HLS 19RS-889 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 63
BY REPRESENTATIVE STOKES
ELDERLY: Requests a study concerning prevention of elder abuse
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To authorize and request the governor's office of elderly affairs, the office of aging and adult
3 services of the Louisiana Department of Health, and the legislative auditor, jointly,
4 to study means by which this state can reduce the incidence of elder abuse and to
5 report findings of the study to the House Committee on the Administration of
6 Criminal Justice, the Senate Committee on Judiciary C, the legislative committees
7 on health and welfare, and the Legislative Audit Advisory Council.
8 WHEREAS, in the United States, hundreds of thousands of adults over the age of
9sixty are abused, neglected, or financially exploited each year; collectively, these acts are
10referred to as elder abuse; and
11 WHEREAS, various laws encompassed by the Louisiana Criminal Code, R.S. 14:1
12et seq., criminalize abandonment, battery, exploitation, extortion, isolation, and sexual abuse
13of the elderly; and
14 WHEREAS, the governor's office of elderly affairs provides a broad range of
15services for senior citizens through the Area Agencies on Aging of this state; and
16 WHEREAS, among the major duties of the governor's office of elderly affairs is the
17administration of the state's elderly protective services functions pursuant to the Adult
18Protective Services Act, R.S. 15:1501 et seq.; and
19 WHEREAS, the office of aging and adult services of the Louisiana Department of
20Health is responsible for the programs and functions of the department related to the
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HCR NO. 63
1long-term care of the elderly and the protection and long-term care of persons with adult-
2onset disabilities; and
3 WHEREAS, Louisiana treasures its elders, as they are the living heritage of our
4families and our rich and wonderful culture; and
5 WHEREAS, ensuring the safety and well-being of our elders is a critical public
6policy priority of this state.
7 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
8authorize and request the governor's office of elderly affairs, the office of aging and adult
9services of the Louisiana Department of Health, and the legislative auditor, jointly, to study
10means by which this state can reduce the incidence of elder abuse.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study requested in this
12Resolution, the governor's office of elderly affairs, the office of aging and adult services, and
13the legislative auditor shall engage, collaborate with, and obtain information and perspective
14from stakeholder groups as deemed necessary or appropriate by the executive director of the
15governor's office of elderly affairs and the assistant secretary of the office of aging and adult
16services.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the parties who coordinate the study called for
18in this Resolution shall submit a written report of findings resulting from the study to the
19House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice, the Senate Committee on
20Judiciary C, the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on Health
21and Welfare, and the Legislative Audit Advisory Council no later than sixty days prior to the
22convening of the 2020 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
24executive director of the governor's office of elderly affairs, the secretary of the Louisiana
25Department of Health, the legislative auditor, and each member of the Legislative Audit
26Advisory Council.
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 63 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Stokes
Authorizes and requests the governor's office of elderly affairs and the office of aging and
adult services of the La. Department of Health and the legislative auditor, jointly, to study
means by which this state can reduce the incidence of elder abuse and to report findings of
the study to the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice, the Senate
Committee on Judiciary C, the legislative committees on health and welfare and the
Legislative Audit Advisory Council.
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