Seniors sought for legislative session

2020 Silver Haired Legislative Session slated for August

The Department of Human Services, Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services, in partnership with the Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging, is seeking Arkansans age 60 and older to volunteer to serve as delegates to the 22nd Biennial Silver Haired Legislative Session (SHLS) being held Aug. 26-27.

Delegates will serve as legislators in this non-partisan session by writing, debating and voting on bills addressing issues critical to older Arkansans.

Organizers are seeking one delegate from each Arkansas county. Anyone interested in becoming a delegate should contact the Area Agency on Aging in their county or the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. County candidates need to circulate qualifying petitions and submit them to their Area Agency on Aging by Feb. 14.

Elected delegates will receive training on topics such as the legislative process, how to write bills, and how a bill becomes a law.

The Silver Haired Legislative Session has been conducted biennially since its institution by a 1977 General Assembly resolution sponsored by Rep. B.G. Hendrix and the late Rep. W.F. "Bill" Foster. It is one of at least 28 such sessions held throughout the country to give senior citizens a chance to participate in the legislative process. Bills from the SHLS also have an opportunity to be introduced at a regular legislative session and that has occurred several times.

For more information, contact Ronda Gilbert-Hines of the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services, at 501-320-6573 (ronda. gilbert-hines@arkansas.gov); or contact the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Arkansas, Inc., 600 Columbia Road 11 East in Magnolia, at 870-234-7410.

More information on the DAAS is available at humanservices.arkansas.gov/about-dhs/daabhs/shl-2020.