Establishes a veterans' gerontological advisory committee

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: The elder law is amended by adding a new section 224 which states that a veterans gerontological advisory committee is established in the office of the aging, consisting of no more than nineteen members, who shall serve six-year terms without remuneration. At least sixty-percent of the members of the committee shall be age sixty or older.

At least ten of the members shall be veterans, two of whom shall be appointed by the governor, three of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, three of whom shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

Nine of the members shall be appointed by the director of the office of the aging, at least one of whom shall be a physician in the field of primary care geriatric medicine, at least one of whom shall be a researcher in the field of social gerontology, at least one of whom shall be certified as a geriatric nurse practitioner, at least one of whom shall be a clinical practitioner of geriatric psychiatry, at least one of whom shall be a facility or health care system veterans home based primary care program director, at least one of whom shall be a caregiver in the field of veterans respite care, at least one of whom shall be an expert in the field of elder care planning and management from the New York State Veterans' home, at least one of whom shall be an expert in the field of gerontological social work who specializes in services for aging veterans, and at least one of whom shall be an economist with a focus in the fields of aging, household saving, pensions, social security, taxation, and housing markets.

The committee shall meet at least once annually at times and places set by the commissioner and provide advice, comments and recommendations to advise the director on policies, programs, services and trends impacting the state's aging veteran population and the larger context of veterans health care systems, and such other matters as the director may request. The director may ask other individuals to attend the committee's meetings or work with it on an occasional or regular basis.

Membership on the committee shall not constitute the holding of an office, and the committee shall not have the right to exercise any portion of the sovereign powers of the state. No member of the committee shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment, nor shall he or she forfeit any such office or employment, by reason of his or her appointment.

Section 2: States the effective date.

Justification

New York has the second highest Veteran population in the United States, and older Veterans represent a population whose needs and problems pervade multiple geriatrics and gerontology disciplines.

This legislation establishes a Veterans Gerontological Advisory Committee, which will advise the Director of the Office of the Aging on policies, programs, services and trends affecting New York's aging Veteran population.

At no cost to the taxpayers, the advisory committee will be able to provide crucial recommendations aimed at improving the care and support available to aging Veterans. The membership will be drawn from the ranks of New York's finest experts on aging, seniors' and Veterans' issues, representing medical researchers, practitioners, academia, and Veterans' organizations.

Their mission will be to share information and challenges associated with caring for aging veterans, and their families, providing the Office of the Aging with guidance on pressing concerns including caregiver Initiatives, alternative housing trends for Veterans, long term and continuing care, health promotion and rehabilitation, departmental research and dementia research.

The committee can also play a role in educating staff and the public on a wide range of issues affecting veterans and seniors.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.