NY Elder L § 202 (2021)
2021 New York Laws ELD - Elder Article 2 - Programs for the Elderly Title 1 - State Office for the Aging 202 - General Powers and Duties of Office.

§  202. General powers and duties of office. The office shall have the following powers and duties:   1. to advise and assist the governor in developing  policies  designed to  help  meet  the  needs  of  the  aging  and  to  encourage  the full participation of the aging in society;   2. to coordinate state programs and activities relating to the aging;   3. to stimulate community interest in the problems of the aging;   4. to promote public awareness of resources available for  the  aging, and  to  refer the public to the appropriate departments and agencies of the state and federal governments for advice, assistance  and  available services in connection with particular problems;   5. to cooperate with and assist political subdivisions of the state in the development of local programs for the aging;   6.   to   consult   and  cooperate  with  universities,  colleges  and institutions in the state for the development of courses  of  study  for persons engaged in public and private programs for the aging;   7. to make such studies of needs of the aging as the director may deem appropriate or as may be requested by the governor;   8.  to  foster and support studies, research and education relating to problems of and services for the aging;   9. to serve as a clearinghouse for information relating to  the  needs of the aging;   10.  to  sponsor  conferences relating to problems of and services for the aging;   11.  to  enter  into  contracts,  within  the  amount   available   by appropriation    therefor,    with    individuals,   organizations   and institutions, in the exercise of any of its powers or the performance of any of its duties;   12. to make recommendations to the governor for the presentation of an annual  award  to  a  senior  citizen  for   outstanding   and   unusual contribution to his or her community;   13.  to  conduct  a  program  of  education  and  information  on  age discrimination and the preparation and filing of complaints relating  to persons sixty years of age or older;   14. to, in cooperation with the department of state:  (a)  prepare  or  cause  to  be prepared and made available to cities, towns and villages model zoning  and  planning  guidelines  that  foster age-integrated  communities  including provisions to allow for accessory senior citizen units in areas zoned for single family residences and for mixed-use development accommodating senior citizen residential  housing; and  (b) make recommendations, in consultation with the division of housing and  community  renewal,  to  the governor and legislature for assisting mixed-use   age-integrated   housing   development   or    redevelopment demonstration  projects in urban, suburban and rural areas of the state. The director of the office for the aging and secretary  of  state  shall establish  an  advisory committee for purposes of this subdivision. Such committee shall include, but not be limited to, top  representatives  of local  government,  senior  citizen  organizations,  developers,  senior service providers and planners;   15. to periodically,  in  consultation  with  the  state  director  of veterans' services, review the programs operated by the office to ensure that the needs of the state's aging veteran population are being met and to develop improvements to programs to meet such needs;   16.  to  the  extent appropriations are available, and in consultation with the office of  children  and  family  services,  conduct  a  public education  campaign that emphasizes zero-tolerance for elder abuse. Such campaign shall include information about the signs and symptoms of elder  abuse, identification of potential  causes  of  elder  abuse,  resources available  to  assist  in the prevention of elder abuse, where suspected elder abuse can be reported, contact information for  programs  offering services  to  victims  of elder abuse such as counseling, and assistance with arranging personal care and shelter. Such campaign may include, but not be limited to:  printed  educational  and  informational  materials; audio,  video, electronic, other media; and public service announcements or advertisements; and   17. subject to an appropriation, make available to designated agencies as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision one of  section  two  hundred fourteen  of  this  title, a training program for the purpose of raising awareness, removing barriers and improving  services  for  older  adults based  on  their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as defined in section two hundred ninety-two of  the  executive  law.  Such training program may include:  (i) an overview of the history, unique needs, and concerns of lesbian, gay,  bisexual,  transgender,  asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adults;  (ii) reasons why lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual,  gender non-conforming  and  gender  non-binary  older  adults may choose not to self-identify; and  (iii) tools that may be used to incorporate  lesbian,  gay,  bisexual, transgender,  asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adult concerns into direct care and steps that may be taken  to  improve the quality of services and support provided.