Effective 28 Aug 1999

208.535. Commission, duties. — The responsibilities of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The commission shall annually prepare a report identifying the special needs of the minority older population in Missouri as compared to the older population at-large and make recommendations for meeting those needs. The report shall be completed no later than October first of each year, beginning in 1999, and copies transmitted to the governor, the general assembly and appropriate state agencies. The report shall, at a minimum:

(a) Contain an overview of the special health, psychological and social needs of minority older Missourians with particular attention to low-income minority older individuals;

(b) Identify specific diseases and health conditions for which minority older individuals are at greater risk than the general population;

(c) Identify problems experienced by minority older individuals in obtaining services from governmental agencies;

(d) Identify programs at the state and local level designed to specifically meet the needs of minority older individuals; and

(e) Recommend program improvements and services at the state and local level designed to address the special unmet needs of the minority older population;

(2) In preparing the report required by this section, the commission shall solicit and consider the input of individuals and organizations representing the concerns of the minority older population, with particular attention to the service needs of those with incomes below the federal poverty level, concerning:

(a) Programs and services needed by minority older individuals;

(b) The extent to which existing programs do not meet the needs of minority older individuals;

(c) The accessibility of existing programs to minority older individuals;

(d) The availability and adequacy of information regarding existing services;

(e) Health problems that minority older individuals experience at a higher rate than the nonminority older population; and

(f) Financial, social and other barriers experienced by minority older individuals in obtaining needed services;

(3) Conduct an outreach program that provides information to minority older Missourians about health, psychological and social problems experienced by minority older individuals and available programs to address those problems, as identified in the report prepared pursuant to this section.

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(L. 1994 S.B. 480, A.L. 1999 S.B. 7)