S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2151
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 15, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, LIFTON, LUPARDO, ARROYO -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to courses of instruction
in the aging process, issues related to aging, understanding and plan-
ning for long-term care and intergenerational programming
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. America's future is in the hands of
today's youth who, as adults, will face a challenge unique to the histo-
ry of mankind: a "graying society". Today's youth will need to become
educated and prepare to care for aging parents at an increasing personal
cost, understand and invest in long-term care health insurance as part
of their own long-range family planning, develop healthy lifestyles to
ensure their own successful aging, and work to eliminate negative views
about aging. Despite the "graying" of our society, children at all grade
levels have negative images of older people. This is reiterated in
AARP's IMAGES IN AMERICA (1995), which included a national random sample
of teens and a survey of children ages 6-11. This study showed that
children form negative stereotypes about the elderly at a very early
age. This should not be surprising given the media's portrayal of older
adults as well as the disconnect between the generations. Children
perceive growing older as a process of decline, without potential for
growth and fulfillment. Images of aging as depicted in children's draw-
ings emphasize disabilities, isolation and dependency. Missing from
children's images is the vision of physical and mental wellness in later
life, involvement with others, independent living, productivity and
connection with the larger community. Despite the knowledge of chil-
dren's negative attitudes about older people, very little is being done
to prepare our youth to meet these challenges, and most high school
graduates receive little information on the physiological, social,
psychological or economic effects of aging. Several researchers have
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06819-01-5
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found that when schools have initiated programs at different grade
levels to teach about aging, the results have been very positive on how
children view older people and the aging. In addition, interactions with
older people were found to be a factor in forming positive images of the
elderly and reducing stereotyping. Furthermore, this knowledge will
enable students to better prepare themselves for planning for their own
retirement and long-term care needs. For all of these reasons, the
legislature is prescribing the inclusion of instruction on the aging
process, issues related to aging, understanding and planning for long-
term care and intergenerational programming in the New York state school
curriculum.
S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 804-e to
read as follows:
S 804-E. COURSES OF INSTRUCTION IN THE AGING PROCESS, ISSUES RELATED
TO AGING, UNDERSTANDING AND PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE, AND INTERGENER-
ATIONAL PROGRAMMING. 1. A. THE REGENTS SHALL PRESCRIBE COURSES OF
INSTRUCTION ON THE AGING PROCESS, ISSUES RELATED TO AGING, UNDERSTANDING
AND PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE, AND INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO BE
MAINTAINED AND FOLLOWED IN ALL THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF THE STATE. THE
BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND TRUSTEES OF THE SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THE
STATE SHALL REQUIRE INSTRUCTION TO BE GIVEN IN SUCH COURSES BY THE
TEACHERS EMPLOYED IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS THEREIN. ALL PUPILS ATTENDING
SUCH SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHALL ATTEND UPON SUCH INSTRUCTION.
B. SIMILAR COURSES OF INSTRUCTION SHALL BE PRESCRIBED AND MAINTAINED
IN PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, AND ALL PUPILS IN SUCH
SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHALL ATTEND UPON SUCH COURSES. IF SUCH COURSES ARE
NOT SO ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED IN A PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOL, ATTEND-
ANCE UPON INSTRUCTION IN SUCH SECONDARY SCHOOL SHALL NOT BE DEEMED
SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO PUPILS OF LIKE AGE IN
THE PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH SUCH PUPILS
RESIDE.
2. THE REGENTS, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING
SHALL DETERMINE THE SUBJECTS, TOPICS AND PROGRAMMING TO BE INCLUDED IN
SUCH COURSES OF INSTRUCTION ON THE AGING PROCESS, ISSUES RELATED TO
AGING, UNDERSTANDING AND PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE, AND INTERGENERA-
TIONAL PROGRAMMING, IN ADDITION TO THE PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION IN EACH OF
THE SECONDARY GRADES IN SUCH SUBJECTS, TOPICS AND PROGRAMMING. INTER-
GENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING MAY INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO UTILIZING
SENIOR CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS TO MENTOR STUDENTS AND TEACH LESSONS, ENGAGING
STUDENTS IN INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS, CONGREGATE OR
HOME DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAMS, AND NURSING HOME VISITS.
3. THE REGENTS SHALL ADOPT RULES PROVIDING FOR ATTENDANCE UPON SUCH
INSTRUCTION AND FOR SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS ARE REQUIRED FOR CARRYING INTO
EFFECT THE OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS SECTION AND SHALL CAUSE TO BE
INSPECTED AND SUPERVISE THE INSTRUCTION TO BE GIVEN IN SUCH SUBJECTS AND
TOPICS. THE COMMISSIONER MAY, IN HIS OR HER DISCRETION, CAUSE ALL OR A
PORTION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MONEY TO BE APPORTIONED TO A SCHOOL
DISTRICT TO BE WITHHELD FOR FAILURE OF THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES OF SUCH
DISTRICT TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN SUCH COURSES AND TO COMPEL ATTENDANCE
UPON SUCH INSTRUCTION, AS PRESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, AND FOR A NON-COM-
PLIANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE REGENTS ADOPTED AS PROVIDED IN THIS
SECTION.
S 3. Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law
is amended by adding a new subparagraph 10 to read as follows:
A. 2151 3
(10) IN FORMULATING THE CURRICULUM FOR EACH COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OF
THE STATE UNIVERSITY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL REQUIRE AND INCLUDE
INSTRUCTION IN THE AGING PROCESS, ISSUES RELATED TO AGING, UNDERSTANDING
AND PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE, AND INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING. THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING,
SHALL FURTHER ESTABLISH AND DISTRIBUTE GUIDELINES, PERTAINING TO SUCH
INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING CREDIT HOURS, TO THE PRESIDENT OF EACH COLLEGE
AND UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
S 4. Section 6206 of the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 18 to read as follows:
18. IN FORMULATING THE CURRICULUM FOR EACH COLLEGE OF THE CITY UNIVER-
SITY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL REQUIRE AND INCLUDE INSTRUCTION IN THE
AGING PROCESS, ISSUES RELATED TO AGING, UNDERSTANDING AND PLANNING FOR
LONG-TERM CARE, AND INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING. THE BOARD OF TRUS-
TEES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING, SHALL FURTHER
ESTABLISH AND DISTRIBUTE GUIDELINES, PERTAINING TO SUCH INSTRUCTION,
INCLUDING CREDIT HOURS, TO THE PRESIDENT OF EACH COLLEGE OF THE CITY
UNIVERSITY.
S 5. This act shall take effect on the first of September next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.