Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4655 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R26775 SHH-D
2	2	By: Thimesch H.B. No. 4655
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment of the vulnerable adult protection
8	8	task force.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
11	11	(1) "Task force" means the vulnerable adult protection
12	12	task force established by this Act.
13	13	(2) "Vulnerable adult" means:
14	14	(A) an elderly person as that term is defined by
15	15	Section 48.002, Human Resources Code; or
16	16	(B) a person with a disability as that term is
17	17	defined by Section 48.002, Human Resources Code.
18	18	(b) The vulnerable adult protection task force is
19	19	established to study abuse of vulnerable adults in this state.
20	20	(c) The task force is composed of:
21	21	(1) the commissioner of the Department of Family and
22	22	Protective Services or the commissioner's designee;
23	23	(2) the banking commissioner of the Texas Department
24	24	of Banking or the banking commissioner's designee;
25	25	(3) a district attorney selected by the Texas District
26	26	and County Attorneys Association;
27	27	(4) the following members appointed by the governor
28	28	from a list of names submitted by the speaker of the house of
29	29	representatives:
30	30	(A) a representative from the banking or credit
31	31	union industry;
32	32	(B) a representative from an unaffiliated
33	33	nonprofit organization that advocates for elderly persons
34	34	statewide; and
35	35	(C) a representative from the health care
36	36	industry;
37	37	(5) two members of the house of representatives
38	38	selected by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
39	39	(6) two members of the senate selected by the
40	40	lieutenant governor.
41	41	(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for
42	42	service on the task force or reimbursement for expenses incurred in
43	43	performing task force duties.
44	44	(e) The task force shall:
45	45	(1) assess the status of vulnerable adults in this
46	46	state;
47	47	(2) examine existing services and resources
48	48	addressing the needs of vulnerable adults in this state and any
49	49	barriers impeding those services and resources;
50	50	(3) determine the economic and human impact of
51	51	financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in this state;
52	52	(4) review possible solutions that could reduce the
53	53	incidents of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in this
54	54	state; and
55	55	(5) develop recommendations to address abuse of
56	56	vulnerable adults in this state, including:
57	57	(A) possible legislation; and
58	58	(B) other state policies or responses.
59	59	(f) A state agency shall cooperate with and assist the task
60	60	force in carrying out the duties of the task force.
61	61	(g) Not later than December 31, 2024, the task force shall:
62	62	(1) prepare a written report that summarizes the task
63	63	force's findings under this section and recommends solutions for
64	64	improving the well-being of vulnerable adults in this state; and
65	65	(2) submit the written report to the:
66	66	(A) governor;
67	67	(B) lieutenant governor;
68	68	(C) speaker of the house of representatives;
69	69	(D) chair of the House Human Services Committee;
70	70	and
71	71	(E) chair of the Senate Health and Human Services
72	72	Committee.
73	73	(h) The task force is abolished and this Act expires June 1,
74	74	2025.
75	75	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.