NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9484
SPONSOR: Paulin TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to publishing a guide to
actions when someone close dies
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to amend Chapter 582 of the Laws of 2025 to
effectuate the intent of the law.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill would provide clarifying language, remove the
requirement for the guide to provide information on the tax implications
of a death, and add a provision requiring the inclusion of resources.
provided by the department of taxation and finance regarding estate
taxes. Section one would also remove the requirement for the guide to
provide information on the average costs by region for the disposition
of remains.
This section would also remove the requirement that the Office consult
with a special advisory committee in the development of the guide. The
Office would be able to consult with any state agency representatives
deemed necessary as well as certain specified professionals, including
tax professionals.
Section two would establish the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 582 of the Laws of 2025 requires the Director of the State
Office for the Aging to develop a "Guide to Actions When Someone Close
Dies." The guide includes information on economic security, legal impli-
cations, mental health assistance, and funeral and burial services.
This bill would remove the requirement for the Office to consult with a
special advisory committee in the development of the guide and would
instead include a list of professionals that may be consulted. The bill
would also provide clarifying language and alter certain information to
be provided in the guide.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a
chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the elder law relating to publish-
ing a guide to actions when someone close dies, as proposed in legisla-
tive bills numbers S. 4351-A and A. 3939-A, takes effect.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9484
IN ASSEMBLY
January 7, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to publishing a guide to
actions when someone close dies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 226 of the elder law, as added by a chapter of the
2 laws of 2025, amending the elder law relating to publishing a guide to
3 actions when someone close dies, as proposed in legislative bills
4 numbers S. 4351-A and A. 3939-A, is amended to read as follows:
5 § 226. Guide to actions when someone close dies. 1. The office shall
6 publish a "Guide to Actions When Someone Close Dies". [This] Within one
7 year of the effective date of this section, this guide shall be made
8 publicly available on the official website of the office and the office
9 may also produce a paper format [within one year of the effective date
10 of this section].
11 2. The guide shall provide information in at least the following
12 domains:
13 (a) Economic security, including but not limited to, pensions, social
14 security, life insurance, health insurance, and death benefits [as well
15 as tax implications of a death]. This information shall also refer to
16 the resources provided by the department of taxation and finance regard-
17 ing estate taxes.
18 (b) Legal, including how to access death certificates, wills, trust
19 documents and other legal information needed to plan for the future.
20 (c) Mental health assistance, including information on the grieving
21 process, triggers and symptoms associated with grief, effective coping
22 strategies, the impact on family dynamics in relation to the loss of
23 someone close, and other mental health concerns correlated with grief.
24 (d) Disposition of remains including funeral and service arrangements
25 and burials. This information shall [include average costs by region
26 and] refer to the resources provided by the department of health's
27 bureau of funeral directing.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04492-05-6
A. 9484 2
1 (e) Other information as determined by the office [in consultation
2 with the special advisory committee established pursuant to this
3 section].
4 3. The [director shall establish a special advisory committee to help
5 fulfill the requirements of this section. The committee shall be tempo-
6 rary and dissolve thirty days after the guide is posted and distributed.
7 The members of the special advisory committee shall receive no compen-
8 sation for their services but shall be reimbursed for actual and neces-
9 sary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, to the extent
10 funds are appropriated for such purpose. The committee shall contain]
11 office may choose to seek consultation with and advice from represen-
12 tatives from the following professions as well as any state agency
13 representatives [that are needed at the discretion of the director],
14 which may include:
15 (a) Funeral directors;
16 (b) Cemeteries;
17 (c) Mental health professionals with specific knowledge of grief coun-
18 seling;
19 (d) Attorneys specialized in estate planning, including the New York
20 state bar association; [and]
21 (e) Tax professionals; and
22 (f) Clergy.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
24 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the elder law relating
25 to publishing a guide to actions when someone close dies, as proposed in
26 legislative bills numbers S. 4351-A and A. 3939-A, takes effect.
