With the opening of the 2005 legislative session on January 5th, the Assembly has already introduced specific rules for reform. As a member of the Assembly Steering Committee, Assemblywoman Millman has continually contributed to this debate about how to best improve the productivity, transparency and accountability of the New York State Legislature. She stood with Assembly Speaker Silver and colleagues to announce these changes at the Capitol on Monday, January 10th.

For the 2005 legislative session, the Assembly will adopt a series of internal rules changes that will dramatically improve the way the Assembly operates. The Assembly's rules changes cover a wide range of parliamentary and procedural reforms.

"I'm sponsoring reform measures to put an end 'business as usual' in Albany. The measures I have endorsed will increase our ability to serve New York by making our legislature significantly more open, accountable and responsive," said Assemblywoman Millman. Highlights of the new initiatives include plans to end empty seated voting, adding an additional day of session each week, instituting joint conference committees to achieve a more timely state budget, conducting annual budget hearings and working to implement a statewide public service cable TV channel to televise Assembly proceedings.

"I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that our reform plan is implemented. I strongly urge the Senate and governor to join us in making our state government more responsive to the public," stated Assemblywoman Millman.

Assemblywoman Millman addresses participants at the most recent discussion in Brooklyn.

By 2015, the generation of baby-boomers will be retiring en masse. This meeting's discussion centered on aging-in-place: what are the elements that make an ideal program and what kinds of programs do we have in New York. In particular, participants provided details on naturally occurring retirement communities (NORC) programs, how they work, and how they can be strengthened.

In many parts of New York State, such as Brooklyn, an increasing proportion of the population is growing older and entering retirement. As these citizens age, they often choose to remain in their communities or age-in-place. This growing population of older people presents a challenge to health care and social service providers. In New York City, the vertical (apartment building) NORC model of care recognizes that seniors wish to remain in their homes and draws upon existing networks and the seniors themselves to help develop and manage services.

NORCs are also looking to adapt their vertical approach to a "horizontal" model, which would apply to the suburbs and would help seniors in maintaining their independence, remain in their homes and in the community

This informative discussion included representatives of community-based organizations, senior housing administrators, policy experts and government officials. The roundtable participants all agreed that the NORC model has proven itself, but several observed that the program requires more funding and needs to be replicated in more communities.