CONSUMER PROTECTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE HOME.

SEC. 157. CONSUMER PROTECTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE HOME. (a) Demonstration Projects Authorized.—Part B of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3034 et seq.), as amended by section 156(e)(1), is amended by adding at the end the following: “consumer protection demonstration projects for services provided in the home. “SEC. 428. (a)(1) The Commissioner is authorized to make grants to not fewer than 6 nor more than 10 States to demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of consumer protection projects for services (other than medical services) provided to older mdividuals in the home that are furnished or assisted with public funds. “(2) Grants made under this section shall be used to test different approaches to protecting older individuals with regard to services in the home. Such projects may provide consumer protection through State and local ombudsmen, legal assistance agencies, and other community service agencies. “(b) No grant may be made under this section unless an application is made to the Commissioner at such time, in such manner, and101 STAT. 956 containing such information as the Commissioner may reasonably require. Each such application shall— “(1) describe activities for which assistance is sought; “(2) provide for an evaluation of the activities for which assistance is sought; and “(3) provide assurances that the applicant will prepare and submit a report to the Commissioner on the activities conducted with assistance under this section and the evaluation of such activities. “(c) In approving applications under this section, the Commissioner shall assure equitable geographic distribution of assistance. “(d) The Commissioner shall, as part of the annual report submitted under section 207, prepare and submit a report on the evaluations submitted under this section, together with such recommendations as the Commissioner deems appropriate. In carrying out this section, the Commissioner shall include in the report— “(1) a description of the demonstration projects assisted under this section; “(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of each such project; and “(3) recommendations of the Commissioner with respect to the desirability and feasibility of carrying out on a nationwide basis a consumer protection program for services in the home. “(e) Consumer protection projects carried out under this section— “(1) may include, but are not limited to, consumer education, the use of consumer hotlines, receipt and resolution of consumer complaints, and advocacy; and “(2) may not address medical services.”. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.—Section 431(a)(1) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C 3037(a)(1)), as amended by section 156(e)(2), is amended— (1) by striking “section 427” in the parenthetical and inserting “sections 427 and 428”, and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(3) Subject to subsection (b), there is authorized. to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1989 and 1990 to carry out the provisions of section 428.”.