WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 1376

An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in Department of Aging, further providing for objectives, for powers and duties in general, for area agencies and powers and duties and for evaluation.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jarrett Coleman and 2 co-sponsors

Strengthens oversight and accountability for protecting older Pennsylvanians by standardizing training, speeding investigations, and publicly reporting agency performance.

Re-referred to Appropriations
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1376

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Bill: SB 1376
  • Introduced: June 8, 2026
  • Primary focus: Amending The Administrative Code of 1929 to strengthen the Department of Aging’s oversight, evaluation, training, and accountability related to protective services for older Pennsylvanians.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create and empower a cabinet-level State agency focused on advancing the well-being of older Pennsylvanians and coordinating federal/state programs for seniors.
  • Enhance protection for older adults by tightening oversight, standardizing training, and increasing accountability of area agencies on aging.
  • Improve accuracy and timeliness in investigations and protective services, and ensure public reporting and continuous improvement.

Key provisions and changes

Section 2201-A – Objectives

  • Establishes objectives including:
    • Creating a cabinet-level State agency dedicated to older Pennsylvanians.
    • Coordinating the Commonwealth’s administration of federal/state programs to reduce duplication.
    • Promoting efficient delivery of services to older adults.
    • Encouraging development of independent clubs/associations for older Pennsylvanians to support independence and dignity.
    • Protecting older adults.

Section 2203-A – Powers and Duties (general)

  • Prohibits the department from entering contracts that limit oversight by the department, the General Assembly, or the Auditor General.
  • Requires training for area agency employees, including:
    • Protective services casework training (topics: abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment; laws/regulations; detection; case assessments; protective services; interviewing skills; confidentiality; etc.).
    • Protective services investigation training (topics: investigations, criminal procedures, interviewing victims/collateral sources, evidence collection, coordination with other agencies, etc.).
    • Protective services intake training (topics: interviewing reporters, report forms, preliminary assessment, referrals, emergency procedures, confidentiality).
    • Remedial training for topics where an agency scored below 85% on the latest evaluation.

Section 2207-A – Area Agencies; Powers and Duties (investigations)

  • Establishes explicit timelines and procedures for investigations by area agencies:
    • Emergency: face-to-face visit within 24 hours of report receipt; immediate safety focus.
    • Priority: attempts within 24 hours; face-to-face with the older adult within 24 hours.
    • Nonpriority: initiate within 72 hours; at least one face-to-face visit during the investigation.
    • No-need-for-protective-services: reevaluate and refer to appropriate systems within 72 hours; otherwise, follow applicable investigation provisions.
    • General goal: complete investigations promptly, with steps to reduce risk when substantiated.
  • Requires documentation of access efforts if access to the older adult is not possible.

Section 2211-A – Evaluation

  • Ongoing departmental review and annual onsite evaluations of area agencies.
  • Evaluations include: case categorization accuracy, investigative timeliness, completeness of case files, care plans, risk reduction, funding usage, and outcomes like reversals of no-need determinations.
  • Annual reporting to Governor and General Assembly; annual public release of evaluation findings.
  • Inclusion of beneficiary input in evaluations.

Evaluation Metrics and Scoring

  • Evaluation includes metrics related to:
    • OPTIONS (care and caregiver support) and primary caregiver programs.
    • Best management practices, service effectiveness, coordination, eligibility criteria, billing compliance, and funding usage.
  • Agencies must score at least 85% to be compliant.

Oversight, Compliance, and Remedial Pathways

  • If compliant: 25% annual audits of alleged abuse cases classified as no-need for services; 25% audits of cases involving a death during active investigation; ongoing monitoring; stakeholder feedback; corrective actions as needed.
  • If score 75-<85%: remedial status with expanded audits (50%), remedial improvement plan, enhanced training, policy self-assessments, bimonthly meetings, and follow-up within six months.
  • If score <75%: noncompliant status with more aggressive remediation measures, higher audit rates (75%), noncompliant improvement plan, monthly meetings, and reevaluation within 90 days of the plan.
  • Public posting of remediation plans and related documentation; development of improvement best practices.

Financial and Auditor General Oversight

  • Annual full financial audit of each area agency; results posted publicly.
  • Auditor General audits of area agencies and Department of Aging as needed, with biannual public posting.

Section 4 – Privacy Protection

  • Clarifies that nothing in the act requires public disclosure of a older adult’s personal information.

Section 5 – Effective Date

  • Takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Who would be affected

  • Department of Aging (state level) and its governance structure.
  • Area Agencies on Aging (county-level entities responsible for service delivery and investigations).
  • Older Pennsylvanians and their caregivers, beneficiaries of OPTIONS and caregiver support programs.
  • Agencies involved in protective services, investigations, and welfare service coordination.
  • Auditor General and other oversight bodies (due to expanded audit authority and reporting).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Referred to the Aging and Youth committee; introduced June 2026.
  • Provisions emphasize annual evaluations, ongoing training, and regular public reporting.
  • Effective date 60 days after enactment, with phased amendments to training and evaluation processes.

Potential impact

  • Strengthened protections for older adults through faster, more consistent investigations and enhanced protective services.
  • Increased transparency via public evaluation reports and mandatory remediation plans.
  • Higher training standards for staff, potentially improving case outcomes and reducing abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
  • Greater accountability for area agencies through structured scoring, remedial pathways, and explicit oversight by the Department of Aging, the General Assembly, and the Auditor General.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.