Establishes the interagency elder justice task force, the official text

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7277--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 21, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN, DE LOS SANTOS -- read once and
   referred  to  the  Committee  on  Aging  -- committee discharged, bill
   amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
   tee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing the intera-
   gency elder justice task force; and providing for the repeal  of  such
   provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a  new  section  226  to
 read as follows:
   §  226.  INTERAGENCY  ELDER  JUSTICE  TASK  FORCE.  1. THERE IS HEREBY
 CREATED WITHIN THE  OFFICE  AN  INTERAGENCY  ELDER  JUSTICE  TASK  FORCE
 CONSISTING  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  STATE  AGENCIES WHOSE WORK INVOLVES
 ELDER JUSTICE TO CREATE GREATER COLLABORATION  AND  DEVELOP  OVERARCHING
 STRATEGIES,  SYSTEMS,  AND  PROGRAMS,  WITH THE GOAL OF PROTECTING OLDER
 ADULTS FROM ABUSE AND MISTREATMENT. THE TASK FORCE SHALL COLLABORATE  TO
 IDENTIFY CONSISTENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN ELDER JUSTICE; AND, FACILI-
 TATE  COMMUNICATION  AND  FOSTER COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG STATE
 AGENCIES.
   2. THE TASK FORCE SHALL CONSIST OF  THE  FOLLOWING  MEMBERS  OR  THEIR
 DESIGNEES:
   (A)  THE  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  OFFICE  FOR THE AGING, WHO SHALL SERVE AS
 CHAIR;
   (B) THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF VICTIMS SERVICES;
   (C) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES;
   (D) THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES;
   (E) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES;
   (F) THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH;
   (G) THE  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  OFFICE  FOR  THE  PREVENTION  OF  DOMESTIC
 VIOLENCE;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04019-04-5
 A. 7277--A                          2
 
   (H) THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH;
   (I) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISA-
 BILITIES;
   (J) THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE;
   (K)  THE  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE CENTER FOR THE  PROTECTION
 OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS;
   (L) THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S  DIVISION  OF
 CONSUMER PROTECTION;
   (M) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;
   (N) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY;
   (O) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY;
   (P) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; AND
   (Q) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
   3.  THE  TASK  FORCE SHALL REQUEST INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, ADVOCATES,
 EXPERTS, AND COALITIONS.
   4. MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE TASK FORCE SHALL HAVE RELEVANT  EXPERIENCE
 AND  EXPERTISE  CONCERNING  ELDER  JUSTICE BY VIRTUE OF THEIR EDUCATION,
 TRAINING OR LIVED EXPERIENCE.
   5. THE TASK FORCE SHALL:
   (A) DEVELOP A COHESIVE, COMPREHENSIVE STATE PLAN ON ELDER JUSTICE THAT
 ALIGNS WITH NEW YORK STATE'S ELDER JUSTICE POLICY  AND  PROGRAMS  ACROSS
 STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES;
   (B)  DEVELOP  PLANS  FOR A COORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE FROM
 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT  AND  OTHER  ENTITIES  WHEN  ELDER  ABUSE  IS
 REPORTED;
   (C)  FACILITATE  INTERAGENCY  PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT ON ELDER
 JUSTICE;
   (D) REVIEW AND PROPOSE SPECIFIC AGENCY INITIATIVES FOR THEIR IMPACT ON
 SYSTEMS AND SERVICES RELATED TO ELDER JUSTICE;
   (E) COORDINATE ACTIVITIES FOR WORLD  ELDER  ABUSE  AWARENESS  DAY  AND
 OTHER EVENTS;
   (F)  INFORM LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN ELDER
 JUSTICE; AND
   (G) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON METHODS TO IMPROVE NEW YORK'S ELDER  ABUSE
 PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION EFFORTS.
   6. THE TASK FORCE SHALL MEET REGULARLY, BUT NO LESS THAN QUARTERLY AND
 WHERE  OTHERWISE  APPROPRIATE  TO FULFILL ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS CHAPTER.
 THE MEMBERS OF THIS TASK FORCE SHALL  SERVE  WITHOUT  COMPENSATION,  BUT
 SHALL  BE  ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED
 IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   7. ANY VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL  BE  FILLED
 IN THE SAME MANNER PROVIDED FOR IN THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT.
   8.  THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE APPOINTED NO LATER THAN ONE
 HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. Within one year of the effective date of this  act,  in  carrying
 out  its  functions, the interagency elder justice task force shall hold
 five public hearings around the state to foster discussions and  conduct
 formal public hearings with requisite public notice to solicit input and
 recommendations  from statewide and regional stakeholder interests. Such
 task force shall also accept public input in writing.  Such  task  force
 may  utilize  remote  access such as web conferencing to comply with the
 provisions of this section.
   § 3. Within two years of the effective date of this act the interagen-
 cy elder justice task force shall report its  findings  and  recommenda-
 tions  to  the  governor,  the temporary president of the senate and the
 A. 7277--A                          3
 
 speaker of the assembly and shall publicize its findings on  the  office
 for the aging website.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed 3 years after such effective date.