HOUSE BILL NO. 356

By Representatives White, Tidwell, Walley and Mr. Speaker Naifeh

Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 332

By Senator Springer

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 2, relative to the nutrition program for older persons.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 2, Part 1, is amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated section:

Section ___. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, regulation or policy to the contrary, the standards and procedures developed by the commission on aging relative to the nutrition program for older persons operated in accordance with the Older Americans Act shall not establish a threshold of an average of twenty (20) congregate meals per day for every site but shall first consider the remote location of a meal site. For such sites, if a determination is made by the commission that the majority of the older persons in the area served by the site are physically unable to attend a congregate meal site on a consistent basis and the health and well-being of such persons would be better maintained by receiving home delivered meals, the commission shall apply a threshold of an average of twenty (20) congregate and home-delivered meals a day for such sites.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.