What's happening
This bill requires sexual orientation and gender identity training for employees serving older adults and updates intake forms for inclusivity.
Why it matters
Aims to reduce discrimination and improve the quality of care. for LGBTQ+ older adults by ensuring staff are equipped to understand their unique needs and challenges, addressing historic inequities in aging services.
Mandates regular, evidence-based training. for employees and contracted providers, meaning service professionals will be held accountable for maintaining up-to-date awareness on LGBTQ+ issues, potentially leading to more respectful and affirming interactions.
Requires intake forms to be more inclusive and reflective of diverse identities. , which can help older adults feel safer and more accurately represented, encouraging greater openness and access to appropriate services.
Prioritizes confidentiality and self-identification. , signaling to LGBTQ+ older adults that their privacy and autonomy are respected, and that services are being designed with their specific experiences in mind.
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Who cares
New York State Office for the Aging
Its director would have to establish or approve the training and regularly update intake forms in consultation with older adult advocates.
Area agencies on aging and contracted direct-care providers
The bill would require training completion and require employers to maintain documentation available to employees or the office on request.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adults
The training would address their needs, barriers to services and reasons for not self-identifying, while intake practices would prioritize confidentiality.
Older adult LGBTQ advocates
They would have a required consultation role in updating intake forms to reflect current professional standards.
Headline styles
Sexual Discrimination Training for Aging
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Approval memo.68
- Signed chap.721
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- 3rd reading cal.1782
- Substituted for S5958
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.287
- Rules report cal.287
Show 4 earlier actions
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- 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.
Train Aging Office on Discrimination
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Rachel May
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7593
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 13, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to the state office for the aging sexual discrimination training program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 203 of the elder law is amended by adding two new subdivisions 13 and 14 to read as follows:
13. (a) The director shall establish or approve a training program for the purpose of raising awareness, removing barriers and improving services for older adults based on their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as defined in section two hundred ninety-two of the executive law. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term "training program" shall mean a course of learning or professional development, in person or online, administered or provided by a national, state, or local agency, nonprofit, advocacy group, professional organization, or association. Such training program shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) an overview of the history, unique needs, and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adults;
(ii) reasons why lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adults may choose not to self-identify;
(iii) tools employees can use to incorporate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adult concerns into direct care and steps employees can take to improve the quality of services and support they provide; and
(iv) a list of resources where employees can learn more.
(b) Such training program shall be completed by employees of the office, employees of area agencies on aging, and providers who contract
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11492-02-9
A. 7593 2
with the office or area agencies on aging who provide direct care to older adults. Employers shall maintain adequate documentation of completion on behalf of required employees, and provide such documentation at the request of the employee or the office. Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent employees from completing any other training required nor shall it prevent such approved training from being combined with any other required training.
14. The director, in consultation with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adult advocates, shall regularly update the intake form used to assess individuals seeking to participate in programs or services offered by the office to reflect current professional standards. This may include, but is not limited to, definitions, categories, or questions relating to sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, preferred pronouns, or family of choice. The office shall continue to prioritize confidentiality and promote self-identification for the purposes of providing appropriate, relevant services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adult community.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.