S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                          462
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                      (PREFILED)
                                    January 9, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sen.  DIAZ  --  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 creating a shared  housing
         program for senior citizens
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a  new  section  224  to
    2  read as follows:
    3    S  224. SHARED HOUSING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. 1. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTAB-
    4  LISH A PROGRAM, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND  COMMU-
    5  NITY RENEWAL, THROUGH WHICH, PERSONS WHO ARE SIXTY YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
    6  MAY  REGISTER WITH THE OFFICE OR DESIGNATED AGENCIES ON AGING INDICATING
    7  THEIR DESIRE TO SHARE THEIR LIVING SPACE OR ARE SEEKING LIVING  QUARTERS
    8  WITH ANOTHER ELIGIBLE PERSON.
    9    2.  THE OFFICE OR DESIGNATED AGENCIES ON AGING SHALL MAINTAIN A REGIS-
   10  TRY OF SENIOR CITIZENS SEEKING  TO  SHARE  THEIR  LIVING  QUARTERS  WITH
   11  ANOTHER SENIOR CITIZEN.
   12    (A)  INFORMATION  SHALL BE COLLECTED ON A FORM DESIGNED BY THE OFFICE,
   13  WHICH SHALL INCLUDE THE NAME, ADDRESS, UP TO THREE  PERSONAL  REFERENCES
   14  AND  A STATEMENT INDICATING WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN CONVICTED IN
   15  THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF A CRIME INVOLVING THEFT, ASSAULT, THE  THREAT  OR
   16  USE  OF  FORCE,  POSSESSION  OR  SALE  OF  A  CONTROLLED  SUBSTANCE,  OR
   17  POSSESSION OF A WEAPON OR FIREARM. THE INDIVIDUAL SHALL SPECIFY  ON  THE
   18  STATEMENT  THE  CRIME  OR  CRIMES,  IF  ANY,  FOR  WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN
   19  CONVICTIONS. THE STATEMENT SHALL INCLUDE  AN  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  THAT  THE
   20  INFORMATION IS TRUE TO THE BEST KNOWLEDGE OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN AND THAT
   21  PROVIDING  INFORMATION  KNOWN TO BE FALSE IS CAUSE FOR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL
   22  FROM THE REGISTRY.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD00398-01-3
       S. 462                              2
    1    (B) INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE  SHARED  HOUSING  REGISTRY  SHALL  BE
    2  CONFIDENTIAL  AND  USED  ONLY  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF  CARRYING  OUT  THE
    3  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
    4    3.  THE  OFFICE SHALL DEVELOP AND PROMULGATE REGULATIONS, IN CONSULTA-
    5  TION WITH THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL,  NECESSARY  FOR
    6  THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
    7    4.  THE  OFFICE  MAY IMPOSE A FEE THAT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE DOLLAR FOR
    8  ENTRY OF A SENIOR CITIZEN'S NAME ONTO THE REGISTRY AND SUCH FEE SHALL BE
    9  COLLECTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING  AND  MAINTAINING  THE  SHARED
   10  HOUSING REGISTRY.
   11    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.