PROGRAM INSTRUCTION

AoA-PI-07-02

TO:                              STATE AGENCIES ON AGING ADMINISTERING PLANS UNDER TITLE III OF THE OLDER AMERICAN ACT, AS AMENDED

SUBJECT:                   Certification on Maintenance of Effort for the Title III and Certification of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Expenditures - Fiscal Year 2006

LEGAL AND

RELATED

REFERENCES:           45 CFR 1321.49 and Section 309(c) of the Older Americans Act, as Amended; and Sections 304 (d) (1), 30 (a) (9), 307 (a) (9), and 705 (a) (4) of the Older Americans Act, as Amended.

This program instruction requests the authorized official in each State agency on aging to submit a certification on maintenance of effort for Title III and certification of Long-Term Ombudsman Program expenditure under Title III of the Older Americans Act (OAA) for fiscal year 2006.  As required in the OAA, the State agency maintenance of effort level is to be determined annually.

In compliance with 45 CFR 1321.49:  To avoid a penalty, each fiscal year the State agency, to meet the required non-Federal share applicable to its allotments under this part, shall spend under the State plan for both services and administration at least the average amount of State funds it spent under the plan for the three previous fiscal years.  If the State agency spends less than this amount, the Assistant Secretary reduces the State’s allotments for supportive and nutrition services under this part by a percentage equal to the percentage by which the State reduces its expenditures. 

            In reporting the amount of State expenditures for the maintenance of effort requirement, States may include expenditures incurred under the approved cost allocation plan for the State agency.

In compliance with the Section 307 (a) (9):  States must expend on their Statewide Ombudsman Programs no less than they expended in Title III-B and Title VII funds for FY 2000.  This amount must be expended annually on

            ombudsman service to residents of long-term care facilities.  In addition, a State may not use ombudsman Title VII funds to supplant, replace, or in substitution for any other Federal or State funding.  All of the Title VII ombudsman funding appropriated by Congress and allotted to a State for a specific year must be expended on direct costs of the Ombudsman Program.

In compliance with Section 306 (a) (9):  Each area agency must expend on activities of the Ombudsman Program not less than the amount of Title III funds expended by the areas agency in FY 2000.

The authorized official in each State agency is requested to certify to the Administration on Aging that the fiscal year 2006 expenditure requirements have been met.

Attached are two certification forms which have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  The certification forms must be signed by the authorized State agency official and submitted to the Regional Administrators, Administration on Aging, no later than July 9, 2007. 

DUE DATE:                 Due July 9, 2007 to Regional Administrators, Administration on

Aging.

ATTACHMENT:         Certification of Maintenance of Effort Form OMB-0985-0009

                                    Certification of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Expenditures Form OMB-0985-0009

INQUIRIES:                State agencies should address inquiries to Regional Administrators on Aging, HHS Regional Offices.

                                                                        ______________________________

                                                                        Josefina G. Carbonell

                                                                        Assistant Secretary for Aging