Int. No. 1022

By Council Members Gutiérrez, Hudson, Ung, Restler, Cabán, Narcisse, Hanif, Louis, Ossé, Joseph, Schulman, Brewer, Brannan, Riley, Farías, Williams, Krishnan, Stevens, Won and Carr

A Local Law in relation to requiring a study on naturally occurring retirement communities and the development of a plan to support aging in place

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Study on naturally occurring retirement communities and development of a plan to support aging in place. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

City. The term “city” means the city of New York.

Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner for the aging.

Department. The term “department” means the department for the aging.

Naturally occurring retirement community. The term “naturally occurring retirement community” has the same meaning as set forth in section 209 of the elder law.

Neighborhood naturally occurring retirement community. The term “neighborhood naturally occurring retirement community” has the same meaning as set forth in section 209 of the elder law.

Older adults. The term “older adults” means persons who are 60 years of age or older.

b. Over a 3-year period beginning on the effective date of this local law, the commissioner shall conduct a study on naturally occurring retirement communities and neighborhood naturally occurring retirement communities in the city. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to:

1. Findings identifying at least 20 potential naturally occurring retirement communities and at least 10 potential neighborhood naturally occurring retirement communities for designation, not currently designated or otherwise recognized by the New York state office for the aging or the department, accompanied by explanations of how and why each such potential community was identified;

2. An assessment of the needs of older adults residing in such potential naturally occurring retirement communities and neighborhood naturally occurring retirement communities, including their levels of access to healthcare, social services, socialization opportunities, and transportation;

3. A summary of the most common challenges and issues faced by older adults, community organizations, and service providers within such communities;

4.  Data on the demographic trends, health outcomes, and social isolation among older adults in such communities; and

5. An evaluation of the necessary improvements and investments required to enhance neighborhood infrastructure, healthcare facilities, social services, transportation, and other critical services to support older adults aging in place within such communities.

c. Based on the findings of the study conducted pursuant to subdivision b of this section, the commissioner shall, within 2 years of completing such study, develop and implement a plan to support aging in place within naturally occurring retirement communities and neighborhood naturally occurring retirement communities. The plan shall include, but need not be limited to:

1. Recommendations to the New York state office for the aging to designate any housing developments, buildings, or areas identified in the study conducted pursuant to subdivision b of this section as naturally occurring retirement communities or neighborhood naturally occurring retirement communities, as appropriate;

2. An estimate of the resources needed to establish and maintain supportive service programs within such potential communities, disaggregated by each such potential community;

3. Training and onboarding for community-based organizations to expand their capacity to support older adults in such potential communities;

4. Recommendations for infrastructure improvements for such potential communities to be shared with the cabinet for older New Yorkers as established by section 2405 of the New York city charter; and

5. Establishing a grant program, subject to appropriation therefor, to subsidize aging-friendly home modifications and retrofitting within such potential communities, such as the installation of grab bars, ramps, and other accessibility features.

d. The commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and post on the department’s website, the study conducted pursuant to subdivision b of this section and the plan developed pursuant to subdivision c of this section.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.JL

LS #13084

7/18/2024 1:05 PM