| R 342 |
| 2018 -- S 3001 Enacted 06/22/2018 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO STUDY ELDERLY ABUSE AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION |
| Introduced By: Senator Cynthia Armour Coyne |
| Date Introduced: June 22, 2018 |
| WHEREAS, Approximately one in ten Americans over age 60 have experienced some |
| form of elder abuse. Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders who are abused each year. |
| One study estimated that only one in fourteen cases of abuse are reported to authorities; and |
| WHEREAS, One in five Americans over 65 has been victimized by a financial fraud and |
| a national study determined that financial exploitation costs seniors at least $2.9 billion annually; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the citizens of Rhode Island to convene an Elder |
| Abuse and Exploitation Task Force to study the prevalence and impact of elder abuse and |
| exploitation in this state; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special task force be and the same is hereby created consisting of |
| nine (9) members: two (2) of whom shall be a members of the Rhode Island Senate, to be |
| appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a member of the public with |
| significant experience in elder law, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom |
| shall be a representative from an agency that works directly with victims of elder abuse and/or |
| financial exploitation, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a |
| member of law enforcement, to be appointed by the Governor; one of whom shall be the |
| Lieutenant Governor, or designee; one of whom shall be a member with significant experience |
| working on issues related to elder abuse and/or financial exploitation, to be appointed by the |
| Attorney General; one of whom shall be the Director of the Division of Elderly Affairs, or |
| designee; and one of whom shall be the State Director of the AARP-RI, or designee. |
| The purpose of said task force shall be to study the prevalence and impact of elder abuse |
| and exploitation in this state and to make recommendations on policies and legislation to |
| effectively address the issue impacting seniors and other vulnerable adults. |
| The initial appointments shall be made no later than August 1, 2018. |
| Members of the task force shall meet at the call of the President of the Senate, and |
| organize and shall select a chairperson, a secretary, and any other officers deemed necessary. |
| Vacancies in said task force shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| Members of the task force shall meet monthly, or more often at the call of the chairperson |
| or upon petition of a majority of the task force members. |
| All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary and otherwise, to said task force and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable |
| by the task force to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
| The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide |
| suitable quarters for said task force; and be it further, |
| RESOLVED, That the task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| Senate no later than February 5, 2019, and said task force shall expire on June 30, 2019. |
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| LC005985 |
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