S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4351--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. CLEARE, ROLISON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging -- reported
   favorably from said  committee  and  committed  to  the  Committee  on
   Finance  --  committee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation  to  publishing  a  guide  to
   actions when someone close dies
 
   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. GUIDE TO ACTIONS WHEN SOMEONE CLOSE DIES.  1. THE OFFICE SHALL
 PUBLISH A "GUIDE TO ACTIONS WHEN SOMEONE CLOSE DIES". THIS  GUIDE  SHALL
 BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE OFFICE AND THE
 OFFICE  MAY PRODUCE A PAPER FORMAT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE
 OF THIS SECTION.
   2. THE GUIDE SHALL PROVIDE  INFORMATION  IN  AT  LEAST  THE  FOLLOWING
 DOMAINS:
   (A)  ECONOMIC SECURITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PENSIONS, SOCIAL
 SECURITY, LIFE INSURANCE, HEALTH INSURANCE, DEATH BENEFITS  AS  WELL  AS
 TAX IMPLICATIONS OF A DEATH.
   (B)  LEGAL,  INCLUDING  HOW TO ACCESS DEATH CERTIFICATES, WILLS, TRUST
 DOCUMENTS AND OTHER LEGAL INFORMATION NEEDED TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
   (C) MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING INFORMATION  ON  THE  GRIEVING
 PROCESS,  TRIGGERS  AND SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH GRIEF, EFFECTIVE COPING
 STRATEGIES, THE IMPACT ON FAMILY DYNAMICS IN RELATION  TO  THE  LOSS  OF
 SOMEONE CLOSE, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS CORRELATED WITH GRIEF.
   (D)  DISPOSITION OF REMAINS INCLUDING FUNERAL AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
 AND BURIALS. THIS INFORMATION SHALL INCLUDE AVERAGE COSTS BY REGION  AND
 REFER  TO THE RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S BUREAU OF
 FUNERAL DIRECTING.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04492-04-5
              

 S. 4351--A                          2
 
   (E) OTHER INFORMATION AS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE IN CONSULTATION WITH
 THE SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   3.  THE  DIRECTOR SHALL ESTABLISH A SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO HELP
 FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE  TEMPO-
 RARY AND DISSOLVE THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE GUIDE IS POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED.
 THE  MEMBERS  OF THE SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPEN-
 SATION FOR THEIR SERVICES BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR ACTUAL AND  NECES-
 SARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES, TO THE EXTENT
 FUNDS  ARE  APPROPRIATED  FOR SUCH PURPOSE.  THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONTAIN
 REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FOLLOWING PROFESSIONS  AS  WELL  AS  ANY  STATE
 AGENCY  REPRESENTATIVES  THAT ARE NEEDED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIREC-
 TOR:
   (A) FUNERAL DIRECTORS;
   (B) CEMETERIES;
   (C) MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF GRIEF COUN-
 SELING;
   (D) ATTORNEYS SPECIALIZED IN ESTATE PLANNING, INCLUDING THE  NEW  YORK
 STATE BAR ASSOCIATION; AND
   (E) CLERGY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.