SECTIONS 9200-9205 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 9200-9205

9200. (a) (1) There is in the state government the California
Commission on Aging.
(2) The commission shall be composed of 25 persons, as follows:
(A) Nineteen persons shall be appointed by the Governor. Nine of
the 19 persons shall be appointed by the Governor from lists of
nominees submitted by the area agency on aging advisory councils. At
least five names shall be submitted as nominees for each vacancy.
(B) Three persons appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(C) Three persons appointed by the Senate Rules Committee.
(3) The commission shall be comprised of a majority of members 60
years of age or older.
(4) The commission shall be comprised of actual consumers of
services under the federal Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3001,
et seq.), as amended.
(5) The commission shall be composed of representatives of the
geographic, cultural, economic, and other social factors in the
state.
(b) The commission composition requirements shall be complied with
as vacancies occur.

9201. The term of office of members of the commission shall be
three years. Members shall not serve more than two terms, and shall
be appointed for staggered terms. The members shall select one of
their members to serve as chairperson and one of their members to
serve as vice chairperson on an annual basis.
A commissioner who fails to attend two consecutive monthly
meetings or who fails to attend four meetings per year, without
having given written excuse acceptable to the commission, shall cause
the commission to notify the appointing authority, and the
appointing authority may declare the position vacant.

9202. The duties and functions of the commission shall be to do all
of the following:
(a) Serve as the principal advocate body in the state on behalf of
older individuals, including, but not limited to, advisory
participation in the consideration of all legislation and regulations
made by state and federal departments and agencies relating to
programs and services that affect older individuals.
(b) Participate with the department in training workshops for
community, regional and statewide senior advocates, to help older
individuals understand legislative, regulatory, and program
implementation processes.
(c) Prepare, publish, and disseminate information, findings, and
recommendations regarding the well-being of older individuals.
(d) Actively participate and advise the department in the
development and preparation of the State Plan on Aging, conduct
public hearings on the State Plan on Aging, review and comment on the
state plan, and monitor the progress of the plan's implementation.
(e) Meet at least six times annually in order to study problems of
older individuals and present findings and make recommendations.
(f) Hold hearings throughout the state, that may include
conducting an annual statewide hearing inviting all departments
administering programs affecting seniors, in order to gather
information and advise the Governor, Legislature, department, and
agencies on all levels of government regarding solutions to problems
confronting older individuals and the most effective use of existing
resources and available services for individuals.
(g) Hire an executive director and, within budgetary limits, such
staff as may be necessary for the commission to fulfill its duties.
(h) Develop, in cooperation with the department, a method for the
selection of delegates to the statewide legislative meeting of senior
advocates.
(i) Perform other duties as may be required by statute,
regulation, or resolution.
(j) Meet and consult with the area agency on aging advisory
councils in order to exchange information, and assist in training,
planning, and development of advocacy skills.

9203. The commission may accept gifts and grants from any source,
public or private, to assist it in the performance of its functions,
and the gifts and grants shall operate to augment any appropriation
made for the support of the commission, provided that the department
shall serve as the fiscal agent for the accounting of the gifts and
grants and that no gifts or grants shall be used for the operation by
the commission of direct service programs that would conflict with
the department's duties and functions as described by law.

9203.5. The commission may also accept gifts on behalf of the Area
Agency on Aging Advisory Council of California, subject to the
provisions of Section 9203, as those provisions apply to the
commission.

9204. Wherever there is a reference in any statute of this state to
the Citizens Advisory Committee on Aging of the California
Commission on Aging, it shall be construed to refer to the California
Commission on Aging if the reference concerns an advisory or
advocacy function, or a function described in Section 9202. Any other
reference shall be construed to refer to the department.

9205. Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for their
actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the
performance of their official duties.