S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4880
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 3, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. DIAZ, MONTGOMERY -- 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 requiring establishment of
   model community programs for local agencies, including a  model  tele-
   phone reassurance program and a model visiting program for elders

   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:
   §  203-A. MODEL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOP-
 MENT OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS  THAT  PROMOTE  AGING  WITH  DIGNITY  IN
 COMMUNITIES,  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  DEVELOP MODEL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO BE
 DISTRIBUTED UPON REQUEST TO LOCAL AREA AGENCIES ON AGING  AND  COMMUNITY
 BASED  ORGANIZATIONS.  SUCH  MODEL  COMMUNITY PROGRAMS SHALL INCLUDE THE
 FOLLOWING:
   1. A MODEL TELEPHONE REASSURANCE PROGRAM SHALL BE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE
 FOR THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) PHONE CALLS BY THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINING THE PROGRAM TO PARTIC-
 IPATING SENIORS AT AN AGREED UPON TIME EACH DAY;
   (B) A SECONDARY CONTACT, WHERE APPLICABLE,  TO  BE  CONTACTED  IF  THE
 SENIOR DOES NOT ANSWER THE INITIAL CALL AND BEFORE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
 ARE CONTACTED;
   (C)  COORDINATION  WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE AN APPROPRIATE
 RESPONSE IN THE EVENT THE SENIOR CANNOT BE CONTACTED;
   (D) ADVANCE CONSENT TO ACCESS TO THE HOME BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT  TO
 DETERMINE  THE STATUS OF THE SENIOR IF CONTACT WITH THE SENIOR COULD NOT
 BE MADE; AND
   (E) INCREASED COORDINATION BETWEEN THE SENIORS UTILIZING  THE  PROGRAM
 AND  PROGRAM  OPERATORS TO REDUCE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN UNNECESSARY LAW
 ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07197-01-7
              

 S. 4880                             2
 
   2. A MODEL VISITING PROGRAM SHALL BE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE SENIORS WITH
 A VISITOR WHO CAN OFFER CONTACT ON A REGULAR BASIS AND COMPANIONSHIP FOR
 SENIORS WHO LACK A NETWORK OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN  THEIR  COMMUNITIES.
 THE MODEL VISITING PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A)  METHODS  TO  OBTAIN VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL
 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS;
   (B) SYSTEMS TO SCREEN VOLUNTEERS TO  BOTH  ENSURE  A  GOOD  MATCH  AND
 PROTECT SENIORS INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM;
   (C)  SYSTEMS TO PERIODICALLY CHECK ON BOTH VOLUNTEERS AND THE SENIORS;
 AND
   (D) RESPONSES TO PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.