By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to legislation that would change some language in the 50-year-old law that created Councils on Aging in local cities and towns. Changes include deleting language that refers to “problems of the aging” and replacing it with “the needs of older adults;” deleting language that calls workers “clerks” and replacing it with language that calls workers “staff;” and adding “and delivering services” to the language in the bill which gives the council the authority to “carry out programs.”

Supporters said the bill modernizes the language in a 50-year-old law that created Councils on Aging at a time when there were very few senior centers. They noted that the number of Councils on Aging and senior centers has grown to 350 and said the bill updates the statute to reflect the modern functioning of these critical centers.

Rep. Kate Donaghue (D-Westborough), the sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her to comment on passage of her proposal and whether she thinks it will make it through the Legislature in the 2025-2026 session. The bill was given initial approval by the House in the 2023-2024 session but died when the House took no further action on it.