Proposed Int. No. 1053-A

By Council Members Hudson, Louis, Gutiérrez, Restler, Ossé, Riley, Schulman, Narcisse, Farías, Williams, Krishnan, Joseph, Stevens, Won, Brannan, Mealy and Zhuang

A Local Law in relation to a study and report on the feasibility of creating older adult information points

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:

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 adult. The term “older adult” means a person 60 years of age or older.

Older adult center. The term "older adult center" means a facility, other than a social adult day care as defined in section 215 of the elder law, operated by a person pursuant to a contract with the department to provide services to older adults on a regular basis including, but not limited to meals, recreation, and counseling.

Older adult information point. The term “older adult information point” means a site, such as a booth, counter, kiosk, stand, or other installation, which is staffed by at least 1 representative or designee of the department for the purpose of providing assistance and information about services and programming provided through the department to older adults.

b. Study. The department shall study the feasibility of creating older adult information points or designating older adult information points within existing older adult centers. Such study shall:

1. Identify potential locations in each borough for the creation of older adult information points;

2. Identify considerations for locating older adult information points, such as the accessibility of the proposed location and proximity to older adult centers, naturally occurring retirement communities, neighborhood naturally occurring retirement communities, commercial districts, and mass transit;

3. Identify assistance and resources that could be provided to older adults at older adult information points, such as assistance with applications for services and benefits and information on services and programming provided through the department and older adult centers;

4. Assess the potential benefits of establishing older adult information points;

5. Assess potential constraints on the establishment of older adult information points, including the resources needed to establish and staff each such facility; and

6. For each older adult information point, (i) estimate how many older adults would be served and (ii) list the boroughs, council districts, and neighborhoods that would be served.

c. Report. No later than 1 year after the effective date of this local law, the department shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post on the department’s website a report on the findings of the study conducted pursuant to subdivision b of section one of this local law. Such report shall state the date of publication. If the department determines through the study that the creation of older adult information points would be feasible or infeasible, the department shall include a statement in the report explaining its reasons for either such determination.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

DPM/CP

LS #15305

11/13/2024 4:13 PM