The City Council advanced multiple bills this week addressing services for seniors and incarcerated individuals.
Four measures moved through committee, including proposals to expand meal delivery to seniors year-round, establish work hour limits for home care aides at 12 hours per shift and 56 hours per week, expand senior center meal programs, and return full commissary balances to individuals upon release from jail rather than a capped $200.
The Committee on Criminal Justice and the Committee on Aging held separate hearings on February 19th examining recidivism prevention programs and conditions at older adult centers, respectively.
The Committee on Civil Service and Labor held a hearing this week on a bill that would cap home care aides' working hours at 12 per shift and 56 per week, with limited exceptions for emergencies. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Marte, also increases penalties for wage theft violations and allows workers to sue employers directly for violations.
Actions this week
Bill requiring daily meal delivery to seniors 365 days a year advances in committee
The Committee on Aging held a hearing this week on a bill requiring the city's home-delivered meals program to deliver meals seven days a week, 365 days a year to seniors 60 and older. Currently, the program does not operate on all days of the year, leaving some seniors without guaranteed daily nutrition support. The bill would mandate daily delivery year-round, including holidays.
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Senior center meal bill moves to committee vote after hearing
The Committee on Aging held a hearing this week on a bill to create grab-and-go meal programs at city senior centers, then laid it over for further consideration. The bill would require the city to offer freshly prepared meals for pickup at participating older adult centers within 180 days of passage, with participation voluntary for each center.
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Committee hears bill to return all jail commissary funds in cash upon release, not just $200
The Criminal Justice Committee held a hearing this week on a bill that would require the city to return all commissary funds to incarcerated people when they're released, instead of just handing over $200 in cash immediately. The bill, which was previously introduced, would mandate the Department of Correction return the full balance before individuals leave custody and eliminate the current system of checks and mailing for amounts over $200.
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