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

                                  1961

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  MILLMAN,  DINOWITZ,  ENGLEBRIGHT, ZEBROWSKI,
  RIVERA,  BROOK-KRASNY,  ABBATE,  BARRON,  BENEDETTO,  CASTRO,  CRESPO,
  GUNTHER,  ORTIZ,  STEVENSON,  ROBINSON,  LUPARDO,  WEPRIN,  HOOPER  --
  Multi-Sponsored by  --  M.  of  A.  ARROYO,  AUBRY,  BRENNAN,  COLTON,
  FARRELL,  GALEF,  JAFFEE,  MAGEE,  MAISEL,  PAULIN,  SCHIMEL, SWEENEY,
  TITONE, WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Aging

AN ACT to amend the elder law, in  relation  to  authorizing  the  state
  office  for  the  aging  to  implement a caregiver support program for
  grandparents and other older relatives who are caring for children

  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 224 to
read as follows:
  S 224. GRANDPARENT CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM. 1. THE DIRECTOR IS HERE-
BY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED, TO THE EXTENT APPROPRIATIONS  ARE  AVAILABLE
THEREFOR,  TO  DEVELOP  AND  ESTABLISH  A  GRANDPARENT CAREGIVER SUPPORT
PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES TO GRANDPARENTS OR
OTHER OLDER ADULT RELATIVE CAREGIVERS WHO ARE PROVIDING PRIMARY CARE FOR
A CHILD.
  2. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
  (A) "GRANDPARENT OR OTHER OLDER ADULT RELATIVE CAREGIVERS" SHALL  MEAN
A  GRANDPARENT OR STEPGRANDPARENT OF A CHILD OR A RELATIVE OF A CHILD BY
BLOOD OR MARRIAGE WHO:
  (I) IS SIXTY YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, AND
  (II) LIVES WITH THE CHILD, AND
  (III) PROVIDES PRIMARY CARE FOR THE CHILD BECAUSE  THE  BIOLOGICAL  OR
ADOPTIVE  PARENTS  ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO SERVE AS THE PRIMARY CARE-
GIVER OF THE CHILD, AND
  (IV) IS THE CUSTODIAN OR GUARDIAN OF THE  CHILD,  OR  IS  RAISING  THE
CHILD INFORMALLY.

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

                                                           LBD00432-01-3

A. 1961                             2

  (B)  "CHILD"  SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR
YOUNGER.
  3.  THE  GRANDPARENT CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM MAY INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT
LIMITED TO:
  (A) THE CREATION OF GRANDPARENT CAREGIVER RESOURCE  CENTERS  BY  LOCAL
OFFICES FOR THE AGING IN NEW YORK STATE,
  (B)  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING FOR GRANDPARENT AND OTHER OLDER
ADULT RELATIVE CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUPS,
  (C) INFORMATION AND REFERRAL FOR GRANDPARENT  AND  OTHER  OLDER  ADULT
RELATIVE CAREGIVERS,
  (D) ASSISTANCE TO GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER OLDER ADULT RELATIVE CAREGIV-
ERS IN GAINING ACCESS TO AVAILABLE SERVICES,
  (E) COUNSELING TO GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER OLDER ADULT RELATIVE CAREGIV-
ERS  IN MAKING DECISIONS AND SOLVING PROBLEMS RELATING TO THEIR CAREGIV-
ING ROLES, AND
  (F) THE PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF PRINTED MATERIAL  RELATED  TO
SERVICES  AVAILABLE TO GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER OLDER ADULT RELATIVE CARE-
GIVERS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.