| 1 | 1 | | 88R9484 EAS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2078 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to senior justice assessment centers in certain counties. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Title 6, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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| 10 | 10 | | adding Chapter 106 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | CHAPTER 106. SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTERS |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 106.001. ESTABLISHMENT OF SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT |
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| 13 | 13 | | CENTERS. A county with a population of one million or more shall |
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| 14 | 14 | | establish a senior justice assessment center. |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 106.002. DUTIES. (a) A senior justice assessment |
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| 16 | 16 | | center shall provide services to seniors to ensure the dignity of |
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| 17 | 17 | | seniors through increased public awareness, educational outreach, |
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| 18 | 18 | | and promotion of justice regarding elder abuse. |
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| 19 | 19 | | (b) A senior justice assessment center shall: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (1) provide services to assist in the investigation of |
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| 21 | 21 | | elder abuse through a multidisciplinary team composed of |
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| 22 | 22 | | representatives of the following in the county: |
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| 23 | 23 | | (A) the sheriff and each municipal law |
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| 24 | 24 | | enforcement agency with jurisdiction to investigate elder abuse; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (B) the adult protective services agency; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (C) each attorney representing the state with |
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| 27 | 27 | | jurisdiction to prosecute elder abuse cases; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (D) the area agency on aging; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (E) public health care institutions, including |
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| 30 | 30 | | postsecondary institutions providing health care services in the |
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| 31 | 31 | | area; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | (2) establish processes and procedures to: |
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| 33 | 33 | | (A) determine whether elder abuse has been |
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| 34 | 34 | | committed or whether other forms of neglect or exploitation of a |
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| 35 | 35 | | senior have occurred; |
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| 36 | 36 | | (B) evaluate the senior's mental capacity and |
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| 37 | 37 | | ensure the senior's physical safety; and |
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| 38 | 38 | | (C) make appropriate referrals to ensure the |
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| 39 | 39 | | provision of comprehensive care and the promotion of justice for |
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| 40 | 40 | | the senior based on the senior's individual needs. |
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| 41 | 41 | | (c) In providing services to seniors, a senior justice |
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| 42 | 42 | | assessment center shall collaborate with experts in: |
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| 43 | 43 | | (1) geriatric medicine; |
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| 44 | 44 | | (2) social services; |
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| 45 | 45 | | (3) protective services; |
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| 46 | 46 | | (4) law enforcement; |
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| 47 | 47 | | (5) civil enforcement; and |
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| 48 | 48 | | (6) criminal prosecution. |
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| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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