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