BILL NUMBER: S1201
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to requiring the
division of housing and community renewal, in collaboration with the New
York state office for the aging, to establish a publicly accessible
online database of available senior housing units statewide; and to
amend the elder law, in relation to requiring the New York state office
for the aging to maintain the senior housing unit database
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To direct the Division of Housing and Community Renewal, in collab-
oration with the NYS Office for the Aging, to establish the senior hous-
ing unit database to enable seniors in New York State to search for
available housing units.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill adds a new section 14-a to the public housing
law to establish and define the senior housing unit database. Further-
more, this section specifies that the database shall include designated
senior housing units, both public and private, as well as independent
living, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. The database
will include information such as the address, rent and rental assistance
accepted. It also describes the duties and responsibilities of each
local office.
Section two adds a new subdivision 14-A to section 202 of the elder law
to ensure the database is maintained pursuant to section 14-a of the
housing law.
Section three sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
There are many factors that influence what kind of housing a senior must
pursue, including the type of assistance and facilities that a unit
provides, as well as what kind of rent or rental acceptance the unit
accepts. Currently, in order to find senior housing that meets the
prospective tenant's individual needs, the senior must complete a unique
inquiry process for each prospective property, making the pursuit of
finding an appropriate senior living facility a long, arduous, and
often, intimidating task.
This bill will direct the Division of Housing and Community Renewal, in
collaboration with the office of the Aging, to establish a database for
senior housing that will streamline the process by which seniors can
search for available housing units. The database will include critical
information such as private and public units, the type of care offered,
and the rent or rental assistance accepted. This bill will also ensure
that the database is maintained.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill In 2024; Passed Senate Aging.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1201: 202 elder law