The Office for the Aging is the successor to several legislative and executive bodies. The formulation of policies for the aging began in 1947 with the creation of the Joint Legislative Committee to Study the Problems of the Aging. This committee was reconstituted annually by legislative resolution until 1969. Meanwhile, in 1955, an Interdepartmental Committee on Problems of the Aging was established by executive order to advise the governor on problems and developments affecting the aging and to formulate recommendations for action. The committee consisted of the heads of twelve State agencies and the secretary to the governor, who served as chairperson. In 1960, the governor established by executive order the New York State Committee of One Hundred for the 1961 White House Conference on Aging. The Interdepartmental Committee on Problems of the Aging assisted the Committee of One Hundred in preparing a report on the issue of the aging in New York State. As a result of this report, in 1961 an Office for the Aging was created within the Department of Social Welfare to administer programs of the interdepartmental committee. Legislation enacted in 1965 (Chapter 444) transferred the office to the Executive Department. This statute made the Office for the Aging responsible for planning, coordinating, and promoting programs and services for the elderly, and for reviewing and reporting on proposed legislation affecting the elderly. The office served as secretariat to the Interdepartmental Committee until that committee was discontinued in 1974. Since then the office has continued to provide technical assistance and guidance to other State agencies with programs affecting the elderly. In 1965 the governor appointed an advisory committee to assist the director of the office. A 1979 law (Chapter 132) required New York City and each county outside that city to submit to the office an annual plan detailing community services for the elderly. The office reviews and approves these plans and then allocates funds to carry them out.
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The New York State Office for the Aging is empowered to advise and assist the governor in developing policies designated to help meet the needs and to encourage the full participation of the aging in society; to coordinate state programs and services; to stimulate community interest in the problems of aging; to promote public awareness of resources available for the aging; to cooperate with and assist political subdivisions in development of local programs; and to foster and support studies, research, and education relating to problems of and services for the aging. The office is the state agency empowered to administer programs under the Federal Older Americans Act. Under Title III - B the office designates area agencies on aging that, in turn, are responsible for comprehensive planning and coordination as well as the direct funding of social service programs for the elderly. The office administers the Title III - C program of the Older Americans Act (congregate and home-delivered meals). The office is responsible for administering the governor's discretionary funds under Title V--the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The program provides persons with low incomes who are fifty-five years of age and older with part-time employment in human-service activities.
