Section 39-7,163 - Kansas senior task force; topics of study; membership; appointment; meetings; report to the legislature; professional services; compensation(a) There is hereby established the Kansas senior care task force. The task force shall study the following topics: (1) The provision of care for seniors in the state of Kansas who suffer from Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other age-related mental health conditions;(2) the administration of antipsychotic medications to adult care home residents;(3) the safeguards to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of seniors in the state of Kansas;(4) adult care home surveys and fines;(5) the funding and implementation of the Kansas senior care act, K.S.A. 75-5926 through 75-5936, and amendments thereto;(6) senior daycare resources in the state of Kansas; and(7) rebalancing of home and community based services.(b) The Kansas senior care task force shall consist of the following members: (1) The chairperson of the senate standing committee on public health and welfare;(2) a member of the senate standing committee on public health and welfare, appointed by the president of the senate;(3) a member of the senate standing committee on public health and welfare, appointed by the minority leader of the senate;(4) the chairperson of the house of representatives standing committee on children and seniors;(5) a member of the house of representatives standing committee on children and seniors, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;(6) the ranking minority member of the house of representatives standing committee on children and seniors;(7) one representative of the Kansas department for aging and disability services, appointed by the secretary for aging and disability services;(8) one representative of the department of health and environment, appointed by the secretary of health and environment;(9) the state long-term care ombudsman or the state long-term care ombudsman's designee;(10) an elder law attorney, appointed by the governor;(11) one representative of the area agencies on aging, appointed by the secretary for aging and disability services;(12) one representative of the Kansas adult care executives association, appointed by the governor;(13) one representative of leadingage Kansas, appointed by leadingage Kansas;(14) one representative of the Kansas health care association, appointed by the Kansas health care association;(15) one representative of Kansas advocates for better care, appointed by Kansas advocates for better care;(16) one representative of the Kansas hospital association, appointed by the Kansas hospital association;(17) one representative of community mental health centers, as defined in K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 39-2002, amendments thereto, appointed by the association of community mental health centers of Kansas;(18) one representative of an adult care home, as defined in K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 39-923, and amendments thereto, appointed by the secretary for aging and disability services;(19) one representative of the American association of retired persons, appointed by the American association of retired persons;(20) one representative from the home and community-based services community, appointed by interhab;(21) one representative of the Alzheimer's association, appointed by the Alzheimer's association; and(22) a consumer of Kansas senior services, appointed by the speaker of the silver haired legislature.(c)(1) The first members of the Kansas senior care task force shall be appointed on or before August 1, 2021. The appointing authorities listed in subsection (b) shall provide notice of such appointments to the secretary for aging and disability services on the date of such appointment.(2) The chairperson of the house of representatives standing committee on children and seniors shall serve as the first chairperson of the Kansas senior care task force, and the chairperson of the senate standing committee on public health and welfare shall serve as the first vice-chairperson of the task force. The position of chairperson and vice-chairperson shall annually alternate upon the first meeting of the task force in each calendar year.(3) The chairperson of the task force shall serve as the official custodian of the public records of the task force. As used in this paragraph, "official custodian" and "public records" mean the same as provided in the Kansas open records act, K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., and amendments thereto.(4) The Kansas senior care task force may meet in an open meeting at any time and at any place by any means within the state of Kansas upon the call of the chairperson.(5) A majority of the voting members of the Kansas senior care task force constitutes a quorum. Any action by the task force shall be by motion adopted by a majority of voting members present when there is a quorum.(6) Any vacancy on the task force shall be filled by appointment and accompanied by notice in the manner prescribed in this section for the original appointment.(d) The Kansas department for aging and disability services shall, upon request by the Kansas senior care task force, provide data and information relating to senior services in the state of Kansas that is not otherwise prohibited or restricted from disclosure by state or federal law, including conditions imposed by federal law or rules and regulations for participation in federal programs administered by the secretary for aging and disability services.(e) The Kansas senior care task force shall submit a preliminary progress report to the legislature detailing the task force's study under this section on or before the beginning of the 2022 regular session of the legislature and a final report to the legislature detailing the task force's study on or before the beginning of the 2023 regular session of the legislature.(f) The Kansas senior care task force's report shall include recommended improvements regarding the well-being of seniors in the state of Kansas, including recommended changes to state statutes, rules and regulations, policies and programs.(g) Staff of the office of revisor of statutes, the legislative research department and the division of legislative administrative services shall provide assistance as may be requested by the Kansas senior care task force.(h) Subject to approval by the legislative coordinating council, members of the Kansas senior services task force attending meetings authorized by the task force shall be paid amounts provided in K.S.A. 75-3223(e), and amendments thereto, except that task force members who are employed by a state agency shall be reimbursed by such state agency.(i) The provisions of this section shall expire on June 30, 2023.Added by L. 2021, ch. 81,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2021.