NY State Senate Bill 2015-S2517

Senate Bill S2517

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Expands volunteerism by making use of AARP's database and institutes volunteer certificate programs

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Aging Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2016	referred to aging
Jan 26, 2015	referred to aging

2015-S2517 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A243
Current Committee:: Senate Aging
Law Section:: Elder Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §203, Eld L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S2027, A7914
2011-2012: S2688, A6243
2013-2014: S5396, A2450
2017-2018: S2236, A9660
2019-2020: S5022
2021-2022: S5420
2023-2024: S7919

2015-S2517 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Expands volunteerism by making use of the databases of statewide aging organizations, and institutes volunteer certificate programs which train volunteers and individuals in programs to use the volunteers.

2015-S2517 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S2517

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the elder law, in relation to
volunteer programs

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To increase opportunities for older New Yorkers to volunteer their
time in meaningful ways.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 7 of section 203 of the elder
law, which deals with the general powers and duties of the State
Office for the Aging (SOFA), is amended to authorize SOFA to enter
into a contract with one or more statewide organizations in order to
establish a volunteer databank, and to establish, replicate, or
encourage the development of training programs for such volunteers and
the programs and services that make use of them. In addition, the
section requires SOFA to establish guidelines, including for
confidentiality and access to the data, and to establish and replicate
a model training curriculum for not-for-profits organizations and
volunteers, whose purpose shall be to train volunteers, and to train
not-for-profit organizations in ways of effectively and efficiently
using volunteers. In developing the curriculum SOFA may consult and
work with individuals and entities with appropriate expertise at the

State University of New York and the City University of New York.

Section 2 of the bill establishes the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Many older New Yorkers are looking for opportunities to volunteer in a
meaningful way; and many not-for-profit organizations would use
volunteers if they could be effectively and efficiently employed. This
legislation allows for the creation of a wide-ranging database and
training that would help match volunteers with organizations that can
effectively use their talents.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013-14:S.5396(Parker)/A.2450 -Referred to Aging
2011-12:S.2688(Golden)/A.2688 -Referred to Aging
2009-10:S.2027(Golden)/A.7914 -Referred to Aging
2008-09:S.6966(Golden)/A.10436- Passed Both Houses/Vetoed by Governor

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the powers and
duties established in paragraph (b) of subdivision 7 of section 203 of
the elder law as added by this act shall be effective on and after the
first of April occurring at least one year after the date on which
this act shall have become a law.

2015-S2517 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  2517

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 26, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- 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 volunteer programs

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

  Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 203 of the elder law is amended to
read as follows:
  7.  (A) The director is hereby authorized, within amounts appropriated
therefor, to make grants-in-aid to retired and senior volunteer programs
for the engagement of individuals fifty-five years of  age  or  over  to
serve  as  volunteers  for  the  betterment of their community and them-
selves. Such volunteer activities may include but shall not  be  limited
to  assisting  with the preparation of meals at nutrition sites; leading
activities at child care centers; delivering meals to homebound elderly;
providing telephone reassurance and/or  friendly  visits  to  the  frail
elderly;  tutoring  adults  or children; assisting with services for the
homeless and assisting school districts which request volunteers for the
purpose of notifying a person in parental  relation  to  any  elementary
school  pupil  when such pupil is deemed absent from required attendance
at his or her designated school. The services of these  volunteers  will
be performed in the community where such individuals reside or in nearby
communities. Up to ten percent of such grants-in-aid may be expended for
the  administrative  purposes of such programs, with the approval of the
office. Such grants shall be for a period  of  twelve  months  or  less,
shall  not  be  used  to match other state funds, shall not be used as a
substitute for federal allocations, and shall be made in a manner  which
does not conflict with federal law, rule or regulation pursuant to title
II  of  the  United  States  domestic volunteer services act of nineteen
hundred seventy-three, as amended. Grants may be used to  match  federal
funds,  but  not  as  a  substitute  for  presently required non-federal
shares. Each grantee shall file reports at such time and containing such

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00405-01-5

S. 2517                             2

information as the office shall require. For the purpose of  administer-
ing  such  grants-in-aid  the office may make such agreements with other
public agencies as are deemed necessary.
  (B)  IN ADDITION TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES CONTAINED IN SUBDIVISION TWO
OF THIS SECTION, THE  OFFICE  IS  HEREBY  AUTHORIZED  TO  ENTER  INTO  A
RELATIONSHIP,  DEFINED BY CONTRACT, WITH ONE OR MORE STATEWIDE ORGANIZA-
TIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A DATABANK OF INDIVIDUALS  WISHING
TO  VOLUNTEER  THEIR  SERVICES TO PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE
AGING, AND TO ESTABLISH, REPLICATE,  OR  ENCOURAGE  THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF
TRAINING  PROGRAMS  FOR  SUCH  VOLUNTEERS AND PROGRAMS. THE OFFICE SHALL
ESTABLISH GUIDELINES  FOR  THE  USE  OF  ANY  SUCH  DATABANK,  INCLUDING
REQUIREMENTS  CONCERNING  APPROPRIATE  DATA TO BE ENTERED INTO THE DATA-
BANK, CONFIDENTIALITY, SCREENING, ACCESS, CORRECTION OF  THE  DATA,  AND
SUCH  OTHER  REQUIREMENTS AS THE OFFICE, AFTER CONSULTATION AND WITH THE
ADVICE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE AGING AND OTHERS, SHALL  ESTAB-
LISH.  THE  PURPOSE  OF  THE TRAINING CURRICULUM SHALL BE TO TRAIN, ON A
VOLUNTARY BASIS, VOLUNTEERS FOR THE TASKS THEY ARE  INTERESTED  IN,  AND
INDIVIDUALS  IN  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  ORGANIZATIONS  IN EFFECTIVELY AND EFFI-
CIENTLY USING VOLUNTEERS. IN DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM  THE  OFFICE  MAY
CONSULT  AND  WORK  WITH INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES WITH EXPERTISE IN SUCH
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF  NEW  YORK  AND  THE
CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
  S  2. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the powers
and duties established in paragraph (b) of subdivision 7 of section  203
of  the  elder  law as added by this act shall be effective on and after
the first of April occurring at least one year after the date  on  which
this act shall have become a law.

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