Requires the director of the office for the aging to establish or approve a sexual discrimination training program; requires the director to regularly update the intake form used to assess individuals seeking to participate in programs or services offered by the office to reflect current professional standards.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5958
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to the state office for the
aging sexual discrimination training program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 203 of the elder law is amended by adding two new
2 subdivisions 13 and 14 to read as follows:
3 13. (a) The director shall establish or approve a training program for
4 the purpose of raising awareness, removing barriers and improving
5 services for older adults based on their sexual orientation and gender
6 identity or expression as defined in section two hundred ninety-two of
7 the executive law. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term
8 "training program" shall mean a course of learning or professional
9 development, in person or online, administered or provided by a
10 national, state, or local agency, nonprofit, advocacy group, profes-
11 sional organization, or association. Such training program shall
12 include, but not be limited to:
13 (i) an overview of the history, unique needs, and concerns of lesbian,
14 gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender
15 non-binary older adults;
16 (ii) reasons why lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender
17 non-conforming and gender non-binary older adults may choose not to
18 self-identify;
19 (iii) tools employees can use to incorporate lesbian, gay, bisexual,
20 transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older
21 adult concerns into direct care and steps employees can take to improve
22 the quality of services and support they provide; and
23 (iv) a list of resources where employees can learn more.
24 (b) Such training program shall be completed by employees of the
25 office, employees of area agencies on aging, and providers who contract
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11492-02-9
S. 5958 2
1 with the office or area agencies on aging who provide direct care to
2 older adults. Employers shall maintain adequate documentation of
3 completion on behalf of required employees, and provide such documenta-
4 tion at the request of the employee or the office. Nothing in this
5 subdivision shall prevent employees from completing any other training
6 required nor shall it prevent such approved training from being combined
7 with any other required training.
8 14. The director, in consultation with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-
9 gender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary older adult
10 advocates, shall regularly update the intake form used to assess indi-
11 viduals seeking to participate in programs or services offered by the
12 office to reflect current professional standards. This may include, but
13 is not limited to, definitions, categories, or questions relating to
14 sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation,
15 preferred pronouns, or family of choice. The office shall continue to
16 prioritize confidentiality and promote self-identification for the
17 purposes of providing appropriate, relevant services to the lesbian,
18 gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, gender non-conforming and gender
19 non-binary older adult community.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
21 it shall have become a law.
