State Rep. Wes Retherford's Elder Justice Act
unanimously cleared the Ohio House last year, but it was stopped in the
Ohio Senate after opponents testified that it was an unfunded mandate,
The Hamilton-Middletown Journal News reported (http://bit.ly/2mkTCpO).
The bill would require the state Department of
Job and Family Services to create and report on a registry to identify
patterns of abuse. It would also establish a statewide Elder Abuse
Commission to increase awareness of elder abuse and improve judicial
response to elder abuse.
Under the bill, employees in financial fields
would be required to report suspected elder abuse or elderly victims of
financial crimes.
The bill had received support from the Ohio
Attorney General's office. State Attorney General Mike DeWine submitted
written testimony in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, indicating the
bill "will complement our efforts and enhance the safety of Ohio's
seniors."
His office started the Elder Justice Initiative in 2014 to increase prosecution of crimes against the elderly.
Opponent Antonia Carroll, the director of the
Franklin County Office on Aging, testified in June 2015 to the Senate
committee that the bill would add more workload without any additional
funding.
Retherford, a Hamilton Republican, said changes have been made to the bill to address the issues raised.
Full Article & Source:
Ohio Lawmaker Reintroduces Bill Aimed at Curbing Elder Abuse
Good that he's coming back and trying again!
ReplyDeleteI hope this law passes this time. Maybe it will help someone like me in the future. I have not been able to get any help through the Ohio Revised Code 5101.60 - 5101.71 that is already in existence. I contacted DeWine's Elder Justice Initiative and was blown off. I was conned out of about $26,000.00. by a neighborhood couple.
ReplyDeleteThis representative was recently arrested and according to the news, he has serious issues with alcohol. Other members of the state legislature want him gone. I doubt that his bill to help seniors will get passed this time either. I'm so disappointed.
ReplyDelete