S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    503
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  DIAZ  --  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  senior
   housing task force

   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  203-a  to
 read as follows:
   §  203-A.  SENIOR  HOUSING  TASK FORCE. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
 WITHIN THE OFFICE A SENIOR HOUSING TASK FORCE WHICH SHALL MEET AT  LEAST
 FOUR TIMES IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF THE STATE.  THE TASK FORCE
 SHALL  CONSIST  OF  SEVENTEEN  MEMBERS AND SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES
 FROM THE FOLLOWING STATE AGENCIES: THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING,  THE  DIVI-
 SION  OF  HOUSING  AND  COMMUNITY RENEWAL, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE
 OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT  OF  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,  THE
 EMPIRE  STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVEL-
 OPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE DIVISION OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR ADULTS OF
 THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND  FAMILY  SERVICES,  AND  THE  NEW  YORK  CITY
 DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING. OF THE EIGHT REMAINING MEMBERS, THREE SHALL BE
 APPOINTED  BY  THE  GOVERNOR AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY, THREE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AT THE RECOMMENDATION
 OF THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY  THE
 GOVERNOR  AT  THE  RECOMMENDATION OF THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY
 AND ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF  THE
 MINORITY  LEADER  OF THE SENATE, AND SHALL BROADLY REPRESENT HOUSING AND
 SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS FROM ALL GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF THE  STATE  INCLUDING
 SERVICE  PROVIDERS,  ASSOCIATIONS, ADVOCATES, PROPRIETORS, AND CONSUMERS
 OF FOR-PROFIT AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT SENIOR HOUSING  OPTIONS  INCLUDING  BUT
 NOT LIMITED TO: ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, ADULT HOMES, SKILLED NURSING
 FACILITIES,  INDEPENDENT  LIVING FACILITIES, NATURALLY OCCURRING RETIRE-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06632-01-7

 S. 503                              2
 
 MENT COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOOD NATURALLY OCCURRING  RETIREMENT  COMMUNI-
 TIES, AND CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES.  MEMBERS SHALL RECEIVE
 NO  COMPENSATION  FOR  THEIR SERVICES BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR TRAVEL
 AND  OTHER EXPENSES ACTUALLY AND NECESSARILY INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE
 OF THEIR DUTIES. THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE CO-CHAIRED BY THE  DIRECTOR  OF
 THE OFFICE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
 RENEWAL.  THE  TASK  FORCE  IS  RESPONSIBLE  FOR CONDUCTING A STATE-WIDE
 ASSESSMENT OF SENIOR HOUSING NEEDS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE VARIOUS
 GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS AND DIFFERENT NEEDS OF THE SENIORS IN THOSE AREAS AND
 RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS  AND  PROJECT  THOSE  NEEDS
 OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS; OTHER FACTORS WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN INTO CONSID-
 ERATION  ARE:  HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF SENIORS, THE LONG TERM CARE NEEDS OF
 SENIORS, FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SENIORS, OR NEEDED BY SENIORS,
 AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF SENIORS.  THE  ASSESSMENT  SHALL  INCLUDE  A
 REVIEW  OF INNOVATIVE APPROACHES SUCCESSFULLY BEING IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER
 STATES AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR  IMPLEMENTATION  IN  THIS  STATE.    SUCH
 ASSESSMENT SHALL ALSO DEVELOP A VIABLE PLAN FOR PROVIDING QUALITY SENIOR
 HOUSING  TO  MEET THE PROJECTED NEEDS OF SENIORS WITH ACTIONS, STEPS AND
 TIME FRAMES.
   2. THE TASK FORCE SHALL ISSUE A REPORT BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO  THOUSAND
 TWENTY  OUTLINING  ITS  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING THE STATE
 PLAN WITH TIME FRAMES. THE REPORT SHALL BE DELIVERED  TO  THE  GOVERNOR,
 THE  SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE
 CHAIRPERSONS OF THE AGING, HEALTH AND HOUSING COMMITTEES IN  THE  ASSEM-
 BLY,   AND   THE   CHAIRPERSONS   OF  THE  AGING,  HEALTH  AND  HOUSING,
 CONSTRUCTION, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES IN THE SENATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.