Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Judiciary Committee |
HB 2379
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Title: An act relating to the creation of two elder justice center demonstration programs.
Brief Description: Creating two elder justice center demonstration sites.
Sponsors: Representatives Moeller, Jinkins and Appleton.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/19/16
Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).
Background:
Protection of Vulnerable Adults.
The term "vulnerable adult" includes a person who:
is 60 years of age or older and has the functional, mental, or physical inability to care for himself or herself;
is an adult and legally incapacitated;
is an adult with developmental disabilities; or
is an adult admitted to certain facilities, or receiving services from certain care agencies or certain individual providers or personal aides.
The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) Adult Protective Services (APS) receives reports of, and investigates, incidents of suspected abandonment, abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. The APS may offer protective services and take steps to facilitate the health and safety of the vulnerable adult. Such steps may include having a case manager work with the vulnerable adult to:
determine what care services are needed; and
help the vulnerable adult get those services, such as emergency shelter, food, medical care, counseling, and help moving if it is necessary.
The APS may also report the abuser to law enforcement, assist in obtaining an emergency protective order or an injunction, and make referrals for legal assistance. Additionally, the APS may work with the Office of the Attorney General to have a guardian appointed.
Summary of Bill:
An "elder justice center" is a senior-focused program that coordinates a multidisciplinary approach to the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of abandonment, abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
The DSHS must establish two elder justice center demonstration programs, one in Clark County and the other in Spokane County, and may contract with the counties for the implementation of the programs. These centers must coordinate access to services, including but not limited to:
adult protective services;
law enforcement officers;
a prosecuting attorney;
a victim advocate; and
a program coordinator.
Multidisciplinary teams may also include community agencies and systems that are involved with the prevention and response to elder abandonment, abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
The county prosecuting attorney, with the assistance of others such as law enforcement, adult protective services, and local advocacy groups, must develop protocols to address coordination of investigations.
The DSHS must submit reports to the Governor and the Legislature as follows:
by January 10, 2017, a brief progress report describing the status of implementation;
by January 10, 2018, an interim report outlining the structure and operation of both centers; and
by December 1, 2019, a final report discussing the effectiveness of the elder justice center model in increasing community capacity to prevent and respond to abandonment, abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. This final report must also contain recommendations for modifying or expanding additional demonstration programs.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on 1/13/16.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.