Senate Bill S3729A

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

                                 3729--A

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              March 2, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. OPPENHEIMER, DIAZ -- read twice and ordered printed,
  and  when  printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging -- recom-
  mitted to the Committee on Aging in accordance  with  Senate  Rule  6,
  sec.  8  --  committee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
  amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing a  long  term
  care  worker  training  pilot program; and providing for the repeal of
  such provisions upon the expiration thereof

  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 section 218-a to
read as follows:
  S 218-A. LONG TERM CARE WORKER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM.  1. THE  DIREC-
TOR,  WITHIN  AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, SHALL ESTABLISH A LONG TERM
CARE WORKER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF  EXPANDING  ACCESS
TO  ENHANCED  EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING  ACROSS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR
HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES PRACTITIONERS WHO  PROVIDE  SERVICES  TO
ELDERLY  PERSONS  AS  DEFINED  BY  PARAGRAPH  (B)  OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
SECTION TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN OF THIS TITLE. EMPHASIS SHALL BE PLACED  ON
TRAINING  TRAINERS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TRAINERS FROM COLLEGE,
UNIVERSITY AND BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL  SERVICES  FACULTY,  AND
STAFF  OF  PROVIDER  AGENCIES  IN HIGH NEEDS AREAS, AS SET FORTH IN THIS
SECTION, WHO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR HOME CARE, NURSE  AIDES,
PERSONAL  CARE AIDES, CASE MANAGERS IN THE EXPANDED IN-HOME SERVICES FOR
THE ELDERLY PROGRAM, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALISTS INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE WORKING FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS, MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS, NEW YORK CONNECTS-CHOICES FOR LONG TERM CARE, SOCIAL  ADULT
DAY CARE, ADULT DAY CARE AND OTHER CAREGIVERS WITH HANDS-ON RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES  FOR  ELDERLY CLIENTS. THE GOAL SHALL BE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
CARE PROVIDED TO THE ELDERLY, TO ENSURE THAT  INDIVIDUALS  WORKING  WITH
THE  ELDERLY AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE CORE COMPETENCIES IN GERIATRICS, TO

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05935-02-2
              

S. 3729--A                          2

IMPROVE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION,  AND  TO  ASSIST  PROVIDERS  TO  MEET
TRAINING  NEEDS,  INCLUDING REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY REGULATORY AGEN-
CIES. THE DIRECTOR SHALL COORDINATE SUCH  EFFORTS  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH
ONGOING  TRAINING  AND  CERTIFICATION  SERVICES  AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH; OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM  AND
SUBSTANCE  ABUSE SERVICES; STATE COMMISSION ON QUALITY OF CARE AND ADVO-
CACY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; EDUCATION DEPARTMENT; STATE  UNIVER-
SITY OF NEW YORK; OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND SUCH
OTHER  AGENCIES  AS APPROPRIATE. SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE COORDINATED WITH
COMMUNITY BASED AGENCIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  COUNTY  HEALTH,
MENTAL  HEALTH  AND  SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS; COUNTY OFFICES FOR THE
AGING; COLLEGES AND  UNIVERSITIES;  BOARDS  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES; LONG TERM CARE PROVIDERS; AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS; RURAL
HEALTH  NETWORKS;  AND  SUCH OTHER AGENCIES AS APPROPRIATE. THE DIRECTOR
SHALL PROVIDE A METHOD FOR  ONGOING  EVALUATION  AND  REPORTING  ON  THE
SUCCESS OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM IN MEETING ITS STATED GOALS.
  2.  THE DIRECTOR, WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, AND IN CONSUL-
TATION WITH THE AGENCIES THE DIRECTOR IS  REQUIRED  TO  COORDINATE  WITH
PURSUANT  TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, SHALL CONTRACT WITH ONE OR
MORE COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES WITH A RECOGNIZED INSTITUTE ON  GERONTOLO-
GY,  TO  ASSIST IN THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF THE LONG
TERM CARE WORKER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE IDENTIFICATION OF
HIGH NEEDS AREAS WHERE A SHORTAGE OF GERIATRIC  TRAINING  RESOURCES  AND
DIFFICULTIES IN ACCESSING SUCH TRAINING ARE DOCUMENTED.
  3.  ON  OR  BEFORE  THE  FIRST  OF SEPTEMBER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR NEXT
SUCCEEDING THE YEAR IN WHICH THIS SECTION TAKES EFFECT, AND EVERY SECOND
YEAR THEREAFTER, THE DIRECTOR SHALL  REPORT  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE
LEGISLATURE ON THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TO DESIGN, IMPLEMENT AND EVALU-
ATE  THE LONG TERM CARE WORKER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM. SUCH REPORT SHALL
INCLUDE DATA RELATING TO PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, OUTCOMES AND  OTHER  PERTI-
NENT  INFORMATION  NECESSARY  TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PILOT
PROGRAM IN ACCOMPLISHING ITS STATED GOALS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April of the  calendar
year  next  succeeding the year in which it shall have become a law, and
shall expire and be deemed repealed 6 years after it shall take effect.