Bill Text: NY A04541 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Relates to reporting of financial exploitation; establishes a financial exploitation, outreach, education and training program and fund.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 36-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-13 - print number 4541a [A04541 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-A04541-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         4541
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   February 4, 2011
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
         Committee on Banks
       AN ACT to amend the banking law and the elder law, in relation to finan-
         cial exploitation and to amend the state finance law, in  relation  to
         establishing  the  financial  exploitation,  outreach,  education  and
         training fund
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  The banking law is amended by adding a new section 9-v to
    2  read as follows:
    3    S 9-V. REPORTING OF SUSPECTED FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION. 1.  AS  USED  IN
    4  THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
    5    (A) "FINANCIAL INSTITUTION" SHALL MEAN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
    6    (1) A DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(C) OF THE FEDER-
    7  AL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT (12 U.S.C. SEC. 1813(C)).
    8    (2) AN INSTITUTION-AFFILIATED PARTY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(U) OF THE
    9  FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT (12 U.S.C. SEC. 1813(U)).
   10    (3)  A  FEDERAL  CREDIT  UNION  OR  STATE  CREDIT UNION, AS DEFINED IN
   11  SECTION 101 OF THE FEDERAL CREDIT  UNION  ACT  (12  U.S.C.  SEC.  1752),
   12  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO,  AN INSTITUTION-AFFILIATED PARTY OF A
   13  CREDIT UNION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 206(R) OF THE FEDERAL  CREDIT  UNION
   14  ACT (12 U.S.C.  SEC. 1786(R)).
   15    (B) "ELDERLY PERSON" SHALL MEAN A PERSON SIXTY YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
   16    (C)  "FINANCIAL  EXPLOITATION"  SHALL  MEAN IMPROPER USE OF AN ELDERLY
   17  PERSON'S FUNDS, PROPERTY OR RESOURCES BY ANOTHER  INDIVIDUAL,  INCLUDING
   18  BUT  NOT LIMITED TO FRAUD, FALSE PRETENSES, MISREPRESENTATION, EMBEZZLE-
   19  MENT, CONSPIRACY, FORGERY, FALSIFYING RECORDS, COERCED  PROPERTY  TRANS-
   20  FERS OR DENIAL OF ACCESS TO ASSETS.
   21    2. ANY CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT OR ATTORNEY LICENSED IN THIS STATE,
   22  ANY  PREPARER  OF  TAXES  OPERATING  IN  THIS  STATE, AND ANY OFFICER OR
   23  EMPLOYEE OF A FINANCIAL  INSTITUTION  LOCATED  WITHIN  THIS  STATE,  WHO
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD07964-01-1
       A. 4541                             2
    1  REVIEWS  OR APPROVES AN ELDERLY PERSON'S FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS, RECORDS OR
    2  TRANSACTIONS,  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  PROVIDING  FINANCIAL  AND/OR  LEGAL
    3  SERVICES  TO  OR  ON  BEHALF  OF  AN ELDERLY PERSON SHALL BE REQUIRED TO
    4  REPORT  IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION WHEN SUCH INDIVIDUAL, WITHIN THE
    5  SCOPE OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT OR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE, HAS  REASONABLE
    6  CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH ELDERLY PERSON HAS BEEN OR IS BEING SUBJECTED
    7  TO  FINANCIAL  EXPLOITATION.  A  BANK  TELLER  SHALL  BE EXEMPT FROM THE
    8  REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THAT BANK TELLERS RECEIVE  TRAIN-
    9  ING  APPROVED BY THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING ON IDENTIFYING SCAMS AND OTHER
   10  FORMS OF FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION.
   11    3. IN ADDITION TO THOSE PERSONS REQUIRED TO REPORT SUSPECTED FINANCIAL
   12  EXPLOITATION UNDER THIS SECTION, ANY OTHER PERSON MAY MAKE SUCH A REPORT
   13  IF HE OR SHE HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT AN ELDERLY PERSON  HAS
   14  BEEN OR IS BEING SUBJECTED TO FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION.
   15    4.  REPORTS  OF  SUSPECTED  FINANCIAL  EXPLOITATION UNDER THIS SECTION
   16  SHALL BE MADE IMMEDIATELY BY TELEPHONE OR AS SOON AS PRACTICABLY  POSSI-
   17  BLE,  AND  BY  WRITTEN  REPORT SENT WITHIN TWO WORKING DAYS TO THE ADULT
   18  PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT OF THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
   19    5. AN ALLEGATION BY AN ELDERLY  PERSON,  OR  ANY  OTHER  PERSON,  THAT
   20  FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION HAS OCCURRED IS SUFFICIENT TO TRIGGER THE REPORT-
   21  ING REQUIREMENT IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   22    6.  ANY  PERSON  WHO  IN  GOOD FAITH MAKES A REPORT UNDER THIS SECTION
   23  SHALL HAVE IMMUNITY FROM ANY LIABILITY, CIVIL OR  CRIMINAL,  FOR  HAVING
   24  MADE  SUCH  A REPORT. FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY PROCEEDING, CIVIL OR CRIMI-
   25  NAL, THE GOOD FAITH OF ANY PERSON REQUIRED TO REPORT INSTANCES OF FINAN-
   26  CIAL EXPLOITATION  UNDER  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE
   27  PRESUMED.
   28    7.  IF,  AFTER A PROCEEDING WITH NOTICE AND A HEARING, THE SUPERINTEN-
   29  DENT DETERMINES THAT ANY PERSON REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION  TO  REPORT  AN
   30  INSTANCE  OF  SUSPECTED  FINANCIAL  EXPLOITATION HAS WILLFULLY FAILED TO
   31  REPORT SUCH INSTANCE, SUCH PERSON SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE VIOLATED  THIS
   32  SECTION  AND  SHALL  BE  SUBJECT TO A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND
   33  DOLLARS PER VIOLATION.
   34    S 2. Section 202 of the elder law is amended by adding a new  subdivi-
   35  sion 15 to read as follows:
   36    15.  TO CONDUCT AN OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FINAN-
   37  CIAL INSTITUTIONS AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH  (A)  OF  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF
   38  SECTION NINE-V OF THE BANKING LAW.
   39    S  3.   The elder law is amended by adding a new section 219-a to read
   40  as follows:
   41    S 219-A. FINANCIAL  EXPLOITATION,  OUTREACH,  EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING
   42  PROGRAM.  1.  DEFINITIONS.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM
   43  "DESIGNATED AGENCY" SHALL HAVE THE MEANING ASCRIBED TO IT UNDER  SECTION
   44  TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN OF THIS TITLE.
   45    2.  THE  DIRECTOR, WITHIN THE AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, SHALL, IN
   46  CONJUNCTION WITH THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN  AND  FAMILY  SERVICES  AND  THE
   47  BANKING DEPARTMENT, ESTABLISH A FINANCIAL OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND TRAIN-
   48  ING  PROGRAM,  HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION AS "THE PROGRAM,"
   49  FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING AN EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TRAINING PROGRAM
   50  TO CERTIFIED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS  LICENSED  IN  THIS  STATE,  ATTORNEYS
   51  LICENSED  IN  THIS STATE, ANY PREPARER OF TAXES OPERATING IN THIS STATE,
   52  AND TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AS DEFINED IN SECTION NINE-V OF THE  BANK-
   53  ING  LAW LOCATED WITHIN THIS STATE. THE OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND TRAINING
   54  PROGRAM SHALL BE A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM. THE DIRECTOR, IN CONJUNCTION  WITH
   55  THE  OFFICE  OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND THE BANKING DEPARTMENT,
       A. 4541                             3
    1  SHALL COORDINATE ACTIVITIES TO IDENTIFY  AND  PROVIDE  TRAINING  TO  THE
    2  INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION.
    3    3. (A) AS PART OF THE PROGRAM, THE DIRECTOR MAY AWARD GRANTS TO QUALI-
    4  FIED   DESIGNATED  AGENCIES  TO  ESTABLISH  LOCAL  ELDERLY  EXPLOITATION
    5  OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. QUALIFIED DESIGNATED AGENCIES
    6  SHALL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH SUCH INSTITUTIONS AND  INDIVIDUALS,  AND
    7  THEIR REPRESENTATIVE ASSOCIATIONS.
    8    (B) IN MAKING SUCH GRANTS, THE DIRECTOR SHALL CONSIDER:
    9    (1) THE MANNER IN WHICH THE DESIGNATED AGENCY PROPOSES TO PROVIDE SUCH
   10  EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TRAINING;
   11    (2)  THE  CAPACITY OF THE DESIGNATED AGENCY TO COORDINATE ITS SERVICES
   12  WITH BANKING, HUMAN SERVICE AND  LAW  ENFORCEMENT  AND  PUBLIC  AGENCIES
   13  WHICH PROVIDE SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE TO THE ELDERLY, INCLUDING THE LOCAL
   14  DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT; AND
   15    (3) ANY OTHER CRITERIA DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR TO BE APPROPRIATE.
   16    4.  THE PROGRAM SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS
   17  WHICH SHALL BE PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING:
   18    (A) EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS IN PRINT,  AUDIO,  VISUAL,
   19  ELECTRONIC OR OTHER MEDIA;
   20    (B)  PUBLIC  SERVICE  ANNOUNCEMENTS,  ADVERTISEMENTS, MEDIA CAMPAIGNS,
   21  WORKSHOPS AND MASS MAILINGS;
   22    (C) CONFERENCES OR PRESENTATIONS DESIGNED TO  PROVIDE  INFORMATION  TO
   23  THOSE INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION NINE-V OF THE
   24  BANKING LAW; AND
   25    (D)  INSTRUCTIONS  ON  HOW  TO  REPORT KNOWN OR SUSPECTED INCIDENTS OF
   26  FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF THE ELDERLY, INCLUDING THE  APPROPRIATE  TELE-
   27  PHONE NUMBERS TO CALL AND THE TYPES OF INFORMATION THAT WOULD ASSIST THE
   28  OFFICE WITH ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE REPORT.
   29    5.  THE  DIRECTOR  SHALL  CONVENE  AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADE UP OF AT
   30  LEAST TEN BUT NO MORE THAN TWENTY MEMBERS TO  ADVISE  THE  DIRECTOR  AND
   31  MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS  ON THE ASPECTS OF DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE
   32  PROGRAM. MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE  SHALL  INCLUDE  BUT  NOT  BE
   33  LIMITED  TO: AT LEAST TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM STATEWIDE SENIOR ADVOCACY
   34  ORGANIZATIONS, AT LEAST ONE  REPRESENTATIVE  REPRESENTING  A  NON-PROFIT
   35  SENIOR ORGANIZATION WHICH OPERATES AN ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM, AT
   36  LEAST  ONE ATTORNEY WHOSE PRACTICE CONCENTRATES IN ELDER LAW OR AN INDI-
   37  VIDUAL ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE ELDER LAW SECTION OF THE NEW  YORK  STATE
   38  BAR  ASSOCIATION,  AT LEAST ONE BANKER OR A REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ASSOCI-
   39  ATION REPRESENTING BANKERS, AT LEAST ONE CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT  OR
   40  A   REPRESENTATIVE  OF  AN  ASSOCIATION  REPRESENTING  CERTIFIED  PUBLIC
   41  ACCOUNTANTS, AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS REPRESENTING PROTECTIVE  SERVICES  FOR
   42  ADULTS, AND AT LEAST TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT REPRESENTATIVES.
   43    S  4. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-t to
   44  read as follows:
   45    S 99-T. FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND TRAINING FUND.
   46  1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF  THE  COMPTROLLER
   47  AND  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  OF BANKS A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND TO BE KNOWN AS
   48  THE "FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND TRAINING FUND".
   49    2. THE FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND  TRAINING  FUND
   50  SHALL  CONSIST  OF ALL MONEYS RECEIVED BY THE STATE UNDER SECTION NINE-V
   51  OF THE BANKING LAW AND ALL OTHER FEES, FINES, GRANTS, BEQUESTS OR  OTHER
   52  MONIES CREDITED, APPROPRIATED OR TRANSFERRED THERETO FROM ANY OTHER FUND
   53  OR SOURCE.
   54    3.  THE  MONEYS OF THE FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND
   55  TRAINING FUND SHALL BE DISBURSED BY THE COMPTROLLER TO THE STATE  OFFICE
       A. 4541                             4
    1  FOR THE AGING FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS
    2  TWO HUNDRED NINETEEN AND TWO HUNDRED NINETEEN-A OF THE ELDER LAW.
    3    S  5.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
    4  subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of section 9-v of the banking  law,  as
    5  added  by  section one of this act, shall take effect on the two hundred
    6  seventieth day after this act shall have become a law.
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