The New York State Senate

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

                                  5335

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 18, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. CYMBROWITZ, DINOWITZ, PAULIN, LUPARDO, WRIGHT,
  ORTIZ, HIKIND, GALEF,  RIVERA,  JAFFEE,  GUNTHER,  WEPRIN,  HOOPER  --
  Multi-Sponsored  by  -- M. of A.  ABBATE, AUBRY, CAHILL, GIGLIO, GOTT-
  FRIED, MARKEY, McKEVITT, PEOPLES-STOKES, ROBINSON, ROSENTHAL, SCHIMEL,
  TITONE, ZEBROWSKI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Aging

AN ACT to amend the elder law, in  relation  to  establishing  a  senior
  housing task force

  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  203-a  to
read as follows:
  S  203-A.  SENIOR  HOUSING  TASK FORCE. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
WITHIN THE OFFICE A SENIOR HOUSING TASK FORCE WHICH SHALL MEET AT  LEAST
FOUR TIMES IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF THE STATE.  THE TASK FORCE
SHALL  CONSIST  OF  SEVENTEEN  MEMBERS AND SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES
FROM THE FOLLOWING STATE AGENCIES: THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING,  THE  DIVI-
SION  OF  HOUSING  AND  COMMUNITY RENEWAL, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE
OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT  OF  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,  THE
EMPIRE  STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVEL-
OPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE DIVISION OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR ADULTS OF
THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND  FAMILY  SERVICES,  AND  THE  NEW  YORK  CITY
DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING. OF THE EIGHT REMAINING MEMBERS, THREE SHALL BE
APPOINTED  BY  THE  GOVERNOR AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY, THREE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AT THE RECOMMENDATION
OF THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY  THE
GOVERNOR  AT  THE  RECOMMENDATION OF THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY
AND ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF  THE
MINORITY  LEADER  OF THE SENATE, AND SHALL BROADLY REPRESENT HOUSING AND
SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS FROM ALL GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF THE  STATE  INCLUDING
SERVICE  PROVIDERS,  ASSOCIATIONS, ADVOCATES, PROPRIETORS, AND CONSUMERS
OF FOR-PROFIT AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT SENIOR HOUSING  OPTIONS  INCLUDING  BUT

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01271-01-5

A. 5335                             2

NOT LIMITED TO: ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, ADULT HOMES, SKILLED NURSING
FACILITIES,  INDEPENDENT  LIVING FACILITIES, NATURALLY OCCURRING RETIRE-
MENT COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOOD NATURALLY OCCURRING  RETIREMENT  COMMUNI-
TIES, AND CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES.  MEMBERS SHALL RECEIVE
NO  COMPENSATION  FOR  THEIR SERVICES BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR TRAVEL
AND OTHER EXPENSES ACTUALLY AND NECESSARILY INCURRED IN THE  PERFORMANCE
OF  THEIR  DUTIES. THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE CO-CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
RENEWAL. THE TASK FORCE  IS  RESPONSIBLE  FOR  CONDUCTING  A  STATE-WIDE
ASSESSMENT OF SENIOR HOUSING NEEDS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE VARIOUS
GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS AND DIFFERENT NEEDS OF THE SENIORS IN THOSE AREAS AND
RESOURCES  AVAILABLE  IN  THOSE  DIFFERENT AREAS AND PROJECT THOSE NEEDS
OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS; OTHER FACTORS WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN INTO CONSID-
ERATION ARE: HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF SENIORS, THE LONG TERM CARE  NEEDS  OF
SENIORS, FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SENIORS, OR NEEDED BY SENIORS,
AND  TRANSPORTATION  NEEDS  OF  SENIORS.  THE ASSESSMENT SHALL INCLUDE A
REVIEW OF INNOVATIVE APPROACHES SUCCESSFULLY BEING IMPLEMENTED IN  OTHER
STATES  AND  THEIR  POTENTIAL  FOR  IMPLEMENTATION IN THIS STATE.   SUCH
ASSESSMENT SHALL ALSO DEVELOP A VIABLE PLAN FOR PROVIDING QUALITY SENIOR
HOUSING TO MEET THE PROJECTED NEEDS OF SENIORS WITH ACTIONS,  STEPS  AND
TIME FRAMES.
  2.  THE TASK FORCE SHALL ISSUE A REPORT BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
EIGHTEEN OUTLINING ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING THE  STATE
PLAN  WITH  TIME  FRAMES. THE REPORT SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR,
THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,  THE
CHAIRPERSONS  OF  THE AGING, HEALTH AND HOUSING COMMITTEES IN THE ASSEM-
BLY,  AND  THE  CHAIRPERSONS  OF  THE   AGING,   HEALTH   AND   HOUSING,
CONSTRUCTION, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES IN THE SENATE.
  S  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.