Requires establishment of model community programs

1 Co-sponsor

• Adriano Espaillat

BILL NUMBER:S148

Title of bill

An act to amend the elder law, in relation to requiring establishment of model community programs for local agencies, including a model telephone reassurance program and a model visiting program for elders

Purpose or general idea of bill

To encourage the development of programs to assist seniors at the local level.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Amends the Elder Law by adding a new section 203-a. Requires the State Office for the Aging (SOFA) to develop model community programs for a telephone reassurance program and visiting program that would be provided to local area agencies on aging and community based organizations upon request to assist them in developing programs at the local level.

Section 2. Effective Date

Existing law

None.

Justification

Many programs function better at the local level, rather than being established by a state agency. However, many local organizations do not know how to proceed in organizing and establishing a program. This bill would require SOFA to create a model program that could be used by local area agencies on aging and community based organizations as a template to establish a telephone reassurance program or visiting program to assist seniors in their local communities.

Prior legislative history

2012: S.1898 - Notice of Committee Consideration Requested, Committee Discharged, Committed to Rules/A.1702 - Enacting Clause Stricken/A.9071 - Reported, Referred to Ways and Means 2011: S.1898 - Discharged from Aging, Committed to Local Government/A.1702 - Reported, Referred to Ways and Means 2009: A.11305 - Reported, Referred to Ways and Means

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This Act shall take effect immediately.