(1) In addition to such other duties and functions as the executive director may allocate to the state office, the state office shall have the following duties and functions:

(a) To develop and administer a state plan on aging, which includes input from area agencies on aging;

(b) To establish a process that encourages local, regional, and statewide participation in the development stages of the state plan on aging, which shall be coordinated with the area agencies on aging, the commission established under part 1 of this article, and other persons or entities involved in programs for older persons;

(c) To assist public and nonprofit private agencies in planning and developing programs to facilitate a statewide network of comprehensive, coordinated services and opportunities for older persons, giving priority to those agencies, programs, services, and activities that support independent living;

(d) To study those aspects of the problems of aging necessary to accomplish the purpose of state policy through such activities as conducting research, computing statistics, and holding hearings;

(e) To maintain a clearinghouse of information related to the interests and needs of older persons and act as a referral service for the dissemination of said information;

(f) To assess the need for services to be provided to the older population within the state and determine the extent to which the state's service delivery system serves said population, with particular emphasis on older persons with the greatest economic and social needs;

(g) To encourage and support the involvement of volunteers and seek ways to utilize the private sector to assume greater responsibility in meeting the needs of older persons; and

(h) To designate area agencies on aging to assist the state office in carrying out its functions in specified geographic areas within the state.