Creates an interagency coordinating committee for streamlined services for the aging; directs the development of a simplified application for seniors to access needs-based programs.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5415--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 27, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to the interagency coordinat-
ing committee for streamlined services for the aging
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Article 2 of the elder law is amended by adding a new title
2 4 to read as follows:
3 TITLE 4
4 NEW YORK STATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR STREAMLINED
5 SERVICES FOR THE AGING
6 Section 260. New York State interagency coordinating committee for
7 streamlined services for the aging.
8 § 260. New York State interagency coordinating committee for stream-
9 lined services for the aging. 1. There is hereby created a committee to
10 be known as "the interagency coordinating committee for streamlined
11 services for the aging," to be comprised of seventeen members. The
12 director for the state office for the aging or his or her designee shall
13 serve as chairperson. The members shall be the following, or a duly
14 designated representative: the commissioner of health; the commissioner
15 of transportation; the commissioner of housing and community renewal;
16 the commissioner of the office of mental health; the commissioner of the
17 office for people with developmental disabilities; the commissioner of
18 the office of children and family services; the commissioner of the
19 office of temporary and disability assistance; secretary of state; the
20 director of the office of information technology services; and the
21 commissioner of taxation and finance. Six additional members, all of
22 whom shall be aging not-for-profits, organizations, or service providers
23 and consumers representing the aging community shall be appointed to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09786-03-7
S. 5415--A 2
1 serve a term of three years as follows: two by the temporary president
2 of the senate, two by the speaker of the assembly, one by the minority
3 leader of the senate, and one by the minority leader of the assembly.
4 Such additional members shall be broadly representative of consumers and
5 providers when making such appointments. Members of the committee shall
6 receive no salary.
7 2. The committee shall have the following powers and duties:
8 (a) Develop a statewide survey to identify where there are gaps and
9 barriers to access to services for the elderly. The committee shall
10 develop recommendations for the distribution of the survey to reach a
11 representative sample of the senior population in New York to identify
12 trends in areas including, but not limited to, mental health services,
13 transportation, public health and housing.
14 (b) Develop a simplified senior application for need-based programs in
15 the state that seniors may qualify for.
16 (c) Coordinate with local offices for the aging to supplement the
17 simplified senior application as articulated in paragraph (b) of this
18 subdivision to create regional specific addendums including applications
19 for public transportation, wellness programs, emergency contact forms,
20 and other regionally-specific programs.
21 (d) Develop an online application tool to be utilized by a designated
22 lead agency to supply the simplified senior application as articulated
23 in paragraph (b) of this subdivision for consumers on the internet.
24 (e) Make recommendations to the office for data sharing across agen-
25 cies with the intent to track enrollment and identify trends in service
26 needs.
27 (f) Develop a standard medical expense deduction worksheet for seniors
28 as well as informational materials regarding qualifying expenses for
29 certain needs-based programs.
30 (g) Make recommendations regarding simplified certification and
31 re-certification procedures across programs to establish eligibility.
32 (h) Develop informational materials and a public awareness campaign to
33 disseminate general information about the availability of services for
34 the elderly, including recommendations for distributing information to
35 families or caregivers.
36 (i) Develop recommendations to target and distribute simplified appli-
37 cations to New York seniors.
38 3. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the committee or its members
39 from pursuing federal funding to implement any of the provisions in this
40 section.
41 4. The committee shall meet as necessary to carry out its functions,
42 powers, and duties, but such meetings shall occur at least once each
43 quarter.
44 5. The committee shall provide a report to the governor, the temporary
45 president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chairs of
46 the aging committees in the senate and the assembly on or before Septem-
47 ber first of each year, beginning in two thousand eighteen. Such report
48 shall summarize the committee's activity during the preceding year and
49 shall detail legislative recommendations appropriate to effectuate the
50 purposes of this section, and any other recommendations for improving
51 the provision of services. It shall include information detailing
52 increases in enrollment in needs based programs for seniors administered
53 by the agencies listed in subdivision one of this section. Such report
54 shall also include a proposed agenda consisting of specific issues that
55 the committee plans to address during the following fiscal year.
S. 5415--A 3
1 6. Members of the committee shall be appointed within ninety days
2 after the effective date of this section, however, the committee may
3 proceed with their business and effectuating the duties of this section
4 in ninety days without regard to the completion of the appointment proc-
5 ess.
6 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
