WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 765

An Act relative to councils on aging

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Christine Barber and 5 co-sponsors

MA H765 updates Councils on Aging to deliver services (not just programs) and let directors hire staff as needed, improving access for older adults.

Accompanied a new draft, see H4301
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 765

Summary: H.765 An Act Relative to Councils on Aging (Massachusetts)

Overview

H.765, titled “An Act relative to councils on aging,” seeks to amend the Massachusetts General Laws to modernize and clarify the roles, responsibilities, and staffing of Councils on Aging (COAs). The bill is sponsored by Representatives Donaghue and Barber and companions in the Senate. It was introduced on February 27, 2025, and is proceeding through the legislative process with associated hearings and committee referrals. The bill accompanies a new draft (H.4301) and replaces prior related proposals (HD 2130 replaces HD 624 from the 2023–2024 session).

  • Docket/Filed: House No. 765 (Filed 1/15/2025)
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Related draft: H.4301 (new draft accompanying this bill)
  • Legislative actions noted: Hearing scheduled (04/14/2025), referrals to committees, and Senate concurrence noted
  • Referred to: Elder Affairs (initial referral), later to Aging and Independence per an order of the two branches

Purpose and Intent

  • Align COA activities with current needs by explicitly recognizing councils’ role in “carrying out programs and delivering services” to older adults.
  • Update terminology to reflect modern language around aging services (e.g., replacing “problems of the aging” with “needs of older adults”).

Key Provisions (amendments to Chapter 40, Section 8B)

1) Section 8B, Chapter 40, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is amended to:
- Add language after “carrying out programs” to read: “… and delivering services.”
2) Section 8B is amended to replace the phrase “problems of the aging” with “needs of older adults” in the specified location.
3) Section 8B is amended to replace the term “such clerks” with “staff” in the specified location.
4) Section 8B is amended to add a new provision after the clause “as it may require”:
- “Provided, that if the council is an advisory council, the director may appoint staff and other employees as it may require consistent with municipal needs.”

  • Effect: These changes broaden COA duties to include direct service delivery, update language for contemporary phrasing, remove ambiguous terminology about “clerks,” and authorize directors of advisory COAs to hire staff as needed under municipal guidelines.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Councils on Aging (COAs) across municipalities in Massachusetts.
  • COA directors and municipal personnel who manage aging services.
  • Older adults and communities served by COAs, who may experience enhanced access to services and streamlined coding for staff support.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Initial Referrals: Referred to the Committee on Elder Affairs (Feb 27, 2025).
  • Hearing: Scheduled (as of March 31, 2025) for April 14, 2025, in committee A-1.
  • Subsequent actions: Referred pursuant to an order adopted by the two branches to the Committee on Aging and Independence (June 27, 2025).
  • Draft status: Accompanied by a new draft (H.4301) as of July 28, 2025.
  • Related process: Similar matter previously filed (House 624 in 2023–2024); HD 2130 replaces or supersedes prior proposals.

Notes and Considerations

  • The bill does not specify funding amounts; any staffing changes for COAs would interact with municipal budgets and state guidance on aging services.
  • If enacted, the changes would modernize COA authority and operations, potentially improving service delivery and administrative capacity at the local level.

This summary captures the substantive changes and potential impact for readers seeking to understand H.765’s objectives and effects on Councils on Aging in Massachusetts.

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

Sign in to ask a question.