Sec. 304. Innovations in nutrition programs and services

769 words·~3 min read·/bill/119/s/2120/is/section-304

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Subpart 3 of part C of title III ( 42 U.S.C. 3030g–21 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: From funds available under paragraph (5), the Assistant Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities, to achieve the purposes of section 330(1) by developing, testing, implementing, and evaluating innovative local or regional approaches to improve the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and outcomes of nutrition projects and services described in sections 311, 331, and 336.

In order to be eligible for a grant under paragraph (1), an entity shall— be— a State agency, an area agency on aging, an Indian Tribe, a Tribal organization, or another public or nonprofit private entity, including a nutrition service provider, a multipurpose senior center, a health care entity, or an institution of higher education; or a partnership between any entities described in clause (i); and submit an application at such time and in such manner as the Assistant Secretary may require, including— a description of an innovative approach referred to in paragraph

(1)that the entity proposes to implement under the grant; a plan for evaluating the effectiveness, including cost-effectiveness, of the innovative approach proposed; and a plan for the publication of the results of such evaluation. In selecting eligible entities for grants under this subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities proposing to carry out a grant in 1 or more rural areas. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 , and annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives describing any activities carried out under paragraph (1), an assessment of the outcomes of such activities using rigorous methodologies, and recommendations for inclusion of any successful innovative approaches within nutrition programs established under this Act. From the total of the amounts made available for a fiscal year under paragraphs

(1)and

(2)of section 303(b) and in section 311(e), the Assistant Secretary shall reserve an amount equal to not more than 1 percent to carry out activities described in paragraph

(1)of this subsection. Subject to paragraph (6), in carrying out nutrition projects established under this Act, a State agency or title VI grantee may implement innovative approaches, including any applicable approaches implemented previously by the Assistant Secretary or pursuant to subsection (a), that are demonstrated to be effective, to achieve the purposes described in section 330(1) by improving— the quality, composition, preparation, modality, delivery, or location of meals provided to older individuals under this Act; or the efficiency and effectiveness of distributing, delivering, or otherwise making meals available to older individuals under this Act. At the request of a State agency implementing an approach under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary may waive any requirements of subpart 1 or 2 with respect to such State agency if such requirements impede the ability of such State agency to successfully implement such an approach. The Secretary shall provide maximum flexibility to a title VI grantee implementing an approach under paragraph

(1)in the same manner as the Secretary provides maximum flexibility in accordance with section 614(c)(3). The authority to carry out activities described in paragraph

(1)shall expire on October 1, 2030. Not later than September 30, 2029, the Assistant Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives describing any activities carried out by State agencies or title VI grantees under paragraph (1), an assessment of the outcomes of such activities using rigorous methodologies, and recommendations for inclusion of any successful innovative approaches within nutrition programs established under this Act. If the amount appropriated to carry out section 311 for a fiscal year exceeds the amount appropriated to carry out section 311 for the prior fiscal year or fiscal year 2024, whichever is greater, a State agency and title VI grantee in receipt of an allotment under section 311(b) may elect to use the difference between the allotment received for the fiscal year and the allotment received for the prior fiscal year or fiscal year 2024, whichever is greater, for activities described in paragraph (1). Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting or prohibiting the requirements described in section 339 from applying to nutrition projects utilizing an innovative approach under this subsection. .

Connections1 off-index

1 reference not yet in our index

42 USC 3030g–21

Citation graph

cites case law

Sec. 304

Innovations in nutrition programs and services

Cite42 USC 3030g–21

Cites 1Cited by 0 across 0 sources