Relates to reporting unmet need, which is the number of eligible individuals seeking participation in a program or service who are not receiving such program or service due to insufficient resources or capacity.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2590B
SPONSOR: Eichenstein TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to reporting unmet need for
programs and services for the aging
PURPOSE OF BILL:
To increase transparency by requiring area agencies on aging to collect
and report unmet need
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends section 203 of the Elder law by adding a new subdivi-
sion 2a which requires all area agencies on aging, including those in
New York City, to collect and report to the State Office for the Aging
(SOGA) the unmet need for each program or service they offer. Defines
unmet need as any eligible individual seeking participation in a program
or service that is turned away or placed on a waiting list due to a lack
of resources or capacity. Requires SOFA to provide a report detailing
the unmet need to the legislature.
Section 2: Sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
In New York City and in New York State overall, the older adult popu-
lation continues to grow rapidly, putting pressure on the aging network
to provide services to all those who are eligible. For example, Brooklyn
is home to more older adults than any other county in the state; older
adults now make up 14% of the borough's population, up from 12% in 2007.
Area agencies on aging do not currently maintain consistent records of
eligible older adults seeking services who are placed on waiting lists
or are turned away due to the local agency not having enough resources
or capacity to serve. With this data, the state can identify what
investments need to be made in order to assure our older adult popu-
lation receives safe and quality care.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: A. 07504
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2590--B
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EICHENSTEIN, ABBATE, BARNWELL, BRONSON, CRUZ,
DICKENS, REYES, TAYLOR, D. ROSENTHAL, JOYNER, WALLACE, BRAUNSTEIN,
RAJKUMAR, OTIS, SMITH -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Aging -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee
with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to reporting unmet need for
programs and 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. Section 203 of the elder law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
3 2-a. The office shall collect from each area agency on aging as
4 defined by subdivision two of this section information concerning the
5 unmet need for each program or service offered by the area agency. For
6 the purposes of this subdivision, unmet need shall be defined as the
7 number of eligible individuals seeking participation in a program or
8 service and who are not receiving such program or service due to insuf-
9 ficient resources or capacity. The office shall provide a comprehensive
10 report on the unmet need for each program or service throughout the
11 state to the speaker of the assembly and temporary president of the
12 senate no later than December thirty-first of each year.
13 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00404-03-1
