Bill to Create Local Senior Services Districts Advances

TALLAHASSEE – A bill sponsored by Senator Nan Rich (D-Weston) that would expand access to health care and social services for senior citizens passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee Tuesday.

Modeled after a similar law that created local-option Children Services Councils, the bill would allow individual counties to levy additional property taxes to fund services for elderly residents, if a majority of county voters approve.

With more than 4.2 million Floridians over the age of 60 – one million of them over age 80 – Senator Rich said the bill is needed because state funding of programs for the elderly doesn't meet the needs of Florida seniors.

We have more than 46,000 seniors on the state waiting list for basic services that let people stay in their homes as they age, instead of going into nursing homes,” Rich said. “This bill will give voters an opportunity to approve extra funding to help seniors stay in their homes.”

Senator Rich said programs that keep the elderly out of nursing homes, such as Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) and Nursing Home Diversion, make good financial sense, in addition to improving seniors' quality of life.

“It actually costs less money to provide a few basic services to help older people stay in their homes, than it does to pay for nursing home care,” Rich said. “With our Medicaid nursing home budget already at $2.6 billion a year, investing a little at the local level to keep people out of nursing homes will actually save taxpayer money in the long run.”

The bill, which must still pass several other Senate committees, before being voted on by the full Senate, would cap the additional property tax that voters could approve at one-half mill, or $112.50 per year on a homestead property valued at $250,000.

For additional information, please contact: Ellen Navarro, Legislative Aide, Senator Nan Rich, District 34, (850) 487-5103

Source: Press Release of February 2, 2010, Florida Senate Democratic Office