Establishes the Senior Center Council to provide a forum for the discussion of challenges facing senior centers.

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S1237-2013 Actions

• Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO AGING

S1237-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1237

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the elder law, in relation to the establishment of a senior
center council

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would establish the New
York State Senior Center Council. The purpose of the council will be
to provide a forum for discussion of challenges facing senior centers
across the state and then develop solutions to these problems.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the elder law by
adding a new section 216. This section establishes the council and
its membership; in addition this section defines what compensation
for the membership shall be. The section goes on to describe to
purpose of the council.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
Senior centers are a vital part of communities in the
state of New York. In both New York City and communities on Long
Island and north of Westchester, senior centers serve as a community
in and of its own for many of the seniors they serve. From hot meals
and social interaction, to transportation and case management, many
seniors would be left alone and live in isolation were it not for the
senior centers in their communities. This bill would provide a forum
at which information regarding efficient and effective operation
strategies for senior center could be shared. The council would
encourage peer to peer discussion as well as input from seniors
themselves. The results of this discussion would be offered to the
state in order to enhance senior centers throughout New York.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
06/16/11 REFERRED TO RULES
01/04/12 REFERRED TO AGING

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Yet to be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S1237-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    1237

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                                 (PREFILED)

                               January 9, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen. PERKINS -- 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  the  establishment  of  a
    senior center council

    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  216  to
  read as follows:

    S  216. SENIOR CENTER COUNCIL. 1. DEFINITION. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
  SECTION, THE  TERM  "COUNCIL"  SHALL  MEAN  THE  SENIOR  CENTER  COUNCIL
  CONVENED BY THE DIRECTOR PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
    2.  MEMBERSHIP. THE SENIOR CENTER COUNCIL SHALL CONSIST OF TEN MEMBERS
  APPOINTED BY THE DIRECTOR WHO SHALL SERVE AS THE  CHAIR.  THESE  MEMBERS
  SHALL  HAVE  EXPERIENCE  WITH  THE  OPERATION  OF SENIOR CENTERS AND THE
  PROVISION OF SERVICES THEREIN. MEMBERS SHALL ALSO BE  BROADLY  REPRESEN-
  TATIVE  OF  OLDER ADULT GROUPS AND ALL GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF THE STATE. AT
  LEAST TWO OF THESE MEMBERS SHALL BE OVER THE AGE OF SIXTY-TWO.
    3. COMPENSATION. MEMBERS OF THE  COUNCIL,  OTHER  THAN  THE  DIRECTOR,
  SHALL  RECEIVE  NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED
  THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR
  DUTIES PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
    4. PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE TO (A) PROVIDE A FORUM
  FOR DISCUSSION OF CHALLENGES FACING SENIOR CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE  AND
  DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS;
    (B)  SUPPORT  SHARING OF INFORMATION REGARDING EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
  OPERATION OF SENIOR CENTERS IN DIFFERENT AREAS AROUND THE STATE;
    (C) ENCOURAGE THE SPREAD OF METHODS AND PROGRAMS  WITH  PROVEN  EFFEC-
  TIVENESS;
    (D)  CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT FOR SENIOR CENTERS
  ACROSS THE STATE; AND
    (E) OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW THE STATE CAN SUPPORT SENIOR CENTERS
  AND LOWER BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY.
    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD02905-01-3