HB 496

Abstract

Abuse and neglect; financial exploitation; incapacitated adults; penalties. Changes the term "incapacitated adult" to "vulnerable adult" for the purposes of the crime of abuse and neglect of such adults and defines "vulnerable adult" as any person 18 years of age or older who is impaired by reason of mental illness, intellectual or developmental disability, physical illness or disability, or other causes, including age, to the extent the adult lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make, communicate, or carry out reasonable decisions concerning his well-being or has one or more limitations that substantially impair the adult's ability to independently provide for his daily needs or safeguard his person, property, or legal interests. The bill also changes the term "person with mental incapacity" to the same meaning of "vulnerable adult" for the purposes of the crime of financial exploitation. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference. This bill is identical to SB 687.

Abuse and neglect; financial exploitation;incapacitated adults; penalties. Changes the term "incapacitatedadult" to "vulnerable adult" for the purposes of the crime of abuseand neglect of such adults and defines "vulnerable adult" as any person18 years of age or older who is impaired by reason of mental illness,intellectual or developmental disability, physical illness or disability,advanced age, or other causes to the extent the adult lacks sufficientunderstanding or capacity to make, communicate, or carry out reasonabledecisions concerning his well-being or has one or more limitationsthat substantially impair the adult's ability to independently providefor his daily needs or safeguard his person, property, or legal interests.The bill adds the definition of "advanced age" as it is used in the definition of "vulnerable adult" to mean 65 years of age or older. The bill also changes the term "person with mental incapacity" tothe same meaning of "vulnerable adult" for the purposes of the crimeof financial exploitation. This bill is a recommendation of the VirginiaCriminal Justice Conference.