S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5455
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 7, 2009
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Introduced by Sen. OPPENHEIMER -- 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 establishing a long term
care worker training pilot program; and providing for the repeal of
such provisions upon the 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 218-a to
read as follows:
S 218-A. LONG TERM CARE WORKER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM. 1. THE DIREC-
TOR, WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, SHALL ESTABLISH A LONG TERM
CARE WORKER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING ACCESS
TO ENHANCED EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACROSS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR
HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES PRACTITIONERS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES TO
ELDERLY PERSONS AS DEFINED BY PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
SECTION TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN OF THIS TITLE. EMPHASIS SHALL BE PLACED ON
TRAINING TRAINERS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TRAINERS FROM COLLEGE,
UNIVERSITY AND BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FACULTY, AND
STAFF OF PROVIDER AGENCIES IN HIGH NEEDS AREAS, AS SET FORTH IN THIS
SECTION, WHO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR HOME CARE, NURSE AIDES,
PERSONAL CARE AIDES, CASE MANAGERS IN THE EXPANDED IN-HOME SERVICES FOR
THE ELDERLY PROGRAM, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALISTS INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE WORKING FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS, MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS, NEW YORK CONNECTS-CHOICES FOR LONG TERM CARE, SOCIAL ADULT
DAY CARE, ADULT DAY CARE AND OTHER CAREGIVERS WITH HANDS-ON RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES FOR ELDERLY CLIENTS. THE GOAL SHALL BE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
CARE PROVIDED TO THE ELDERLY, TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WORKING WITH
THE ELDERLY AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE CORE COMPETENCIES IN GERIATRICS, TO
IMPROVE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, AND TO ASSIST PROVIDERS TO MEET
TRAINING NEEDS, INCLUDING REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY REGULATORY AGEN-
CIES. THE DIRECTOR SHALL COORDINATE SUCH EFFORTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05158-01-9
S. 5455 2
ONGOING TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH; OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES; STATE COMMISSION ON QUALITY OF CARE AND ADVO-
CACY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; EDUCATION DEPARTMENT; STATE UNIVER-
SITY OF NEW YORK; OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND SUCH
OTHER AGENCIES AS APPROPRIATE. SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE COORDINATED WITH
COMMUNITY BASED AGENCIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COUNTY HEALTH,
MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS; COUNTY OFFICES FOR THE
AGING; COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES; BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES; LONG TERM CARE PROVIDERS; AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS; RURAL
HEALTH NETWORKS; AND SUCH OTHER AGENCIES AS APPROPRIATE. THE DIRECTOR
SHALL PROVIDE A METHOD FOR ONGOING EVALUATION AND REPORTING ON THE
SUCCESS OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM IN MEETING ITS STATED GOALS.
2. THE DIRECTOR, WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, AND IN CONSUL-
TATION WITH THE AGENCIES THE DIRECTOR IS REQUIRED TO COORDINATE WITH
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, SHALL CONTRACT WITH ONE OR
MORE COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES WITH A RECOGNIZED INSTITUTE ON GERONTOLO-
GY, TO ASSIST IN THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF THE LONG
TERM CARE WORKER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE IDENTIFICATION OF
HIGH NEEDS AREAS WHERE A SHORTAGE OF GERIATRIC TRAINING RESOURCES AND
DIFFICULTIES IN ACCESSING SUCH TRAINING ARE DOCUMENTED.
3. ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR NEXT
SUCCEEDING THE YEAR IN WHICH THE CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND
NINE WHICH ADDED THIS SECTION TAKES EFFECT, AND EVERY SECOND YEAR THERE-
AFTER, THE DIRECTOR SHALL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE ON
THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TO DESIGN, IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE THE LONG
TERM CARE WORKER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE DATA
RELATING TO PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, OUTCOMES AND OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PILOT PROGRAM IN ACCOM-
PLISHING ITS STATED GOALS.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April of the calendar
year next succeeding the year in which it shall have become a law, and
shall expire and be deemed repealed 6 years after it shall take effect.