S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2025
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 11, 2009
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Introduced by Sens. GOLDEN, ROBACH -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law and the economic development law, in
relation to establishing the mature worker business initiative
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new article 4 to read
as follows:
ARTICLE IV
MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE
SECTION 401. MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE.
402. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL.
S 401. MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE. 1. THERE SHALL BE ESTAB-
LISHED, WITHIN THE OFFICE, A MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE. SUCH
INITIATIVE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF THE
MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE COUNCIL.
2. THE MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE COUNCIL SHALL BE COMPOSED OF:
(A) THE DIRECTOR OR HIS OR HER DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE;
(B) THE COMMISSIONER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNATED
REPRESENTATIVE; AND
(C) SUCH OTHER PERSONS AS SHALL BE DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNOR, WHO
SHALL BE REPRESENTATIVES OF STATE AGENCIES, ADVOCATES FOR THE AGING AND
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ROLE OF OLDER WORKERS
IN THE ECONOMY, AND DEVELOPMENT OF SECOND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ENTREPRE-
NEURIAL INITIATIVE. SUCH MEMBERS SHALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE
GOVERNOR.
3. THE MEMBERS OF THE MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE COUNCIL SHALL
SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION, BUT SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THEIR ACTUAL AND
NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES PURSUANT
TO THIS ARTICLE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07106-02-9
S. 2025 2
4. THE DIRECTOR, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE, SHALL SERVE
AS THE CHAIR OF THE MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE COUNCIL. IN THE
EVENT OF THE ABSENCE OF THE DIRECTOR OR HIS OR HER DESIGNATED REPRESEN-
TATIVE FROM ANY MEETING OF SUCH COUNCIL, THE MEMBERS SHALL ELECT AN
ACTING CHAIR FROM AMONGST THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL. LEGAL, TECHNI-
CAL AND OTHER SERVICES SHALL BE PROVIDED TO SUCH COUNCIL BY THE OFFICE,
THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPO-
RATION, AND OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.
S 402. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL. THE MATURE
WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE COUNCIL SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS,
POWERS AND DUTIES:
1. TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM OF INITIATIVES THAT SHALL ESTAB-
LISH STRATEGIES FOR IDENTIFYING BUSINESSES THAT OFFER ARRANGEMENTS TO
EMPLOYEES DESIGNED TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND RETRAIN MATURE WORKERS, AND
ENCOURAGE THEM TO REMAIN IN THE WORK FORCE;
2. TO DEVELOP A CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR WHICH AN EMPLOYER MAY APPLY
INDICATING THAT SUCH EMPLOYER HAS MET THE QUALIFICATIONS ESTABLISHED BY
THE MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE COUNCIL AND PROVIDING FOR THE
DESIGNATION OF SUCH EMPLOYER AS A "MATURE WORKER FRIENDLY EMPLOYER";
3. TO IDENTIFY EMPLOYERS WHICH ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS TO OFFER ARRANGE-
MENTS TO EMPLOYEES DESIGNED TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND RETRAIN MATURE WORK-
ERS, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO REMAIN IN THE WORK FORCE;
4. TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS
TO OFFER ARRANGEMENTS TO EMPLOYEES DESIGNED TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND
RETRAIN MATURE WORKERS, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO REMAIN IN THE WORK FORCE;
AND
5. TO DESIGN AND EXECUTE A MARKETING OUTREACH PLAN TO ENCOURAGE BUSI-
NESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVES, AND TO
EDUCATE MATURE WORKERS ABOUT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED SUCH
INITIATIVES, BY MEANS OF THE OFFICE'S INTERNET WEBSITE AND SUCH OTHER
APPROPRIATE MEANS AS THE COUNCIL SHALL DETERMINE TO BE SUITABLE FOR
INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION.
S 2. Section 100 of the economic development law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 18-h to read as follows:
18-H. TO WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE OFFICE FOR
THE AGING AND THE MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH
RULES, REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE
FOUR OF THE ELDER LAW. THE MATURE WORKER BUSINESS INITIATIVE SHALL
RECOGNIZE THOSE EMPLOYERS THAT PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT DESIGNED TO
RECRUIT, RETAIN AND RETRAIN MATURE WORKERS, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO REMAIN
IN THE WORK FORCE. THE COMMISSIONER, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF
THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING, SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENHANCING
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MATURE WORKERS AND WHICH RESOURCES OF THE STATE
MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN DESIG-
NATED AS MATURE WORKER FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.