1| STATE OF OKLAHOMA | | | 2| 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) | | | 3|HOUSE BILL 2914 By: Pittman | | | 4| | | | 5| | | | 6| AS INTRODUCED | | | 7| An Act relating to caretakers; creating the Oklahoma | | Respite Care Pilot Program for Seniors Act; providing | 8| the purpose; providing definitions; establishing | | respite care pilot programs; providing for | 9| eligibility; providing application process; providing | | participating providers; providing for funding; | 10| providing for reporting and evaluation; providing for | | codification; and providing an effective date. | 11| | | | 12| | | | 13| | | | 14| SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 15|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3119.1 of Title 63, unless there | | | 16|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 17| This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma | | | 18|Respite Care Pilot Program for Seniors Act". | | | 19| SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 20|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3119.2 of Title 63, unless there | | | 21|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 22| The purpose of this act is to establish pilot programs designed | | | 23|to provide respite care services for seniors in Oklahoma through | | | 24|vouchers or respite waivers. These programs will ensure caregivers | | | Req. No. 12212 Page 1 ___________________________________________________________________________
1|can access essential weekend and evening care services through adult | | | 2|day centers and residential care facilities equipped to meet the | | | 3|unique needs of seniors. The ultimate goal is to reduce caregiver | | | 4|burnout, support working families, and improve the well-being of | | | 5|both seniors and their caregivers by offering flexible care options. | | | 6| SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 7|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3119.3 of Title 63, unless there | | | 8|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 9| For purposes of this act: | | | 10| 1. "Adult day center" means a licensed facility providing | | | 11|social, health-related, or personal care services in a protective | | | 12|setting during the day; | | | 13| 2. "Respite care" means temporary relief for primary caregivers | | | 14|of seniors, providing short-term care for seniors in appropriate | | | 15|settings; | | | 16| 3. "Residential care facility" means a facility licensed to | | | 17|provide care services to seniors who do not require twenty-four-hour | | | 18|nursing care but need assistance with daily living activities; | | | 19| 4. "Respite waiver" refers to financial assistance provided to | | | 20|eligible caregivers, ensuring access to respite care services at no | | | 21|or reduced cost; and | | | 22| 5. "Voucher" means a payment issued to caregivers allowing them | | | 23|to obtain respite care services from participating care providers. | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 12212 Page 2 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 2|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3119.4 of Title 63, unless there | | | 3|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 4| A. The Department of Human Services (DHS) is hereby authorized | | | 5|to establish and administer pilot programs for the provision of | | | 6|respite care vouchers or respite waivers to caregivers of seniors | | | 7|limited to designated counties, and within the designated counties, | | | 8|qualified facilities may opt into the pilot program. | | | 9| B. The pilot programs shall: | | | 10| 1. Provide financial assistance in the form of vouchers or | | | 11|waivers for caregivers of seniors, enabling them to access care | | | 12|services outside traditional hours, including weekend and evening | | | 13|care; | | | 14| 2. Prioritize caregivers who are employed in evening-hour or | | | 15|nontraditional work schedules, ensuring they have access to services | | | 16|when needed most; and | | | 17| 3. Facilitate the participation of adult day centers, | | | 18|residential care facilities, and other licensed providers equipped | | | 19|to deliver care for seniors with various health and personal needs. | | | 20| SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 21|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3119.5 of Title 63, unless there | | | 22|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 23| A. To qualify for participation in the respite care pilot | | | 24|programs, applicants shall: | | | Req. No. 12212 Page 3 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| 1. Be primary caregivers of seniors aged sixty-five (65) years | | | 2|or older; | | | 3| 2. Demonstrate employment in evening-hour jobs or | | | 4|nontraditional work schedules where traditional caregiving services | | | 5|are not sufficient; and | | | 6| 3. Provide documentation demonstrating financial need for | | | 7|respite care assistance, as determined by the Department of Human | | | 8|Services (DHS). | | | 9| B. Applications for respite care vouchers or waivers shall be | | | 10|made to (DHS), which will evaluate and approve applicants based on | | | 11|established criteria. | | | 12| SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 13|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3119.6 of Title 63, unless there | | | 14|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 15| A. Eligible providers for respite care services under this act | | | 16|shall include: | | | 17| 1. Licensed adult day centers and residential care facilities; | | | 18|and | | | 19| 2. Other licensed care agencies equipped to meet the unique | | | 20|needs of seniors. | | | 21| B. Providers shall be reimbursed by the state for services | | | 22|rendered under the voucher or waiver programs, based on rates | | | 23|established by the Department of Human Services (DHS). | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 12212 Page 4 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 2|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3119.7 of Title 63, unless there | | | 3|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 4| A. The respite care pilot programs established by this act | | | 5|shall be funded through multiple sources, including but not limited | | | 6|to: | | | 7| 1. Grants from federal, state, or private sources; | | | 8| 2. Public-private partnerships designed to support caregiving | | | 9|and senior care; and | | | 10| 3. Allocated state funds, subject to legislative | | | 11|appropriations. | | | 12| B. The Department of Human Services (DHS) is authorized to seek | | | 13|and apply for available federal and state funding to support the | | | 14|pilot programs, including funds under the Medicaid program and other | | | 15|relevant federal initiatives. | | | 16| SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 17|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3119.8 of Title 63, unless there | | | 18|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 19| A. The Department of Human Services (DHS) shall conduct an | | | 20|annual review and report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of | | | 21|the respite care pilot programs, including: | | | 22| 1. The number of caregivers served by the programs; | | | 23| 2. Data on the utilization of care services during | | | 24|nontraditional hours; and | | | Req. No. 12212 Page 5 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| 3. Program outcomes, including improvements in caregiver | | | 2|well-being and senior care. | | | 3| B. The report shall include recommendations for expanding, | | | 4|modifying, or continuing the programs based on its performance and | | | 5|stakeholder feedback. | | | 6| SECTION 9. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. | | | 7| | | | 8| 60-1-12212 TJ 01/15/25 | | | 9| | | | 10| | | | 11| | | | 12| | | | 13| | | | 14| | | | 15| | | | 16| | | | 17| | | | 18| | | | 19| | | | 20| | | | 21| | | | 22| | | | 23| | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 12212 Page 6