Each area agency on aging shall:
 1. Develop and administer an area plan on aging approved by the commission.
 2. Assess the types and levels of services needed by older individuals and their caregivers in the planning and service area, and the effectiveness of other public or private programs serving those needs.
 3. Enter into contracts to provide services under the plan.
 4. Provide technical assistance as needed, document quarterly monitoring, and provide a written report of an annual on-site assessment of all service providers funded by the area agency.
 5. Coordinate the administration of its plan with federal programs and with other federal, state, and local resources in order to develop a comprehensive and coordinated service system.
 6. Establish an advisory council.
 7. Give preference in the delivery of services under the area plan to older individuals with the greatest economic or social need, with particular attention to low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas.
 8. Assure that older individuals and their caregivers in the planning and service area have reasonably convenient access to information and assistance services.
 9. Provide adequate and effective opportunities for older individuals to express their views to the area agency on policy development and program implementation under the area plan.
 10. Designate community focal points.
 11.  Conduct outreach efforts to identify older individuals with the greatest economic or social needs, with particular attention to low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas, and inform them of the availability of services under the area plan.
 12. Develop and publish the methods that the agency uses to establish preferences and priorities for services.
 13. Submit all fiscal and performance reports in accordance with the policies of the commission.
 14. Monitor, evaluate, and comment on laws, rules, regulations, policies, programs, hearings, levies, and community actions which significantly affect the lives of older individuals.
 15. Conduct public hearings on the needs of older individuals and their caregivers.
 16. Represent the interests of older individuals and their caregivers to public officials, public and private agencies, or organizations.
 17. Coordinate planning with other agencies and organizations to promote new or expanded benefits and opportunities for older individuals.
 18. Coordinate planning with other agencies for assuring the safety of older individuals in a natural disaster or other safety threatening situation.
 19. Incorporate into the bylaws of the area agency’s board of directors and comply with the procedure established by the department for selection of members to the board of directors as provided in section 231.23.
 20. Provide the opportunity for older individuals residing in the planning and service area to offer substantive suggestions regarding the employment practices of the area agency on aging.
 21. Comply with all applicable requirements of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system established pursuant to chapter 97B. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, an employee of an area agency on aging that was enrolled in an alternative qualified plan prior to July 1, 2012, may continue participation in that alternative qualified plan in lieu of mandatory participation in the Iowa public employees’ retirement system.
 22. Encourage the development of public and private partnerships, entrepreneurial activities, and other mutually collaborative efforts.
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