Expands volunteerism by making use of the databases of statewide aging organizations, and institutes volunteer certificate programs which train volunteers and individuals in programs to use the volunteers.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9660
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2018
___________
Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to volunteer programs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 203 of the elder law is amended to
2 read as follows:
3 7. (a) The director is hereby authorized, within amounts appropriated
4 therefor, to make grants-in-aid to retired and senior volunteer programs
5 for the engagement of individuals fifty-five years of age or over to
6 serve as volunteers for the betterment of their community and them-
7 selves. Such volunteer activities may include but shall not be limited
8 to assisting with the preparation of meals at nutrition sites; leading
9 activities at child care centers; delivering meals to homebound elderly;
10 providing telephone reassurance and/or friendly visits to the frail
11 elderly; tutoring adults or children; assisting with services for the
12 homeless and assisting school districts which request volunteers for the
13 purpose of notifying a person in parental relation to any elementary
14 school pupil when such pupil is deemed absent from required attendance
15 at his or her designated school. The services of these volunteers will
16 be performed in the community where such individuals reside or in nearby
17 communities. Up to ten percent of such grants-in-aid may be expended for
18 the administrative purposes of such programs, with the approval of the
19 office. Such grants shall be for a period of twelve months or less,
20 shall not be used to match other state funds, shall not be used as a
21 substitute for federal allocations, and shall be made in a manner which
22 does not conflict with federal law, rule or regulation pursuant to title
23 II of the United States domestic volunteer services act of nineteen
24 hundred seventy-three, as amended. Grants may be used to match federal
25 funds, but not as a substitute for presently required non-federal
26 shares. Each grantee shall file reports at such time and containing such
27 information as the office shall require. For the purpose of administer-
28 ing such grants-in-aid the office may make such agreements with other
29 public agencies as are deemed necessary.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00429-01-7
A. 9660 2
1 (b) In addition to the powers and duties contained in subdivision two
2 of this section, the office is hereby authorized to enter into a
3 relationship, defined by contract, with one or more statewide organiza-
4 tions for the purpose of establishing a databank of individuals wishing
5 to volunteer their services to programs that address the needs of the
6 aging, and to establish, replicate, or encourage the development of
7 training programs for such volunteers and programs. The office shall
8 establish guidelines for the use of any such databank, including
9 requirements concerning appropriate data to be entered into the data-
10 bank, confidentiality, screening, access, correction of the data, and
11 such other requirements as the office, after consultation and with the
12 advice of the advisory committee for the aging and others, shall estab-
13 lish. The purpose of the training curriculum shall be to train, on a
14 voluntary basis, volunteers for the tasks they are interested in, and
15 individuals in not-for-profit organizations in effectively and effi-
16 ciently using volunteers. In developing the curriculum the office may
17 consult and work with individuals and entities with expertise in such
18 training and development at the state university of New York and the
19 city university of New York.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the powers
21 and duties established in paragraph (b) of subdivision 7 of section 203
22 of the elder law as added by this act shall be effective on and after
23 the first of April occurring at least one year after the date on which
24 this act shall have become a law.
