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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to aging
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to aging
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Creates a shared housing registry for senior citizens
In Assembly Committee · Aging · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S462
Title of bill
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to creating a shared housing program for senior citizens
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to assist older New Yorkers in locating affordable housing.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the Elder Law by adding a new section 224. This bill would establish the Shared Housing Program. The program would be administered by the State Office for the Aging (SOFA) in consultation with the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). Persons who are 60 years of age or older would register with SOFA or an Area Agency on Aging to indicate their interest in sharing their living space or in seeking living quarters with another eligible person. SOFA or Area Agencies on Aging would be required to maintain a registry of senior citizens seeking to share housing.
In addition, this bill would require that information be collected on a designated form designed by SOFA that would include the name, address, references and a statement indicating whether the individual has been convicted in the past five years of certain crimes. Providing information known to be false would be cause for immediate removal from the registry.
SOFA would also be authorized to impose a fee not to exceed one dollar for entry of a senior's name onto the registry. Such fee would be collected for the purpose of implementing and maintaining the shared housing registry.
Section 2 - Effective Date
Existing law
None.
Justification
The costs associated with maintaining a home or renting an apartment continue to increase considerably. Providing aid to senior citizens seeking to share living space with another older person has potential benefits. It would assist the elderly in reducing their housing costs and provide for increased companionship and security. Excessive housing costs are the most wide-spread housing problem facing the elderly. In addition, seniors are often forced to move from their life long residence when a major life event, such as the loss of a spouse or declining health occurs. A report issued by SOFA and DHCR stated that when a senior citizen has to move under these circumstances they often prefer to reside in housing with persons of their own age. Assisting senior citizens in making living arrangements during such a difficult period could greatly ease the fears and anxieties associated with making appropriate living arrangements.
Legislative history
2012: S.113 - Referred to Aging/A.3955 - Referred to Aging 2011: S.113 - Notice of Committee Consideration Requested/A.3955 Referred to Aging 2010: S.7706 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.1359 - Referred to Aging 2009: A.1359 - Referred to Aging 2008: S.3170B - Amended and Recommitted to Finance/A.827 A - Amended and Recommitted to Ways and Means 2007: S.3170 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.827 - Reported, Referred to Ways and Means
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.