Law expands information access for older adults

By THE STAR STAFF

With the goal of making it easier for older adults to search for services at both the governmental and private levels, Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed legislation requiring the Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development (ODSEC) to compile such information and make it publicly available in a single location.

“The population of older adults continues to grow, which is why we are continuing to take measures to transform the government into one that addresses the needs of our senior citizens. One of the ways we are doing this is by centralizing information so they can have better access to it. There are those who are unaware of services that are available or benefits to which they are entitled; therefore, consolidating that data in one place facilitates their search and allows them to learn about initiatives that impact them, as well as the scope of both state and federal laws, activities focused on them, among others,” the governor explained.

Law 20-2026 (Senate Bill 516), in line with the government program of the Jenniffer González Administration, was authored by Senator Héctor J. Sánchez (PNP-Carolina) and co-authored by Senators Jamie Barlucea Rodríguez (PNP-Ponce), Héctor G. González López (PNP-Arecibo), Brenda Pérez Soto (PNP-Arecibo), Rafael Santos Ortiz (PNP-Guayama), and Wilmer Reyes Berríos (PNP-Guayama).

The law specifically stipulates that the executive director of the Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development of Puerto Rico will establish, review, publish, and digitally update on its official website all programs, benefits, services, activities, and facilities available to older adults, both in government agencies and private entities, through electronic means.

The information made available digitally must highlight and include state and federal laws, regulations, orders, rules, procedures, resources, methods, mechanisms, and requirements necessary to qualify for and obtain any benefit, service, right, or privilege.

This compilation will be overseen by the Comprehensive Services Program for the Elderly, attached to ODSEC.