HB 254

Abstract

Amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Authorizes the Department on Aging or any other State or county agency to establish regional interagency elder abuse fatality review teams composed of representatives of entities and individuals including, but not limited to, the Department on Aging, the Department of Public Health, coroners or medical examiners (or both), State's Attorneys, local police departments, forensic units, and providers of services for persons age 60 or older. Requires the teams to review cases of deaths (i) involving blunt force trauma or an undetermined or suspicious cause of death, (ii) if requested by the deceased's attending physician, (iii) upon referral by a health care provider, or (iv) constituting an open or closed case from a senior protective services agency, law enforcement agency, or State's Attorney's office that involves alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Authorizes the teams to review other cases. Requires the Department on Aging, in consultation with coroners, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies, to use data gathered by the teams and recommendations made by the teams to create an annual report, and provides that the Department, in consultation with those others, may use the data and recommendations to develop education, prevention, prosecution, or other strategies. Authorizes creation of a database of at-risk individuals.