Int. No. 665-A
By Council Members Gutiérrez, Hudson, Louis, Restler, Hanif, Brewer, Ung, Farías, Sanchez, Velázquez, Barron, Stevens, Avilés, Won, Krishnan, Narcisse, De La Rosa, Abreu, Ossé, Cabán, Menin, Nurse, Joseph, Bottcher, Lee, Brooks-Powers, Brannan, Riley, Williams, Powers, Holden, Schulman and Dinowitz
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a digital literacy program for older adults
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 2 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-213 to read as follows:
§ 21-213 Digital literacy program for older adults. a. No later than December 31, 2024, the commissioner for the aging in collaboration with the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications, and any relevant stakeholders deemed necessary by the mayor, shall administer a digital literacy training program to serve older adults. Such training program shall be offered to the public at no cost and shall include the following topics:
1. The importance and need for older adults to be digitally literate;
2. Accessing and navigating city telehealth services;
3. Accessing and navigating online platforms and websites, including social media platforms, which offer technology classes, lectures, workshops and other programming and activities designed to help older adults learn and use technology, develop skills, and connect and socialize with other older adults;
4. Accessing and navigating the website and mobile application in which individuals obtain information on and apply for certain human resources administration benefits, and human resources administration clients obtain certain benefits case information;
5. Identifying and avoiding online fraud or scams; and
6. Accessing and navigating other programs or applications designed to support older adults in accessing services, as deemed appropriate by the commissioner for the aging or the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications.
b. No less than once every three years, the commissioner for the aging, in collaboration with the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications, and any relevant stakeholders deemed necessary by the mayor, shall evaluate the program established pursuant to subdivision a of this section for updates to best practices, educational materials, curricula, resources and any other program components, and make updates to any such components as necessary. Such evaluation shall at minimum include an online or electronic survey for older adults who participate in such program to provide feedback regarding such program.
c. The commissioner for the aging shall report to the mayor and the speaker of the council on any updates to the program made in response to the evaluation required pursuant to subdivision b of this section if and when any such updates are made.
d. The program shall be offered in appropriate prevalent spoken languages.
e. The program established pursuant to subdivision a of this section shall be offered in person or through interactive live video instruction in at least one library or senior center in each community district and in any other facilities as deemed appropriate by the commissioner for the aging or the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications.
f. Nothing in this section shall be construed to invalidate any existing contract or other agreement between any department and any entity that provides digital literacy programming on behalf of any such department.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
CP/CoJM
LS #9152
5/17/23 9:51pm