Intergenerational care facility grants updated

Lawmakers passed a bill April 9 that seeks to improve access to shared care and programming for children and older adults in Nebraska.

The state’s Intergenerational Care Facility Incentive program provides one-time startup grants of $100,000 for child care programs in nursing and assisted living facilities that are certified for Medicare or Medicaid, with priority given to facilities located in rural communities for applications filed on the same date.

LB721, sponsored by Grand Island Sen. Dan Quick, eliminates that priority designation and requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to both nonprofit and proprietary facilities.

The bill also authorizes the use of grant funding for expansion costs and prohibits a facility from receiving more than one grant under the program.

LB721 passed on a 49-0 vote.