 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          7180
 
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                     April 12, 2017
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. HARRIS -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Aging
 
        AN  ACT  to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing a telephone
          reassurance program for senior citizens
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1.  The  elder  law is amended by adding a new section 224 to
     2  read as follows:
     3    § 224. Telephone reassurance program. 1. The office is hereby  author-
     4  ized  and  directed  to establish and administer a telephone reassurance
     5  program. Such program shall provide a system for senior citizens  resid-
     6  ing  in this state to receive automated telephone calls in a language of
     7  their choosing, at regular intervals at their place of residence. Avail-
     8  able intervals shall include daily, weekly or monthly options, of  which
     9  each  recipient may adjust as necessary. Upon the failure of such senior
    10  citizen to answer such automated call, a follow-up call  shall  be  made
    11  within twenty-four hours. Upon the failure to answer an additional time,
    12  local  law enforcement shall be dispatched to such residence in order to
    13  determine the welfare of such senior citizen. Such program shall provide
    14  that participation by a senior citizen in such program is voluntary. For
    15  purposes of this section, the term "senior citizen" shall mean a  person
    16  sixty-five years of age or older.
    17    2.  In establishing such program, the office shall consult and cooper-
    18  ate with local law enforcement agencies in order to effect an  efficient
    19  system  for sending and receiving telephone calls, and for the dispatch-
    20  ing of law enforcement.
    21    3. The office is hereby authorized and directed  to  promulgate  rules
    22  and regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.
    23    §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
    24  have become a law, provided, however, that  effective  immediately,  the
    25  addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
    26  for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
    27  to be made and completed on or before such date.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD09122-02-7
Establishes a telephone reassurance program for senior citizens

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