FY 2016 Appropriation

The Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) is the designated state agency authorized to coordinate all state activities related to the Older Americans Act of 1965 (later amended in the year 2000). DAAS contracts for services, oversees state and federal programs, and advocates for the elderly. The programs are administered by the state's twelve local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) under the direction of DAAS. Programs funded through the Older Americans Act are distributed to AAAs through an approved funding formula. The division is also responsible, through its Adult Protective Services (APS) program, for the protection of abused, neglected, and exploited adults and elderly.

Additional information regarding the Division of Aging and Adult Services can be found on its official website found at: Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services

Funding History

Funding Issues

Adult Protective Services Caseworkers

Adult Protective Services Caseload - 3 additional caseworkers, 2 of which will help with increasing field caseloads (particularly in rural areas of the state) and 1 with increasing intake caseloads. Adult Protective Services (APS) is tasked with investigating abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including financial exploitation, of seniors aged 65 and older as well as vulnerable adults, defined as individuals aged 18-64 who have a disability that limits their ability to complete two or more Activities of Daily Living. Each year there are thousands of reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors and vulnerable adults in Utah, with a 35% growth in allegations since 2009. This is an increase from the base of 7.5%.

Aging Nutrition

This item was funded $300,000 with one-time funding sources in the 2014 General Session. Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) requested a $300,000 ongoing amount in the 2015 General Session to address federal sequestration reductions affecting meals to a "vulnerable aging population either at senior centers or through the meals on wheels program." The Governor recommended funding $150,000 one-time for "Meals on Wheels." The Governor also recommended using $150,000 from the DHS federal reserve. The senior nutrition programs consist of Meals on Wheels (Home-delivered Meals) and meals served in senior centers (Congregate Meals). Both programs are designed to provide nutritious meals to seniors who cannot leave their homes or who may lack nutrition in the food they eat. Senior nutrition meals are created to meet seniors' specific nutritional needs and are intended to prevent issues associated with malnutrition and dehydration. Although both programs are currently in place, the demand for senior nutrition, as well as the costs of administering the programs, continues to rise and the request is for an additional General Fund to be provided to the twelve Utah Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) who administer senior nutrition programs across the state. The program requires clients be seniors aged 60 or older.
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $24,586,900 from all sources for Aging and Adult Services. This is a 5.6 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $14,125,700 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 7.5 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Adult Protective Services Caseworkers$229,700$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$229,700$0General Fund
Adult Protective Services Caseload - 3 additional caseworkers, 2 of which will help with increasing field caseloads (particularly in rural areas of the state) and 1 with increasing intake caseloads. Adult Protective Services (APS) is tasked with investigating abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including financial exploitation, of seniors aged 65 and older as well as vulnerable adults, defined as individuals aged 18-64 who have a disability that limits their ability to complete two or more Activities of Daily Living. Each year there are thousands of reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors and vulnerable adults in Utah, with a 35% growth in allegations since 2009. This is an increase from the base of 7.5%.
Aging Local Caregiver Support$0$250,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$250,000General Fund, One-time
This funding will be passed through to the local Area Agencies on Aging to provide additional respite services to the caregivers of seniors.
Aging Nutrition$0$500,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$350,000General Fund, One-time
$0$150,000Federal Funds
This item was funded $300,000 with one-time funding sources in the 2014 General Session. Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) requested a $300,000 ongoing amount in the 2015 General Session to address federal sequestration reductions affecting meals to a "vulnerable aging population either at senior centers or through the meals on wheels program." The Governor recommended funding $150,000 one-time for "Meals on Wheels." The Governor also recommended using $150,000 from the DHS federal reserve. The senior nutrition programs consist of Meals on Wheels (Home-delivered Meals) and meals served in senior centers (Congregate Meals). Both programs are designed to provide nutritious meals to seniors who cannot leave their homes or who may lack nutrition in the food they eat. Senior nutrition meals are created to meet seniors' specific nutritional needs and are intended to prevent issues associated with malnutrition and dehydration. Although both programs are currently in place, the demand for senior nutrition, as well as the costs of administering the programs, continues to rise and the request is for an additional General Fund to be provided to the twelve Utah Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) who administer senior nutrition programs across the state. The program requires clients be seniors aged 60 or older.
Aging Waiver$673,900$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$200,000$0General Fund
$473,900$0Transfers - Medicaid
This item was presented as a request to the Health and Human Services interim standing committee on 9-17-14 asking that the waiting list on the aging waiver be fully funded. Some have suggested funding this item as a cost saving measure to reduce more expensive institutional care. Funding for the Aging Waiver has been flat for a number of years.
Background Checks/HB 145 Vulnerable Adult Workers$4,400$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$4,400$0General Fund
Human Services - Background Checks & HB 145 - Vulnerable Adult Worker Amendments - "to enable background checks of employees working with vulnerable adults."
Supplemental Federal Funds Adjustment - Human Services$0$333,200
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$333,200Federal Funds
No Description
Staff Analysis

Separate tables are shown under the tab labeled "Financials" in each COBI section. These tables provide information regarding: 1) funding sources (where the money comes from), 2) standardized state expenditure categories (where the money goes), and 3) agency sub-programs (when viewed at the line item level). For the most recent completed fiscal year, the following information represents the purposes for which the money was used:

Aging and Adult Services Administration Detailed Purposes

DAAS Local Government Grants Formula Funding Detailed Purposes

DAAS Local Government Grants Non-formula Funds Detailed Purposes

DAAS Adult Protective Services Detailed Purposes

DAAS Aging Waiver Services Detailed Purposes

DAAS Aging Alternatives Program

Performance measures can be found at the individual program level.

Statute

Utah Code Title 62A, Chapter 3 authorizes and describes the programs of the Division of Aging and Adult Services:

  • Part 1: Creation and duties of the division, its state board, and functions of the local area agencies on aging
  • Part 2: Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
  • Part 3: Abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults

Utah Code 76-5-111 describes the penalties associated with abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

In addition to state law, many functions provided by DAAS have provisions detailed in federal law. Those federal law references, where available, follow:

The Older Americans Act creates the Administration on Aging and authorizes the distribution of federal funds.

Code of Federal Regulations Title 45: Public Welfare, Part 1321 -- Grants to state and Community Programs on Aging,

Subpart D -- Service Requirements (a) Title III of the Older Americans Act authorizes the distribution of federal funds to the state agency on aging by formula for the following categories of services:

  • Supportive services
  • Congregate meals services
  • Home delivered meals services
  • In-home services
  • Ombudsman services
  • Elder abuse services
  • Preventive health services
  • Outreach services

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 93

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $50,000 of appropriations provided for the Department of Human Services' Division of Aging and Adult Services - Adult Protective Services, in Item 42, Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. These funds are to be used for the purchase of computer equipment and software, capital equipment or improvements, equipment, or supplies.

HB0003: Item 93

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that any remaining funds provided by Item 42, Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 2014 for the Department of Human Services' Division of Aging and Adult Services not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. It is further the intent of the Legislature that these non-lapsing funds are to be used for client services for the Aging Waiver consistent with the requirements found at UCA 63J-1-603(3)(b).

SB0002: Item 86

The Legislature intends the Department of Human Services' Division of Aging and Adult Services use applicable federal funding reserves to provide one-time funding of $150,000 for Aging Nutrition.

SB0007S01: Item 31

The Legislature intends that the Department of Human Services report on the following performance measures for the Aging and Adult Services line item: (1) Medicaid Aging Waiver: Average Cost of Client at 15% or less of Nursing Home Cost (Target = 15%), (2) Adult Protective Services: Protective needs resolved positively (Target = 95%), and (3) Meals on Wheels: Total meals served (Target = 10,115) by January 1, 2016 to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

For analysis of current budget requests and discussion of issues related to this budget click here.

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.