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PUBLIC LAW 93-29-MAY 3, 1973
[87 STAT.
in the planning or provision of a broad range of social services within such planning and service area, and must provide assurance, found adequate by the State agency, that it will have the ability to develop an area plan and to carry out, directly or through contractual or other arrangements, a program pursuant to the plan within the planning and service area. In designating an area agency on aging, the State agency shall give preference to an established office on aging, unless the State agency finds that no such office within the planning and service area will have the capacity to carry out the area plan. "Area Plans "(c) I n order to be approved by the State agency, an area plan for a planning and service area shall be developed by the area agency on aging designated with respect to such area under subsection (a) and shall— "(1) provide for the establishment of a comprehensive and coordinated system for the delivery of social services within the planning and service area covered by the plan, including determining the need for social services in such area (taking into consideration, among other things, the numbers of older persons with low incomes residing in such area), evaluating the efleet!veness of the use of resources in meeting such need, and entering into agreements with providers of social services in such area, for the provision of such services to meet such need; "(2) in accordance with criteria established by the Commissioner by regulation relating to priorities, provide for the initiation, expansion, or improvement of social services in the planning and service area covered by the area jolan; "(3) provide for the establishment or maintenance of information and referral sources in sufficient numbers to assure that all older persons within the planning and service aiea covered by the plan will have reasonably convenient access to such sources. For purjioses of this section and section 305(a)(7), an information and referral source is a location where the State or other public or private agency or organization (A) maintains current information with respect to the opportunities and services available to older persons, and develops current lists of older persons in need of services and opportunities, and (B) employs a specially trained staff to inform older perSons of the opportunities and services which are available, and assists such persons to take advantage of such opportunities and services; and "(4) provide that the area agency on aging will— " (A) conduct periodic evaluations of activities carried out pursuant to the area plan; " (B) render appropriate technical assistance to providers of social services in the planning and service area covered by the area plan; " (C) where necessary and feasible, enter into arrangements, consistent with the provisions of the area plan, under which funds under this title may be used to provide legal services to older persons in the planning and service area carried out through federally assisted programs or other public or nonprofit agencies; " (D) take into account, in connection with matters of general policy arising in the development and administration of the area plan, the views of recij^ients of services under such plan;
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