New York Moves to Strengthen Elder Abuse Prevention with Elder Justice Task Force (S1202 / A7277A)

S1202 / A7277A would establish an Interagency Elder Justice Task Force composed of representatives from various state agencies. The purpose of the Task Force is to enhance collaboration, develop comprehensive strategies, and better protect older adults from abuse and mistreatment. If enacted, it would coordinate elder justice efforts across New York State, facilitate communication among agencies, and support the development of related policies.

The bill has passed both the Assembly and the Senate and is awaiting delivery to Governor Hochul.

Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Assembly sponsor, "said she's confident the governor will sign the legislation into law," reports Kate Lisa (Spectrum News, 8/22/2025).

Lisa also states that the Elder Justice Task Force was one of the proposals in New York's Master Plan for Aging (MPA). After reviewing the proposals, I do not see the Task Force listed. (I contacted Ms. Lisa via a message on X on August 23, 2025, and am waiting for her reply.)

The MPA includes similar initiatives, but no Task Force:

• Proposal 71: Elder Abuse and Elder Justice Forum — This proposal would "[c]reate a permanent, state government sponsored forum focused on elder abuse and elder justice. This forum would allow a diverse partnership of representatives to share ideas from both academia and the field, provide feedback, and encourage evidence-based and culturally responsive strategies to prevent and intervene in cases of financial exploitation and elder abuse, as well as regularly provide review and feedback on potential updates to operations, programs, and regulations related to elder abuse and justice."
• Proposal 110: Elder Abuse Research Forum — This proposal would "[c]reate a long-term, state government sponsored forum for networking and research presentations that encourage evidence based and culturally responsive strategies to prevent financial abuse and fraud. This proposal recommends increasing funding for E-MDTs, utilizing existing models and strategies to prevent financial exploitation."

Lisa further reports, "The assemblywoman said the task force would be permanent, if signed into law." This, however, is contrary to section four of the bill, which provides that the Task Force will sunset after three years:

§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed 3 years after such effective date.

Highlights of the Bill

S1202 / A7277A would create an Interagency Elder Justice Task Force within the Office for the Aging. The Task Force’s purpose is set out in § 226(1):

§ 226(1). There is hereby created within the office an interagency elder justice task force consisting of representatives of state agencies whose work involves elder justice to create greater collaboration and develop overarching strategies, systems, and programs, with the goal of protecting older adults from abuse and mistreatment.

Membership:
The Task Force would include the heads (or designees) of major agencies such as the Office for the Aging, Office of Victim Services, Department of Financial Services, Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, State Police, and others, plus appointees from the Governor, the Assembly Speaker, and the Senate President.

Duties:
The Task Force must:

• Develop a comprehensive state plan on elder justice;
• Propose coordinated responses to reports of elder abuse;
• Facilitate interagency planning and policy development;
• Review and recommend initiatives across agencies;
• Coordinate events such as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day;
• Advise on national developments and make recommendations to the Governor.

Public Hearings and Reports:

• Within one year: hold five public hearings across the state and solicit written public input.
• Within two years: publish findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, and post them on the Office for the Aging’s website.

Sunset Clause:
The bill provides that the Task Force will expire automatically after three years unless extended:

§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed 3 years after such effective date.

Full Text of S1202 / A7277A (for reference)

2025-S1202 - DETAILS

Law Section:
Elder Law

Laws Affected:
Add §226, Eld L

Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:
S9138

2025-S1202 - SUMMARY

Establishes the interagency elder justice task force consisting of representatives of state agencies whose work involves elder justice to create greater collaboration and develop overarching strategies, systems, and programs with a goal of protecting older adults from abuse and mistreatment.

2025-S1202 - SPONSOR MEMO

BILL NUMBER: S1202

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 >
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing the interagency elder justice task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This Bill creates an "Interagency Elder Justice Task Force."

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

This Bill creates an "Interagency Elder Justice Task Force" with provisions that include: (1) The Purpose; which is a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to the issue; (2) Membership: including Executive Branch representatives and Legislative Appointments; (3) Duties, including the formulation of a state plan on elder justice, et al.

2025-S1202 - BILL TEXT

S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K

1202

2025-2026 Regular Sessions

I N S E N A T E

January 8, 2025

Introduced by Sens. CLEARE, COONEY, ROLISON, WEBB -- 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 establishing the interagency elder justice task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 226 to read as follows: %% Section 226 would be the last section in NY Elder Law Article 2 Programs for the Elderly. %%

§ 226. INTERAGENCY ELDER JUSTICE TASK FORCE.

1. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE OFFICE AN INTERAGENCY ELDER JUSTICE TASK FORCE CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF STATE AGENCIES WHOSE WORK INVOLVES ELDER JUSTICE TO CREATE GREATER COLLABORATION AND DEVELOP OVERARCHING STRATEGIES, SYSTEMS, AND PROGRAMS, WITH THE GOAL OF PROTECTING OLDER ADULTS FROM ABUSE AND MISTREATMENT. THE TASK FORCE SHALL COLLABORATE TO IDENTIFY CONSISTENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN ELDER JUSTICE; AND, FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AND FOSTER COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG STATE AGENCIES.

2. THE TASK FORCE SHALL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OR THEIR DESIGNEES:

(A) THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING, WHO SHALL SERVE AS CHAIR;

(B) THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF VICTIMS SERVICES;

(C) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES;

(D) THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES;

(E) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES;

(F) THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH;

(G) THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE;

(H) THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH;

(I) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES;

(J) THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE;

(K) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS;

(L) THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION;

(M) TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;

(N) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY; AND

(O) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

3. THE TASK FORCE SHALL REQUEST INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, ADVOCATES, EXPERTS, AND COALITIONS.

4. MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE TASK FORCE SHALL HAVE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE CONCERNING ELDER JUSTICE BY VIRTUE OF THEIR EDUCATION, TRAINING OR LIVED EXPERIENCE.

5. THE TASK FORCE SHALL:

(A) DEVELOP A COHESIVE, COMPREHENSIVE STATE PLAN ON ELDER JUSTICE THAT ALIGNS WITH NEW YORK STATE'S ELDER JUSTICE POLICY AND PROGRAMS ACROSS STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES;

(B) DEVELOP PLANS FOR A COORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE FROM STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ENTITIES WHEN ELDER ABUSE IS REPORTED;

(C) FACILITATE INTERAGENCY PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT ON ELDER JUSTICE;

(D) REVIEW AND PROPOSE SPECIFIC AGENCY INITIATIVES FOR THEIR IMPACT ON SYSTEMS AND SERVICES RELATED TO ELDER JUSTICE;

(E) COORDINATE ACTIVITIES FOR WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY AND OTHER EVENTS;

(F) INFORM LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN ELDER JUSTICE; AND

(G) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR THAT WILL IMPROVE NEW YORK'S ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION EFFORTS.

5. THE TASK FORCE SHALL SERVE TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON ELDER JUSTICE COMPREHENSIVELY AND CREATE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY MECHANISM TO WORK TOWARD ALIGNMENT ACROSS AGENCIES TO HELP ACHIEVE THE GOVERNOR'S ELDER JUSTICE PRIORITIES.

7. THE TASK FORCE SHALL MEET REGULARLY, BUT NO LESS THAN ONCE PER MONTH AND WHERE OTHERWISE APPROPRIATE TO FULFILL ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS CHAPTER. THE MEMBERS OF THIS TASK FORCE SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION, BUT SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.

8. ANY VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER PROVIDED FOR IN THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT.

9. THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE APPOINTED NO LATER THAN ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.

§ 2. Within one year of the effective date of this act, in carrying out its functions, the interagency elder justice task force shall hold five public hearings around the state to foster discussions and conduct formal public hearings with requisite public notice to solicit input and recommendations from statewide and regional stakeholder interests. Such task force shall also accept public input in writing. Such task force may utilize remote access such as web conferencing to comply with the provisions of this section.

§ 3. Within two years of the effective date of this act the interagency elder justice task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly and shall publicize its findings on the office for the aging website.

§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed 3 years after such effective date.

Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1202/amendment/original