ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 63
BY REPRESENTATIVES STOKES, ADAMS, AMEDEE, BACALA, BAGNERIS,
CHANEY, COX, DAVIS, EDMONDS, FALCONER, GAROFALO, HOFFMANN,
HORTON, IVEY, JENKINS, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MARCELLE, MOORE, JAY
MORRIS, SMITH, THOMAS, AND WHITE AND SENATOR THOMPSON
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To authorize and request the governor's office of elderly affairs, the office of aging and adult
services of the Louisiana Department of Health, the office of financial institutions,
the Louisiana Bankers Association, 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 Administration of Criminal Justice,
the Senate Committee on Judiciary C, the legislative committees on health and
welfare, and the Legislative Audit Advisory Council.
WHEREAS, in the United States, hundreds of thousands of adults over the age of
sixty are abused, neglected, or financially exploited each year; collectively, these acts are
referred to as elder abuse; and
WHEREAS, various laws encompassed by the Louisiana Criminal Code, R.S. 14:1
et seq., criminalize abandonment, battery, exploitation, extortion, isolation, and sexual abuse
of the elderly; and
WHEREAS, the governor's office of elderly affairs provides a broad range of
services for senior citizens through the Area Agencies on Aging of this state; and
WHEREAS, among the major duties of the governor's office of elderly affairs is the
administration of the state's elderly protective services functions pursuant to the Adult
Protective Services Act, R.S. 15:1501 et seq.; and
Page 1 of 3 HCR NO. 63 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, the office of aging and adult services of the Louisiana Department of
Health is responsible for the programs and functions of the department related to the
long-term care of the elderly and the protection and long-term care of persons with adult-
onset disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the office of financial institutions and the Louisiana Bankers
Association have considerable expertise in the tracking and monitoring of financial records
and the vulnerability of elders to be the victims of financial exploitation; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana treasures its elders, as they are the living heritage of our
families and our rich and wonderful culture; and
WHEREAS, ensuring the safety and well-being of our elders is a critical public
policy priority of this state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
authorize and request the governor's office of elderly affairs, the office of aging and adult
services of the Louisiana Department of Health, and the legislative auditor, jointly, to study
means by which this state can reduce the incidence of elder abuse.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study requested in this
Resolution, the governor's office of elderly affairs, the office of aging and adult services, and
the legislative auditor shall engage, collaborate with, and obtain information and perspective
from stakeholder groups as deemed necessary or appropriate by the executive director of the
governor's office of elderly affairs and the assistant secretary of the office of aging and adult
services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the parties who coordinate the study called for
in this Resolution shall submit a written report of findings resulting from the study to the
House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice, the Senate Committee on Judiciary
C, the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on Health and
Welfare, and the Legislative Audit Advisory Council no later than sixty days prior to the
convening of the 2020 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the governor's office of elderly affairs, the secretary of the Louisiana
Department of Health, the commissioner of the office of financial institutions, the chief
Page 2 of 3 HCR NO. 63 ENROLLED
executive officer of the Louisiana Bankers Association, the legislative auditor, and each
member of the Legislative Audit Advisory Council.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 3 of 3