Establishes a senior housing task force

BILL NUMBER:S2208B

Title of bill

An act to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing a senior housing task force

Purpose or general idea of bill

To establish a body to analyze senior housing options and develop a strategy to improve housing options for senior citizens as they age.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 203-a to the elder law establishing the senior housing task force.

Provides that such task force shall be comprised of seventeen members and shall include representatives from the office for the aging, the division 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 of mental retardation and developmental 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. Eight members shall be appointed in the following manner: three by the governor at the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly; three by the governor at the recommendation of the temporary president of the senate; one by the governor upon the recommendation of the minority leader of the assembly and one by the governor upon the recommendation of the minority leader of the senate.

Section 2 provides for an effective date.

Justification

Of the most pressing needs of seniors in our state is housing. According to a recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) , most seniors would like to age in their own home. unfortunately, many of our seniors cannot appropriately age in their current residence because there may be too many stairs, a lack of wheelchair accessibility, or too great of a distance to their family and caregivers. As a result of this, many seniors have no other option to but to enter an elder care facility, including but not limited to, nursing home, assisted living facilities and independent living facilities.

In order to appropriately plan for these circumstances, I will be introducing the senior housing task force to analyze the issue of senior housing. The task force will consist of representatives of the office for the aging, department of health, office of mental health,

the empire state development corporation, as well as senior service providers, advocates, and proprietors of not-for-profit and for-profit senior housing programs.

Prior legislative history

2009: A.3790/S.2208

2007-08: A.10474/S.8670 - Passed Both Houses - Veto #99

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become law.