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BILL NUMBER:S4492                REVISED

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the elder law, in relation to the senior center assessment required of the state office for the aging

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill would add to the assessment that SOFA performs on its own programs. It would require SOFA to assess the condition of the senior center network across the state and include any recommendation on ways to support and strengthen the network. It also would require a report on the effect of quality of life for older adults who attend a senior center compared to those that do not.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends paragraph b and c of subdivision 2 of section 2 J 3 of the elder law.

Section 2 amends subdivision 3 of section 2 J 3 of the elder law by adding a new paragraph k.

Section 3 sets the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION: Senior centers are vital parts of communities in the state of New York. These centers provide hot meals, social interaction, transportation services, and case management, amongst other valuable services. Without these centers, many seniors would be left in isolation. This bill requires SOFA to assess senior centers in addition to the already on-going assessments they perform on programs that serve the elderly. Any improvements the state can make in these vital services will directly benefit some of the state's most deserving citizens.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: This is a new Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Yet to be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________

4492

2011-2012 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

April 7, 2011
___________

Introduced  by  Sen. VALESKY -- 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 senior center  assess-
  ment required of the state office for the aging

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 2 of section  213  of
the  elder  law  are amended and a new paragraph (d) is added to read as
follows:
  (b) Assess the effectiveness  of  the  community  services  for  aging
program  pursuant to section two hundred fourteen of this title in coor-
dinating and improving the local delivery of services  to  the  elderly;
[and]
  (c)  Include  recommendation  for  expanding  or  replicating  service
programs that have been determined effective in  helping  needy  elderly
remain in the community and to avoid institutional care[.]; AND
  (D) ASSESS THE CONDITION OF THE SENIOR CENTER NETWORK ACROSS THE STATE
AND  INCLUDE  ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THAT
NETWORK.
  S 2. Subdivision 3 of section 213 of  the  elder  law  is  amended  by
adding a new paragraph (k) to read as follows:
  (K)  A  REPORT  ON  THE EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO
ATTEND A SENIOR CENTER IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY AS COMPARED TO THOSE WHO
DO NOT ATTEND A SENIOR CENTER, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT  THE  DISTANCE  OLDER
ADULTS MUST TRAVEL TO REACH A CENTER.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10451-01-1