Section 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  for

  the 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