Senate Bill S6527

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6527
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 17, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   office for an age-friendly New York
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. Because aging is a process
 we all experience, New Yorkers of all ages do better when we  make  sure
 everyone  can  age  successfully. New York state was named the first Age
 Friendly State in the country in 2017 by AARP and remains  committed  to
 being  age-friendly  so  that  all  New Yorkers can age with dignity and
 independence.  New York's older adult population is 3.5 million  strong.
 Older New Yorkers make our state a healthier, stronger, and more vibrant
 place  to live, through multiple ways including paid and volunteer work,
 raising and mentoring younger New Yorkers,  supporting  their  families,
 sharing their wisdom, and starting new businesses.
   Nearly  1  in 6 New Yorkers is over the age of 65, and that population
 will continue to grow. Between 2015 and 2040, the number of New  Yorkers
 aged 65 and over is projected to increase by 50 percent, while the popu-
 lation  aged  85 and older is projected to double. Shifts in the state's
 aging population will present new  demands  and  opportunities  for  the
 state,  local  governments,  families,  and older New Yorkers. All older
 adults must have the option to remain in their communities as they  age,
 and  that  must  be  a meaningful choice with access to a broad range of
 programs, resources and supports, including safe and affordable housing,
 healthcare, home care, food and nutrition, human services, and transpor-
 tation. An inclusive state for New Yorkers of all ages remains our goal.
   Older adults' health and well-being improves  when  they  have  varied
 opportunities  to stay socially engaged. The state must do everything it
 can to reduce isolation and ensure that all  communities  have  opportu-
 nities  for seniors to interact.  Reliable and safe ways to access these
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11038-01-5
              

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 opportunities allows older adults to be thriving contributors  in  their
 communities.
   As  New York's older adult population grows, it will continue becoming
 more diverse and may be more likely to be childless,  live  alone,  work
 longer,  have lower incomes, or have less retirement savings, presenting
 new challenges for the state and local  governments.  These  demographic
 shifts necessitate strategic and adaptive policy changes.
   Actively  engaging older adults as contributors to the social, econom-
 ic, and civic  fabric  of  our  communities,  encouraging  physical  and
 psychological  health  and well-being in older adults and their caregiv-
 ers, and supporting direct care workers and family  caregivers  as  they
 provide essential care for older adults makes New York better. Only when
 we  acknowledge  the  talents  and  contributions of all New Yorkers, no
 matter their age, can we adapt to future demands.   To be a  truly  age-
 friendly  state,  it is vital that the state have a member of the gover-
 nor's staff whose role is coordinating age-friendly services  and  poli-
 cies across agencies.
   § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 19-M to read
 as follows:
                                ARTICLE 19-M
                    OFFICE FOR AN AGE-FRIENDLY NEW YORK
 SECTION 549.   DEFINITIONS.
         549-A. OFFICE FOR AN AGE-FRIENDLY NEW YORK ESTABLISHED.
         549-B. DIRECTOR; GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
         549-C. STATE AGENCY AND DEPARTMENT WRITTEN PLANS.
         549-D. CONSTRUCTION WITH OTHER LAWS.
   §  549.  DEFINITIONS.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING
 TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "OLDER NEW YORKERS" MEANS NEW  YORK  RESIDENTS  OVER  THE  AGE  OF
 FIFTY.
   (B)  "AGE-FRIENDLY" MEANS A POLICY DEVELOPED TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE
 GOAL OF ENSURING THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES  OLDER  NEW  YORKERS
 WITH ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THAT THEY REMAIN HEALTHY AND
 ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES OF THEIR CHOICE.
   (C)  "DIRECTOR"  MEANS  THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR AN AGE-FRIENDLY
 NEW YORK APPOINTED PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-A OF THIS
 ARTICLE.
   § 549-A. OFFICE FOR AN AGE-FRIENDLY NEW YORK ESTABLISHED. 1. THERE  IS
 HEREBY  ESTABLISHED  WITHIN  THE  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT AN OFFICE FOR AN
 AGE-FRIENDLY NEW YORK.
   2. THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE FOR AN AGE-FRIENDLY NEW YORK  SHALL  BE  THE
 DIRECTOR  OF  THE  OFFICE  FOR  AN  AGE-FRIENDLY  NEW YORK, WHO SHALL BE
 APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND WHO SHALL RECEIVE A SALARY TO BE FIXED  BY
 THE GOVERNOR WITHIN THE AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR.
   § 549-B. DIRECTOR; GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES. 1.  THE DIRECTOR SHALL:
   (A) WORK IN COORDINATION WITH THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING TO ENSURE
 PROPER  IMPLEMENTATION  OF  THE  OLDER  AMERICANS ACT AND OTHER RELEVANT
 LAWS;
   (B) WORK WITH STATE AGENCIES  IN  DEVELOPING  AND  INCORPORATING  AGE-
 FRIENDLY POLICIES INTO THEIR OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING;
   (C)  WORK  WITH  STATE AGENCIES IN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY
 IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE STATE TO BETTER MEET  THE  NEEDS  OF  OLDER  NEW
 YORKERS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WALKABLE STREETS, APPROPRIATE AND
 ACCESSIBLE  HOUSING,  TRANSPORTATION,  AND  EMPLOYMENT  OPTIONS,  SOCIAL
 INCLUSION, AND ACCESS TO KEY SERVICES  AND  OPPORTUNITIES  AT  ALL  LIFE
 STAGES TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES; AND
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   (D)  WORK  WITH  STATE  AGENCIES  TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION AND POTENTIAL
 REGULATORY CHANGES TO HELP EFFECTUATE THE  DUTIES  AND  RESPONSIBILITIES
 REQUIRED  IN  THIS SECTION, AND ANY OTHER CHANGES THAT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY
 AFFECT THE LIVES OF OLDER NEW YORKERS.
   2. THE DIRECTOR SHALL, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, REVIEW AND REPORT TO
 THE  GOVERNOR  UPON  PROPOSED  LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS. THE DIRECTOR
 SHALL SUBMIT COMMENTS, WHERE APPROPRIATE,  TO  THE  STATE  AGENCY  WHICH
 REFERRED SUCH PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS EVALUATING:
   (A)  THE  IMPACT  OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION OR REGULATION UPON OLDER
 NEW YORKERS;
   (B) THE RELATIONSHIP AND IMPACT OF SUCH PROPOSED LEGISLATION OR  REGU-
 LATION ON EXISTING PROGRAMS AFFECTING OLDER NEW YORKERS; AND
   (C)  ANY MODIFICATIONS THAT WOULD HELP OLDER NEW YORKERS OR AID IN THE
 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW PROPOSAL.
   3. ALL STATE AGENCIES SHALL COOPERATE WITH THE DIRECTOR TO ENSURE THAT
 THE DIRECTOR IS ABLE TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
   § 549-C. STATE AGENCY AND DEPARTMENT WRITTEN  PLANS.    BEGINNING  TWO
 YEARS  AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF THIS ARTICLE, AND EVERY TWO YEARS
 THEREAFTER, EACH STATE AGENCY AND DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN PLAN
 TO THE DIRECTOR CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF SUCH AGENCY OR  DEPARTMENT'S
 EFFORTS  TO  ENSURE  THAT  ITS SERVICES ARE AGE-FRIENDLY, AND CONTAINING
 SUCH AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT'S PLANS TO CONTINUE AND/OR  EXPAND  SUCH  AGE-
 FRIENDLY SERVICES.
   §  549-D. CONSTRUCTION WITH OTHER LAWS.  NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL
 BE CONSTRUED TO SUPERSEDE OR REPLACE THE STATUTORY DUTIES OR  POWERS  OF
 THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.