(a)      (1)      In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

            (2)      "Council" means the Innovations in Aging Services Advisory Council established under this section.

            (3)      "Program" means the Innovations in Aging Services Program established under this section.

      (b)      There is an Innovations in Aging Services Program in the Department.

      (c)      The purpose of the Program is to provide competitive funding grants to design and test innovative ideas in programs and services for older individuals, publicly disseminate the results of the tests, and help meet the need for trained personnel providing services for Maryland's senior population.

      (d)      (1)      There is an Innovations in Aging Services Advisory Council in the Department.

            (2)      The Council is a 14-member council.

            (3)      In addition to the Secretary, the members of the Council include:

                  (i)      Nine members appointed by the Secretary as follows:

                        1.      Five representatives from organizations providing services to the elderly;

                        2.      Two members representing senior consumers of aging services;

                        3.      An area agency on aging director; and

                        4.      A representative of the University of Maryland.

                  (ii)      The chairman of the Maryland Commission on Aging or the chairman's designee;

                  (iii)      The Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or his designee;

                  (iv)      One member of the State Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; and

                  (v)      One member of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker.

            (4)      The Secretary shall serve as chair of the Council.

            (5)      The term of a member of the Council is 4 years.

            (6)      The terms of the Council members appointed by the Secretary are staggered as required by the terms in effect for members of the Council on October 1, 2001.

            (7)      At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

            (8)      A member who is appointed after a term begins serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

      (e)      (1)      With the advice of the Council, the Secretary shall develop an Innovations in Aging Services Program plan annually and submit it to the Governor and General Assembly for approval as part of the annual budget.

            (2)      The plan shall set forth a series of priorities for funding grants for innovative aging services and for training personnel providing services to the elderly in the State.

            (3)      The plan shall include provisions for evaluating any program funded under the plan.

      (f)      The Secretary shall solicit grant proposals to implement the Program priorities approved by the Governor and the General Assembly.

      (g)      With the advice of the Council, the Secretary shall approve the award of grants funded in accordance with Program priorities approved by the Governor and General Assembly.

      (h)      The Secretary shall provide for the evaluation of programs funded by the grants by recognized authorities in the field of aging services.

      (i)      The Secretary may accept moneys provided by other public and private sources to fund grants awarded under this section.

      (j)      The Secretary shall report annually to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the evaluations of programs funded under this section.

      (k)      The Secretary shall adopt regulations implementing this section.

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