Bill > HB4676

This bill amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to strengthen protections for elderly individuals and people with disabilities by expanding the definition of criminal abuse and neglect and clarifying financial exploitation. Specifically, it clarifies that a caregiver commits criminal abuse or neglect if they knowingly perform acts that create a substantial likelihood of endangering the person's life, injuring their health, or worsening their existing condition, or if they fail to perform necessary acts that create such a likelihood. Violations of these expanded provisions are classified as a Class A misdemeanor, a less severe criminal offense than previously defined felonies for abuse or neglect that resulted in death or serious harm. The bill also defines "voluntarily assumed the responsibilities for care" to broaden who can be considered a caregiver and adds a definition for "undue influence" within the statute concerning financial exploitation, which occurs when someone takes advantage of a person's impairment or uses their position to exploit trust, dependency, or fear, or to deceptively gain control over their decision-making.

Justice

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4676&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104