BILL NUMBER: S9214
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to estab-
lishing an affordable independent senior housing assistance program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Establishes the Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program
to be administered by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal and
the Department of Health.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Private Housing Finance Law is amended by adding a new Article 29a.
Section 1265 of Article 29a establishes the Affordable Independent
Senior Housing Assistance Program to be developed by the Division of
Housing and Community Renewal in conjunction with the Department of
Health.
The Program shall serve residents sixty years of age, or older, with a
household income not to exceed 80% of the area median income. Resident
assistance includes optional support services, defined by the Department
of Health, that promote independent living. No such services shall
include activities that would require licensure as an adult care facili-
ty, or assisted living residence.
Sixty percent of the total funds awarded shall be allocated to projects
located in urban areas of the state, and forty percent in rural areas.
Funding appropriated for the purposes of this program may be transferred
to the Department of Health, and a portion may be retained for program
administration.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The enacted FY 2022-2023 State Budget provided $300 million in capital
appropriations for the development or rehabilitation of affordable
senior housing. This program would complement the State's capital
investment in affordable and independent senior housing through support-
ing Resident Assistant staff who can provide on-site social and wellness
support, help seniors navigate through programs such as Medicare and
Medicaid, and provide residents with optional services that would
further promote independent living. It would advance opportunities for
seniors to live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their
individual needs and preferences, while also deterring unwarranted
institutional care.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025: S956 (Kavanagh) - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE /A1948 (Rosen-
thal L) - referred to housing
2024: S2080 (Kavanagh) - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE /A4716
(Rosenthal L) - referred to housing
2023: S2080 (Kavanagh) - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE /A4716
(Rosenthal L) - referred to housing
2022: S3129 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT / A3612 (Cymbrowitz) - referred to housing
2021: S3129 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COTY
DEVELOPMENT / A3612 (Cymbrowitz) - referred to housing
2020: S3129 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT / A3612 (Cymbrowitz) - referred to housing
2019; S3129 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT / A3612 (Cymbrowitz) - referred to housing
2018: S7866A (Little) - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE /A10017A
(Cymbrowitz) - referred to housing
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None. This program would be subject to annual appropriations.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.