File #: Int 1257-2025    Version: * Name: Requiring the cabinet for older New Yorkers to study and report on the provision of agency services to older adults with certain neurological and mental health conditions.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Aging
On agenda: 4/24/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to requiring the cabinet for older New Yorkers to study and report on the provision of agency services to older adults with certain neurological and mental health conditions
Sponsors: Crystal Hudson, Farah N. Louis
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would require the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to identify the 10 most common neurological conditions and the 10 most common mental health conditions affecting older adults and to transmit this information to the Chair of the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers. This Chair would have to then study and issue a one-time report on the provision of New York City (City) agency services to older adults with these conditions. Such report would include actions that City agencies will take in response to the study to improve services for older adults living with the identified neurological conditions and mental health conditions.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1257, 2. Int. No. 1257, 3. April 24, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1257

 

By Council Members Hudson and Louis

 

A Local Law in relation to requiring the cabinet for older New Yorkers to study and report on the provision of agency services to older adults with certain neurological and mental health conditions

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

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

Agency. The term "agency" has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision 2 of section 1150 of the New York city charter.

Chair. The term “chair” means the chair of the cabinet for older New Yorkers.

Older adult. The term "older adult" means an individual 60 years of age or older.

b. Determination of neurological and mental health conditions. The commissioner of health and mental hygiene shall determine the 10 most common neurological conditions and the 10 most common mental health conditions affecting older adults. Such commissioner shall transmit this information to the chair within 30 days after the effective date of this local law.

 c. Study. 1. The chair shall conduct a study on the provision of agency services to older adults with the neurological conditions and mental health conditions determined under subdivision b of this section. Through such study, the chair shall, at a minimum:

(a) Identify which agencies have frequent interactions with older adults;

(b) Evaluate whether the agencies identified under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph make efforts to identify older adults with the neurological conditions and mental health conditions determined under subdivision b of this section, and if so, how such agencies identify such older adults;  

(c) Evaluate whether the agencies identified under subparagraph (a) have sufficient resources and staff capacity to assess older adults for mental health and neurological issues. Upon a finding that any such agency lacks such capacity, the chair shall determine the additional capacity needed to conduct such assessments;

(d) Identify what trainings and procedures the agencies identified under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph have in place to facilitate and tailor the provision of their services to older adults with the neurological conditions and mental health conditions determined under subdivision b of this section; and

(e) Make recommendations on how the agencies identified under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph can more accurately and efficiently identify older adults with the neurological conditions and mental health conditions determined under subdivision b of this section and on how the provision of services by such agencies to such older adults can be further facilitated and tailored.

2. In making the recommendations required under subparagraph (e) of paragraph 1 of this subdivision, the chair shall solicit input from community-based organizations operating in the city which primarily serve older adults, including older adults living with the neurological conditions and mental health conditions determined under subdivision b of this section. The chair shall also consider best practices identified from other jurisdictions.

3. Upon request of the chair, any agency shall cooperate with the cabinet for older New Yorkers and furnish such cabinet with such information, reports, and assistance as the chair may require to implement this subdivision.

d. Report. No later than 1 year after the effective date of this local law, the chair shall submit to the mayor and speaker of the council, and post on the website of the cabinet for older New Yorkers, a report on the findings of the study required under subdivision c of this section, with such findings disaggregated by agency. Such report shall include, at minimum, actions that agencies identified under subparagraph (a) of subdivision c of this section will take in response to such findings to improve services for older adults living with the neurological conditions and mental health conditions determined under subdivision b of this section.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

RL

LS #12699/18548

1/13/2025 4:50 PM