S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7277
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 21, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Aging
 
 AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing  the  intera-
   gency  elder  justice task force; and providing for the repeal of such
   provisions upon 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 226 to
 read as follows:
   § 226. INTERAGENCY ELDER  JUSTICE  TASK  FORCE.  1.  THERE  IS  HEREBY
 CREATED  WITHIN  THE  OFFICE  AN  INTERAGENCY  ELDER  JUSTICE TASK FORCE
 CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF  STATE  AGENCIES  WHOSE  WORK  INVOLVES
 ELDER  JUSTICE  TO  CREATE GREATER COLLABORATION AND DEVELOP OVERARCHING
 STRATEGIES, SYSTEMS, AND PROGRAMS, WITH THE  GOAL  OF  PROTECTING  OLDER
 ADULTS  FROM ABUSE AND MISTREATMENT. THE TASK FORCE SHALL COLLABORATE TO
 IDENTIFY CONSISTENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN ELDER JUSTICE; AND, FACILI-
 TATE COMMUNICATION AND FOSTER COLLABORATIVE  RELATIONSHIPS  AMONG  STATE
 AGENCIES.
   2.  THE  TASK  FORCE  SHALL  CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OR THEIR
 DESIGNEES:
   (A) THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR  THE  AGING,  WHO  SHALL  SERVE  AS
 CHAIR;
   (B) THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF VICTIMS SERVICES;
   (C) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES;
   (D) THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES;
   (E) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES;
   (F) THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH;
   (G)  THE  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  OFFICE  FOR  THE  PREVENTION  OF DOMESTIC
 VIOLENCE;
   (H) THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04019-01-5
 A. 7277                             2
              

 
   (I) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISA-
 BILITIES;
   (J) THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE;
   (K)  THE  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE CENTER FOR THE  PROTECTION
 OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS;
   (L) THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S  DIVISION  OF
 CONSUMER PROTECTION;
   (M) TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;
   (N) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY; AND
   (O) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
   3.  THE  TASK  FORCE SHALL REQUEST INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, ADVOCATES,
 EXPERTS, AND COALITIONS.
   4. MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE TASK FORCE SHALL HAVE RELEVANT  EXPERIENCE
 AND  EXPERTISE  CONCERNING  ELDER  JUSTICE BY VIRTUE OF THEIR EDUCATION,
 TRAINING OR LIVED EXPERIENCE.
   5. THE TASK FORCE SHALL:
   (A) DEVELOP A COHESIVE, COMPREHENSIVE STATE PLAN ON ELDER JUSTICE THAT
 ALIGNS WITH NEW YORK STATE'S ELDER JUSTICE POLICY  AND  PROGRAMS  ACROSS
 STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES;
   (B)  DEVELOP  PLANS  FOR A COORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE FROM
 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT  AND  OTHER  ENTITIES  WHEN  ELDER  ABUSE  IS
 REPORTED;
   (C)  FACILITATE  INTERAGENCY  PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT ON ELDER
 JUSTICE;
   (D) REVIEW AND PROPOSE SPECIFIC AGENCY INITIATIVES FOR THEIR IMPACT ON
 SYSTEMS AND SERVICES RELATED TO ELDER JUSTICE;
   (E) COORDINATE ACTIVITIES FOR WORLD  ELDER  ABUSE  AWARENESS  DAY  AND
 OTHER EVENTS;
   (F)  INFORM LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN ELDER
 JUSTICE; AND
   (G) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR THAT WILL IMPROVE NEW  YORK'S
 ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION EFFORTS.
   6.  THE  TASK  FORCE  SHALL  SERVE TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON ELDER JUSTICE
 COMPREHENSIVELY AND CREATE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY MECHANISM TO WORK  TOWARD
 ALIGNMENT  ACROSS  AGENCIES TO HELP ACHIEVE THE GOVERNOR'S ELDER JUSTICE
 PRIORITIES.
   7. THE TASK FORCE SHALL MEET REGULARLY, BUT  NO  LESS  THAN  ONCE  PER
 MONTH  AND  WHERE OTHERWISE APPROPRIATE TO FULFILL ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS
 CHAPTER. THE MEMBERS OF THIS TASK  FORCE  SHALL  SERVE  WITHOUT  COMPEN-
 SATION,  BUT  SHALL  BE  ENTITLED  TO  REIMBURSEMENT  FOR  ALL NECESSARY
 EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   8. ANY VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL  BE  FILLED
 IN THE SAME MANNER PROVIDED FOR IN THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT.
   9.  THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE APPOINTED NO LATER THAN ONE
 HUNDRED AND TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. Within one year of the effective date of this  act,  in  carrying
 out  its  functions, the interagency elder justice task force shall hold
 five public hearings around the state to foster discussions and  conduct
 formal public hearings with requisite public notice to solicit input and
 recommendations  from statewide and regional stakeholder interests. Such
 task force shall also accept public input in writing.  Such  task  force
 may  utilize  remote  access such as web conferencing to comply with the
 provisions of this section.
   § 3. Within two years of the effective date of this act the interagen-
 cy elder justice task force shall report its  findings  and  recommenda-
 tions  to  the  governor,  the temporary president of the senate and the
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 speaker of the assembly and shall publicize its findings on  the  office
 for the aging website.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed 3 years after such effective date.