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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 4, 2024 08:44 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Doug Mastriano and Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Combatting Elder Abuse |
| In the near future, We will be re-introducing legislation (SB 885 Last Session) to establish a statewide registry of persons found to be substantiated perpetrators of abuse, neglect, abandonment or exploitation of older persons in facilities. As Pennsylvania’s population continues to age, we must ensure our older adults can age with the dignity and security they deserve. Elder abuse takes many forms, such as financial, emotional, physical, and sexual harm. Abuse also comes in the form of neglect, abandonment, or exploitation. It’s estimated that approximately 1 in 10 elderly Americans are abused annually in the United States. Unfortunately, current statute here in PA falls short in preventing substantiated abusers from serving as caregivers. Also, current statute does not provide for the proper prosecution and punishment of those that commit the abuse, fail to report the abuse, or just ignore it all together. Both the abuser, and the facility who fails to address the abuse, need to be held both criminally and civilly liable. Since we cannot be there 24/7, and we are entrusting the care of our elderly and disabled to these facilities and the people they employ, our loved ones deserve to have the protection the law can provide behind them, offering the protection they deserve. This legislation will go a long way in doing just that. Our legislation will require the Department of Aging to establish a Statewide registry of persons to include their name, facility where the abuse occurred, and a description of the abuse. Additionally, facilities will be required to require prospective employees to submit a certification from the Department confirming that the applicant is not named in the registry. It will also spell out the criminal penalties for those that commit the abuse and for a facility that fails to report or stop said abuse. Please join us as a co-sponsor on this legislation to improve our commonwealth’s prevention and response to elder abuse. If you have any questions regarding this bill, please contact Don Beishl in my office at dbeishl@pasen.gov |
Memo Updated: December 4, 2024 08:45 AM