Reyes, Aubry, Williams, Walker, Bendett, DeStefano, Giglio JA
MLTSPNSR
Amd §209, Eld L
Directs the state office for the aging to conduct a study on the number of older adults residing in naturally occurring retirement communities or neighborhood naturally occurring retirement communities who are suffering from social isolation and loneliness; makes related provisions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5520
SPONSOR: Kim TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to the naturally occurring
retirement community supportive service program; in relation to author-
izing the study of the number of senior citizens residing in naturally
occurring retirement communities who are suffering from loneliness and
social isolation; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions
upon the expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to collect information on social isolation
and loneliness in older adults.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill authorizes and directs the State Office for the
Aging (SOFA) to conduct a study on the number of older adults residing
in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) or Neighborhood
NORCs who are suffering from social isolation and loneliness.
Section 2 of the bill requires the Director of SOFA to submit the finds
of the study to the Governor and Legislature on or before one year after
the effective date of this act.
Section 3 of the bill would add the number of residents who are suffer-
ing from social isolation and loneliness and the services being provided
to residents to the report the director prepares to the Governor and
Legislature every five years on the effectiveness of NORCs.
JUSTIFICATION:
A 2020 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine states that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older
feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are
considered to be socially isolated. The Center for Disease Control
states that social isolation and loneliness are associated with a 50%
increase risk in dementia and premature death, as well as higher rates
of depression, anxiety, and suicide. This bill will ensure accurate data
is being collected on social isolation and loneliness to help ensure the
needs of older adults in these communities are being met.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5520
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 16, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to the naturally occurring
retirement community supportive service program; in relation to
authorizing the study of the number of senior citizens residing in
naturally occurring retirement communities who are suffering from
loneliness and social isolation; and providing for the repeal of
certain provisions upon the expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The state office for the aging is authorized and directed
2 to conduct a study on the number of older adults residing in naturally
3 occurring retirement communities or neighborhood naturally occurring
4 retirement communities who are suffering from social isolation and lone-
5 liness. Such study shall include, but not be limited to the number of
6 members of such communities suffering from social isolation or loneli-
7 ness, current programs or services seeking to alleviate these condi-
8 tions, and additional programs or services that could be implemented.
9 § 2. On or before one year after the effective date of this act, the
10 director of the office for the aging shall submit the findings of the
11 study conducted pursuant to section one of this act and any recommenda-
12 tions he or she deem to be necessary to the governor, the temporary
13 president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly.
14 § 3. Subdivision 8 of section 209 of the elder law, as amended by
15 section 1 of part S of chapter 59 of the laws of 2016, is amended to
16 read as follows:
17 8. On or before March first, two thousand nineteen, and every five
18 years thereafter, the director shall report to the governor and the
19 finance committee of the senate and the ways and means committee of the
20 assembly concerning the effectiveness of the naturally occurring retire-
21 ment community supportive services program in achieving the objectives
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09943-01-3
A. 5520 2
1 set forth by this section, which include helping to address the needs of
2 residents in such classic and neighborhood naturally occurring retire-
3 ment communities, assuring access to a continuum of necessary services,
4 increasing private, philanthropic and other public funding for programs,
5 and preventing unnecessary hospital and nursing home stays. The report
6 shall also include recommendations concerning continuation or modifica-
7 tion of the program from the director. The director shall provide the
8 required information and any other information deemed appropriate to the
9 report in such form and detail as will be helpful to the legislature and
10 the governor in determining to extend, eliminate or modify the program
11 including, but not limited to, the following:
12 (a) the number, size, type and location of the projects developed and
13 funded, including the number, kinds and functions of staff in each
14 program;
15 (b) the age, sex, religion and other appropriate demographic informa-
16 tion concerning the residents served;
17 (c) the services provided to residents, reported in such manner as to
18 allow comparison of services by demographic group and region;
19 (d) a listing of the services provided by eligible applicants, includ-
20 ing the number, kind and intensity of such services; [and]
21 (e) a listing of partner organizations providing services, the number,
22 kind and intensity of such services, and, to the extent practicable, the
23 outcomes of such referrals; and
24 (f) the number of residents who are suffering from social isolation
25 and loneliness and the services provided to residents.
26 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
27 the provisions of sections one and two of this act shall expire and be
28 deemed repealed on the thirtieth day after the delivery of the report to
29 the governor and the legislature as provided for in section two of this
30 act; provided, further, that the state office for the aging shall notify
31 the legislative bill drafting commission upon the delivery of the report
32 provided for in section two of this act in order that the commission may
33 maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text
34 of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the
35 provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the
36 public officers law.
