STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3007 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 26, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the office for an age-friendly New York The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. Because aging is a process 2 we all experience, New Yorkers of all ages do better when we make sure 3 everyone can age successfully. New York state was named the first Age 4 Friendly State in the country in 2017 by AARP and remains committed to 5 being age-friendly so that all New Yorkers can age with dignity and 6 independence. New York's older adult population is 3.5 million strong. 7 Older New Yorkers make our state a healthier, stronger, and more vibrant 8 place to live, through multiple ways including paid and volunteer work, 9 raising and mentoring younger New Yorkers, supporting their families, 10 sharing their wisdom, and starting new businesses. 11 Nearly 1 in 6 New Yorkers is over the age of 65, and that population 12 will continue to grow. Between 2015 and 2040, the number of New Yorkers 13 aged 65 and over is projected to increase by 50 percent, while the popu- 14 lation aged 85 and older is projected to double. Shifts in the state's 15 aging population will present new demands and opportunities for the 16 state, local governments, families, and older New Yorkers. All older 17 adults must have the option to remain in their communities as they age, 18 and that must be a meaningful choice with access to a broad range of 19 programs, resources and supports, including safe and affordable housing, 20 healthcare, home care, food and nutrition, human services, and transpor- 21 tation. An inclusive state for New Yorkers of all ages remains our goal. 22 Older adults' health and well-being improves when they have varied 23 opportunities to stay socially engaged. The state must do everything it 24 can to reduce isolation and ensure that all communities have opportu- 25 nities for seniors to interact. Reliable and safe ways to access these EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD07884-01-3S. 3007 2 1 opportunities allows older adults to be thriving contributors in their 2 communities. 3 As New York's older adult population grows, it will continue becoming 4 more diverse and may be more likely to be childless, live alone, work 5 longer, have lower incomes, or have less retirement savings, presenting 6 new challenges for the state and local governments. These demographic 7 shifts necessitate strategic and adaptive policy changes. 8 Actively engaging older adults as contributors to the social, econom- 9 ic, and civic fabric of our communities, encouraging physical and 10 psychological health and well-being in older adults and their caregiv- 11 ers, and supporting direct care workers and family caregivers as they 12 provide essential care for older adults makes New York better. Only when 13 we acknowledge the talents and contributions of all New Yorkers, no 14 matter their age, can we adapt to future demands. To be a truly age- 15 friendly state, it is vital that the state have a member of the gover- 16 nor's staff whose role is coordinating age-friendly services and poli- 17 cies across agencies. 18 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 19-M to read 19 as follows: 20 ARTICLE 19-M 21 OFFICE FOR AN AGE-FRIENDLY NEW YORK 22 Section 549. Definitions. 23 549-a. Office for an age-friendly New York established. 24 549-b. Director; general responsibilities. 25 549-c. State agency and department written plans. 26 549-d. Construction with other laws. 27 § 549. Definitions. For the purposes of this article, the following 28 terms shall have the following meanings: 29 (a) "Older New Yorkers" means New York residents over the age of 30 fifty. 31 (b) "Age-friendly" means a policy developed to contribute towards the 32 goal of ensuring that the state government provides older New Yorkers 33 with access to supportive systems to ensure that they remain healthy and 34 active in the communities of their choice. 35 (c) "Director" means the director of the office for an age-friendly 36 New York appointed pursuant to section five hundred forty-nine-a of this 37 article. 38 § 549-a. Office for an age-friendly New York established. 1. There is 39 hereby established within the executive department an office for an 40 age-friendly New York. 41 2. The head of the office for an age-friendly New York shall be the 42 director of the office for an age-friendly New York, who shall be 43 appointed by the governor and who shall receive a salary to be fixed by 44 the governor within the amounts appropriated therefor. 45 § 549-b. Director; general responsibilities. 1. The director shall: 46 (a) work in coordination with the state office for the aging to ensure 47 proper implementation of the Older Americans Act and other relevant 48 laws; 49 (b) work with state agencies in developing and incorporating age- 50 friendly policies into their operations and programming; 51 (c) work with state agencies in planning and implementing community 52 improvements across the state to better meet the needs of older New 53 Yorkers, including but not limited to, walkable streets, appropriate and 54 accessible housing, transportation, and employment options, social 55 inclusion, and access to key services and opportunities at all life 56 stages to participate in community activities; andS. 3007 3 1 (d) work with state agencies to develop legislation and potential 2 regulatory changes to help effectuate the duties and responsibilities 3 required in this section, and any other changes that may significantly 4 affect the lives of older New Yorkers. 5 2. The director shall, to the extent practicable, review and report to 6 the governor upon proposed legislation and regulations. The director 7 shall submit comments, where appropriate, to the state agency which 8 referred such proposed legislation and regulations evaluating: 9 (a) the impact of the proposed legislation or regulation upon older 10 New Yorkers; 11 (b) the relationship and impact of such proposed legislation or regu- 12 lation on existing programs affecting older New Yorkers; and 13 (c) any modifications that would help older New Yorkers or aid in the 14 implementation of the new proposal. 15 3. All state agencies shall cooperate with the director to ensure that 16 the director is able to fulfill the requirements under this article. 17 § 549-c. State agency and department written plans. Beginning two 18 years after the effective date of this article, and every two years 19 thereafter, each state agency and department shall submit a written plan 20 to the director containing a description of such agency or department's 21 efforts to ensure that its services are age-friendly, and containing 22 such agency or department's plans to continue and/or expand such age- 23 friendly services. 24 § 549-d. Construction with other laws. Nothing in this article shall 25 be construed to supersede or replace the statutory duties or powers of 26 the state office for the aging under the laws of this state. 27 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.