Int 0737-2008

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Section 21-201 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision e to such section to read as follows: e. “Elder abuse” shall mean any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person holding a trusting relationship with a vulnerable older adult, which causes harm or a serious risk of harm to that older adult including physical, emotional, sexual, or financial harm, or neglect, abandonment or confinement. §2. Chapter 2 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-203 to read as follows: §21-203 Elder abuse training. a. The commissioner shall develop a program to train senior service providers in the detection and reporting of elder abuse. Such program shall also include training on the counseling of elder abuse victims. b. The commissioner shall require that employees of senior centers and employees of entities that contract with the department to provide services to senior citizens, be trained in elder abuse detection, reporting and counseling, and receive supplemental refresher training regarding the same at least once every 3 years, if such employee has or is expected to have significant and direct person to person contact with senior citizens. c. The commissioner shall require senior centers to hold at least two educational sessions per year during which guests and members of the senior center will receive counseling regarding elder abuse prevention and awareness and be instructed on how to detect and report instances of elder abuse. d. The commissioner shall require that every senior center post signage in a prominent common area section within the center that directs those who need information regarding elder abuse detection, reporting, counseling and services to call either the 311 citizen service system or the department’s Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center. §3. This local law shall take effect one hundred and twenty days after its enactment into law. KS LS #4390 8/19/08