national priority services

national priority services Sec. 106. (a) Section 305(a) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)) is amended by striking out “and” immediately after the semicolon in paragraph (8), by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (9) and inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon and “and”, and by inserting the following new paragraph immediately after paragraph (9): “(10) provides assurances in such form as the Commissioner shall prescribe that of the funds allotted to the State under section 303(b) in any fiscal year to carry out the State plan, not less than 50 per centum of the amount by which such allotment exceeds the allotment made for the same purpose in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, shall be used for the purposes set forth in section 305(b), except with respect to any State which provides assurances found satisfactory by the Commissioner that at least 33 1/3 per centum of the total amount allotted to the State under section 303(b) to carry out the State plan in any fiscal year shall be used for the purposes set forth in section 305(b), but in no case shall less than 20 per centum of the funds allotted to any State under section 303(b) to carry out the State plan in any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1976, be used for the purposes set forth in section 305(b).”. (b) Section 305(a) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)) is amended by redesignating subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (c), (d). (e), and (f), respectively, and by inserting the following new subsection immediately after subsection (a): 89 STAT. 716 “(b) Every State plan shall provide for the establishment or maintenance of programs (including related training) for the provision of some or all of the following services designed to assist older persons in leading independent lives and avoiding unnecessary institutionalization: “(1) Transportation services. “(2) Home services, including homemaker services, home health services, shopping services, escort services, reader services, letter writing services, and other services designed to assist such persons to continue living independently in a home environment. “(3) Legal and other counseling services and assistance programs, including tax counseling and assistance and financial counseling, for older persons. “(4) Residential repair and renovation programs designed to enable older persons to maintain their homes in conformity with minimum housing standards or to adapt homes to meet the needs of elderly persons suffering from physical disabilities.”. (c) Section 304(c)(2) of the Act (42U.S.C. 3024(c) (2)) is amended by inserting immediately after “priorities,” the following: “and consistent with the provisions of the State plan relating to the services required to be provided under section 305(a) (10),”.