S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  2028

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            February 11, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sens. GOLDEN, GRIFFO, LARKIN, MORAHAN, PADAVAN, VOLKER --
  read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to
  the Committee on Aging

AN  ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing small flexi-
  ble funds accounts at the local level

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. Subdivision 8 of section 203 of the elder law, as added by
chapter 48 of the laws of 2007, is amended and a new subdivision  10  is
added to read as follows:
  [8]  9. The director of the office for the aging is hereby authorized,
to the extent appropriations are available therefor, to establish, oper-
ate and maintain, under the control of the office for the  aging  or  in
conjunction with an association, institution, agency, or other public or
private entity, or community program engaged in the care of animals, one
or  more  senior pet companionship programs. The purpose and intent of a
senior pet companionship program shall be  to  match  seniors  who  have
limited  social  contact  with  pets,  including cats and dogs and other
small animals, to improve the lives of such seniors by  enhancing  their
emotional and mental well-being through such companionship.
  10.  THE  DIRECTOR  IS  HEREBY  AUTHORIZED  TO AND SHALL ESTABLISH THE
REGRANT PROGRAM WITHIN THE OFFICE WITHIN AMOUNTS SPECIFICALLY  AVAILABLE
BY APPROPRIATION THEREFOR, AND IN IMPLEMENTING SUCH PROGRAM MAY CONTRACT
WITH DESIGNATED AGENCIES, AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO HUNDRED
FOURTEEN  OF  THIS TITLE, TO ADMINISTER FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
FOR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES NOT OTHERWISE DIRECTLY  FUNDED  BY  PROGRAMS
ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE, OR WHICH CONSTITUTE ONE-TIME EVENTS OR SHORT
TERM  NEEDS.  ONLY DESIGNATED AGENCIES MAY APPLY FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE
REGRANT PROGRAM. APPLICATIONS SHALL PROVIDE OR DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING
IN A FORM AND AT A LEVEL OF DETAIL SATISFACTORY TO THE DIRECTOR:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03224-01-9

              

S. 2028                             2

  (A) PROGRAM SUMMARY, DESCRIBING THE REGRANT PROGRAM AND THOSE INTENDED
TO BE SERVED, AND HOW THE PROPOSED PROGRAM RELATES TO,  COMPLEMENTS,  OR
STRENGTHENS OTHER PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE COMMUNITY.
  (B)  SCOPE  OF ACTIVITY, DESCRIBING THE ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF REQUESTS
TO BE RECEIVED, AND THE AVERAGE REQUEST AMOUNT AND GRANT AMOUNT.
  (C) STAFFING AND BUDGET, DESCRIBING THE INDIVIDUALS IN  THE  ORGANIZA-
TION  RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROJECT, THE WORK PLAN, AND
ASSURANCES THAT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS BY  THE  AGENCY  SHALL  NOT  EXCEED
FIFTEEN PERCENT OF PROJECT COSTS.
  (D) MARKETING/OUTREACH, DESCRIBING STRATEGIES FOR OUTREACH AND MARKET-
ING TO COMMUNITY GROUPS.
  (E)  SELECTION PROCESS, DESCRIBING THE LOCAL APPLICATION AND SELECTION
PROCESS, INCLUDING APPLICANT  REQUIREMENTS,  RESTRICTIONS,  AND  WHETHER
SELECTION INCLUDES REVIEW BY AN OUTSIDE PANEL.
  (F)  EVALUATION, DESCRIBING HOW THE APPLICANT WILL EVALUATE AND ASSESS
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.