Establishes an elder financial exploitation public awareness campaign

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

                                          8447

                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions

                                  I N  A S S E M B L Y

                                      May 16, 2025
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  SEAWRIGHT  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Aging

        AN ACT to amend the elder law, in  relation  to  establishing  an  elder
          financial exploitation public awareness campaign

          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  226  to
     2  read as follows:
     3    §  226.  ELDER  FINANCIAL  EXPLOITATION PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. THE
     4  DIRECTOR, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE  DEPARTMENT  OF
     5  FINANCIAL  SERVICES,  IS  HEREBY  AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO DEVELOP AND
     6  CONDUCT A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE OLDER ADULTS AND  PERSONS
     7  PROVIDING  CARE  TO  OR  WHO HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO AN OLDER
     8  ADULT ON THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION  OF  FINANCIAL  EXPLOITATION.  THE
     9  CAMPAIGN  MAY  UTILIZE  PUBLIC  FORUMS,  SOCIAL  MEDIA,  AND MASS MEDIA,
    10  INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INTERNET, RADIO, AND PRINT ADVERTISING. THE
    11  DIRECTOR SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, INCLUDE  INFORMATIONAL  MATERIALS  ON  THE
    12  OFFICE'S  WEBSITE  AND  DISTRIBUTE SUCH MATERIALS TO EACH AREA AGENCY ON
    13  AGING IN THE STATE. SUCH MATERIALS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO,
    14  INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING:
    15    1. THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE VICTIMS  OF  FINANCIAL
    16  EXPLOITATION IN NEW YORK STATE AND THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF MONEY LOST;
    17    2.  FACTORS  THAT  MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION FOR
    18  OLDER ADULTS;
    19    3. COMMON TYPES OF FINANCIAL SCAMS AND FRAUD AND  INDICATORS  OF  SUCH
    20  TYPES OF FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION;
    21    4.  COMMON INDICATORS THAT AN OLDER ADULT MAY BE A VICTIM OF FINANCIAL
    22  EXPLOITATION;
    23    5. METHODS FOR OLDER ADULTS TO REPORT POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL INSTANCES OF
    24  FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION;

         EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13102-02-5
        A. 8447                             2

     1    6. STRATEGIES FOR OLDER ADULTS TO PROTECT AGAINST FINANCIAL  EXPLOITA-
     2  TION; AND
     3    7.  RESOURCES  FOR  VICTIMS  OF  FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, INCLUDING THE
     4  SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE  ELDER  ABUSE  ENHANCED  MULTIDISCIPLINARY
     5  TEAM  PROGRAM, AS ESTABLISHED BY SECTION TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS
     6  TITLE.
     7    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.