Library: Policy

340:105-10-20. Designation of Area Agencies on Aging

Revised 5-13-02

(a) Policy.  The State Agency annually designates Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to carry out the mission of the Older Americans Act (OAA) at the substate level.  The State Agency may not designate any regional or local office of the state as an AAA.  When the State Agency designates a new AAA, it gives the right of first refusal to a unit of general purpose local government if such unit can meet the requirements of Section 305(c) of the OAA, and the boundaries of such a unit and the boundaries of the designated planning and service area (PSA) are reasonably contiguous.  In addition to units of general purpose local government, other entities may be considered for AAA designation to include:

(1) an established office of aging which is operating within a designated PSA;

(2) any office or agency of a unit of general purpose local government which is designated to function only for the purpose of serving as an area agency by the chief elected official of such unit;

(3) any office or agency designated by the appropriate chief elected officials of any combination of units of general purpose local government to act only on behalf of such combination for such purpose;

(4) any public or nonprofit private agency in a PSA, or any separate organizational unit within such agency, which is under the supervision or direction for this purpose of the designated State Agency and engages only in the planning or provision of a broad range of supportive services, or nutrition services within such PSA; or

(5) in the case of a state being designated as a single PSA, the State Agency.

(b) Authority.  The authority for this Section is Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1321.33 and Section 305(c) of the OAA of 1965, as amended.

(c) Procedures.  Prior to the annual designation of AAAs, the State Agency conducts activities to include:

(1) publishing a Local Project Funding Contract Announcement in the Oklahoma Register which outlines the:

(A) description of the project;

(B) amount of funds available;

(C) applicant eligibility criteria;

(D) application deadline; and

(E) contact person's name, address, and telephone number;

(2) accepting and reviewing applications based on a published Area Plan format;

(3) providing appropriate technical assistance to applicants regarding application deficiencies;

(4) awarding Title III funding to those applicants who best demonstrate their ability to carry out the functions of an AAA; and

(5) providing an opportunity for appeal to any applicant denied AAA designation  who submits a written request for a hearing within 30 days of the notice of denial.

(d) Cross references.  See 340:105‑10-10, OAC 340:105-10-11(a)(5), 340:105-10-30, 340:105-10-31 and 340:105‑10‑33.