate attention to the growing number of the aging residents in Delaware and to give every possible attention to and study of ways of meeting the needs and to utilizing the resources of the aging population and shall cooperate with other state and, Federal agencies.
Section 7. The Board of Trustees of the State Welfare Home for the Chronically Ill at Smyrna and the Delaware Citizens' Council on Aging shall respectively submit reports to the Governor of the State of Delaware on or before March 1 of each year commencing with the year 1960 and shall submit with their reports such legislative proposals as they deem necessary and advisable.
Approved June 17, 1959.