RESOURCE CENTERS ON NATIVE AMERICAN ELDERS.

SEC. 414. RESOURCE CENTERS ON NATIVE AMERICAN ELDERS. Part B of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3034–3035g) (as amended by the preceding sections) is amended by adding at the end the following: “SEC. 428E. RESOURCE CENTERS ON NATIVE AMERICAN ELDERS. “(a) Establish.— The Commissioner shall make grants or enter into contracts with not fewer than two and not more than four eligible entities to establish and operate Resource Centers on Native American Elders (referred to in this section as ‘Resource Centers’). The Commissioner shall make such grants or enter into such contracts for periods of not less than 3 years. “(b) Functions.— “(1) In general.— Each Resource Center that receives funds under this section shall— “(A) gather information; “(B) perform research; “(C) provide for the dissemination of results of the research; and “(D) provide technical assistance and training to entities that provide services to Native Americans who are older individuals. “(2) Areas of concern.— In conducting the functions described in paragraph (1), a Resource Center shall focus on priority areas of concern for the Resource Centers regarding Native Americans who are older individuals, which areas shall “(A) health problems; “(B) long-term care, including in-home care; “(C) elder abuse; and “(D) other problems and issues that the Commissioner determines are of particular importance to Native Americans who are older individuals. “(c) Preference.— In awarding grants and entering into contracts under subsection (a), the Commissioner shall give preference to institutions of higher education that have conducted research on, and assessment of, the characteristics and needs of Native Americans who are older individuals. “(d) Consultation.— In determining the type of information to be sought from, and activities to be performed by, Resource Centers, the Commissioner shall consult with the Associate Commissioner on American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Aging and with national organizations with special expertise in serving Native Americans who are older individuals. 106 STAT. 1257 “(e) Eligible Entities.— Entities eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under subsection (a) shall be institutions of higher education with experience conducting research and assessment on the needs of older individuals. “(f) Report to Congress.— The Commissioner, with assistance from each Resource Center, shall prepare and submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate an annual report on the status and needs including the priority areas of concern of Native Americans who are older individuals.”.