(a) In general

The Assistant Secretary shall carry out a program for making grants to States with State plans approved under section 3027 of this title, to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out State programs, to enable area agencies on aging, or entities that such area agencies on aging contract with, to provide multifaceted systems of support services—

(1) for family caregivers; and

(2) for older relative caregivers.

(b) Support services

The services provided, which may be informed through the use of caregiver assessments, in a State program under subsection (a), by an area agency on aging, or entity that such agency has contracted with, shall include—

(1) information to caregivers about available services;

(2) assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services;

(3) individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to assist the caregivers in the areas of health, nutrition, and financial literacy, and in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles;

(4) respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities; and

(5) supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers.

(c) Population served; priority

(1) Population served

Services under a State program under this part shall be provided to family caregivers, and older relative caregivers, who—

(A) are described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a); and

(B) with regard to the services specified in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (b), in the case of a caregiver described in paragraph (1), is providing care to an older individual who meets the condition specified in subparagraph (A)(i) or (B) of section 3002(22) of this title.

(2) Priority

In providing services under this part, the State, in addition to giving the priority described in section 3030s(b) of this title, shall give priority—

(A) to caregivers who are older individuals with greatest social need, and older individuals with greatest economic need (with particular attention to low-income older individuals); and

(B) to older relative caregivers of children with severe disabilities, or individuals with disabilities who have severe disabilities.

(d) Use of volunteers

In carrying out this part, each area agency on aging shall make use of trained volunteers to expand the provision of the available services described in subsection (b) and, if possible, work in coordination with organizations that have experience in providing training, placement, and stipends for volunteers or participants (such as organizations carrying out Federal service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service), in community service settings.

(e) Best practices

Not later than 1 year after March 25, 2020, and every 5 years thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall—

(1) identify best practices relating to the programs carried out under this section and section 3057k-11 of this title, regarding—

(A) the use of procedures and tools to monitor and evaluate the performance of the programs carried out under such sections;

(B) the use of evidence-based caregiver support services; and

(C) any other issue determined relevant by the Assistant Secretary; and

(2) make available, including on the website of the Administration and pursuant to section 3012(a)(34) of this title, best practices described in paragraph (1), to carry out the programs under this section and section 3057k-11 of this title.

(f) Quality standards and mechanisms and accountability

(1) Quality standards and mechanisms

The State shall establish standards and mechanisms designed to assure the quality of services provided with assistance made available under this part.

(2) Data and records

The State shall collect data and maintain records relating to the State program in a standardized format specified by the Assistant Secretary. The State shall furnish the records to the Assistant Secretary, at such time as the Assistant Secretary may require, in order to enable the Assistant Secretary to monitor State program administration and compliance, and to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the State programs.

(3) Reports

The State shall prepare and submit to the Assistant Secretary reports on the data and records required under paragraph (2), including information on the services funded under this part, and standards and mechanisms, including caregiver assessments used in the State, by which the quality of the services shall be assured. The reports shall describe any mechanisms used in the State to provide to persons who are family caregivers, or older relative caregivers, information about and access to various services so that the persons can better carry out their care responsibilities.

(g) Caregiver allotment

(1) In general

(A) From sums appropriated under section 3023(e) of this title for a fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall allot amounts among the States proportionately based on the population of individuals 70 years of age or older in the States.

(B) In determining the amounts allotted to States from the sums appropriated under section 3023 of this title for a fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall first determine the amount allotted to each State under subparagraph (A) and then proportionately adjust such amounts, if necessary, to meet the requirements of paragraph (2).

(C) The number of individuals 70 years of age or older in any State and in all States shall be determined by the Assistant Secretary on the basis of the most recent data available from the Bureau of the Census and other reliable demographic data satisfactory to the Assistant Secretary.

(2) Minimum allotment

(A) The amounts allotted under paragraph (1) shall be reduced proportionately to the extent necessary to increase other allotments under such paragraph to achieve the amounts described in subparagraph (B).

(B)(i) Each State shall be allotted ½ of 1 percent of the amount appropriated for the fiscal year for which the determination is made.

(ii) Guam and the Virgin Islands of the United States shall each be allotted ¼ of 1 percent of the amount appropriated for the fiscal year for which the determination is made.

(iii) American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall each be allotted 1/16 of 1 percent of the amount appropriated for the fiscal year for which the determination is made.

(C) For the purposes of subparagraph (B)(i), the term “State” does not include Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(h) Availability of funds

(1) Use of funds for administration of area plans

Amounts made available to a State to carry out the State program under this part may be used, in addition to amounts available in accordance with section 3023(c)(1) of this title, for costs of administration of area plans.

(2) Federal share

(A) In general

Notwithstanding section 3024(d)(1)(D) of this title, the Federal share of the cost of carrying out a State program under this part shall be 75 percent.

(B) Non-Federal share

The non-Federal share of the cost shall be provided from State and local sources.

(i) Activities of national significance

The Assistant Secretary may award funds authorized under this section to States, public agencies, private nonprofit agencies, institutions of higher education, and organizations, including tribal organizations, for conducting activities of national significance that—

(1) promote quality and continuous improvement in the support provided to family caregivers and older relative caregivers through programs carried out under this section and section 3057k-11 of this title; and

(2) include, with respect to such programs, program evaluation, training, technical assistance, and research.

(j) Technical assistance for caregiver assessments

Not later than 1 year after March 25, 2020, the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with stakeholders with appropriate expertise and, as appropriate, informed by the strategy developed under the RAISE Family Caregivers Act (42 U.S.C. 3030s note), shall provide technical assistance to promote and implement the use of caregiver assessments. Such technical assistance may include sharing available tools or templates, comprehensive assessment protocols, and best practices concerning—

(1) conducting caregiver assessments (including reassessments) as needed;

(2) implementing such assessments that are consistent across a planning and service area, as appropriate; and

(3) implementing caregiver support service plans, including conducting referrals to and coordination of activities with relevant State services.