BILL NUMBER: S6475
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to establishing a
senior housing task force
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To establish a task force that would analyze senior housing options and
develop strategies to improve housing options for seniors citizens as
they age.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of this bill would amend the Public Housing Law by adding a
new section 12-A, which would establish a senior housing task force
within the division of housing and community renewal (HCR). The task-
force would be comprised of 16 members, including representatives from
the following state agencies: HCR, the state office for the aging
(SOFA), the department of health, the office of mental health, the
department of economic development, the office for people with develop-
ment disabilities, the division of protective services for adults of the
office of children and family services, and the New York City department
for the aging. The remaining eight members would be appointed by leaders
in the Assembly and Senate. The bill would require the taskforce to meet
once annually and conduct an annual statewide assessment of senior hous-
ing needs, to be projected over the next five years, and would include a
review of innovative approaches that have been successfully implemented
in New York State and other states. The taskforce would be required,
every January first, to submit an annual report of its findings, recom-
mendations, and state plan.
Section two of the bill sets the effective date at 90 days following
enactment.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
One of the most pressing needs of seniors in our state is housing.
According to a recent study by the American Association of Retired
Persons (AARP), most seniors would like to age in their own home.
Unfortunately, many of our seniors cannot age in their homes because
their current residence has too many stairs, lacks wheelchair accessi-
bility, or is too great of a distance from their family and caregivers.
As a result, many seniors are faced with the difficult decision of .
whether to enter an elder care facility, such as a nursing home,
assisted living facility or an independent living facility. In order to
appropriately plan for these circumstances, this legislation creates the
senior housing task force to analyze the issue of senior housing.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20 A.5121 Referred to Aging
2017-18 A.6752 Referred to Ways & Means Similar to A.5335.
2016: A.5335 - Referred to Aging.
2015: A.5335 - Referred to Aging.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 90th day following its enactment.