Requires dementia-specific training for adult protective services workers, including but not limited to the recognition of symptoms, communication techniques, assessment of capacity, and the identification of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals with cognitive impairment; requires six hours of training upon commencement of employment and three hours of training every two years thereafter.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
11519
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 28, 2026
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Griffin) --
read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring demen-
tia-specific training for adult protective services workers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 473 of the social services law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. (A) EACH SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS RECEIVE TRAINING AND EDUCATION APPROPRIATE
TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
(B) SUCH TRAINING SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, INSTRUCTION ON
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
THE RECOGNITION OF SYMPTOMS, COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES, ASSESSMENT OF
CAPACITY, AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION OF
INDIVIDUALS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.
(C) EACH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKER SHALL COMPLETE:
(I) NOT LESS THAN SIX HOURS OF DEMENTIA-SPECIFIC TRAINING UPON
COMMENCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT OR WITHIN SIX MONTHS THEREAFTER; AND
(II) NOT LESS THAN THREE HOURS OF ONGOING TRAINING THEREAFTER, AS
PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH TRAINING IS COMPLETED
AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.
(D) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSIST-
ANCE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING, SHALL:
(I) DEVELOP OR APPROVE TRAINING CURRICULA AND STANDARDS;
(II) ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE FREQUENCY AND CONTENT OF CONTINUING
EDUCATION; AND
(III) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS TO
ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
(E) EACH SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT SHALL:
(I) ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBDIVI-
SION;
(II) MAINTAIN RECORDS OF COMPLETION FOR ALL ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
WORKERS; AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
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