203 - Programs for the aging.
§ 203. Programs for the aging. 1. The office shall submit to the federal department of health, education and welfare a state plan for purposes of the federal older Americans act of 1965 and subsequent amendments thereto. The office shall be the single state agency for supervising the administration of such plan and shall be primarily responsible for coordination of state programs for the aging for purposes of such federal act. The office shall act for the state in any negotiations relative to the submission and approval of such plan and may make such arrangements, not inconsistent with law, as may be required by or pursuant to federal law to obtain and retain such approval and to secure for the state the benefits of the provisions of such federal act. 2. In addition to the powers and duties contained in section two hundred two of this title, the office is hereby authorized, to the extent appropriations are available therefor, to establish, operate and maintain, or to contract with counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts or public or private nonprofit corporations, associations, institutions, or agencies concerned with the aging, for the operation and maintenance of programs for the aging. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the office, such programs may include, but need not be limited to, the following: (a) coordination and community planning; (b) information services; (c) counselling services; (d) home care and protection services; (e) operation of multi-service centers; and (f) retired senior volunteer programs. 3. The director, with the advice of the advisory committee for the aging, shall make appropriate rules and regulations governing the submission and approval of applications for the operation of programs for the aging pursuant to subdivision two of this section. If an application is disapproved, the applicant, upon request, shall be afforded a hearing before the director or his or her designee. 4. (a) As required by the office, each county, city, town, village, school district or public or private nonprofit corporation, association, institution or agency operating a program for the aging pursuant to subdivision two of this section shall submit to the office (1) a quarterly estimate of anticipated expenditures for operation and maintenance of such program, including rental of buildings, purchase of equipment, administrative expenses, miscellaneous personal expenses of older persons incurred in the provision of volunteer services, and approved expenditures for minor alterations or repairs, not less than thirty days before the first day of the months of April, July, October and January, and (2) a verified accounting of the financial operations of such program during the preceding calendar quarter, together with a claim for reimbursement as provided in this title, on or before the thirtieth day of April, July, October and January. The director may permit the submission of such accountings with respect to periods exceeding three months, but not exceeding one year. (b) After receipt of a satisfactory quarterly estimate and verified accounting pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the director shall certify to the comptroller, for payment by the state to each such county, city, town, village, school district or public or private nonprofit corporation, association, institution or agency, the expenditures thereof, approved by the office, as follows: (i) the amount of federal funds, if any, properly received for such expenditures; and(ii) up to fifty percentum of such expenditures, after first deducting therefrom any federal funds properly received with respect to such expenditures. 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of this section, but subject to and in the manner specified in this subdivision, the office, in its discretion, may entertain and approve applications for interim payments. (a) Such an application may be approved by the office, upon being satisfied that the requirement for filing a verified accounting of the financial operation of a program during the preceding calendar quarter before a claim for reimbursement based on the expenditures for such quarter may be made, is likely to cause a financial hardship to the applicant. (b) Such an application may be made at the time of filing the quarterly estimate of anticipated expenditures as specified in subdivision four of this section or at such other time as the office shall specify. (c) After receipt of a satisfactory quarterly estimate, the office may direct the director to certify to the comptroller for payment an interim payment in such amount as the office shall specify. (d) The amount of the interim payment which the office may authorize shall not exceed an amount equal to one-third of the amount which the applicant may reasonably be entitled to receive in accordance with the provisions of subdivision four of this section, for the three month period for which a satisfactory quarterly statement has been filed, based on such satisfactory quarterly estimate. The amount of an interim payment received by the applicant shall be subtracted from the amount payable to the applicant for such three-month period. 6. The director is hereby authorized, within amounts appropriated therefor, to make grants-in-aid to existing foster grandparent grantee agencies for the engagement of foster grandparents in qualified residential group homes for neglected and disadvantaged children, in private homes, day care centers, special education classes in public schools, or other public or private nonprofit institutions or agencies providing care for neglected and disadvantaged children who lack close personal relationships. Up to twenty percent of such grants-in-aid may be expended for the administrative purposes of such grantee agencies, with the approval of the office. Such grants shall be for a period of twelve months or less, shall not be used to match other state funds, shall not be used as a substitute for federal allocations, and shall be made in a manner which does not conflict with federal law, rule or regulation pursuant to title II of the United States domestic volunteer services act of nineteen hundred seventy-three, as amended. Grants may be used to match federal funds but must be used for expansion of existing federal programs, not as a substitute for presently required non-federal shares. Each grantee shall file reports at such time and containing such information as the office shall require. For the purpose of administering such grants-in-aid the office may make such agreements with other public agencies as are deemed necessary. 7. The director is hereby authorized, within amounts appropriated therefor, to make grants-in-aid to retired and senior volunteer programs for the engagement of individuals fifty-five years of age or over to serve as volunteers for the betterment of their community and themselves. Such volunteer activities may include but shall not be limited to assisting with the preparation of meals at nutrition sites; leading activities at child care centers; delivering meals to homebound elderly; providing telephone reassurance and/or friendly visits to the frail elderly; tutoring adults or children; assisting with services forthe homeless and assisting school districts which request volunteers for the purpose of notifying a person in parental relation to any elementary school pupil when such pupil is deemed absent from required attendance at his or her designated school. The services of these volunteers will be performed in the community where such individuals reside or in nearby communities. Up to ten percent of such grants-in-aid may be expended for the administrative purposes of such programs, with the approval of the office. Such grants shall be for a period of twelve months or less, shall not be used to match other state funds, shall not be used as a substitute for federal allocations, and shall be made in a manner which does not conflict with federal law, rule or regulation pursuant to title II of the United States domestic volunteer services act of nineteen hundred seventy-three, as amended. Grants may be used to match federal funds, but not as a substitute for presently required non-federal shares. Each grantee shall file reports at such time and containing such information as the office shall require. For the purpose of administering such grants-in-aid the office may make such agreements with other public agencies as are deemed necessary. * 8. The director, in consultation with the commissioner of health, shall establish a program to be known as the NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care. The purpose of this initiative is to provide consistent, comprehensive, locally-based information and assistance on long term care services to consumers, caregivers and families to help them make educated choices. This program shall provide individuals, caregivers, and families with objective information and assistance about home, community-based and institutional long term care services. NY Connects will be available on a voluntary basis to consumers, caregivers and their families. There shall be an on-going education and outreach campaign to educate the public about long term care services available in their community and to assist consumers in preparing for their long term care needs. * NB There are 2 sb 8's * 8. The director of the office for the aging is hereby authorized, to the extent appropriations are available therefor, to establish, operate and maintain, under the control of the office for the aging or in conjunction with an association, institution, agency, or other public or private entity, or community program engaged in the care of animals, one or more senior pet companionship programs. The purpose and intent of a senior pet companionship program shall be to match seniors who have limited social contact with pets, including cats and dogs and other small animals, to improve the lives of such seniors by enhancing their emotional and mental well-being through such companionship. * NB There are 2 sb 8's