Bill > H530

This bill establishes multi-disciplinary teams to investigate elder abuse, requiring the director of the appropriate council on aging to create these teams in cooperation with the department and the district attorney's office. These teams will review services provided to individuals, their families, or responsible parties who are the subject of elder abuse or neglect reports. Each team will include a representative from the agency handling the case, a representative from the district attorney's office, a representative from the council on aging, and at least one additional member appointed by the department with expertise in elder abuse, care for the elderly, or criminal justice. Members will not receive extra pay for their service on these teams, which will evaluate the effectiveness of services, recommend changes, and advise on potential prosecutions or alternative solutions. The teams will have access to relevant data from protective service agencies, with members bound by confidentiality rules, and can report failures to participate in services to the district attorney. Finally, each team will submit a monthly report on its activities to the secretary of elder affairs, who will then compile a consolidated report for various state officials and committees after removing personal identifying information.