What's happening
This bill makes the contact information of senior center visitors confidential and imposes penalties for unauthorized disclosure.
Why it matters
Protects seniors from unwanted solicitation and potential scams. by making their contact details at senior centers confidential, reducing the risk that personal information could be used for marketing or fraudulent purposes.
Strengthens trust in senior centers. by ensuring that visitors’ privacy is respected, which may encourage more seniors to participate in programs without fear their information will be misused.
Introduces meaningful consequences for violations. , with civil penalties up to $5,000 for unauthorized disclosure, serving as a deterrent for employees or others who might mishandle sensitive data.
Allows necessary legal access in specific cases. , such as civil court proceedings directly related to senior center attendance, ensuring confidentiality does not impede justice or due process when relevant.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Seniors' Contact Info
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to aging
- Referred to aging
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2262
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to the privacy of contact information of senior center members
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 224 to read as follows:
§ 224. Privacy of senior center visitor records. 1. Definitions. As used in this section:
(a) "Senior center" shall mean facilities operated by an area office of the aging or operated by an entity that has contracted with the office or municipality to provide services to senior citizens on a regular basis including, but not limited to meals, recreation and counseling.
(b) "Contact information" shall mean name, address and phone number of senior citizens.
2. Confidentiality of records. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, contact information of seniors who visit a senior center shall not be open to the public, nor subject to disclosure under the freedom of information law pursuant to article six of the public officers law, and no public entity or employee, officer or agent thereof shall disclose such information.
3. Exception. Nothing in this section shall preclude the disclosure of contact information that may be obtained and, if otherwise admissible, be used in a civil court or other civil administrative or adjudicatory body in any action or proceeding pending therein when such action or proceeding relates directly to the attendance of a senior center.
4. Violations. Any person who knowingly releases or permits the disclosure of the contact information that is confidential under this section to a person or entity not entitled to receive such information shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to five thousand dollars.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06688-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to the privacy of contact information of senior center members
Purpose or general idea of bill
Prohibits the disclosure of contact information of seniors who visit senior centers.
Summary of specific provisions
Privacy of senior visitor records definition: Senior Center: shall mean facilities operated by an areas office of the aging or operated by an entity that has contracted with office or municipality to provide services to senior citizens on a regular basis including, but not limited to meals, recreation and counseling.
Contact information: shall mean name, address and phone of senior citizens.
Justification
This bill will expand the type of information that is exempt from disclosure under to include the name, address, telephone number, or email address of anyone who is a member of or enrolled in a program at a senior center that a public agency administers or sponsors.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S.2374/A4174 - Referred to Aging 2013-14: S.5389/A.2578 - Referred to Aging 2012: A5379 - Referred to Aging
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
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.