PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 564, 2891 PRINTER'S NO. 3026
No. 501 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY LYNCH, GRUPPO, BELARDI, MAYERNIK, JAMES,
E. Z. TAYLOR, BELFANTI, PISTELLA, TRAVAGLIO, JOSEPHS,
HERSHEY, CURRY, TRELLO, STEELMAN, ALLEN, SEMMEL, BROWNE,
RAMOS, PETTIT, WILT, STURLA, BAKER, DeLUCA, FICHTER,
SCRIMENTI, CAWLEY, GEORGE, STEVENSON, MILLER, READSHAW,
GEIST, HENNESSEY, SCHRODER, RUBLEY, JADLOWIEC, HUTCHINSON,
SAINATO, ROSS, SEYFERT, MASLAND, ROBERTS, FARGO, VAN HORNE,
A. H. WILLIAMS, C. WILLIAMS, NAILOR AND MCILHATTAN,
FEBRUARY 12, 1997
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MARCH 10, 1998
AN ACT
1 Creating the Statewide Committee for the Protection of Senior
2 Citizens; and providing for powers and duties of the
3 committee.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Statewide
8 Committee for the Protection of Senior Citizens Act.
9 Section 2. Definitions.
10 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12 context clearly indicates otherwise:
13 "Committee." The Statewide Committee for the Protection of
14 Senior Citizens established under section 3.
1 "Office." The Office of Attorney General of the
2 Commonwealth.
3 "Triad program." The triad cooperative model developed by
4 the American Association of Retired Persons, the National
5 Sheriffs' Association and the International Association of
6 Chiefs of Police which calls for the participation of the
7 sheriff, at least one police chief and a representative of at
8 least one senior citizens' organization within a county and may
9 include participation by general service coalitions of law
10 enforcement, victim service and senior citizen advocate
11 organizations. If there is not both a sheriff and a police chief
12 in a county or if the sheriff or a police chief does not
13 participate, a triad may include in the place of the sheriff or
14 police chief another key law enforcement official in the county
15 such as a district attorney.
16 Section 3. Establishment of committee.
17 There is hereby established within the Office of Attorney
18 General of the Commonwealth the Statewide Committee for the
19 Protection of Senior Citizens.
20 Section 4. Membership and operation of committee.
21 (a) Members.--The committee shall consist of ten 12 members, <--
22 as follows:
23 (1) The Attorney General of the Commonwealth, who shall
24 serve as presiding officer of the committee.
25 (2) The Secretary of Aging.
26 (3) The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.
27 (4) The presiding officer of the Crime Victim's
28 Compensation Board.
29 (5) Two county sheriffs, to be appointed by the
30 Governor.
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1 (6) Two municipal police chiefs, to be appointed by the
2 Governor.
3 (7) Two citizens at large both of whom shall be 65 years
4 of age or older, to be appointed by the Governor.
5 (8) TWO DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, TO BE APPOINTED BY THE <--
6 GOVERNOR.
7 (b) Designees.--Except for members appointed under
8 subsection (a)(7), any member may be represented by a designee.
9 (c) Term.--Members of the committee appointed by the
10 Governor shall serve for a term of three years. A member may be
11 reappointed for additional terms.
12 (d) Cessation of participation.--A member of the committee
13 shall, immediately upon removal or retirement from the position
14 by virtue of which the member was eligible for appointment,
15 cease to be a member of the committee.
16 (e) Vacancies.--A member appointed to fill a vacancy created
17 other than by expiration of a term shall be appointed for the
18 unexpired term of the member whom he is to succeed in the same
19 manner as the original appointment.
20 (f) Reimbursement.--Members of the committee shall serve
21 without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary and
22 actual expenses incurred in attending meetings of the committee
23 and in the performance of their duties under this act.
24 (g) Removal.--Members of the committee may be removed by the
25 Governor for cause after written notice from the Governor.
26 (h) Meetings.--The committee shall meet as often as the
27 presiding officer deems necessary, but not less than twice per
28 year.
29 Section 5. Powers and duties of committee.
30 The committee shall participate in the study and evaluation
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1 of triad programs as an effective response to the problems of
2 crime against elderly persons. The committee may also consult
3 with experts, service providers and representative organizations
4 engaged in the protection of the elderly and may recommend the
5 development of triad programs in this Commonwealth to assist the
6 elderly to avoid criminal victimization through coordinated
7 efforts of State and local law enforcement agencies and
8 organizations which provide services for the elderly. The
9 committee may also recommend policies and programs to assist law
10 enforcement agencies in implementing triad programs, including
11 training and prevention standards and technical assistance. The
12 powers and duties of the committee shall include the following:
13 (1) Establishment of a Statewide and central
14 clearinghouse for education materials.
15 (2) Development of innovative community police programs
16 for the elderly.
17 (3) Providing assistance to the Municipal Police
18 Officers' Education and Training Commission in the
19 development and delivery of training to law enforcement
20 professionals, including, but not limited to, the subjects
21 of:
22 (i) crimes against the elderly and the protection of
23 elderly persons;
24 (ii) police sensitivity to the needs of elderly
25 persons as victims and witnesses; and
26 (iii) available social and human services relating
27 to crimes against elderly persons.
28 (4) Providing assistance to State and local law
29 enforcement officials and to not-for-profit corporations and
30 organizations with respect to effective policies for and
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1 responses to crimes against elderly persons.
2 (5) Promoting and facilitating cooperation among State
3 agencies and local units of government.
4 (6) Advocacy of services proven to be effective in the
5 protection of elderly persons and elderly victims of crime.
6 (7) Evaluating the relationship between crimes against
7 elderly persons and other problems confronting elderly
8 persons, and making recommendations for effective policy
9 response.
10 (8) Collection of statistical data and research.
11 Section 6. Regulations.
12 The Office of Attorney General may promulgate rules and
13 regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.
14 Section 7. Effective date.
15 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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