REFERENCE TITLE: elder abuse investigations; study committee

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

SB 1364

Introduced by Senators Otondo: Bowie, Bradley, Cajero Bedford, Contreras, Dalessandro, Farley, Hobbs, Mendez, Miranda, Peshlakai, Quezada

 

AN ACT

 

Establishing the elder abuse investigations study committee.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Elder abuse investigations study committee; duties; annual report; delayed repeal

A.  The elder abuse investigations study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Three members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2.  Three members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party.  The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

3.  One member who is a county attorney from a county with a population of at least one million persons and who is appointed by the speaker of house of representatives.

4.  One member who is a county attorney from a county with a population of less than seven hundred thousand persons and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

5.  One member who represents a statewide law enforcement association and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

6.  One member who is a police chief and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

7.  One member who represents the courts and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

8.  Two members who are attorneys specializing in elder law and who are appointed by the president of the senate.

9.  One member who represents a statewide association that represents seniors in this state and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

10.  One member from the governor's office on aging who is appointed by the governor.

11.  The ombudsman‑citizens aide or the ombudsman's designee.

12.  The director of the department of economic security or the director's designee.

13.  The director of the department of health services or the director's designee.

14.  The attorney general or the attorney general's designee.

B.  Members of the committee are not eligible to receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

C.  A majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum.

D.  The committee shall:

1.  Study this state's current system of protecting, preventing, investigating and prosecuting elder abuse cases.

2.  Examine the existing barriers, services and resources available to address elder abuse.

E.  On or before December 15, 2017 and each year thereafter, the committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

F.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2020.