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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Elder abuse is an intentional act or failure to
3act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an adult, age 60 or
4older, with forms of abuse including physical, sexual, neglect,
5financial, and emotional or psychological; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation is a
7serious problem that is severely underreported; it is estimated
8that only between 1 in 14 and 1 in 23 instances of abuse and
9neglect are actually reported; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Elder abuse can have several physical and
11emotional effects on an older adult, including pain, soreness,
12fear, anxiety, and even premature death; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The State has a responsibility to protect these
14older adults from mistreatment and exploitation; therefore, be
15it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Elder Abuse Task
19Force to investigate the effectiveness of current elder
20protective services and laws, examine barriers to prosecution
21and strategies to increase public awareness of elder abuse and

 

 

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1reporting, study training resources and best practices in other
2states, and identify a long-range plan to combat elder abuse;
3and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the
5following members who must be appointed within 30 days after
6the passage of this resolution:
7        (1)The President of the Senate or his designee;
8        (2)The Speaker of the House of Representatives or his
9    designee;
10        (3)The Minority Leader of the Senate or his designee;
11        (4)The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
12    or his designee;
13        (5)One member appointed by the Director of the
14    Department on Aging;
15        (6)One member appointed by the Director of the
16    Department of Healthcare and Family Services;
17        (7)One member appointed by the Director of the
18    Department of Public Health;
19        (8)One member appointed by the Director of the
20    Department of Financial and Professional Regulation;
21        (9)One member appointed by the Director of the
22    Guardianship and Advocacy Commission;
23        (10)One member appointed by the Attorney General;
24        (11)One member representing area agencies on aging
25    appointed by the Director of the Department on Aging;

 

 

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1        (12)One member representing the Ombudsman's Office of
2    the Department on Aging appointed by the Director of the
3    Department on Aging;
4        (13)One member representing the Adult Protective
5    Services Office of the Department on Aging appointed by the
6    Director of the Department on Aging;
7        (14)Two members representing two different statewide
8    organizations that advocate on behalf of nursing homes
9    appointed by the President of the Senate;
10        (15)A member representing caregivers in the Community
11    Care Program of the Department on Aging appointed by the
12    Director of the Department on Aging;
13        (16)A member representing a statewide association that
14    advocates on behalf of the banking industry appointed by
15    the Director of the Department on Aging;
16        (17)A member representing the Illinois State Police
17    Medicaid Fraud Control Unit appointed by the Director of
18    the Illinois State Police;
19        (18)A member representing a statewide association that
20    advocates on behalf of law enforcement appointed by the
21    Director of the Department on Aging;
22        (19)A member representing an organization that
23    specializes in providing legal services for persons age 60
24    appointed by the Director of the Department on Aging;
25        (20)A member who is a certified Elderly Service
26    Officer, serving as a law enforcement officer in a county

 

 

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1    with a population between 250,000 and 275,000 appointed by
2    the Director of the Department on Aging; and
3        (21)A member who is an Assistant State's Attorney in a
4    county with a population between 250,000 and 275,000
5    specializing in the area of crimes against those over the
6    age of 60 appointed by the Director of the Department on
7    Aging; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That Task Force members shall select a
9Chairperson from among themselves; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That Task Force members shall receive no
11compensation; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That the Department on Aging shall provide
13administrative support to the Task Force; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold at least four
15meetings, and the first meeting must be held within 30 days
16after appointments are finalized; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Task Force must report its findings and
18recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no
19later than January 1, 2020, and upon the filing of its report,
20is dissolved; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
2delivered to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
3House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate,
4and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.