Wednesday, February 19, 2014

New SC Legislation Aimed at Preventing Abuse and Trafficking of Seniors to be Introduced This Week

Legislation will be introduced this week in the State Senate that proposes the creation of the "Senior Trafficking and Exploitation Reform of 2014" in South Carolina. On Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell and Senator Thomas Alexander, Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging, will hold a press conference in the Lower Lobby of the State House to discuss specifics of the proposed legislation.

The Senior Trafficking and Exploitation Reform of 2014 seeks to deter persons who have previously manipulated the system by closing existing loopholes, increasing penalties for those who knowingly and intentionally cause harm, and by addressing new forms of abuse and exploitation that were not recognized or defined by previous law. The 1993 Omnibus Adult Protection Act did not protect all seniors and limited their protections. This legislation is a proactive approach to preparing South Carolina for a large influx of older adults, who are becoming increasingly vulnerable to new forms of clever schemes and creative tactics by scammers and predators alike.

"There have been cases reported, for instance, where unscrupulous predators trolled emergency rooms looking for elderly persons without any stable home environment to return to after being discharged from the hospital," said South Carolina's chief advocate for seniors, Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell. "These predators will promise a place to live and care in exchange for the elderly person’s monthly income, but in reality, this elderly person may receive sub-standard care while their money has now been handed over to a potential criminal."


While the Senior Trafficking and Exploitation Reform of 2014 legislation maintains many of the effective policies contained in the Omnibus Adult Protection Act, the proposed bill's language draws from legislation passed in other states, such as Florida and Alabama, in an effort to strengthen our own state laws and expand the protections afforded to all persons age 60 and older from the perils of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and human trafficking. The act also ensures fairness by protecting certain innocent parties intending goodwill.

Full Article and Source:
New Legislation Aimed at Preventing Abuse and Trafficking of Seniors

4 comments:

STandUp said...

I can't believe they're using the words, "Senior Trafficking" -- wow! Those are strong!

Daughter of WWII Veteran said...

Progress!!

Trolling Emergency Rooms?

Well there are people IN the hospital that are plotting:

When my elderly mom was in a CATHOLIC CHICAGO HOSPITAL - soon the name will be revealed via a website - she was hit on every day to contract this predator for 'care' when mom was released from the hospital.

My mom told me what was going on --- family left --- then a parade of people entered her room including social workers who were looking to PROTECT HER.

She knew she was being taken advantage of, she knew the scheme, she was sharp for her age -- why? I EDUCATED MY PARENTS knowing what I know as a NASGA member, that they are $ to predators and nothing more.

APPLAUSE AND STANDING OVATION!!

Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell and Senator Thomas Alexander, Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging, will hold a press conference in the Lower Lobby of the State House to discuss specifics of the proposed legislation.

Anonymous said...

This is great news and I commend SC!

Dee said...

I am glad to see this strong language as well. Marti Oakley says the same thing every week.